I was a welder for 20+ years, along with being a serious bicyclist. Speaking from personal experience, I was the only serious bicyclist I knew that worked as a welder. Granted, my experience is somewhat limited, but most of the guys I worked with hunted deer, worked on their houses, and, yes, cleared brush.
My point being is that Senator Kerry trying to claim mainstream with his sporting activities is ridiculous. His silly little poses as the common man only expose how elitist he is. I doubt many people working in the trades have the time or the energy to pursue sports that are time consuming and expensive.
The construction trades run in my family, and I have not known one of them or their employees to actually indulge in sports in which they have a good chance of ending up too injured to work. My uncles wouldn't have been able to afford to hire these types as the workman's comp premiums' would put them out of business.
Most non union in these trades are not paid ENOUGH to stay home and recuperate. It seems that only when they get into the management end and can afford to get hurt do they take on Kerry's types of hobbies.
Most of the craftsmen I know love the more sedated sports of bass fishing, hunting, and 4 wheeling.