Editing David Norris (politician) (section)

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In March 2011, Norris announced his intention to run in the 2011 Irish presidential election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=David Norris officially begins his Presidential bid at the Science Gallery, Dublin |url=http://www.norrisforpresident.ie/?p=84 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318052509/http://www.norrisforpresident.ie/?p=84 |archive-date=18 March 2011 |access-date=17 May 2021 |website=norrisforpresident.ie}}</ref> [[Facebook]] support for a presidential bid drew comparisons with [[Barack Obama]]'s campaign for the American presidency.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McDonald |first=Henry |date=19 October 2010 |title=Facebook campaign could see Ireland appoint first gay president |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/19/facebook-campaign-ireland-gay-president?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326051143/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/19/facebook-campaign-ireland-gay-president?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 |archive-date=26 March 2017 |access-date=11 December 2016 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London}}</ref> Norris topped multiple opinion polls as the person most Irish people would like to see as their next president (with the caveat that these polls were taken before all candidates have declared).<ref name="RTE" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Drennan |first=John |date=3 July 2011 |title=Norris still the people's first choice as President |url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/john-drennan/john-drennan-norris-still-the-peoples-first-choice-as-president-2811965.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801221144/http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/john-drennan/john-drennan-norris-still-the-peoples-first-choice-as-president-2811965.html |archive-date=1 August 2012 |work=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref><ref name="Examiner2406">{{Cite web |title=Controversy fails to dent Norris's poll popularity |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/search/?cx=004422957488353982429%3A4gb73lvknqy&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=%22David+Norris%22&x=0&y=0#947 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307020212/http://www.irishexaminer.com/search/?cx=004422957488353982429%3A4gb73lvknqy&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=%22David+Norris%22&x=0&y=0#947 |archive-date=7 March 2012 |access-date=4 July 2011 |website=[[Irish Examiner]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 July 2011 |title=Poll: Who would get your vote to be the next President of Ireland? |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/poll-who-would-get-your-vote-to-be-the-next-president-of-ireland-174212-Jul2011/?voted=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714045816/http://www.thejournal.ie/poll-who-would-get-your-vote-to-be-the-next-president-of-ireland-174212-Jul2011/?voted=1 |archive-date=14 July 2011 |access-date=11 July 2011 |work=[[TheJournal.ie]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 July 2011 |title=What's Left Tracker (PowerPoint file) |url=http://www.creditunion.ie/communications/news/2010/title,1498,en.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045859/http://www.creditunion.ie/communications/news/2010/title%2C1498%2Cen.php |archive-date=4 March 2016 |website=[[Irish League of Credit Unions]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Stephen |date=20 July 2011 |title=Norris ahead in presidency poll |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0720/breaking15.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720102406/https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0720/breaking15.html |archive-date=20 July 2011 |access-date=20 July 2011 |work=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref> Internal research by Fine Gael also placed Norris ahead of all other potential candidates.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sheahan |first=Fionnan |last2=Brennan |first2=Michael |last3=Duggan |first3=Barry |date=11 July 2011 |title=Fine Gael research says Norris will beat Mitchell in Aras race |url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/fine-gael-research-says-norris-will-beat-mitchell-in-aras-race-26750563.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326051558/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/fine-gael-research-says-norris-will-beat-mitchell-in-aras-race-26750563.html |archive-date=26 March 2017 |access-date=25 March 2017 |work=[[Irish Independent]] |page=10}}</ref>

On 14 March 2011, Norris launched his campaign to secure a nomination.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 March 2011 |title=David Norris launches presidential campaign |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0314/norrisd.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314162304/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0314/norrisd.html |archive-date=14 March 2011 |access-date=17 March 2011 |work=[[RTÉ News]]}}</ref> On 9 May 2011, he was nominated by [[Fingal County Council]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 May 2011 |title=Norris crosses first presidency hurdle |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0509/norrisd.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510231715/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0509/norrisd.html |archive-date=10 May 2011 |access-date=9 May 2011 |work=[[RTÉ News]]}}</ref> By the end of that month, he had secured the support of 6 [[Teachta Dála|TD]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Minihan, Mary |date=27 May 2011 |title=Presidential race likely to be a fraught affair |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0527/1224297853620.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023233813/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0527/1224297853620.html |archive-date=23 October 2012 |access-date=29 May 2011 |work=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref> [[Fine Gael]] ordered its councillors to block Norris's nomination.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cullen, Paul |date=16 May 2011 |title=Norris writes to Independent TDs seeking presidency support |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0516/1224297037875.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117161950/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0516/1224297037875.html |archive-date=17 November 2011 |access-date=29 May 2011 |work=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref> In late May, controversial comments Norris allegedly made in 2002 were raised on a talk radio show. Norris called this an attempt to "sabotage" his campaign. He said the quotes had been taken out of context.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 May 2011 |title=David Norris hits out at campaign 'sabotage' |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0531/norrisd.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103094612/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0531/norrisd.html |archive-date=3 November 2012 |work=[[RTÉ News]]}}</ref>

Norris's candidacy was endorsed by British actor and writer [[Stephen Fry]], who said Ireland "couldn't have a more intelligent passionate and knowledgeable witty or committed President".<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 June 2011 |title=Norris' Áras bid gets celebrity backing |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/david-norris-aras-bid-gets-celebrity-backing-165577-Jun2011/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702183119/http://www.thejournal.ie/david-norris-aras-bid-gets-celebrity-backing-165577-Jun2011/ |archive-date=2 July 2011 |access-date=29 June 2011 |publisher=[[The Journal (website)|The Journal]]}}</ref>

In late July, it was revealed that Norris had written a letter in 1997 to an Israeli court asking [[pardon|clemency]] for his former partner [[Ezra Nawi]], who had been convicted of the [[statutory rape]] of a 15-year-old Palestinian boy but was awaiting sentencing. Norris's letter, written on parliamentary notepaper, said that Nawi had been lured into a "carefully prepared trap" and had unwisely pleaded guilty to the charges. The story was publicised by a pro-Israel blogger [[John Connolly (blogger)|John Connolly]]. Connolly stated that he had received a tip from "someone in the trade union movement".<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 August 2011 |title=Hate mail deluge for Irish blogger |url=http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Hate-mail-deluge-for-Irish-blogger-who-exposed-Norris-support-for-rapist-126507763.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618144237/http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Hate-mail-deluge-for-Irish-blogger-who-exposed-Norris-support-for-rapist-126507763.html |archive-date=18 June 2012 |work=Irish Central}}</ref> A number of people resigned from Norris's campaign team. While Norris himself said he remained committed to his campaign, he admitted that it was now "in serious trouble".<ref name="BBC-serious-trouble" /> It was claimed by some that these allegations, complete with Norris's subsequent defence of his comments on [[pederasty in ancient Greece]] would seriously damage his chances of securing a nomination.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fionnan Sheahan |date=10 June 2011 |title=Norris in last-ditch attempt to save presidential bid |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/norris-in-lastditch-attempt-to-save-presidential-bid-2671079.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802134751/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/norris-in-lastditch-attempt-to-save-presidential-bid-2671079.html |archive-date=2 August 2012 |access-date=12 June 2011 |work=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=[[Harry McGee]] |date=11 June 2011 |title=Time running out for Norris to turn campaign around |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0611/1224298736307.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712152531/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0611/1224298736307.html |archive-date=12 July 2011 |access-date=12 June 2011 |work=[[Irish Times]]}}</ref> Norris refuted this, saying he still expected to receive a nomination,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Joe Jackson |date=12 June 2011 |title=Despite a 'dirty fight' Norris says he will be next President |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/despite-a-dirty-fight-norris-says-he-will-be-next-president-2672695.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801220056/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/despite-a-dirty-fight-norris-says-he-will-be-next-president-2672695.html |archive-date=1 August 2012 |access-date=12 June 2011 |work=[[Sunday Independent (Ireland)|Sunday Independent]]}}</ref> and the controversy did not affect his poll standings.<ref name="Examiner2406" />