Remember Al Gore? He hired a masculinity consultant for the 2000 campaign, and dressed in earth tones. Then there was the ravishing on-stage Tipper tongue kiss. And, the deliberate invasion of GWB's personal space during the debate, which backfired when rather than flinching, GWB laughed at him.
Kerry, huh? And it wasn't just Kerry. I remember in 2009, the media was awash with semi-manly Obama pics--hitting jumpers, barechested body surfing. But, that was before he threw out a baseball like a girl while wearing Mom jeans and was shown working out with five or ten pound fly weights!
Those Kerry days were hilarious.opposite of their intent. Went shopping with the media to buy an ex large jock strap for windsurfing. Went into the woods with a small group of hunters. no media allowed until after. Then they all had birds. My personnal favorite was the ordering of a Cheesesteak in South Philly. People were laughing directly at him.
...to make Kerry into the Alpha Male...
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I knew so much less, back then, but I vividly recall reading comments to news articles around the net where women would post “Is it just me or is Kerry hot?”
Most responses were “It’s just you.”, but that was an early attempt, I believe to skew public opinion and create an aura around one or another prog candidate. It stuck with me and I’ve always thought it was condescending and insulting to operate on the belief that women vote with their libido.