In a functioning democracy, campaigning on a platform that you then renege on should lead to you having to resign your seat and seek reelection.
Unfortunately, Ireland is not a normal democracy and politicians (not leaders) like Jack Chambers are all too common.
The awkward careerist has long been a figure of ridicule on Irish social media, but is now hoping to reinvent himself by firmly establishing himself as an opponent of unborn children.
Having attained much support from prolife circles, like many in Fianna Fail he has decided to simply abandon his voter base like other unscrupulous politicians including party leader Micheal Martin.
According to an interview with the Irish Independent today, Chambers is now opposed to the right to life even up to 12 weeks under any circumstances. This actually makes him more extreme than Ireland’s abortion law, which at least pretends to have the pretense of medical emergency.
One politician who was particularly disgusted with Chambers and his repulsive careerist u-turn has been Sharon Keogan.
Keogan pointed out that ‘weak men buckle under power’.
The behaviour of Chambers should be a reminder to the prolife movement to be more selective about its figureheads. Chambers was always deeply unlikeable and uncool, despite being one of the country’s youngest elected TDs. He also chose to join a party that has viciously worked against ordinary people in the past 15 years, enslaving them to a bailout and repeatedly making it difficult for families to thrive.
With the 4th anniversary of the removal of the right to life this week and the upcoming Rally for Life, we should think about attracting those who can make family life affordable, enjoyable and attainable. We should avoid those who like Chambers, were probably just ever opposed to it as some form of classist snobbery.