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Candidate's best tag: A likable kind of guy (Kerry, Mr. Likable?)
Chicago Tribune ^
| April 24, 2004
| Jill Zuckman
Posted on 04/24/2004 8:52:49 PM PDT by jwalburg
NEW YORK -- Bored with the political speechmaking in Harlem's Alhambra Ballroom, 6-year-old Iris Kerry Kaler reached out with both arms for her uncle, Sen. John Kerry, to pick her up.
The Massachusetts senator, however, ignored his niece's entreaty, offering Iris only an awkward pat on the stomach despite the array of television cameras poised to record the potentially precious moment. It was a missed opportunity to demonstrate his warmth by holding the little girl in his arms just days before last month's New York primary.
As Kerry runs for president, he is not competing only against President Bush. He's also battling a long-held perception that he is remote, aloof and perhaps even unlikable. It is on that question of likability that elections have been known to turn.
Unlike lesser elective offices, the presidency is highly personal to most Americans. Voters often want to feel a kinship with their president, even a sense of friendship and trust. For four years the president frequently visits their homes by television, unlike most senators, congressmen and governors.
Throughout modern presidential history, candidates such as Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, who conveyed a sense of sunny optimism and warmth, have succeeded at the ballot box. Those who projected a humorless pessimism, such as Bob Dole and Michael Dukakis, have failed.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: campaign; issues; kerry; likability; likable
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To: NYC GOP Chick
You have to be up early on a Sunday? Gads!
21
posted on
04/24/2004 9:17:55 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(To increase the power of the State over the individual is a crime against Humanity.)
To: jwalburg
He was more likable when he was on the Addams Family.
22
posted on
04/24/2004 9:17:58 PM PDT
by
South40
(Amnesty for ILLEGALS is a slap in the face to the USBP!)
To: South40
Don't insult Lurch! Lurch had warmth, charm, charisma, and all the other things that Kerry is trying to fake.
23
posted on
04/24/2004 9:19:00 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(To increase the power of the State over the individual is a crime against Humanity.)
To: Army Air Corps
Family stuff :)
24
posted on
04/24/2004 9:22:16 PM PDT
by
NYC GOP Chick
("If I could shoot like that, I would still be in the NBA" -- Bill Clinton, circa 1995)
To: NYC GOP Chick
That's good. I only get out of bed early for the Almighty on Sunday. Even then, I start the diesel generator that runs the industrial grade coffee maker.
25
posted on
04/24/2004 9:23:56 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(To increase the power of the State over the individual is a crime against Humanity.)
To: jwalburg
The Massachusetts senator, however, ignored his niece's entreaty, offering Iris only an awkward pat on the stomach despite the array of television cameras poised to record the potentially precious moment. It was a missed opportunity to demonstrate his warmth by holding the little girl in his arms just days before last month's New York primary.As Kerry runs for president, he is not competing only against President Bush. He's also battling a long-held perception that he is remote, aloof and perhaps even unlikable. It is on that question of likability that elections have been known to turn.
Geesh, how tortured is this. An awkward pat on the stomach is all he could manage for that darling girl and the author thinks it's just a perception that he's remote, aloof and unlikeable?
26
posted on
04/24/2004 9:25:30 PM PDT
by
Dolphy
(I joined the redlipstick boycott of MSNBC)
To: jwalburg
Gee.
And I only "thought" Kerry was aloof and in personable.
Heck, he really IS aloof and inpersonalble.!
Ignoring your niece like that........... Deliberately. Forget the cameras. Forget the press. That's despicable!
The guy has no soul. Merely a TV appearance.
(But notice that the unbiased "press" only presents this as a "political impressions" problem.
But if Bush had done this.............
27
posted on
04/24/2004 9:26:48 PM PDT
by
Robert A Cook PE
(I can only donate monthly ... But Kerry's ABBCNNBCBS press corpse lies every day.)
To: Army Air Corps
:)
28
posted on
04/24/2004 9:27:05 PM PDT
by
NYC GOP Chick
("If I could shoot like that, I would still be in the NBA" -- Bill Clinton, circa 1995)
To: NYC GOP Chick
Check out the latest round of Caption Kerry. Sometimes I question whether it is satisfying to poke fun at an inanimate object. Well, I will never know unless I continue to do so...
29
posted on
04/24/2004 9:29:39 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(To increase the power of the State over the individual is a crime against Humanity.)
To: Army Air Corps
You know, I never thought I'd despise any politician the way I do the Clintons, but Lurch is sure making me question that assumption.
30
posted on
04/24/2004 9:31:56 PM PDT
by
NYC GOP Chick
("If I could shoot like that, I would still be in the NBA" -- Bill Clinton, circa 1995)
To: NYC GOP Chick
Well, Kaptain Ketchup has that rare ability to churn bile in people's innards simply by opening his mouth. What makes The Statue so talented is that he can put people to sleep whilst making them nauseous.
31
posted on
04/24/2004 9:35:08 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(To increase the power of the State over the individual is a crime against Humanity.)
To: Hugin
I still like Dennis Miller's line about Kerry being an Easter Island statue with a power tie.
To: Army Air Corps; NYC GOP Chick
OK you two, this is getting embarrassing ;o)
33
posted on
04/24/2004 10:11:42 PM PDT
by
McGavin999
(Evil thrives when good men do nothing.)
To: Dolphy
Geesh, how tortured is this. An awkward pat on the stomach is all he could manage for that darling girl and the author thinks it's just a perception that he's remote, aloof and unlikeable?
No kidding. I am amazed that he would be able to do that to her. She's an adorable child.
I checked the source link that hole_in_one posted? I'm not sure what I think about that. She's obviously being used in the campaign. The entire site has pictures of her in various situations, even carrying a sign and a plea to vote for "Uncle John".
I don't necessarily disagree with it, but if he's ignoring the child then it offends the daylights out of me.
34
posted on
04/24/2004 10:18:05 PM PDT
by
texasflower
(in the event of the rapture.......the Bush White House will be unmanned)
To: jwalburg; All
The Simpsons already did it!
From Sideshow Bob Roberts
Lisa: Hmm. Bart, we can't let Bob steal the spotlight. We're going to have to stoop to the lowest common denominator.
Bart: I can do that.
[they jump into Quimby's arms]
Quimby: Aah! Help! I'm being attacked by...things!
[cameras turn from Bob juggling to Quimby]
Lisa: [chilidishly] [giggles] Uncle Mayor was just saying that us kids are the most important natural resourcw we have.
Kent: More important than _coal_?!
Quimby: [uncertain] Uh, yes.
35
posted on
04/24/2004 10:35:38 PM PDT
by
Oztrich Boy
("Despise not the jester. Often he is the only one speaking the truth")
To: jwalburg
36
posted on
04/24/2004 10:36:30 PM PDT
by
Smartass
(BUSH & CHENEY 2004 - THE BEST GET BETTER)
To: McGavin999; Army Air Corps
OK you two, this is getting embarrassing ;o)For whom? :)
37
posted on
04/25/2004 5:13:15 PM PDT
by
NYC GOP Chick
("If I could shoot like that, I would still be in the NBA" -- Bill Clinton, circa 1995)
To: jwalburg
The Massachusetts senator, however, ignored his niece's entreaty, offering Iris only an awkward pat on the stomach despite the array of television cameras poised to record the potentially precious moment. Dorkus maximus.
38
posted on
04/25/2004 5:21:24 PM PDT
by
Dan from Michigan
("12 hours outta Mackinaw City, stopped at the bar to have a brew.....")
To: NYC GOP Chick
Agreed, I am not embarrassed in the least.
:-)
39
posted on
04/25/2004 5:21:27 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(To increase the power of the State over the individual is a crime against Humanity.)
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