At times, quips cloud Kerry's message

[chiburb]

Chicago Tribune article covering Iowa...

Snip:

KLEMME, Iowa -- It was shortly after lunchtime, and the next stop on the presidential campaign trail for Sen. John Kerry was a pig farm outside of town. He was running late, but he teasingly implored the audience to keep asking questions to delay him, saying: "My hog-lot aromatic experience awaits."
The next day, before delivering a speech at the Iowa State Fair, the Massachusetts senator turned to the crowd and declared into a microphone: "I came to Iowa and I'm going to get a hay bale to stand on!"
At a Democratic breakfast one day later, John Norwood of West Des Moines told Kerry that he, too, is a Boston native. Kerry wondered aloud why Norwood chose Iowa as his home, asking: "What happened to you?"
The three scenes illustrate a test facing Kerry's campaign: Can he connect with people and convince voters that he is genuine without turning away potential supporters with off-putting remarks on the campaign trail?

Snip:

"He's a little awkward. He has a little bit of that sarcastic humor that left me thinking, `Oh, my gosh, you can't offend your hosts like that,'" said Norwood, 39, who moved to Iowa last fall. "The average American voter has to identify with the candidate. If I was one of his handlers, I would certainly coach him to tone down the sarcasm."

(End snips)

The article actually has much positve to say also, but the emphasis is obviously on the negative. I'm not posting this to start wars since I'm an ABB person, and will support ANY nominee. Just wanted you to see how a candidate is playing in a big city next to a small state...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=chi-0308190225aug19§ion=/printstory

[virtualobserver]

1. I think that it would be a mistake for him to change.....

I think that he needs to be himself. He will lose so much more if he pretends to be something other than what he is.

[CWebster]

7. Lose-lose?

He still doesn't get it...Is it any wonder that he is branded as an elitist not only out of touch and uncomfortable with the common rabble, but inappropriately rude and totally unaware that he is so. he has been inside for far too long and is content with the view looking dowmn,

[Cocoa]

2. interesting, but I'm not sure how important this is

We midwesterners have developed a self-deprecating sense of humor, and it can go both ways too. Maybe Gephardt will tweak the easterners in N.H.

This reminds me of an interesting moment in George S.'s* interview of Gephardt and his wife yesterday. George made some comment about did Jane ever imagine when she married Dick that they'd be spending their anniversary at the Iowa state fair. I didn't think anything of it when he asked it, but Jane answered "hey, this is great, I love Iowa!" or something to that effect.

*yes this is a copout for trying to spell his name.

[chiburb]

3. Cocoa, you're right of course...

If it was important I'd have put it in LBN. I too thought it interesting, that's why it's here...
(Stephanopolous? Snuffleupagus?)

[Cocoa]

6. thanks for posting it!

I'm interested in this kind of thing. I've heard Kerry's got a reputation for being out of touch, but I haven't seen it yet. He gets across really well, to me at least.

I'd have to say the person that so far seems the most out of touch is Lieberman. I listen to him and I can't figure out who he's talking to. It's not me, that's for sure.

[gratuitous]

4. Yeah, Kerry's quips are awful

Especially when compared to George W. "Now watch this drive" Bush.

As usual, one standard for the Democrats, another much lower standard for the Dim Son, that lovable lug that the press just loves to lug.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. Kerry has a sense of humor

and I don't think that will hurt him. Does he always say the most politically correct thing? No, and that's what initially attracted me to him many years ago. When Kerry speaks, he is speaking from his heart and mind, not from a script approved by his 'handlers'.

And he knows how to make a point:

"George Bush went to a nice fancy school like I did," Kerry said in Mason City. "But I came out of my fancy school asking a question, `Why can't everyone have a school like this?' And I think that's what we need in the United States, a president who understands that education is the great equalizer."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=chi-0308190225aug19§ion=/printstory

[chiburb]

8. I was going to snip that great line...

But didn't want to violate the 4 paragraph rule. As I said in the original post, there was much positive in the article too.

[papau]

9. I like the quips - grew up in a rural farming state - who's offended?

You think a pig farmer does not know pig farms stink?

You think folks don't joke about how the farm smells change as you pass farms that use different feed to get their liquid manure that they spread yesterday?

Do you think the kids that keep the feed lots clean do not know what they are shoveling into the trucks?

GO KERRY - don't change for no city reporters comments!

[JI7]

10. agree

.

[blm]

11. Remember why the press always loved Bob Dole?

They were charmed by his off the cuff sarcastic quips.