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!