April 13, 2004
IF KERRY'S INEVITABLE, SIT BACK AND ENJOY HIM:
Unions urge Kerry to warm up (LEIGH STROPE, April 13, 2004, AP)
Democrat John Kerry "doesn't warm anybody up," and organized labor must help him create an emotional bond if fence-sitting union members are to vote for him in November, according to focus groups of undecided union voters.But these union members find President Bush likable and strong, "with a nice family and good moral values," said a memo of results prepared for the AFL-CIO and obtained by The Associated Press. The focus groups were conducted last month in St. Louis and Philadelphia by Lake Snell Perry & Associates, a Democratic firm.
The findings offer fresh evidence that Kerry's reputation for aloofness is a hurdle the presumptive Democratic nominee must overcome - even among his party's core constituencies. And despite the acidity labor leaders direct toward Bush and his policies, he still appeals to a segment of union members, namely the Reagan Democrats.
Though very early in the race, the focus groups highlight the work facing organized labor as it tries to energize and mobilize voters on behalf of Kerry.
Democrats may as well write off the straight white male vote in perpetuity. Posted by Orrin Judd at April 13, 2004 8:02 PM
I love it. "Kerry's reputation for aloofness"
How about removing the wors "reputation for" as surplus. Of course, then he would have to overcome the parties substantive hostility to straight men, that it has so carefully nurtured for the last generation.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at April 14, 2004 12:29 AMNow let's be fair here: it might not be the PARTY that hates straight men. The pose might simply be a consequence or their pursuing VOTER BLOCS who hate straight men ... and from there the cycle continues.
Posted by: John Barrett Jr. at April 14, 2004 1:22 AMKerry's Beacon Hill Neighbor Talks to NewsMax
As the cliché goes, sometimes the best advertising is word of mouth ... or, sometimes not. At a Palm Beach luncheon this week we were fortunate to sit in the company of an interesting Bostonian woman, who just happens to be a neighbor of John Kerry.
Oh, perhaps we'd better clarify which of Kerry's neighborhoods we mean, as he does have five different ones. This lady is a Beacon Hill neighbor.
Of course, we couldn't help but ask - and we won't mention her name - "What do you think of John Kerry?"
She told us.
"I think he's the rudest, ugliest, most arrogant man I've ever met," she replied without a second's hesitation.
She then went on to inform us that Kerry and his wife Teresa Heinz had a fire hydrant removed from the street near their home, so they would have an extra place to park.
The last anecdote she gave us was about a visit to the grocery store. It seems the Beacon Hill neighborhood has a popular little market, which is nearly always quite crowded with long lines of shoppers waiting to check out.
On one of this neighbor's shopping trips, she said, Kerry appeared with his groceries and went straight to the front of the line demanding, "I'm a senator. Take these."
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/3/28/150846.shtml
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at April 14, 2004 10:58 AMBut us straight white males keep getting told how we are passing away, to become a tiny minority in what was once our own country.
To quote the Grand Dragon of the Colorado KKK, "If we're a minority, then where are all our Special Minority Privileges?"
Let the [otherly sexual], feminazis, and welfare bums defend their country. I know it isn't my country any more.
Posted by: Ken at April 14, 2004 12:13 PM