Duel for first lady: Culture clash of backgrounds, styles

The Boston Herald ^ | March 14, 2004 | Andrew Miga

[Radix]

WASHINGTON - First lady Laura Bush and Teresa Heinz Kerry will share the harsh glare of the campaign spotlight as their husbands battle for the presidency - but there's little else the two women have in common.

``These are clearly two very, very different women,'' said retired Texas Christian University professor Paul Boller Jr., author of ``Presidential Wives.''

Bush has a reserved, demure bearing and favors a traditional approach to her role. Many see her as a model mother and first lady.

``She's a strong, articulate first lady,'' said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center, pointing out she played an important role in comforting the nation in a TV interview after the Sept. 11 attacks. ``Laura Bush projects stability.''

The Mozambique-born Heinz Kerry, with a touch of Jacqueline Kennedy's glamour, cuts a more cosmopolitan path with her outspoken ways and her fierce independence. She is one of the world's wealthiest women, a global player with far-flung charitable enterprises.

With her mane of flowing chestnut brown hair and penchant for colorful scarves and stylish clothes, Heinz Kerry plays fire to Bush's ice.

``She's muting herself so far,'' said Boller. ``She's witty, she's bright and she has a sense of humor. Laura Bush is more of a private person.''

Republicans, eager to cast her as a loose cannon, already have tweaked Heinz Kerry in an e-mail to reporters that highlighted her comments comparing her husband to a ``fine wine.''

It remains to be seen whether Heinz Kerry, a philanthropist who is heir to a $550 million fortune, will become a lightning rod for the GOP. The Bay State senator is fond of calling her his ``secret weapon'' on the campaign trail, a valuable asset in the fight for public opinion

[Radix]

..."Heinz Kerry, with a touch of Jacqueline Kennedy's glamour, cuts a more cosmopolitan path with her outspoken ways and her fierce independence....

I remember Jackie Kennedy. Jackie Kennedy was a fine First Lady. Theresa Heinz is no Jackie Kennedy.

Theresa Heinz is a shrew of the highest order, and it does not take a lot of observation to make that evaluation.

[KantianBurke]

The Heinz ketchup lady is a nutcase. As tacky and disgusting as Laura's $20 million "gift" proposal to the NEA was, Kerry's wife is 100's worse.

[Maria S]

"With her mane of flowing chestnut brown hair..."

Luckily she's one of the world's wealthiest women...that chestnut brown probably costs her $500 a week to keep it looking “natural”. At 65+, she’s not longer that color naturally.

[areafiftyone]

At 65+, she’s not longer that color naturally.

Thank you for point that out! Plus the botox treatments she gets regularly to keep her wrinkles at bay! Laura is a natural beauty!

[Solamente]

Mrs. Heinz-Kerry, sans wig:

[samtheman]

First lady Laura Bush and Teresa Heinz Kerry will share the harsh glare of the campaign spotlight as their husbands battle for the presidency - but there's little else the two women have in common.

Let's see:

Laura: Decent American

Theresa: Leftist Hag

Yup. Nothing in common.

[mathluv]

The dims have to go back to Jackie as First Lady. None since can be used.

[buffyt]

Heinz Kerry plays fire to Bush's ice. BS! We Texans LOVE our Laura Bush. Our beloved Laura Bush is NOT icey. She is warm, beautiful, patient, loyal, lovely, loving, gracious, feminine... she is EVERYTHING that Teresa Heinz will NEVER be. Laura is a wonderful mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, wife, first lady, etc. I know people who actually know her and LOVE her. I have NEVER heard a harsh word about Laura from ANYONE who knows her personally.
THANKS for the post, I feel better getting that off my chest!

[buffyt]

~EXCELLENT POINT~ !!!!!

[mathluv]

I don't like anyone putting down Laura. I am hard-pressed to say who I like better, Laura or Barbara.

[billorites]

Please don't hate me because I'm so beautiful.

[billorites]

"I am hard-pressed to say who I like better, Laura or Barbara."

I like Barbara. She's hard as nails.

[cupcakes]

Don't you just love how if you are a private first lady of the more conservative order that you are painted as icy, dependent, and even boring? That is not the first lady I have seen. I don't care for some of Mrs. Bush's opinions, but she seems warm, steady, witty, and confident enough to not have to constantly be stealing a bit of spotlight for herself.

[mrtysmm]

You took the words right out of my mouth...."Heinz is no Jacqueline Kennedy". I don't care how much money she has....she lacks 'class'. Just listen to her talk. I'm sure there are many times when she can't be quoted because of her colorful language. Personally, I don't want that (her) in the WH representing our country to foreign dignitaries. She's an embarrassment.

[mathluv]

I do, too. that is what I mean. They both have strong points.

[wgeorge2001]

Don't you just love how if you are a private first lady of the more conservative order that you are painted as icy, dependent, and even boring? That is not the first lady I have seen. I don't care for some of Mrs. Bush's opinions, but she seems warm, steady, witty, and confident enough to not have to constantly be stealing a bit of spotlight for herself.


The lying liberal (churlish) left continues it's assault on the character of our President and his wife Laura; the fallen angel Lucifer uses the same tactics as the liberal (churlish) left.
I believe that America's left wing is inspired by the Satan that deceives the whole world.

[WhiteyAppleseed]

Michelle Malkin had a column a few months back about Mrs. Heinz-Kerry, or Ms Heinz? What is her moniker? I looked here, couldn't find it.

[Raleigh's Golden Mountaineer]

What was it about Jackie Kennedy that qualifies her as a "fine first lady" in your mind?

[GailA]

You mean this one? Howard Dean in a dress