Does Clark being raised poor and Kerry being raised rich matter?

[MIMStigator]

Will the backgrounds matter to alot of democrats?

[JI7]

1. edwards focuses on it so it matters there

but i haven't really seen clark focus the issues in that area for it to matter between kerry and clark.

[democratreformed]

2. Not to me.

That's the only answer I can give. I support Clark for other reasons than his poor background.

[Hoppin_Mad]

3. Their political histories will matter much more - Only one's is Democratic

[Democrats unite]

4. Which one is not?

eom

[Hoppin_Mad]

11. That would be the one who recently raised GOP $ and who voted GOP -nt-

[Democrats unite]

15. Again which one?

Would be nice to have facts instead of heresay.

on edit: nevermind I forgot I was speaking to someone from the Dean campaign, I shouldn't expect facts.

[Hoppin_Mad]

18. That would be the one who WASN'T a Dem until a few months ago -nt-

[Qutzupalotl]

24. You mean the Independent

who raised money for Democrats AND Republicans?
;)

[Hoppin_Mad]

37. Yeah - That one ! -nt-

[incapsulated]

5. Well..

Only in the "life story", "get to know me" part of the campaign. It works if you come from a poor background, because everyone likes that "man of the people" kind of story. But Kerry has been around a long time, and doesn't need long introductions. He can point to his record for proof that he cares about people.

[democratreformed]

14. I've been studying FDR

One comment in a biographical paper I read was that he was as close as one could get in America to royalty. Despite the fact that he came from a priveleged background, he successfully held our country together throughout both the Great Depression and World War II. The thing that was unique about him, the paper said, was his "deep genuine concern for the common citizen."

[incapsulated]

23. The Roosevelt's

Had strong populist history, despite the aristocracy. But that was also a different time. There is almost an expectation that Democrats need to prove their populist creds, not only through action, but by background. Which is rather silly, imho. But, it exists.

It certainly helped Clinton, though, as a contrast to Bush, who was viewed as an out-of-touch aristocrat. Especially in the south. It's crazy, that a democrat has to be able to speak to people "on their level" to succeed, but the same people will elect the Bushes twice and think they are ordinary guys. :eyes:

[Killarney]

6. Not to me, but it does matter to some people

[Rich Hunt]

7. honestly, it doesn't

...and I come from a blue-collar background. I hate when people play that up. It's the substance that matters. I can think of a few blue-collar politicians who sold out their people.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

8. yes

does Sharpton being black matter? It's also a distinction with Bush that neither Dean nor Kerry can make.

[killbotfactory]

9. It shouldn't.

We don't choose the family we're born into.

[IndianaGreen]

10. Kerry's membership in Skull & Bones is more significant

than the fact he slept at a socialite's Georgetown mansion on the same night his fellow VVAW were sleeping on the pavement during an antiwar demonstration in Washington.

[JI7]

12. other candidates seem accepting of skull and bones

they don't have the guts to speak out against kerry for it.

[LTR]

13. Hmmm...

Sleep with socialite or sleep on pavement...

Why do you force me to make such a hard choice?

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. Even though the shrub

is a silver spoon fed, had everything handed to him, never worked an honest day in his entire life....he portrayed himself as "From the Heartland"..."A down to earth kinda guy"....."I know how you feel" Bullshit, so it works. For whatever reason, people relate to someone who has been where THEY are. It gives people HOPE that they can also do better? Maybe? Just a guess. It doesn't matter to me, but may to Mid-America.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

17. It shouldn't

But it will matter. I think there's a big difference between merely being rich like Kerry and being enthralled by greed like Bush. Kerry has done a lot of good things for the poor and shouldn't be judged merely because he has had good fortune financially.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

20. I should note

Despite backing Kerry here, I'm more of a Clark fan myself.

[cthrumatrix]

19. in the class warfare taking place today in the US..i think so

[sangha]

21. Yes, it matters

but not much.

[Fleshdancer]

22. not to me

I prefer to look at a person's experience and where they stand on the issues.

[theboss]

25. Kerry's history shows he is not a "noble"

I actually care about candidate's backgrounds. I would rather vote for a lower or middle class candidate over an upper-class candidate. (This is actually one of the things that has bothered me with Dean).

Kerry gets a pass though. For one, he served in the military and actually saw combat. Military experience equalizes everyone. Drill instructors and bullets don't discriminate. Secondly, he has a record. It's clear whose side he is on (like Ted Kennedy or Jay Rockefeller or other rich Democrats).

[cryofan]

34. Can you tell me more about Kerry's record?

what about his record is bad?

[Loren645]

26. It matters to me, tho' I can't say it's a conscious factor

But those, like Clark, Kucinich, Edwards that pulled themselves out of difficult circumstances, get an extra measure of respect from me.

[sandnsea]

27. It's what you've done, not where you're from

Democrats aren't into class warfare, that's the other party.

[LuminousX]

28. I'll vote for whichever has served the Democratic party the longest & best

[wyldwolf]

29. to some, yes, to me - a little - but not much

I can relate to Clark better but Kerry's economic status growing up doesn't effect how I think he would govern as president.

[goodhue]

30. It could matter

but I didn't know Clark was raised poor. I know Edwards and Kucinich were raised poor because they mention it on the stump.

[Justice]

31. Really About Empathy

Clark has alot of empathy for people, even if he has not had a shared experience. So while he speaks of struggling families, single parent families, and working hard to get ahead, he can also speak about issues that he has not personally experienced. He also speaks of doing car repairs himself, struggling to buy new essentials for a new location when moving because the old ones don't fit (ie curtains). People can relate to that.

I like Kerry, and his wife Teresa is wonderful, and has lots of empathy - largely by what she saw as a child. While her family was comfortable, she speaks of her father (a doctor) visiting poor families and she speaks of her parents really putting all of their eggs in one basket to send her to college in America.

I would be troubled if only wealthy candidates are electable. To some extent that is what is happening to us.

[adadem]

32. No because

Kerry cares about and understands those on a lower economic scale. I have met and spoke with his wife Teresa and his daughter Vanessa...they are both very "ordinary" and down to earth. You would never know they were wealthy people.

edit for grammar

[PretzelWarrior]

33. No. Clinton was poor and won. GOre was rich and won (but lost anyway)

so....what we need to do is focus on their positions on the issues. we need to focus on their background in politics. We need to see if the independents and moderates of the country will vote for these guys over the evil Bush.

[jpgray]

35. It's a factor, like anything else.

Part of America wants the Horatio Alger story, and another part loves the altruistic and selfless blue-blood story. They're both nonexistent, but people still love 'em. :)

[ecstatic]

36. Yes. We like inspirational stories; stories of ppl making it

Its not surprising that a rich guy went on to be rich. Thanks for that tid bit of info. Kerry just lost my vote, again!