Juan-Come-Lately takes Hispanics for granted [OR: Why Kerry is Lost in FL; and Why Jeb Wins]

The Orlando Sentinel ^ | May 16, 2004 | Myriam Márquez

[summer]

Myriam Márquez, Orlando Sentinel Columnist

Juan-Come-Lately takes Hispanics for granted

Published May 16, 2004

Democrats, hoping to energize the Hispanic vote nationwide for John Kerry, are holding a big powwow in Orlando to strategize with party activists and political leaders from 20 or so states. So where's the star of the show?

Though the presumptive Democratic nominee for president was pitching his health-care vision at Orlando's Englewood community center just a few days ago, he's not scheduled to be at the Dems' Hispanic Summit this weekend. What a missed opportunity.

[....]

A candidate who understands those nuances can capture ever-important crossover votes, as Republican Jeb Bush has done both times he has run for governor [and won].

"Probably no politician in the states knows Puerto Rico like Jeb Bush does," McClintock said Thursday. "He knows what ticks in Puerto Rico, and he has demonstrated it every time he's run. I'm concerned that Kerry hasn't discovered that."

Of course, Jeb has backed the statehood position, like his brother, the president, but he has done it carefully, turning the issue into a populist one in which Puerto Ricans, and not Washington, deserve to decide their destiny.

The Bush boys understand the nuances. They get it -- the Dems keep struggling to find it.

[....]

Even the chairman of the DNC's Hispanic Caucus has expressed concern about the Kerry campaign's Juan-come-lately approach. [....]

That the King of Nuance would miss the nuances among and within Latino groups speaks loads about the Democrats' struggle to define their party for the average Jose and Josefina.

Myriam Marquez can be reached at mmarquez@ orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5399.

[summer]

Either Kerry is getting some very bad advice, or he really does not know how to campaign outside of his own state.

[summer]

BTW, according to what she's written in her other columns, the author of this editorial above is Cuban and a registered independent voter in FL.

[SevenofNine]

OH MAN Kerry is MORON

That pretty bad that brother of US Prez is campaign in FLA for his brother reelection

Kerry just say WHATEVER to Hispanic vote in FLA

[Dan from Michigan]

Kerry doesn't get it. He hasn't opened a Michigan office either here. I think the only place here he'd feel at home would be Ann Arbor. His type of crowd.

He ain't a workin man, that's for sure.

[Tacis]

Unfair!!! Kerry and his wife have more Hispanics (some of them in this country legally) employed as household servants in most of their palatial mansions and exclusive hideaways than all other candidates combined! In fact, Traitor John said that if he could find a Latina with enough money he might even consider her for his next wife!

[jocon307]

"Either Kerry is getting some very bad advice, or he really does not know how to campaign outside of his own state."

Yes, but doesn't it make you wonder WHY? Why isn't his campaign doing a better job?

Do you think a campaign is run by the party, or the candidate?

[summer]

OH MAN Kerry is MORON

Yeah, that about sums it up for Kerry on this one.

[summer]

Kerry doesn't get it. He hasn't opened a Michigan office either here.

I wonder what he's waiting for???

[summer]

LOL..

[byteback]

The Clintons must be advising the candidacy :)

[summer]

...doesn't it make you wonder WHY? Why isn't his campaign doing a better job?

Do you think a campaign is run by the party, or the candidate?

I think the candidate, especially a presidential candidate, should have a hand in his campaign. But I'll tell you what I really wonder: if Kerry can't make the best decisions on the campaign trail, why should he expect voters to put him in the White House?

I always thought AL Gore would have been a terrible president, just based in part on how awful he was campaigning. He was a disaster, most notably in FL.

[summer]

I don't know - Clinton won FL one year, so Clinton knew more about FL than Kerry seems to know right now. You don't miss a meeting of 20 states' Hispanic leaders in Swing City Orlando. Even I know that.

[byteback]

I think you missed the point. If Kerry wins then Hillary doesn't run in 2008.

[summer]

I see now - so, the Clintons are trying to do everything they can to get Kerry to lose? Certainly looks like someone in that party wants Kerry to lose. And, it's taking forever for Kerry to choose his VP. I'm thinking Senator Clinton really doesn't want the job.

[CFC__VRWC]

Yes, but doesn't it make you wonder WHY? Why isn't his campaign doing a better job?

Do you think a campaign is run by the party, or the candidate?

One of the things I keep hearing about Kerry is that he doesn't take advice very well, if at all. He's so arrogant and self-absorbed that he thinks he has all the answers and can afford to just blow off anyone who has a different opinion on how to campaign, or on anything else. To Kerry, the function of a staff and advisors seems to be to take the blame when he screws things up. Oh, and of course, to wait on him hand and foot 24/7.

This could really be a major issue for the Bush campaign to exploit, IMO. Most people do not expect a president to always have all the answers - all they really expect is that a president will surround himself with the best experts and advisors he can find, listen to their recommendations and then make an informed decision based on this advice and any other informataion on hand. Someone who completely ignores his staff and advisors, noticing them only when he needs a convenient scapegoat, is not someone who is fit to be entrusted with the Presidency.

[SoCal Pubbie]

If the author wanted to parody "Johnny come lately", then I think the title should have been Jaunito come lately.

[summer]

a president will surround himself with the best experts and advisors he can find

I agree; this is an issue. I have found myself thinking in those terms - who would this candidate bring into office? But that question is tough to answer with Kerry in terms of his VP choice, and it's kind of frustrating for voters who want to see a team of at least 2 ready to go and in place.

[Dark Wing]

ping

[jocon307]

"To Kerry, the function of a staff and advisors seems to be to take the blame when he screws things up."

He sure gave a great example of that when he blamed his speechwriters TWICE for things he said.

Bush didn't even try that over the infamous "sixteen words" about uranium, or whatever it was in the State of the Union address. Of course, I'm sure he knew he'd never get away with such nonsense, why Kerry thinks he will, I don't know.

His primary trait certainly does seem to be arrogance. He's got that in spades, far more than Bill Clinton or even Al Gore ever did. Hillary! might give him a run for the money on that score, but I think to the average soccer mom/oprah watcher she fakes humility rather well. Terayza's rather full of herself too, which the lovely Tipper never was. That "I'm so grand" stuff is really not playing well in Peroria, and it is no surprise.

[Common Tator]

think the candidate, especially a presidential

Presidential campaigns area always run by the candidate. After the convention, the Democratic presidential nominee, also has total control of the party. He can replace the head of the DNC. That is why Terry McAwful announced he would resign on Dec 31, 2004. He hopes to prevent Kerry from replacing him, and then with Kerry defeated in the General election, a Clinton support can replace Kerry.

If remains to be seen if Kerry, facing certain defeat, will chose to fire McAwful and replace him with a Kennedy supporter.

With CFR control of the DNC is not very important. IT is all 527s and the Clinton's have set up lots of them. The Clinton's intend to control the money for house and senate races. Kerry has and will raise his own money. He goes on Federal funds the day he is nominated.

Kerry's campaign is run by his own staff. They have a huge problem. Kerry does not take advice well. He constantly overrules the professionals.

The problem is not that Kerry's staff is inept. It is not inept. Kerry is inept and will not follow his staffs advice.