Posted on 10/21/2004 9:40:15 AM PDT by knak
NEW YORK (AFP) - Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) says running for the White House has involved an intrusiveness "beyond description," with personal attacks on his character that he accuses the media of treating as entertainment.
His remarks came in an interview in the latest issue of Rolling Stone, in which Kerry offered a frank insight into the personal and physical toll that months of campaigning takes on a US presidential candidate.
"The intrusiveness is greater than I ever thought it would be," the 60-year-old senator from Massachusetts said.
"There are parts of me that dislike that more than I thought I would, but it's something I have to put up with in order to achieve what I want to get done," he said.
"I always knew there'd be tough moments and I'd be tested ... But I think the intensity of it is greater than I could imagine. It is, actually, beyond description. You have to experience it to know what that is."
With less than two weeks to go before election day, Kerry also spoke of the draining experience of months spent on the road and the accompanying disruption of eating and sleeping patterns.
"I'm in the worst shape I've been in in a few years. I'm not getting enough exercise," admitted the senator, who has a passion for extreme sports.
At the same time, he said he felt "energized" by the campaign, describing the opportunity to take his political message to the country as "a liberating experience."
The 2004 White House race has been an especially divisive and bitterly fought campaign, with television attack ads from both sides challenging the competence and honesty of both Kerry and the incumbent, President George W. Bush (news - web sites).
One of the more talked about examples that targetted Kerry involved a group of Vietnam veterans who questioned the veracity of his wartime record, suggesting the acts of bravery for which he was decorated had been exaggerated.
Kerry told Rolling Stone that he had reacted to the ads with a sense of "bitter disappointment ... that people will stoop to those depths of lying, for their personal reasons."
Asked if he ever got angry, Kerry responded, "No ... I think it's sort of pathetic."
But he did take a dig at the media, saying it had devoted too much air time to the accusations.
"I was surprised that the media, even when they knew it was lies, continued to cover it and treat it as entertainment," he said.
Asked about his favourite music, the bass guitar-playing Kerry, who cut a record way back in 1961 with a band called the Electras, plumped for some safe choices, citing "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones and "Hey Jude" by The Beatles.
He also said it was "a privilege and exciting" that rocker Bruce Springsteen had organized a series of nationwide concerts to encourage voters to cast their ballots for the senator.
As for Vietnam War movies, Kerry said the most powerful was "The Deer Hunter" which "really talked to what happened to the folks who went."
While expressing admiration for Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" he was quick to underline his confusion with the later section of the movie that takes on a surreal, drugged-like atmosphere.
"Everything becomes a little psychedelic," he said. "That got a little distant from me."
Poor puppy.
"The intrusiveness is greater than I ever thought it would be,"
And this clown wants to run the country and live in the WH??
Then again, President Bush isn't a simpering little crybaby.
Poor John Kerry. Lets face it its terrible how Bush/Cheney announced to a national audience that his daughter is a lesbian. Laura Bush then said that Terry Kerry had never held a "real job".
Poor John-at least he knows that if he wins, he can kick back for 4 years and relax, as he's done for 20 years in the Senate!!!
Translation: "I never thought anyone would have the gall to probe into the details of my Vietnam Service ...did you know I was in Vietnam?"
This guy is nutz. He should just quit then. Then take TereSa out on his big boat and do a Natalie Wood on her. /sarcasm off
This guy never ceases to amaze man. He's talking about the intrusion ino his life, yet he verbally atacks our President on a daily basis. Our President has been attacked by these "progressives" for the last 3 years!!
Sounds wimpy compared to President Bush. The only thing kerry has a passion for is getting his picture taken while attempting some "extreme" sport.
With an emphasis on "little".
tested? He won't be truly tested until the press asks him how to spell loser.
What is he gonna do if things REALLY go bad in Iraq? Get a replacement in four months and then bugg out like he did in"nam?
Poor little rich boy, crying home fot momma (T)
Psychedelic!! Well, that explains a lot.
That explains the big bags under his sunken eyes. Imagine what his face would look like without the BOTOX!
BTTT
Sounds like he's having a moment like Teraayza did a while back.
Remember when she was complaining about never having any time to just BE...?
These 2 have NO business aiming for the White House.
They are "Unfit...For Command".
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