Kerry's SUV habit fuels a `trust' gap

Boston Herald ^ | 4/24/04 | Boston Herald editorial staff

[kattracks]

Now we've truly heard it all. Rising gas prices are the latest John Kerry [related, bio] campaign theme, so naturally the senator was asked this week about his personal vehicle usage.
     Kerry insisted, ``I don't own an SUV.''
      When pressed about a Chevrolet Suburban, the mother of all SUVs, kept at the Heinz Kerry abode in Idaho, Kerry said: ``The family has it. I don't have it.''
     Kerry has now closed the distance between nuance and flat-out deception.
     And that's without mentioning the other gas-guzzlers this candidate and his family enjoy, all the while posturing about reducing the nation's dependence on foreign oil and fuel efficiency.
     At last count, there were eight ``family'' cars and SUVs, including the 1995 Suburban (15 mpg highway, 12 mpg city), a 1993 Land Rover Defender (12 mpg highway, 10 mpg city), a 1989 Jeep Cherokee (20 mpg highway, 16 mpg city), a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee (20 mpg highway, 15 mpg city), a 2001 Audi Allroad (21 mpg highway, 15 mpg city), a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser (25 mpg highway, 20 mpg city), a 1985 Dodge 600 Convertible (26 mpg highway, 23 mpg city), and a 2002 Chrysler 300M (26 mpg highway, 18 mpg city). Kerry, however, only owns up to the latter two.
     Then there's the 2002 Harley Davidson (his), two powerboats (one his, one hers), a power inflatable 2001 Novurania (his), and a Gulfstream II private jet (hers).
     President Kerry would have to open his own pipeline in Saudi Arabia just to meet family fuel demand.
     Yet there he was yammering on to reporters Thursday about making a hybrid (powered by gas and electricity) his ``campaign car.''
     It's probably not politically correct to refer to the senator as the head of the Heinz Kerry family.
     But last we checked, he is a part of it, no?Kerry's prevarication is trivial in the context of terrorism, the war in Iraq, the economy and all the serious issues this country - and its next president - will confront.
     But if voters can't trust John Kerry to play it straight on the little things, how can they trust him on the big things?
     

[MeekOneGOP]

hehe ! Thanks. I added that on his lapel at the last minute.
I cut it from the flower pics in the back of the SUV.

[AD from SpringBay]

This is awesome. There has been so much noise about Kerry's two-faced answer on his cars in the last two days. This will prove a fulcrum that people will remember and use to build upon - when considering his other historical flip-flops on policy issues. This is something somehow more real to the average voter and they won't forget.

[MamaLucci]

Not to be nit picky, but I believe it's a daisy. ;)

[xp38]

The Audi and Landrover are Teresas. The two vehicles mentioned in the article that he owns are the 1985 Chrysler 600 and the 2002 Chrysler 300M. Someone here on FR said were built in Canada. I can't confirm the 600 but I definitely know the 300M is built in Brampton Ontario just outside Toronto.

[NYC Republican]

Excellent editorial!

[Timeout]

LOL! You're BOTH right.

MamaLucci: Yes, that daisy is the flower I was thinking of...I laughed out loud when Kerry showed up with that thing dangling from his designer ski duds!

MeekOne: You cut it from the hippie flowers on the vehicle...so it's a sunflower!

It makes little difference...it's hysterical either way. Good job, MeekOne. Kerry's face looks like he's thinking: "It's about time I got the special treatment I deserve".

[MamaLucci]

...I laughed out loud when Kerry showed up with that thing dangling from his designer ski duds!

LOL!
Kerry himself provides a target rich environment for RNC campaign ads......
Announcer:

"Would YOU trust the security of the United States to this man?

Neither would we.

Bush/Cheney 2004

[csmusaret]

OK I give up. What the heck is a power inflatable Novurania?

[jws3sticks]

[csmusaret]

Thanx

[Timeout]

What the heck do you use it for?

[Timeout]

Never mind. I looked it up.

I bet he uses it as a lifeboat for his yacht.

[Hildy]

Did anyone see Bob Dole on Jay Leno last night?

Q:"Why did John Kerry Cross the Road?"
A: Who knows? He's already crossed back.

[Dan from Michigan]

Land Rover I think is now owned by Ford, so he's off the hook there. Audi though......

[drhogan]

thanks--i was putting out misinformation. i stand corrected.

[MeekOneGOP]

Re #43, 46:

Thanks, Timeout ! ;^)

MamaLucci, that pic on #43 is exactly the one that I was thinking about when I thought of putting that sunflower on his lapel.

If I had had that pic when making mine, I would have used that Daisy on mine, too ! On the SUV and on his lapel.

That is a great pic !

[nightdriver]

"But if voters can't trust John Kerry to play it straight on the little things, how can they trust him on the big things?"

I dunno, but Americans seemed to trust X42, so Kerry shouldn't pose much of a problem.

[henbane]

I bet he uses it as a lifeboat for his yacht.

You got it.

And it makes it easy to zip over to the local Yacht Club for cocktails with "the beautiful people' when there's no dock space for the Scaramouche.

[Timeout]

Ha Ha ha.

I make up a joke about Kerry and it turns out to be true! (Just like Rush says). These people are beyond "cartoon characters".

I did a little research on Scaramouche....good grief. It's scary that he'd think THAT's a cool name for a boat. (Hint: it's an obscure play about a nobleman in the French Revolution.)

[Timeout]

P.S:
Is that the Scaramouche? Why is it flying a Canadian flag?