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The Trouble Is, So Far Kerry Stinks On TV
THE NEW YORK OBSERVER ^ | 5/3/2004 edition | by Joe Hagan

Posted on 04/28/2004 4:51:36 AM PDT by Liz

Edited on 04/28/2004 5:08:08 AM PDT by Sidebar Moderator. [history]

In recent weeks, even Senator John Kerry’s closest friends have been at a loss as to why the Democratic Presidential candidate has failed to communicate the most humanizing part of his biography: his war record as a decorated Vietnam veteran. "I know he’s quite capable of it," said Bob Kerrey, the president of New School University, former Nebraska Senator and fellow Vietnam veteran. "I don’t know why it’s not working now."

But there seems to be a very clear reason why: Mr. Kerry is terrible on TV.

"Abysmal," said John Weaver, the former strategist for Senator John McCain’s Presidential run and the man who coined the "Straight Talk Express."

Watching Mr. Kerry on TV, he said, "I don’t know if it’s a stream of consciousness or stream of unconsciousness."

"It’s a lot of words and no clarity, a lot of presence and no warmth," said Chris Matthews, the host of MSNBC’s Hardball, who was preparing to interview Mr. Kerry for an hour on April 27. "And I think he’s got to deal with that."

Take a look, for example, at NBC’s Meet the Press on April 18. Tim Russert aired a tape of Senator John Kerry’s appearance on the show 33 years earlier, when he was a young, jut-chinned veteran, 27 years old, full of baleful gravity, expressing a sense of shame for his actions in Vietnam. The camera cut back to Senator Kerry, now a man running for President of United States.

"You committed atrocities," said Mr. Russert gravely, asking Mr. Kerry to address the statements of the young man on the screen.

Suddenly, the current John Kerry, of 2004, gave a stumbling, inexplicable guffaw.

"Where did all that dark hair go, Tim? That’s a big question for me."

And suddenly, inexplicably, the question showed up: Where did all that gravitas go, John? That’s the big question for the viewer. The appealing young veteran disappeared, the angry, vengeful Democratic candidate disappeared, and John Kerry, the callow Swiss-prep-school boy returned, as vividly as George Bush the smirking frat boy makes his appearances on national television. "Awful," said MSNBC’s Chris Matthews. "Just awful."

In recent appearances, Mr. Kerry’s digressions and obfuscations about whether he threw a war medal or a ribbon on the White House lawn in 1971—or whether the young Mr. Kerry should have used the word "war crimes" to describe actions in Vietnam—have obscured the candidate. At every turn, he has managed to turn the TV screen into smoked glass: He’s right in front of you, but you can’t … quite … make … him … out. With his morose patrician mien and robotic delivery—parodied with precision by Jon Stewart on the Monday, April 24, Daily Show, surely not a good thing for the candidate—Mr. Kerry’s TV performances are sounding a gut-level alarm about his ability to inspire confidence in the electorate. "He needs to speak the truth and speak from the heart and not try to calibrate his views or his actions," said Mr. Weaver. "The public catches on to these things, and they can see through whether there’s a calibration going on or not. He needs to stop that."

He didn’t need to speak the name of former Vice President Al Gore. But a media strategist for another Democratic Presidential candidate said that Mr. Kerry had to lose the "legislative speak" and begin talking "like a normal person communicates, speaking in simple, more declarative sentences that have a clearer meaning for people." Compared to President George W. Bush, he added, Mr. Kerry appeared more intelligent, "but there are many instances in which George Bush communicates more clearly."

The Republican attack ads about Mr. Kerry that have run in 18 battleground states have set the tone for Mr. Kerry’s appearances. Since April 15, they’ve speared Mr. Kerry for having said in the fall of 2003, "I actually did vote for the $87 billion—before I voted against it." The context, of course, was important: Mr. Kerry was criticizing Vermont Governor Howard Dean at the time, arguing over how to balance the budget in the context of the war in Iraq. But instead of squelching that image with a decisive blow, Mr. Kerry has continually cemented it with distended, lumbering TV appearances.

But it also showed the power of simplicity: a single one-liner could define an entire interview. Mr. Kerrey said the candidate needed to reconnect with his own history.

"I think he’s got to go back to remember what it felt like and help people understand what it was like in 1971," said Mr. Kerrey. "It was a terrible time, and he was a kid. And he just said some indefensible things. How unusual does that make him for a 25-year-old? Not very. Especially during that time. He served honorably, with great distinction."

But even when Mr. Kerry attempts to let his passion fly, he becomes hectoring and aggressive. On Monday, April 26, Good Morning America host Charlie Gibson asked Mr. Kerry to explain his inconsistent stories about whether he once tossed war medals or ribbons onto the White House lawn in 1971. Maybe it was a quibbling issue, all things considered. But was this the best way to tackle it?

Senator Kerry: Charlie, Charlie, you’re wrong! That is not what happened. I threw my ribbons across. And all you have to do is go back and find the file footage.

Charlie Gibson: And someone else’s medals? And someone else’s medals, correct?

Senator Kerry: Later, after, excuse me—excuse me, Charlie!

It hadn’t helped that the first live shot of Mr. Kerry was of him shaking his head in disgust at Mr. Gibson’s setup to the interview. On TV, Mr. Kerry projects a subtle disdain for the medium while he is appearing on it. He doesn’t even plan on answering the questions, if he can help it. "There’s no such thing as a trick question with Kerry, because he just won’t answer it," observed Mr. Matthews. "‘Well, let me put it this way, Chris,’ or ‘Well, the real question here, Chris …. ’ See, that’s the problem with him. And I find afterward, we’ll be having conversations afterward, and it’s hard to get to him even then."

Not only has Mr. Kerry not relayed his ideas with clarity, he has failed to relay the visceral presence of an unaffected personality. On his Meet the Press outing, he told Mr. Russert: "Now, we’re in a position now to be able to respond and introduce myself to the country. I look forward to that. I look forward to Americans getting to know who I really am." But why was he looking forward? There he was, live on television, with every chance to be himself.

"I’m not sure what the message is—that may be the essence of the problem," said Joe McGinniss, the author of The Selling of the President, the best-seller that detailed Richard M. Nixon’s media strategy. As a Massachusetts resident, Mr. McGinniss said he had never seen Mr. Kerry do well on TV—or even in public, for that matter. "When he sits down one-to-one with somebody, he’s not good," said Mr. McGinniss. But then again, he added, neither was Mr. Bush, or Mr. Nixon. "They knew Nixon was never going to be good in a situation like that. The shows that Roger Ailes directed had the appearance of spontaneity, but it was all carefully scripted. You put Nixon in a thing where he looks like he’s taking a risk where he’s not. They’re going to have to dress up the set for John Kerry, but he can’t do it on his own. He’s not Jack Kennedy, although he wishes he were."

Mr. Matthews described Mr. Kerry as more like Kennedy’s speechwriter, Ted Sorenson. "He’s kind of, like, world-weary, and he has that voice of wariness, almost like a Scandinavian winter," he said. "It’s cold and it’s weary. That’s what he sounds like when he’s interviewed."

Despite Mr. Kerry’s problems, a number of observers said it was still very early in the race. And it’s also not clear that the crucial voters even watch shows like Meet the Press or Hardball with any regularity, or even interest. "Typically, for the swing-voter type, when you’re asking somebody about the choice of words 33 years ago, those people have a 100 percent record of either forgiveness or completely not giving a [expletive deleted]," said Lawrence O’Donnell, the MSNBC political analyst. "Have we learned nothing from George Wallace’s career?"

Mr. O’Donnell said these TV appearances were simply testing grounds.

"The reason we stare at John Kerry in April is that Tim is the best indicator there is on how rough it’s going to be on you in a Presidential debate in October," said Mr. O’Donnell, who like Mr. Russert once worked for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. "‘Oh, look at that, there’s a vulnerability there.’ And, ‘Oh, by the way, he’s got several months to work on that.’"

Still, Mr. Kerry has a lot more history to contend with—TV history. "You create a tremendous number of obstacles in the obstacle course of life by going on television for 27, 30 years," said Mr. Matthews. "Because the age of television has created this incredible archive system. No matter what you’ve ever said, it can come popping out at you. But the only way you can replace old stuff is with new stuff, so you have to constantly make your new stuff more compelling. That’s how you do it. So television has a permanence, but you almost have to do battle with your old tape."

Meanwhile, everyone is waiting for Mr. Kerry to transform.

"The Democratic friends I have keep saying, ‘Wait, wait, he’ll get better,’" said Don Hewitt, the executive producer of 60 Minutes. "Well, I’m waiting, and I don’t know if he will or not. He may yet surprise me and make it apparent why he’s the guy I’d like to see as President of the United States. I haven’t seen it yet.

"Maybe he needs some good professional advice," he added, "if he’s in a mood to take it."

You may reach Joe Hagan via email at: jhagan@observer.com.


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: dropoutkerry; flipflop; gma; hardball; kerry; meltdown
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To: jerod
Surely this fool must have paid some big money for advice already. It's obviously just not working.

From what I hear, he doesn't take advice. Old "Do you know who I am?" is way too smart for that.

61 posted on 04/28/2004 5:35:24 AM PDT by maryz
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To: Liz
Kerry is a "blow hard." So I imagine he is blowing quite a bit! ack!


62 posted on 04/28/2004 5:35:33 AM PDT by SheLion (Curiosity killed the cat BUT satisfaction brought her back!!!)
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To: showdog
Surely you remember Bob Dull?
63 posted on 04/28/2004 5:36:03 AM PDT by sauropod ("I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. You will service US.")
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To: BigSkyFreeper
Exactly. If he can't handle a competitive election campaign, how he is going to find it within himself to deal with America's enemies? Short answer is he can't.
64 posted on 04/28/2004 5:36:26 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: BigSkyFreeper
Kerry accused Bush, Cheney and Karen Hughes for his medals fiasco of 30 years ago. I didn't realize Karen was that powerful. Wow!


lol
65 posted on 04/28/2004 5:37:36 AM PDT by TomGuy (Clintonites have such good hind-sight because they had their heads up their hind-ends 8 years.)
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To: All
I almost feel sorry for him. He's in the big leagues now and it's not what he expected!


66 posted on 04/28/2004 5:38:34 AM PDT by Terp (Retired living in Philippines were the Mountains meet the Sea in the Land of Smiles)
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To: Former Proud Canadian
I agree with you on this. I have been expecting Bush to get close to a 50 state sweep since early this year, when Dean was the Democrat candidate. I still believe its possible with JohnEffinKerry running against Bush. Most importantly, I have said all along that the polls are absolute bullshit, absolute lies thrown out there by the left wing media to push the populace into supporting Kerry. I expect as the election nears you'll see the left wing media back off from their preposterous misrepresentations of the facts, just so they have a smidgin of credibility to continue to sell their mendacious rags and try to save what little TV news viewing audience that remains.
67 posted on 04/28/2004 5:40:34 AM PDT by vanmorrison
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To: Liz
FoxNews showing LIVE videophone of helicopter attack in Fallujah.

LIVE!
68 posted on 04/28/2004 5:40:53 AM PDT by TomGuy (Clintonites have such good hind-sight because they had their heads up their hind-ends 8 years.)
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To: TomGuy
Kerry accused Bush, Cheney and Karen Hughes for his medals fiasco of 30 years ago. I didn't realize Karen was that powerful. Wow!

I thought that was so funny too when I heard the Kerry sound bite. LOL

69 posted on 04/28/2004 5:41:00 AM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (<a href="http://www.johnkerry.com/">Waffles</a>)
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To: Liz
Dont write this yutz off yet
he was WAY behind until Iowa until the last minute lets hope he doesnt have some sort of renaissance like that again
70 posted on 04/28/2004 5:41:57 AM PDT by DM1
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To: hellinahandcart
Bottom line for Kerry.

He has spent the better part of the last 33 years lying and playing both sides so that one day he could become president.

Problem was he expected to be president in a socialist society where lying and talking out of both sides of your mouth is normal. Now he is being called on it.

Everyone knows this and there is not enough paint in the world to whitewash this Marxist loser. he should be buried alongside of Kennedy at the bottom of the Bigdig.

71 posted on 04/28/2004 5:42:15 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (60 Senate seats changes America.)
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To: All
I listened to Kerry on Hardball last night via XM Radio. I cannot believe what a whiney, wussy, wobbly little boy Kerry is. Matthews lead him along a discussion about how mean the Republicans were going to be towards Kerry and his wife, like they were towards Dukakis and Kitty, Matthews alleged.

The attacks from the dems directed at President Bush have been vicious, nasty, and almost always over the top. What you have to admire about President Bush is that, at least outwardly, he brushes their hatred off. That's the sign of a man comfortable with himself and his beliefs. Kerry needs another haircut!

MoodyBlu


72 posted on 04/28/2004 5:42:31 AM PDT by MoodyBlu
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To: TomGuy
Thank you!
73 posted on 04/28/2004 5:42:56 AM PDT by EllaMinnow ("Pessimism never won any battle." - Dwight D. Eisenhower)
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Comment #74 Removed by Moderator

To: maryz
From what I hear, he doesn't take advice. Old "Do you know who I am?" is way too smart for that.

That's true, he told a prospective Democrat voter a couple weeks ago that he didn't know what he was talking about when the voter (the retired math teacher from City University of Harlem) that there were no differences between Kerry and Bush regarding Iraq.

75 posted on 04/28/2004 5:43:47 AM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (<a href="http://www.johnkerry.com/">Waffles</a>)
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To: BigSkyFreeper
If he's paying $1000 for a haircut, I'd almost think he's paying just as much if not more for all that bad advice he's being given.

Check out this thread about the price of kerry's haircut!

(John Kerry's $15,000! Haircut [not $1000 per Drudge])

76 posted on 04/28/2004 5:44:20 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (A vote for kerry or any other RAT, is a vote for the terrorists.)
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To: jackbill

Abraham Lincoln at sea.

"Creepo Dumbocrats, take a gander at the American might you despise."

77 posted on 04/28/2004 5:45:30 AM PDT by Liz
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To: showdog
"If Kerry gets any wishy washier, he will simply disappear. His is the worst presidential campaign I have seen in quite a while."

I think we could know what percent of the vote Kerry would get if someone would ask a poll question, "Do you absolutely hate George W. Bush.? The percent answering yes should closely approximate Kerry's vote percentage.

78 posted on 04/28/2004 5:45:33 AM PDT by lstanle
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To: Liz
"but there are many instances in which George Bush communicates more clearly."

Communication is much easier when one is telling the truth. Kerry can't seem to grasp this basic concept.

79 posted on 04/28/2004 5:46:38 AM PDT by fuzzthatwuz
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To: mtbopfuyn
Excuse me, but that "kid" was given command of others' lives. That "kid" was in Paris. That "kid" was and is accountable for his actions today and his actions today are most questionable.

Exactly. Many people joined gangs when they were in their teens. Some of them wised-up and apologized (or at least felt some remorse) when they got older.

But, in his "youth," Kerry was more like a gang leader, not a mere gang member. Kerry planned the antisocial events and encouraged others to follow his lead.

To top it off, Kerry hasn't shown sincere remorse for the public acts he wishes he could free himself from.

If Kerry wants to cut "free" from huge sections of his own past, he needs to show he is sorry and he needs to specifically name what he is sorry for.

Once upon a time, Kerry's youthful bid for the >>>limelight<<< set him apart from "ordinary" kids.

If he wishes to break from his past, Kerry's repentance must be public and specific, because his transgressions were public and specific.

80 posted on 04/28/2004 5:49:19 AM PDT by syriacus (If getting 3 Purple Hearts got Kerry OUT of Vietnam, returning them should have sent him back.)
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