Posted on 10/15/2004 4:29:22 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
You'd normally think that The Today Show would have buried Kerry's lesbian debate jab in the same deep-sixed vault reserved for Swift Boat allegations, Kerry campaign's threats to Sinclair broadcasting and the mystery surrounding Kerry's military discharge.
But, surprise! Calling it the issue of "the L-word," the controvery led Today this morning. The opening credit showed Kerry, sotto voce, making his statement during the debate, and after a brief news summary that mentioned the matter, it was on to Katie's interview of Mary Matalin and Kerry rep and former Clinton press sec Dee Dee Myers.
As an aside, Katie's megalomania reached new sartorial heights this morning, as she sported a blouse/sweater with a huge, glitzy K splashed across it. What's next: bring on the bling-bling?
In any case, Couric first questioned Matalin, and the basic theme was "what was wrong with raising Mary Cheney's lesbianism given that Dick Cheney has mentioned it and it is not a secret?" Frankly I didn't think Matalin marshalled the best arguments, but did make the case that Mary Cheney has not been a public figure and that Kerry's statement was outrageous and over-the-line.
Turning to Myers, Katie made a surprisingly pointed remark: "some have said that Kerry's statement was not a magnanimous gesture but a calculated political move intended to undermine Pres. Bush's culturally conservative base."
Forced into a corner, Myers admitted: "frankly, I don't think this was Kerry's best moment. It was awkward, and has been a distraction from the campaign's ability to talk about the real issues."
Dee Dee then launched into a laundry list of Kerry campaign talking points on issues foreign and domestic, and claimed the Bush campaign is seeking to exploit the L-word issue to distract from the fact that W lost the debates.
But clearly Kerry is feeling the heat. A candidate knows he's in trouble when even his own spokesman rips him, even if done with velvety gloves.
Well he *has* served as a guest host on the Howard Stern Show ;-)
If its true that Kerry and crew calculated that this would tear apart the Christain support, it only further shows their complete ignorance. Unlike the intolerant left, we love the sinner but hate the sin. Christains will embrace the Cheney's and by extension Bush even further for this calculated slight.
That says something, IMO.
This was one of those rare days when "Mr. Some" worked to our advantage!
You're kidding me!
I thought Kerry had his Dukakis moment, then Lizzie Edwards gives me the gift of having a Dean scream meltdown.
Despite the fact that they are adults AND campaigning for their Dad just like Mary Cheney, right?
I have to assume the Dems didn't feel that Russert could give a sufficiently-partisan defense. But if that was their thinking, it backfired because, as documented, Dee Dee herself took a few shots at Kerry.
Not kidding. Show's still on - have a look!
Do you think Mary was playing the old "if your enemy is killing himself, get out of his way" strategy by not jumping all over Dee Dee, or did she really just kinda muffle it?
"K" for Kerry?
He mentioned it because he WAS ASKED about it. He NEVER volunteered to discuss his daughter's personal life.
Nice try, Couric.
Thta's the strong point to make to liberals who don't think there is any media bias: imagine the cacophany if Bush had done this. It is undeniable.
I didn't sense there was a big Machiavellian design in Mary's comments - more of a lack of well-honed arguments. She started with a conclusion: that Kerry's statement was outrageous and over the line, rather than making her case for why that was so.
Again, I don't want to overstate my criticism of Mary. She was there just to make the basic point that what Kerry said was wrong. And as mentioned earlier, Couric's tough question to Dee Dee, suggesting that this was a calculated political strategy on Kerry's part, was infinitely more devastating, coming from her, than anything Mary could have said.
And those hypocrites get on Pres. Bush about not being willing to apologize.
You're the second poster to make that speculation, which hadn't occured to me. As I responded before, perhaps tomorrow she'll sport a heart with two K's inside!
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