The most groundbreaking work of journalism ever was published on The Daily Edge yesterday afternoon.
Last week, journalist Amy O'Connor decided to contact all 158 of Ireland's Teachtaí Dála (i.e., Members of Parliament) and ask them the most important question of all time: "Do you like Beyoncé—and, if so, what is your favorite song?"
By the end of the week, 37 TDs had responded to her survey. Most representatives seemed delighted by the question—among them John Brassil, who responded, "Hi Amy what a pleasant questionnaire of course I like Beyoncé my favourite song is Halo." But none seemed to be a bigger fan of Queen Bey than Jonathan O'Brien, who proudly declared: "I am republican, but Beyoncé is the only queen I have time for. Of course I like Beyoncé."
Many Irish lawmakers seemed to find parallels between Beyoncé's work and the political grind. Declan Breathnach professed to be a fan of the Destiny's Child song "Survivor" because it "almost describes the life of a politician 'I’m not gon stop, I’m gon work harder, I’m a survivor'."
In contrast, O'Brien offered up two wildly different picks as his favorite political anthems:
If I had to pick just one (which is unfair) it would be “Irreplaceable.” Apart from the general good advice from Beyoncé that we should move “to the left, to the left,” it would behove us all as elected members of the Dáil that we should never for a second get to thinking we’re irreplaceable. That said, I always felt “Bills, Bills, Bills” from Beyoncé’s days in Destiny’s Child was a good allegory for what has faced the Irish working class. Enda Kenny really is a good for nothin’ type of brother.
Pat Buckley was less impressed with the question. "I’d like her a lot better if she paid the Sri Lanka women who sew her clothing line a decent wage while she enjoys a personal wealth of over a quarter of a billion dollars," said Buckley.
But Maurice Quinlivan's response might just have earned him a reputation as the Irish Parliament's greatest maverick: "'Rumour Has It' I much prefer Adele... No offence to Beyoncé but Adele is 'One and Only' and I suppose you could say she is 'Someone Like You'."
Cheers, TD Quinlivan—your commitment to standing up for what you believe in is truly ***Flawless.
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