Without the women, this thing won't be close

[Deuce 1]

First Ladies matter. Hillary certainly did, as did Barbara, and Nancy to sum up recent history.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&u=/ap/20041020/ap_on_el_pr/heinz_kerry_1&printer=1

Theresa has managed to offend both working women and stay at home moms with this one.

No, she is certainly not running for President, but we know that perception matters. This is the sort of thing that will make Democrats unable to hold their nose and vote, and will topple undecideds to Bush.

,,," "Well, you know, I don't know Laura Bush. But she seems to be calm, and she has a sparkle in her eye, which is good," Heinz Kerry said. "But I don't know that she's ever had a real job — I mean, since she's been grown up. So her experience and her validation comes from important things, but different things."...

The quick apology won't help.

" PITTSBURGH, Oct. 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Teresa Heinz Kerry released the following statement today:

"I had forgotten that Mrs. Bush had worked as a school teacher and librarian, and there couldn't be a more important job than teaching our children. As someone who has been both a full time mom and full time in workforce, I know we all have valuable experiences that shape who we are. I appreciate and honor Mrs. Bush's service to the country as First Lady, and am sincerely sorry I had not remembered her important work in the past."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usnw/20041020/pl_usnw/statement_of_teresa_heinz_kerry166_xml

I'm sympathetic, my liberal brethren. Dole's campaign was even more badly run that Kerry's has been.

The fundamentals of Kerry's campaign are just so disorganated and lacking in strategery.

-He did not marry this woman for the help she could give him politically. Must have been for love.

[christelsabine 1]

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-He did not marry this woman for the help she could give him politically. Must have been for love.

That, f.e., is happening from time to time.
Anyhow, it was fun to read the complete article(s).

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[PhillyKev 0]

I don't get it. She said she doesn't know if L. Bush has ever had a real job. Then she found out that she did and praised her for that job and appologized for not knowing that.

How does that offend anyone?

[quade 4]

You've heard of the phrase, "tempest in a teapot"?

In the grand scope of events over this election cycle, this isn't going to mean much.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[tunaplanet 0]

Yeah once again she made an ass out of herself. I guess being a school teacher isn't good enough for the billionaire type.

Well at least that wasn't as bad as when she visited her ex-husband's town in PA after it was flooded and a reporter asked her on the street what she was going to do about it. What did the billionaire say?

She said she wasn't in a position to help and that she was just there to look.

Forty-two

[PhillyKev 0]

I can't help but believe that someone is slipping you guys some kind of drug in your water. When did she say being a school teacher isn't good? She said, here's that word again. THE OPPOSITE of that. She praised the job school teachers do. She just didn't happen to know that L. Bush had been one.

As far as I know, you and Deuce are unemployed. How is that the equivalent of me putting down whatever career you may have?

This is insanity listening to the bullshit your side comes up with that has nothing to do with anything. It's like watching a David Lynch movie after drinking a fifth of tequila.

[quade 4]

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It's like watching a David Lynch movie after drinking a fifth of tequila.

It -would- be entertaining.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[quade 4]

For anybody that has access . . . CNN RIGHT NOW.

They'll be talking about this issue after the commercial break.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Deuce 1]

Kev, I am into this just for the strategic and tactical moves of election campaigning. I am a conservative, but this is about electioneering, at least for me.

We are in that period of time where people are deciding who to vote for, or whether to bother to vote. An undecided woman voter, Ms. America, will be at the water cooler or playground and another woman will ask her who she's voting for. This episode may come up, and it is not a rational one.

Ms. Kerry said she didn't think Laura Bush ever had a job since she was "a grown up". Ms. Kerry literally should know better.

Again, the undecided voter will vote on stuff that nobody here gets excited about. It comes down to hair and eye color and percieved "niceness". Lots of voters, a large minority know virtually nothing about the issues.

And lots of them will vote against a candidate because his wife says nasty things.

I don't care that she does or doesn't know dooky about the first lady, or that she sometimes comes across as coarse. It is, though, why some people vote. Lots of people voted against Bill Clinton because they didn't like Hillary. Same for Nancy Reagan and her tarot cards.

Anyhow, she blew it and apologized and she did the right thing. But the damage is done, and this sort of thing matters. Again I'm not making a rational argument. She is hurting Kerry's intangibles.

[christelsabine 1]

Oh Lord,
every kind of weapons is allowed:
In war (in elections times!), in love...

If you just dig deep enough, you will hit s***.
What's new on that?

This is a "reserve pull" in election war?

LMAO

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[Deuce 1]

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As far as I know, you and Deuce are unemployed. How is that the equivalent of me putting down whatever career you may have?

If you just insulted me, I missed it.

FYI I am a retired cop and stay-at-home dad. I am usually the only guy at the playground with the other housewives and our kids.

I make a mean baglunch and coach the toughest CYO third grade girls basketball team in the diocese, so BTFU!

I gotta go coach right now. Back later.

[Casurf1978 0]

I love it. People know you're loaded and they expect you to help everyone all the time. She made a mistake BFD. Yeah she's loaded but wasnt born that way, she too was a working women. Worked as an interpreter and fluent in 5 different languages, has also set up numerous philanthropies. IMO both are great examples of using their power to do good.

[flyangel2 2]

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Heinz Kerry said. "But I don't know that she's ever had a real job — I mean, since she's been grown up

The bold words are what make a difference in her statement. I take offense to what Heinz Kerry said. What is a real job?

I stayed home and raised my boys till they were in school. I only returned to work after my boys were in school. I only worked the hours that they were in school. I dropped them off at school; I picked them up after school. I stayed home with them when they were sick, and I wiped their butts and changed their diapers. I cooked almost every meal they ate, and I washed all their dirty clothes. I took them on outs, and drove them to all their after school activities.

Both my boys are grown now, and I work full time at a real job. But staying home and raising a family was the hardest job I had.

What does Kerry thing is a real job?

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[tunaplanet 0]

Apparantly teaching isn't a real job. Disgusting.

Her and her husband are two peas in a pod. Thank God we won't have to see them anymore in less than two weeks.

Forty-two

[kelpdiver 2]

It's pretty tacky, esp coming from an heiress who has a safety net the size of a million blue collar workers.

But I doubt it will change much in the women's vote, one that has already been seen as far less Democrat leaning than typical.

[Deuce 1]

(OK , Mare-bear, I apologize if my using you as an example bugs you. I'll delete this right away if it causes you the slightest discomfort.)

You other interested politicos hear that? The Merry-Berry is not known to get in this forum and throw sand. While no guy really knows women, I know them a little better than might be the median. Cause I'm a housewife and all.

That comment she (Ms. H-Kerry) made will resonate. It's a big deal to women to be scoffed at because they were only a teacher/librarian/housewife who raised "spirited" daughters.

I'll post tomorrow about whether any of the other "room-Mom's" who drive the third grade to the field trip with me comment on this.

Dudes, never tell a "housewife" that she's not working.

Especially me. I carry a gun a lot of the time.

And I'm nuts.

[Shotgun 1]

It wasn't a very smart or thoughtful thing for her to say, but it's not enough to change my vote...

And I am not personally offended by it, but if I was a stay-at-home mom then I might be. (It is kinda sad that as a society in general we seem to be losing respect for stay-at-home moms, but that's a different subject, and I don't think she meant for it to sound that way.)

[flyangel2 2]

Deuce, you are right, I don't post in here often, unless it's something that I feel I really must voice an opinion on. And what Mrs. Kerry said reminded me of fingernails on a chalk board. How dare her say "real job"! I'd love to know what a she thinks a "real job" is. BTW, what "real job" did Mrs. Kerry have?

Shotgun, I know Mr. Kerry may have not meant for what she said to sound like that, but if she is in the public eye, she better learn to pick her words better.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[misskriss 0]

I'm a stay at home mom and have been for 15 years now. At first glance it sounds offensive but I watched Mrs. Kerry on The View this week. (a benefit of being a stay at home Mom. ) I loved her... English is her second language and sometimes the way she says things do not come across the right way. Sometimes different words get lost in translation. What's important is that she admitted her mistake and owned up to it which many people have a hard time doing. It's nice to have someone who has her own opinions and isn't worried about being so damn PC all the time. AT any rate, she isn't running for President.

[Deuce 1]

OK, real time buzz on this.

Somebody I regularly have sex with works for the library. Librarians and educators are all predominantly staunch Democrats. Recent quotes from some folks very high up in the Library hierarchy include "Nobody I know is voting for Bush".

OK. But they are conflicted. Laura Bush is sincere in her reading programs and her hands-on education stuff. Nevertheless, most librarians/educators don't trust republicans regardless of reason and record.

I'm here to report they are wound about this. This is regarding California-wide librarian opinion. This has shaken the base, and they have really screwed the pooch.

Questions regarding replacing the first lady with yourself have been prepped at this point, don't you think? Trying to dissemble with "she's never had a real job" should have been vetted by focus groups by now. WTF, over?

Women have traditionally been a block the Dems could depend on. I think this was a strategical mistake.

Big time.

[flyangel2 2]

That's great that she admit she was wrong. But, now let's think here, aren't these people given a prep before they give interviews. Come on, there is no one in their right mind that is going to allow any of the presidential candidates and wives to give an interview and not have seen the line of questions first.

You say that English isn’t Mrs. Kerry’s native language, yet how long has she lived in the United States?

Yet in Mrs. Kerry’s interview she says

Quote

Heinz Kerry said she sees her age as a benefit — she is 66 and Bush 57. "I'm older, and my validation of what I do is a little bit bigger — because I'm older, and I've had different experiences. And it's not a criticism of her. It's just, you know, what life is about," she said. Heinz Kerry said she sees her age as a benefit — she is 66 and Bush 57. "I'm older, and my validation of what I do is a little bit bigger — because I'm older, and I've had different experiences. And it's not a criticism of her. It's just, you know, what life is about," she said.

Sounds like to me she knows what she’s saying. Looks like good enough English to me.

Bottom line, if Mrs. Kerry is in the spotlight, she needs to watch and pick her words carefully.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[ltdiver 3]

Love this quote on CNN.com's story

"I think it's very nice that she apologized, but in some ways the apology almost made the comment worse because she seems to have forgotten that being a mother is a real job," Hughes told CNN. "I think it's just unfortunate to try to disparage women who have made the choice of making their families a priority."

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[misskriss 0]

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Bottom line, if Mrs. Kerry is in the spotlight, she needs to watch and pick her words carefully.

Agree and disagree...Maybe that's why I never fit in the officers spouses club. I had a problem playing "perfect little wife. " I knew there were times I had to keep my mouth shut but if someone asked my opinion I gave it to them whether it was politically correct or not. And then seeing all of the behind the scenes shit. .. from infidelity to alcohol issues, to violence but when in public it was like the perfect couple, perfect spouse, perfect skipper whatever. I guess if she is choosing this lifestyle she needs to be more careful but I appreciate her frankness. Just my opinion and nothing more..
***edit. I know I went off topic but my brain does that on occasion . I can take one subject and end up somewhere completely 180 out.

[crwmike 0]

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I am a conservative

Really? Doesn't show.

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Again I'm not making a rational argument

[StevePhelps 0]

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-He did not marry this woman for the help she could give him politically. Must have been for love.

Ya think? How about a few billion $???