"dying because of oil."
This brand of Bull-O-Knee never ceases to amaze me.
Posted on 09/28/2004 2:51:40 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
WATERVILLE -- With unusually blunt language, John Kerry's stepson on Monday blasted President Bush during a visit to Colby College, calling the Republican "a complete flop" and asserting that American soldiers are "dying because of oil."
Chris Heinz, 31, is the son of Theresa Heinz Kerry, who married John Kerry after the death of her first husband. Heinz has spent 18 months championing his stepfather's presidential bid and made stops Monday at Bates and Colby colleges and the Portland campus of the University of Southern Maine.
Heinz's Maine campus tour is part of an ongoing effort by Democrats to get younger voters -- who tend to eschew politics but usually support Democratic candidates when they vote -- to the polls in larger numbers this November.
His tour also comes as the sons and daughters of presidential candidates are playing a prominent role in this year's race. Alexandra and Vanessa Kerry have campaigned extensively for their father, although neither has appeared in Maine since Kerry won the nomination.
President Bush's twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, have also been visible on the campaign trail; Dwayne Bickford, executive director of the Maine GOP, said Monday it's "likely that they will come to Maine" before Election Day.
Bickford also said Republican positions on economic issues are helping the party make gains with newer voters. "Historically, young voters have voted with Democrats," he said, "but what I see is the pendulum swinging the other way."
At Colby, nearly 100 students and college employees gave up part of a glorious fall day to gather and listen to Heinz, who dressed casually and tailored his remarks to a young audience.
Saying it's difficult for any young person to accept a stepparent, Heinz said he didn't initially welcome Kerry's relationship with his mother after his father, Sen. John Heinz, a Pittsburgh-based Republican, died in a plane crash in 1991.
But Heinz said Kerry won him over with his humility and grace -- qualities that he said Bush has lacked during his for years in office.
Referring to Iraq and Afghanistan, Heinz said Bush has "started two wars in four years" and said neither is going well. Noting that there are many dictators who the U.S. has not overthrown, Heinz asserted that Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq partly because of the nation's energy reserves.
"Like it or not," Heinz said, "young men are dying because of oil."
In response, Bickford said Republicans view the Iraq war as a success because its people have been liberated from tyranny and elections will soon occur. He said Kerry has confused voters by frequently shifting his position on Iraq.
And he accused Heinz of negativity that is, he said, typical for the Kerry campaign.
"He sounds like he's blunt," Bickford said, "and I disagree with all of his assertions."
The Colby audience was largely supportive of Kerry; many in the crowd had Kerry-Edwards stickers plastered to their shirts.
Still, Heinz faced difficult -- and politically astute -- questions.
One student, for example, wanted to know why Kerry, relative to other Democrats, is struggling to attract strong support from female voters.
Heinz, citing GOP claims that the Democrat is weak on terrorism, responded by saying Republicans "have scared a lot of women into thinking that voting for John Kerry is like jumping into a barrel of lighter fluid and lighting yourself on fire."
And when asked about Republican charges that Kerry changes his mind too frequently, Heinz said, "It's better to be a flip-flopper than a complete flop."
Heinz's visit is part of a string of Colby College stops designed to sway student voters.
Candace Gingrich, half-sister to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, visited Colby last week, and Piper Anderson, a co-author of "How to Get Stupid White Men Out of Office," lectures on campus tonight at 8 p.m.
Anderson, a Brooklyn-based poet, will also give a 6:30 p.m. talk at the Waterville Public Library.
Chris Churchill -- 861-9252
cchurchill@centralmaine.com
Blah, Blah, Blah.
SSDD. Dem party-line crapola.
Blah.
I'm tired of all the same fantasy-land Demo-crap.
THEY are living in dream-land. We live in the real world.
Blah.
Why the heck doesn't the girly-man he go play with his buff blonde "friend" Craig?
Kerry's "stepson" is a prancing, smart-alecky twit.
"dying because of oil."
This brand of Bull-O-Knee never ceases to amaze me.
I was just thinking the same thing. I am still shocked when I think about John Heinz, staunch PA Republican running for office so many years ago, and how those Heinz' boys lives are so radically different (and radical) from the life they had while their father was alive. It casts a whole different light on Tuh-ray-zuh and her power/money motives, especially in light of her hook up with the lesser John. She's just like Kerry, any port in a storm, a finger (usually middle) to the wind... I can't imagine what John Heinz is thinking...
as for that womans book "How to get stupid white men out of office", I assume shes from Boston and if so I agree hahahahhahaha
I like your take on this one! I can't wait to use it with Mass state family and friends.
This republican woman doesn't scare easily, and I have dozens of reasons why I would never vote for Kerry. If anything, his constant flip-flopping should make women hesitant, since flip-flopping usually means lying, and what woman wants that?
:) LOL
"No Blood For Ketchup!"
I'm quite surprised that so few students showed up. My daughter and youngest son are Colby graduates and we watched the student body become more and more liberal. One of the professors is a big Dem. operative. The school does attract a large population of jocks who, from my experience, were pretty Conservative kids.
On election night my daughter is actually hosting a "GO W Party" and many of her former classmates will be present.
Oh, no. Not the stepson!!!!!!!!
What's next...the paperboy?
By the way, Billy Bush,nephew of George Herbert Walker Bush is a graduate of Colby. GHWB has been a speaker at commencement and was a regular at lacrosse games.
I guess we should not have attacked al-Qaeda in Afghanistan after 9/11. The RNC should jump all over this remark as well as the one about dying for oil. The Dems seem to have forgotten all about 9/11.
Another thing they have in common: they like to date starlets.
In Kerry's case, Morgan Fairchild ( who this year has donated money to every Dem. in the primaries but Kerry -- wonder what he did to her ?) and in Chris's case, Gwynnie Paltrow.
Thanks for the report from across enemy lines.
Teresa sounds like her press.
Your sister needs to look for dating material in better familes.
Send Bush/Cheney twice what you gave Kerry.
And pray for our troops.
They're back to the Halliburton BS.
We could do this with numbers.
"Send Bush/Cheney twice what you gave Kerry."
Done... and some!
"Teresa sounds like her press."
Much worse in my opinion, and even in my sister's.
God bless the troops and God bless The President of the United States!
I have a feeling that GHWB's speeches are just a bit different than the young Mr. Heinz'. At least I hope so. It's nice to know that Colby hosts some 'conservative' speakers as well as the Heinz and 'poet' types.
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