Kerry Behind the Scenes: Restless, Multisyllabic | NYT

[Ediacara]

Kerry Behind the Scenes: Restless, Multisyllabic
By JODI WILGOREN

Published: June 13, 2004

ike a caged hamster, Senator John Kerry is restless on the road. He pokes at the perimeter of the campaign bubble that envelops him, constantly trying to break out for a walk around the block, a restaurant dinner, the latest movie.

Landing one sunny day in St. Louis, Mr. Kerry wandered off the airstrip to stroll through a grass patch, leaving his security detail trying to keep him in sight while scores of staff members, supporters, police officers and journalists waited without explanation for an hour. Another afternoon on another tarmac, he tossed a baseball, then a football, then hopped on a policeman's motorcycle for a spin, all in the space of 30 minutes. Late one evening in Harrisburg, Penn., Mr. Kerry jumped from the motorcade to greet some children on a street corner.

"Can we walk over there?" he had asked an aide earlier that day, heading for a fund-raiser after a series of radio interviews from a hotel. "I'd love to get outdoors and remember what it's like."

More at the NeW York Times

[LittleApple81]

1. What don't they say "like a caged tiger?" The NYT is AWFUL

to democrats. The imagery created by a "caged hamster" is TERRIBLE.

And they (the NYT) are a bunch of lie-syllabic liars!!!!

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Excellent point, LittleApple81

Of course, only a Republican demigod, such as George Bush the Courageous and Frightfully Manly Cowboy, could deserve the tiger imagery.

Gads, will we ever have a free and competitive press again?

[gulfcoastliberal]

3. Jodi must've pulled a *-like smirk

when she decided on the "caged hamester" verbal diarrhea. Fuck the NYT, they are worse than the NY Post. They're the written equivalent of what CNN has become.

[Scairp]

30. I can't stand this ho

She is the "Kit" Seelye of the Kerry campaign. It is clear that she dislikes her subject, so why does she get away with all of these smarmy articles about him? Cause, just like Election 2000, the NYT wants Bush to win the election. Of course, we all know he didn't actually win it the last time, but they did a good enough hatchet job on Gore to make the election much closer than it should have been.

I email these assholes all the time about Wilgoren, and they just don't care what the reader thinks. Please everyone, email the NYT about Wilgoren in general, and this article in particular. They need to wake up.

[jpgray]

4. The normal convention would be 'caged animal'--the bias is sickening (nt)

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. F them!!!! The NYT SUCKS!!!!!

"a caged hamster"???

:wtf:

[VolcanoJen]

6. A caged hamster!??!! Seven Days of Reagasm and this is what we get...

... in return? Comparing John Kerry, our nominee and next president according to most national polls, to a FUCKING CAGED HAMSTER?

The Gore-ing has begun in earnest. Disgusting.

[VolcanoJen]

7. More Jodi Jingoism!!! "Upper-crust," "Chronically late," "Awkward"

Unbelievable!!

Check out more Gore-ing later in the article; sharpen up your pencils, kids, it's time to write some strongly-worded letters.

:grr: :mad: :grr:

He is chronically and unapologetically late — for campaign events, for meetings, even for church. And on Memorial Day, he showed up a half-hour into an hourlong parade in Portsmouth, Va., his only scheduled stop for the day.

At 60, Mr. Kerry is an avid and able athlete, though he sometimes seems physically awkward, with custom-made clothes hanging off his lanky frame as he pumps a fist at rallies.

His formal statements are filled with multisyllabic upper-crust phrasing — his campaign had an intern whose main responsibility was to look up all the unfamiliar words Mr. Kerry uttered — but one on one, he calls strangers "man" or "brother." He is careful to use people's names — he has interrupted himself more than once to introduce sign-language interpretations — yet he rarely remembers them.

He uses archaic phrasings and words like "fare thee well" and "folderol" but tries to soften his stiff seriousness with a joke or two, however canned.

[Hoping4Change]

10. The "unapologetically late .. even for chuch" got me steamed,

I barely read any further. The Times has really gone to the toilet.

[babzilla]

8. an enigma, wrapped in a puzzle, surrounded by a mystery

There Jodi "passive-aggressive-candidate-attack-dog" Wilgoren goes again.

She was the NYT reporter assigned to bring down Dean's campaign.

With that mission having been accomplished, she now types with breathless purpose to bring down Kerry's campaign.

Oh the shame of multisyllabic-ism, not to mention the troubling aspect of Kerry's obviously politically driven athleticism

According to Jodi, Bush's athleticism is merely an exercise regimen, whereas Kerry's athleticism is derived from "prep-school cultivated competitive sensibility". According to Jodi, Bush was never tainted by the "prep-school cultivated competitive sensibility(tm)" while serving time in the Ivy League, shrub simply strives for a disciplined physical regimen. Oy.

"At 60, Mr. Kerry is an avid and able athlete, though he sometimes seems physically awkward, with custom-made clothes hanging off his lanky frame as he pumps a fist at rallies. A former prosecutor, he employs a Socratic style in policy talks with aides and advisers, though he rarely goes beyond chitchat in conversations that could be caught on camera.

His formal statements are filled with multisyllabic upper-crust phrasing — his campaign had an intern whose main responsibility was to look up all the unfamiliar words Mr. Kerry uttered — but one on one, he calls strangers "man" or "brother." He is careful to use people's names — he has interrupted himself more than once to introduce sign-language interpretations — yet he rarely remembers them.


<snip/>

John Kerry the athlete is constantly on display. In New Hampshire in January, there were hockey games with the pros. This spring, there were ubiquitous pictures of him snowboarding. And now, a day off rarely passes without a photo opportunity of him whizzing by on a bicycle. It is not, as with Mr. Bush, mainly an exercise regimen; there remains in Mr. Kerry a prep-school cultivated competitive sensibility Though Mr. Wade said his boss reads newspapers thoroughly each morning and even points out articles for him, Mr. Kerry frequently deflects questions about news developments by saying he has not read about them."


Jodi Wilgoren is quite a piece of work. Her shamelessness disgusts me.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

9. They failed to mention the "caged rat"

that is currently running things in Washington. Perhaps if Kerry does seem restless, it is because he's probably having a hard time watching * screw everything up.

[Hoping4Change]

15. Good point. and remember he is restricted to what he can say.

"a president can now lie about something – oh, let’s say, an
important foreign policy matter – and a Senator who knows the
President is lying is not allowed to contradict him using classified
information... because Reagan authorized a National Security Decision Directive that extended the use of secrecy contracts among federal employees and enacted lifetime censorship over them.."

You bet he is probably having a hard time watching * screw everything up.

[malachibk]

11. Easy, there, hamsters!

I'm always surprised at the knee-jerk reactions here on DU!! I read the article and came away feeling much better about Kerry than I have been lately.

The report presented a fuller picture of a much more human and likeable man than Kerry allows himself to be in front of the cameras. I found myself wishing he would reveal a little of this hidden, caged self to the public.

Just really surprised you read it so negatively. I thought it was great. Made me smile about our candidate for the first time.

[bagnana]

12. you have got to be fkidding me.

I read it and was completely pissed off. Everything about it pandered to the "Kerrying" going on by the Repubs. "Upper crust" phrasing, "custom made clothes" -- SCREW HER! Jesus, like the idiot in the White house is wearing K-mart sale items. He can't even eat a pretzel without passing out, or fucking remember the "fool me once" adage, and he is a regular guy athelete, but Kerry who is smart and doesn't feel the need to hide it, is treated like an egghead, inconsiderate a-hole, who looks uncoordinated? I hate her!

[malachibk]

13. That's one opinion, I guess

But what I got was that he plays guitar, loves to compete, is respectful of his friends, is highly literate, reads the paper but not the polls...I could go on.

But I guess the "negative" aspects are what stuck out for you. OK, I can deal with that but I think a good article is a well-rounded article. At least Kerry seems more human to me now.

[progressivebydesign]

14. Yeah.. I had mixed feelings on the article.

I wasn't crazy about some of the framing... but I thought it painted a good picture of a man that doesn't want to be handled. I think it would behoove Kerry to break out of the mold the handlers are foisting upon him. I unabashedly adore Al Gore, but felt his handlers held him back.. and kept him from being himself, which was a problem. Kerry needs to open a can of whoop ass and have some fun. He does need to show that side more. If a guy loses the poll over which candidate to have a beer with, then he needs to look at his handlers and advisors, tell them to back off a bit, and he needs to be himself. Why not give the press REAL photo ops??? Like talking to kids on a street corner, riding the cop's motorcycle.. instead of those staged things, which always look so contrived. Voters want a real person in the White House.. that's why Bush was so popular. He sure the hell isn't a regular guy, but he appears to be... and that's the most important thing. Perception.

[VolcanoJen]

16. We really, really need to recognize this "Gore-ing."

If we're not going to allow our candidate to get "Gored," we need to be able to recognize it on-the-spot. That's not knee-jerking, it's rapid-response.

Some choice negative characterizations from the article that seem to have escaped you:

- chronically and unapologetically late

- physically awkward, lanky frame

- upper-crust phrasing; rarely remembers a name

- archaic phrasings, stiff seriousness, canned jokes

It's exactly what the Times did to Al Gore in 2000... and I don't think we'd be wise to allow history to repeat itself here.

There isn't a voter in America who would come away from that article with a positive image of Senator Kerry. What on earth are you smoking... and may I share?

[oneighty]

20. Physically awkward, lanky frame

Lincoln like comes to mind. A way with words too, and caring .

180

[VolcanoJen]

22. Well, ok....

But most American voters will come away from the article with this:

"John Kerry is awkward, buys custom clothes that still don't fit him, he's archaic, he uses big, old words nobody understands, he's always late because he only cares about himself, he's stiff and boring just like Al Gore, but tries to tell lame, canned jokes so that people like him."

Not exactly the kind of guy you want to "have a beer with." And if anyone thinks that line won't be dragged out 1,000 times between now and November, they're politically naive. In fact, I'd wager that this particular NYTimes article is a set-up for that exact question... and this article will be referred to again, and again, and again. Nice work, Times!

You see Abe Lincoln. I see John Kerry. The average American sees one tall, rich, geeky, boring guy.

[malachibk]

31. For every negative you list, there's at least one (if not more positive)..

to balance it. He's tall and lanky but ably athletic. He's uses upper crust phrasing in formal letters but speaks plainly and eats cupcakes or whatever it was.

The article provides balance and new face that Kerry doesn't let through. It made him looser, not tighter.

DUers focus far too much on the negative.

So, not smoking anything, but thanks for the jab anyway.

[banana republican]

17. An acute case of Cabin Fever

Attacks Minninosota Democrats usualy in December-January when there is 10 feet of snow and the temperature is -40.

He should borrow a cop's Hog and go for a spin eyery other day or so.

He needs it.

[Merlin]

18. Wow! This is a badly mis-edited article for the NYT.

There us a serious edit error in the last graph. Then there's a hanging "But M" at the end. This looks like a work in progress, not a finished piece.

[VolcanoJen]

23. I get that "But M" thing too, Merlin.

The article seems unfinished to me... is everyone getting this?

[Piperay]

19. Geeesh

:wtf: this is TOTAL shit! :puke: :argh: :mad: :grr:

[yardwork]

21. I hope Jodi Wilgoren was paid well by BushCo for this article.

I hope it was worth it to her to sell her journalistic integrity.

I'm going to remember all these "journalists" when BushCo is finally out of power and they start running to catch up to the head of next parade. They've blown it big, and it will take a lot for them to redeem themselves.

[Rose Siding]

24. She must really dislike him

She uses the most negative word available at every opportunity.

[VolcanoJen]

25. Yes... Jodi's not getting a warm, fuzzy vibe.

I'll bet David Brock and Josh Marshall chew this article apart over the next few days. :D

I mean, honestly... when is the last time a New York Times reporter wrote something like "The President, George W. Bush, repeatedly exhibits a complete inability to complete a speech without gaffing, stumbling, and making grammatical errors."?

[demgrrrll]

26. Check out the Daily Howler for a critical analysis of her previous works.

This is the same person who wrote about Kerry"s "valet".
Another hack.

[VolcanoJen]

28. Beautiful research, demgrrrll!!!

See, that's why I love this place... it's because of smart-thinking people like you!!

Here's the excellent Daily Howler piece on Jodi's previous exposes, this one concerning Kerry's "ManServant."

http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh042804.shtml

[opihimoimoi]

27. Kerry should spend an Hour a day on the DU

Getting a pulse of Lib America to acquire a grass roots picture. He needs to come and see this Board for himself.

Only then will he get a sense of us and how we think Collectively.

[VolcanoJen]

29. I feel the same way. It's politically "smart" to get a glimpse of...

... "The Underground."

When I attended the Cincinnati call for Kerry Volunteers, over 350 folks showed up, and it would seem the Kerry folks took notice.

On my application, I put "Democratic Underground fan and contributor." Kerry's Ohio Communications Director, Jennifer Palmieri (John Edwards' former Press Secretary), smiled when she took my app, and commented that she LOVES DU.

They're reading... and taking notes.

[TiredTexan]

32. My letter to the NY Times............

I am reminded why I cancelled my New York Times subscription every time I read an article by Jodi Wilgoren. Not content to have written pejorative and largely false stories maligning Gore that resulted in a new political phrase being coined (“Goring”) to describe the media’s trashing of a candidate for trivial matters while ignoring the opposition’s far more serious misdeeds, Wilgoren and the New York Times are up to their old tricks again. It’s as though the molehill is so much easier to climb that the mountain simply doesn’t exist.

In her latest smear, Wilgoren notes that Kerry is restless like a “caged hamster." Not “caged tiger” or “caged animal,” but rather the nasty, demeaning and contemptuous phrase “caged hamster.” The rest of the article reads as though from a high school gossip column. Instead of discussing Mr. Kerry's proposed policies, Wilgoren discusses how his suit fits on his lanky frame, and whether he is tardy.

In an age of dangerously increasing terrorism, with our treasury being looted by cronies of the powerful, while our environment is being decimated by rampaging corporatism, where our foreign policy is a fiasco, where Iraq on the verge of civil war and the Bush administration is accused of torture and war crimes, The New York Times is not just reporting about Mr. Kerry’s personal habits, but making them the focus of its political analysis.

When was the last time the Times did some genuine investigative reporting or spoke uncomfortable truths to power? How far will your reputation sink before you get the message that your readers expect serious journalism, not sensationalism? To be informed, the citizenry needs fair, accurate and insightful journalism, actual reporting on the candidates’ positions and on their voting and performance records, not the mockery of public dialogue routinely delivered by Wilgoren.

The Old Gray Lady sure ain’t what she used to be. While this makes me very, very sad, I'm even more frightened of our future as a nation when the paper of record sinks this low.

[alfredo]

33. Excellent reply

to the bullshit.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

34. Good one... fired this off to the public editor tonight

I really wish someone would address why this woman continues to be employed at the New York Times.

Is it necessary to refer to Senator John Kerry as "a caged hamster?"

Please show me any kind of similar comparisons of equivalent derogatory rodent comments about a certain President who happens to be running against Mr. Kerry.
After speeches by the President are lines like this one used? "The President, George W. Bush, repeatedly exhibits a
complete inability to complete a speech without gaffing, stumbling, and making grammatical errors."
No, of course not.

But here we have a reporter with a history of negative reporting on three different Democratic Presidential candidates, Gore in 2000, Dean and Kerry in 2004 writing in NYT articles things like...

chronically and unapologetically late (what politician is not this?)

physically awkward, lanky frame (Hmmmm. Like Abe Lincoln?)

upper-crust phrasing; rarely remembers a name (It is his fault he is educated, I thought that was supposed to be a "good thing")

archaic phrasings, stiff seriousness, canned jokes (again, show me a politician who is not this)
and

Mr. Kerry is comfortable being catered to. He has his moods and his myriad personal needs. A social loner, he is happy with an aide half his age. (what does this have to do with ANYTHING?)

Really. Kindly credit the true author of these smears. Who helps her write this garbage? Karl Rove? The RNC? Because everyone of these lines has been used in talking points memos from those very people.

This is why the New York Times is becoming irrelevant. Come on now, get back on top of the paper and clear out some of the press-release rewriters like Ms. Wilgoren.

I am seriously concerned that if you received the Pentagon Papers today, they would not be published, but shredded and lost forever.

As a past employee of the New York Times, all I can say is, shame, shame, shame.

[TiredTexan]

40. This is really good.........

If everyone writes maybe we'll make a difference.

[Carolab]

35. I hate this pig

She totally train-wrecked the Dean campaign. What a slob. She looks, sounds, thinks and acts like trailer trash.

[Carolab]

36. Reactions at the Kerry forum...

"I really like this portrait from tomorrow's Times, especially the part about how JK strives to understand everything completely and the stories of him as father figure. How nice it will be to have a truly thoughtful and compassionate man in the White House again...."

"Awesome article!! Thank you for sharing it !!"

"I liked that article... Its good that we learn more about our future president."

"Great article. It clearly rebuffs all these myths about Kerry that
Rove & Co floated around and which the stupid & lazy talking
heads in the media picked up and regurgitated ad nauseum."

Did these people read the same article? (Answer: yes.)

[Mokito]

37. Hey, give the man a break!

It must be utterly boring for him to see the Bush junta self destruct without him even having to stick out a single finger.

Waiting..., waiting..., and even more waiting.

:)

[Merlin]

38. John should swear off the words: "...with respect to..."

Those words invite elitist mushmouthism.

[Nevernose]

39. HELL YES! What a wonderful article!

There were, unfortunately, trophisms such as "caged hamster," but overall I thought the article was accurate, even positive.

Here is a man of the people, willing to go out and greet the crowds, sick of being in a "bubble" and even leaving his security people behind; let's see that from Mr. First Amendment Zones!

I saw him at the only public campaign rally he's given in Nevada so far. There have been a couple of fund-raisers (I, alas, have no funds)) and one Union meeting (I, alas, am in no union), but it was to record-breaking audiences. They expected 6-700, they got over 3,000 -- the fire marshall had to turn people away. At the caucus the next day, they changed the venue from a high-school cafeteria, to the high-school auditorium,, to the high-school gym, to the high-school football stadium, all within an hour or two (I was beginning to suspect that the fire marshall was a republican).

He showed up to both events late.

He took the time to shake my hand and give my little girl a "high-five" even though we were in the wrong section, the VIP-no-hand-shaking-section (we had to sneak in through the back door because of the goddamned fire marshall).

One of the the many things that I was struck by in his speech was his physique. The man is athletic -- more athletic at 60 than most of the men I know were at 18.

He also used big words. He did not condescend to a crowd of at least 50% blue-collar union workers. The article referred to it as being "multisyllabic;" I call it "telling it like it is," and there were big cheers all around.

The article went on to say, "This restlessness is one of many facets of Mr. Kerry's style and personality that is all but invisible to most voters in this era of stage-managed politics, where authentic insights into the people who would be president are precious few. Though it is impossible to know what Mr. Kerry is like when no one is watching him, observations on the campaign trail over several months, combined with interviews with politicians and aides who spend time by his side, help flesh out the one-dimensional portraits of Mr. Kerry as war hero or waffler proffered by the two sides' television advertisements."

As one who has seen him speak in person, I could not agree more wholeheartedly. As anyone who has seen him speak would know, John Kerry is without a doubt, our next president. Although the "hamster" reference was not exactly flattering, I think the overall gist of the article was rather flattering

[leesa]

41. Is multisyllabic a put-down in BushLand now?

All these twits in the fake news industry probably fear those who are multisyllabic. The TERROR!