Safire: On Phony Toughness

The New York Times ^ | 03/15/04 | William Safire

[Pokey78]

WASHINGTON

Presumably unaware of the presence of a live microphone, Senator John Kerry, campaigning last week in Chicago, let loose with his opinion of Republicans opposing him as "the most crooked, you know, lying group I've ever seen."

My first reaction — like that of millions of parents and schoolteachers around the country — was to wince at a prominent politician's use of "you know," a halting interjection that has been cluttering the speech of teenagers for years.

Only later, as the rest of the Kerry condemnation sunk in, did I wonder: Was it wise for a candidate for president to characterize Republicans — tens of millions of American voters, including even veterans — as thieves and liars? And if the double slur had been part of a pour-it-on strategy, was it tactically smart to take the low road so early?

But perhaps, I thought charitably, Kerry's thumb in the eye was unintentional. It could have been the blurted blunder of a tired campaigner, similar to Kerry's crack, also caught on tape, at Howard Dean when that Democratic primary opponent was riding high: "You can't make 15 gaffes a week and be president."

If his blunderbuss slander of Republicans as "the most crooked, you know, lying group" had been merely the irritated effusion of an exhausted speaker, I reasoned, Kerry would take care of it gracefully. To make lemonade out of his lemon, all he would have to say was something like "I was speaking of the vicious G.O.P. attack machine, not the legions of honest, truthful Republicans whose support I seek — especially those being outsourced by free-traitorous Benedict Arnold companies."

But then something revealing happened. Kerry chose not to brush it off easily. On the contrary, in full macho mode he declared to a news conference that "I have no intention whatsoever of apologizing for my remarks."

Obviously, the day after his overheard slander, the decision was made to strike a defiantly nonapologetic pose. Maybe Kerry-Kennedy-Soros masterminds in Boston passed the word to the candidate: Apologies are for wimps. Don't even think of flip-flopping with an "I meant" — on the contrary, ram "crooked and lying" down Republican throats. Remember the title of Barry Goldwater's book — "With No Apologies." Show you're decisive by refusing to back off anything. John Edwards just proved that nice guys get great press clips but don't win elections.

Such advice is what the best political columnist of the past century, Stewart Alsop, said causes politicians to become "phony tough." To counter the demonstrated tough-mindedness of a war president, Kerry's handlers want their man to strike a pose of toughness in all his rhetoric.

But does a bemedaled veteran — his physical courage proved four decades ago — need to demonstrate a phony toughness today, by defending a silly insult? Evidently the Boston attack machine thought a strident nonapology was necessary to enlist the Deaniacs and "energize the base," to shuck off Kerry's reputation as "nuanced," and the candidate swallowed that advice. Kerry's closest-in aide boasted to The New York Times: "Everything he has said into an open mike has been prescient."

That's not the real John Kerry, a dignified man long steeped in civility. That's a phony-tough John Kerry, obeying instructions to imitate a partisan caricature of George W. Bush.

Helpfully, National Public Radio dug up Bush's vulgar characterization of a Times reporter four years ago, to which Dick Cheney had agreed "Big time." No apology was tendered then, so Kerry thought he could out-nonapologize Bush now — and be seen as even tougher, because Bush had disparaged only one journalist, while Kerry now revels in reviling millions of those crooked, lying Republicans.

Kerry's pollsters apparently told him that his defiant embrace of the nasty crack backfired, and he was being tagged not as deliciously tough but as distastefully negative.

The other night, uncomfortable in his role as the Massachusetts Mauler, Kerry spun around with a gentlemanly "Americans shouldn't have to put up with eight months of sniping," and deplored "personal attacks." Hustling to the high road, Democratic weekend commercials flip-flopped too, enervating the base but calming independents with crocodile tears about "misleading negative ads."

It was, like, I mean, you know, an indirect apology. 

E-mail: safire@nytimes.com

[WOSG]

Mr Safire,

First, let me commend your columns especially on Iraq in the past year. Hopefully you will do a "One Year After" column on
what was won and what was lost in replacing Saddam with the seeds of a democratic Iraq.

Overall good column on Kerry's latest gaffe, but the faux praise of Kerry as a man 'steeped in civility' is too much. Did the NYTimes editors make you put that in?
Have you not read his "F##$)#" evaluation of Bush's Iraq policy in Rolling Stone? Nor his many other over-the-top 'exaggerations' about terrorism being
exaggerated? He may be well bred, but that doesnt make him any less rude nor arrogant in what he says. And this gaffe not the first time Kerry has mined
the "Bush as liar" muck to serve his supporters.

As for this:

"But then something revealing happened. Kerry chose not to brush it off easily. On the contrary, in full macho mode he declared to a news conference that "I have no intention whatsoever of apologizing for my remarks." "

Remember when Quayle accused Al Gore of "pulling a Clinton". Seems to me that Kerry is "pulling a Dean" right here.
If he wants to keep that approach up, let him try. He'll go as far as Dean went with the same attitude.

We dont need macho man, we need a steady hand and good leadership. On this score, Bush's ads are a home run, and Kerry's claims and gaffes are foul balls.

[Libertina]

Yes, I read atleast part of Safire's remarks about The Passin of the Christ and was disgusted. As Jesus himself, said: remember, the world has hated ME first. And that is certainly becoming obvious. It seems as if darkness and its useful idiots are up to their eyeballs in fear and loathing.

[moodyskeptic]

Good read on the battle tactics. Keep weighing in on the culture war, you sound like you know what you're talking about.

RNC, listen to this guy!

[punster]

"Hildabeast is best known for her faulty memory ... "I don't remember" or "I don't recall"!"

Hildabeast's problem, just like the Goron, is she has Al's Heimers disease.

[thoughtomator]

Safire is being civil and extremely generous in order that Bush-haters won't immediately skip the column. Read between the lines!

[js1138]

I think all Bush has to do in this campaign is play back Jerry's own words.

[NYCVirago]

Kerry's pollsters apparently told him that his defiant embrace of the nasty crack backfired, and he was being tagged not as deliciously tough but as distastefully negative.

I figured as much when he made his invitation to Bush to go to a Red Sox-Rangers game with him when the election was all over.

[Puzzleman]

If there is anyone left who believes that Safire is a Republican or a conservative, he should read this article. Safire heard Kerry say that Republicans are “the most crooked, you know, lying group I've ever seen.”

This statement would immediately offend Republicans. The Democratic presidential nominee elect has just said they are “crooked” and “lying.” Safire didn’t notice. He was struck by the phrase “you know.” He isn’t bothered by outrageous insults hurled at Republicans. Why is that? Well, probably because he is a Democrat!

[Puzzleman]

Ann Coulter knows that Safire is not a real conservative.

This is the link

[OESY]

Kerry's nasty quotes should help him implode:

About Dean: "You can't make 15 gaffes a week and be president."

To voters: "I have no intention whatsoever of apologizing for my remarks."

But, FRgal4u and Reactionary have outlined above a winning strategy for Bush.

[freedumb2003]

I think you are confusing Kerry with fromer Sen Max Cleland, victim of a Vietnam work accident involving his hand grenade.

Oh, that's right - I recall Coulter skerewing him. But JFnK still was not particularly valiant -- just another soldier (no offense to those who served -- I think you know what I mean). The only reason he went was to try to garner glory in hopes of doing what he is doing now -- as a medium of political exchange.

[summer]

The correct tactic for Bush here is to use wit, humor, jokes to dig deep (real deep) into Kerry (his votes, his stance, his flipflops, his non-accomplishments in the senate). Drive the base supporting Kerry nuts and thereby forcing Keery (with his own very dry humor and long winded answers)to fight back. The nastier Kerry looks, the more he will lose in the tiny middle slice of the voting public

I agree with you. And, I don't always agree with Safire, but I thought he was right on the money here.

BTW, last night on the Daily Show, the host Jon Stewart mentioned this column by Safire in talking to the guest, NY Dem Senator Chuck Schumer.

Schumer claimed Kerry was only talking about the GOP "attack machine" and claimed the Dems do not even have an "attack machine."

But, I think Jon Stewart knew that Safire, not Stewart, had it right as to how Kerry's crude comments and subsequent non-apology was understood by some voters. And, it was not received well, IMO.

More gaffes like this from Kerry and he will lose the interest of certain voters. As Kerry once said to Howard Dean: "You can't make 15 gaffes a week and be president." Same holds true for Kerry. And lately it's been one gaffe after another (these crude comments; then: "foreign leaders support me," etc.)

[summer]

I just now read your post #30, and yes, this is what I was thinking, too!