Kerry too 'French' to sway 'adolescent' Americans: consultant

AFP ^ | Mar. 27, 2004

[Alouette]

LONDON (AFP) - US presidential hopeful John Kerry needs to stop acting so French if he wants to win the race for the White House, a French-born, US-based consultant and "medical anthropologist" says.

"Kerry's trouble is that he is simply not the common man," Clotaire Rapaille, who's been contacted by Kerry's campaign team for advice, told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

In the wake of the US-led war on Iraq, which France opposed, the Democratic hopeful's command of the French language, plus his background in France and Switzerland, could be a real liability among US voters, he said.

"Forget the French connection," he advised.

"The French are thinkers -- 'I think, therefore I am'. Americans want somebody who is going to take action. All this association of Kerry with thinking too much and nuance and five-sentence answers is off-code."

He added: "American culture is an adolescent culture... In America, you have to be the common man, be able to make people think you are the common man."

Rapaille, author of the forthcoming book "Archetypes of the President," specializes in psychoanalysing cultures. His expertise is sought out by major US corporations, and he's often interviewed in US media on mass culture.

Besides dropping the French connection, Rapaille suggested that Kerry take fewer holidays, start giving "one word or two" answers to questions -- and do something about his wardrobe.

"Go to K-Mart, buy jeans and cowboy boots... Dress like you are going into a bar in Kansas to drink from the bottle," he said.

[Alouette]

"Go to K-Mart, buy jeans and cowboy boots... Dress like you are going into a bar in Kansas to drink from the bottle,"

ROTFLMAO

[Fiddlstix]

[HarryCaul]

Heavens me! Drink from the bottle? People do such things! That's so....dirty!

[Betaille]

Kerry's campaign is finally learning the obvious. Americans Hate Snobs!

[DeFault User]

It's Deja-Gore all over again!

Thinking too much, huh? Well, if thinking too much leads to taking both or all sides of an issue, then there must be something wrong with the thinking.

The horse-faced candidate candidate does all the thinnin' around here, Baba-Louie:

[Publius6961]

I hate to tell this French genius the obvious, but it's too late.
Americans can tell the difference, adolescents or not, between "packaging" and "substance". That goes for "psychologists" too!

[Fintan]

"...Dress like you are going into a bar in Kansas to drink from the bottle," he said.

 

Uh-huh...

 

[Casloy]

Speaking of the French, they just raised the terror threat level from "Run away to Run away and Hide." In light of the Spanish railway bombing the French are also changing their policy toward terrorism from "Surrender to collaborate."

[jpl]

I swear I thought this was from The Onion when I first read it. I can't believe this is actually a real story.

[vbmoneyspender]

"Go to K-Mart, buy jeans and cowboy boots... Dress like you are going into a bar in Kansas to drink from the bottle," he said.

If Kerry did that, he might end up getting into a gunfight with Wyatt Earp in Dodge City because he is a slicked up tenderfoot from back East.

[veronica]

[FRgal4u]

I hope the late nite jokers catch this thing up..

this is Gore 2000 all over again..

the Earthtone suits are out, Kmart jeans are in..LOL

[Bismarck]

As far as I am concerned, Kerry should wear a turban, grow his beard and make Teresa wear a Bhurka. We all know his national security priorities.

[WestSylvanian]

Kerry's recent vacation is perfect example of his image problem. Footage of him trudging around with snowboard and skiis strapped to his back looked Alpine-ish to me. I could almost hear yodelling and cow bells in the background. We in the Northeast have just gone through a horrible winter. The sight of a 60+ year old man still playing in the snow at this relatively late date is obnoxious.

Jean-Claude Kerry in his apres ski garb is a big turnoff. Now, the sight of Bush in Stetson, cowboy boots, and jeans stepping out of his pickup truck carrying a chainsaw to cut that pesky brush at his ranch--there's an all-American image that voters in this country can identify with.

[Capt. Tom]

I swear I thought this was from The Onion when I first read it. I can't believe this is actually a real story.

Struck me the same way also. -Tom

"Go to K-Mart, buy jeans and cowboy boots... Dress like you are going into a bar in Kansas to drink from the bottle," he said.

For this kind of advice you pay money? - Tom

[TUX]

To be a good gigolo you must be able to adapt to the needs of your object. By milking not one, but two, very rich women Kerry is apparently good at it.

It will be fun to watch him change colors like a chameleon over the next months.

Clinton was a poll driven president and did nothing if it wasn't in the interest of votes and popularity. The slippery "Ketchup Flipper" may rival him.

[kenth]

"Go to K-Mart, buy jeans and cowboy boots... Dress like you are going into a bar in Kansas to drink from the bottle,"

LOL... We want a cowboy, not a gay rodeo clown.

[Libertina]

The French are sthinkers? ROTFLOL I think that's a typo. }8-)

[GailA]

Buy cowboy boots and jeans...don't we have a President who proudly wears them frequently and doesn't need some fancy advisor telling him what to wear...shades of Prince Al the Bore.

[VOA]

"Go to K-Mart, buy jeans and cowboy boots... Dress like you are going into a bar
in Kansas to drink from the bottle," he said.

And put on a helmet and drive a tank while sticking your head out the top hatch
for your next photo-op!