James Lileks: John Kerry, Prisoner of Symbolic Politics

The Newhouse News Service ^ | April 28, 2004 | James Lileks

[quidnunc]

"Go back and get the file footage," said John Kerry.

He was on "Good Morning America," sorting out whether he threw over the White House fence his medals, his ribbons, someone else's medals, someone else's ribbons, or a combination of the above mixed with some Cracker Jack prizes. How to clear things up? In a peeved and hectoring voice, Kerry told the interviewer to "go back and get the file footage."

Hmm. This would be the film of a grim, long-faced young man with ultra-'70s hair hurling some symbols of military honor at the White House. That's the sort of image the opposition usually puts in the October negative ads. Particularly when the nation is at war and soldiers are in vogue.

Kerry wants us all to see it in prime time. He seems to think it's something we want in a president.

It would impress those who abhor American power, who think that Vietnam turned into Sunny Candyland the moment the United States got out and let Ho Chi Minh's minions poke everyone into the camps. But it reminds others that once we cut and run — and that guys like Kerry were there with the scissors and track shoes.

-snip-

[sarasota]

Kerry's arrogance gets more blatant every day. Denial must be a nice place to live.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

...once we cut and run — and guys like Kerry were there with the scissors and track shoes.

Too true, and worth remembering, especially now that so many want to cut and run again.

[dandelion]

I know this is not right, but I must say it now:

"I love you James Lileks, and I want to bear your children were it not for the fact that you have a wife and children and I'm married. I love your mind THAT much."

I also cook recipes out of his "Regrettable Foods" books, just for fun.

[samtheman]

Kerry's ineptitude gets more blatant everyday. He's going to end up making Dukakis look presidential.

[Interesting Times]

Another solid article by Lileks.

One minor quibble: the fence Kerry pitched his medals, ribbons, and/or library card over was in front of the U.S. Capitol, not the White House.

[talleyman]

Benedict Arnold Kerry bump!

[KJacob]

There is a fence in front of the Capitol?

[Interesting Times]

There is a fence in front of the Capitol?

There was that week. DC was bracing for an enormous antiwar rally on April 24, 1971, and the medal toss was on the 23rd. The communist Daily World was on the job...

[A Jovial Cad]

Lileks knocks it out of the ballpark again! Excellent column--and oh-so-true.

[Big Mack]

To John F'n Kerry, denial is a river in Egypt.