Kerry's Ads Prove He's Out of Touch

could he take a picture with Saddam and Osama?

Published on May 21, 2004 By Gene Nash In Politics

Even if a leader marches to the beat of his own drum, he should still have his finger on the pulse of the people. After all, if one is to lead, you must know where the people are before you can take them to where you want them. Then why are John Kerry's current trumpet blowing ads so out of touch with what Americans value and believe?

In a current ad, Kerry lays out what he thinks will convince people he is qualified for the presidency. (In another version, a narrator speaks, though most the same points are covered.)

Kerry speaks of being born in a military hospital and how his father proudly served and his mother was a "community activist," though what that activism entailed isn't stated. Question: Do you see "community activists" (a.k.a. "do gooders") as a positive thing? Unless you happen to be one, or close to one, many people speak of "do gooders" derisively. Do you really want to identify yourself as coming from a long line of them, Mr. Kerry? Besides, having accomplished ancestors does not mean you are anything special.

Kerry goes on to speak of why he joined the military, saying, "...if you had a lot of privileges as I had had-- to go to a great university like Yale...." Stop tape. Do you really want to remind the average, struggling American just how special and privileged you are, Mr. Kerry? You know how they just love the rich folk, right? An Ivy League man yet? It's a wonder you haven't been crowned King already!

Bring on Mr. Kerry's war photos, please. Add a couple of vets to tell us what a hero John was. Yes, at this point it's good to remind people of Mr. Kerry's roll in America's most popular war. People will eat that up.

Okay, he's praising himself too much. Bring on his daughter to point out some of her dad's other accomplishments, like being a prosecutor. That'll be great! People love lawyers! Have her remind people he's a senator, too. People love politicians even more than they love lawyers.

Bring down Mrs. Kerry-- sorry, Ms. Heinz Kerry. Finally another activist First Lady in the mold of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Good. Good. The ubber-rich wife with the foreign accent. Americans love that. It's so Dynasty. Remind us again how privileged you are. You married into massive wealth, Mr. Kerry! How surprising your WASP guilt didn't cause you to enlist in another war to compensate for that. Oh, did they close the French Foreign Legion?

Yes Mr. Kerry has done an excellent job of identifying all the things people love and placing himself smack in the center of them. Way to go, John!

[Click here to see a version of this ad.]

Comments (Page 1)

KarmaGirl

on May 21, 2004

I should have not clicked on that link.

I'm way too much of a cynic. When the guy said "he risked his life by pulling me out of the river" I was just thinking of what the whole story was: "Well, we were drinking and a bit high at the time. Bob thought it would be funny to push me into the river. John was so drunk he could barely see, but he risked his life by pulling me out of the river because neither of us were smart enough to realize that it was only 4 feet deep and we could have just stood up."

I wonder how much they paid those guys to endorse him......

Not that I think that President Bush is any better- he just seems wise enough to not put out ads like that.

jeblackstar

on May 21, 2004

Smartaz, the idea of Kerry's ads is to appeal to undecideds and independents, something you are clearly not. People do love lawyers, when they're prosecutors. DAs rarely lose races, unless they have a tendency to lose.

Give us all a break.

Cheers

vincible

on May 21, 2004

The *real* story is actually quite heroic. From Snopes (politically neutral site):
http://www.snopes.com/politics/kerry/service.asp

Kerry was injured yet again on 13 March 1969, in an action for which he was awarded both a Bronze Star and his third Purple Heart. According to Kerry's Bronze Star citation (signed by Admiral Zumwalt himself):

Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry was serving as an Officer-in-Charge of Inshore Patrol Craft 94, one of five boats conducting a Sealords operation in the Bay Hap River. While exiting the river, a mine detonated under another Inshore Patrol Craft and almost simultaneously, another mine detonated wounding Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry in the right arm. In addition, all units began receiving small arms and automatic weapons fire from the river banks. When Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry discovered he had a man overboard, he returned upriver to assist. The man in the water was receiving sniper fire from both banks. Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry directed his gunners to provide suppressing fire, while from an exposed position on the bow, his arm bleeding and in pain and with disregard for his personal safety, he pulled the man aboard. Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry then directed his boat to return to and assist the other damaged boat to safety. Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry's calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

messybuu

on May 21, 2004

And being highly privileged somehow appeals to undecided and independents?

But...

on May 21, 2004

People like him apparently. Go figure. Must be his message is working, and YOU'RE "Out of Touch"

Voxxy

on May 21, 2004

Two lies in that ad: 1) Kerry did not join the Navy because he felt he had to give something back to the country where he could go to Yale, he joined so that he would not be drafted. He first went to his draft board and asked for an exemption to study in France. When he was turned down, he enlisted in the Navy rather than be drafted and assigned to the Marines or Army. (Not that I wouldn't do the same).
2) Kerry claims that he and McCain did so much for the POW issue in Viet Nam. To the contrary, Kerry is said to have blocked any real inquiry into MIAs and refused to allow any witnesses who might have provided information on living US troops being held in Viet Nam after the war.

messybuu

on May 21, 2004

People like him apparently. Go figure. Must be his message is working, and YOU'RE "Out of Touch"

It might also be that they'd vote for anybody who isn't Bush, no matter how bad they are.

Jeff George

on May 21, 2004

"Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry was serving as an Officer-in-Charge of Inshore Patrol Craft 94, one of five boats conducting a Sealords operation in the Bay Hap River. While exiting the river, a mine detonated under another Inshore Patrol Craft and almost simultaneously, another mine detonated wounding Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry in the right arm. In addition, all units began receiving small arms and automatic weapons fire from the river banks. When Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry discovered he had a man overboard, he returned upriver to assist. The man in the water was receiving sniper fire from both banks. Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry directed his gunners to provide suppressing fire, while from an exposed position on the bow, his arm bleeding and in pain and with disregard for his personal safety, he pulled the man aboard. Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry then directed his boat to return to and assist the other damaged boat to safety. Lieutenant (junior grade) Kerry's calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Can you imagine Bush doing ANY of that? (I don't know how to do the yellow background quotes that people are doing)

kingbee

on May 21, 2004

Can you imagine Bush doing ANY of that?

maybe not but hows this? i can envision ol george wearing a seal team wetsuit (complete with fins) roaring up to a dock at the controls of a cigarette racer before disembarking to make a triumphant speech under a big banner emblazoned with the words "SUCCESS AT SEA"

russellmz2

on May 21, 2004

the reason he brings up yale and vietnam is probably not to show he is a smarty pants, but that he went to yale and then went to vietnam and hopes voters will think of some other guy running for president who also graduated yale at about the same time as vietnam.

jon stewart made fun of kerry on the daily show with that part of the ad, saying that such a subtle jab would go over the heads of most voters. and that's why a comedy satire politcal show has the most insightful news reporting

ps: non-satire pic of rumsfeld and sadaam together

hi, how ya doing, good to meet ya...

Erique Dela Crappe

on May 22, 2004

I think it's actually quite smart what Kerry is doing. By emphasising his "breeding" and his military background he is always going to look good (for the undecided voter) when compared to GWB. It's a two-horse race, no need to be everyones favorite son-in-law, just be a little less of a sob than the other guy.

messybuu

on May 22, 2004

I have a feeling that the Democrats' half-ass plan to win the presidency with a candidate that is similar and only minutely better in the eyes of some individuals is going to backfire.
By the way, is Kerry taking a stand on any issue yet or is he still straddling the fence?

Zoologist03

on May 22, 2004

Actually...being in the minority of these comments I'd like to agree with you. I think he's trying WAY too hard...it's kind of sad how he keeps pushing all of his ancestors and compliments...eventually I belive the people will be a tad bit annoyed about him bragging all the time....Me personally...I'm ticked at Bush and Kerry for these stupid commercials...AHHH....they're so trite...I'm tired of it and I'm only a teenager.....I have to go through this every 4 years for several years to come...I'm not even politcally biased. I wish they'd just hold the stupid elections early so I don't have to keep hearing this...oh well, what can ya do?

~Zoo

stevendedalus

on May 23, 2004

I was under the impression that everybody loves a hero. Support and gratitude for our troops also goes for honorable veterans. It's pretty sad to doubt official documents heralding one's heroic acts.

messybuu

on May 23, 2004

Is a veteran honorable who acts insincerely in the hopes of gaining power?

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