Is THIS Presidential?

[mzmolly]

"U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-Ma) points down as he passes placards for contender Howard Dean during a visit to the Jewett St. School polling station in Manchester, New Hampshire, January 27, 2004. Kerry began today's New Hampshire primary election day at the front of the Democratic contenders, according to most polls. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque"

I can't imagine any other candidate doing such a thing?! This is not only ignorant and cruel, but very poor judgement for a Presidental candidate....

Edited to add: THE OBVIOUS IMPLICATION FOR THE *IQ CHALLENGED* ;) IS THAT THE DEAN CAMPAIGN IS FLOUNDERING AND JOHN KERRY IS (IN HIS PRESIDENTIAL WAY) RUBBING IT IN.

Guess how many Dean supporters John just alientated?

[TexasSissy]

1. I don't get it. Who did the photo? Is it real? What's it supposed

to signify?

[slinkerwink]

2. it's definitely real---look on yahoo news photos

[Mobius]

56. agreed its real

h t t p : // us.news1.yimg.com /us.yimg.com /p/rids/ 20040127 /i/ r1229687793 .jpg

that is the source url for the photo.

[BootinUp]

3. Wha????

[redqueen]

4. I missed it

What's the big deal again?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. I don't get it

He could be pointing at something on the floor, for all I know.

My father, who did a lot of public speaking in his role as a Lutheran pastor, used that gesture a lot, just for emphasis. As far as I could tell, it was unconscious.

Notice that JK has his index finger extended, not his middle finger.

[Andromeda]

121. It's obvious...

that John (winning in the South isn't important) Kerry is standing in front of Dean signs with a smirk on his face and his finger pointing down :thumbsdown: ( a finger means the same thing as a thumb) to show disrespect for Dean and his supporters.

It's tacky, petty and spiteful---not a quality I want in a president.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

136. LOL

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

5. Is he shaking off a booger?

Or setting up the old "pull my finger" gag?

[Renew Deal]

6. Maybe he is taslking about the economy

or the temperature. Why do you assume the worst?

[Monte Carlo]

7. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were taking an uncaptioned photo...

... and using it to your own ends

[mzmolly]

52. I just added the caption. The message is clear.

:hi:

[Monte Carlo]

83. Help me out, I'm still not seeing the threat title gist.

Please explain it to us slow types.

[progressivebydesign]

55. It is captioned.. read the post...

Reuters captioned the moment. I does make him look kinda smug..
d.

[HuskerDem]

134. OH MY GOD !

Kinda smug? The horrors. Me thinks some people are predisposed to find egregious sin in anyone but their candidate.

I mean it's not like John called him a cockroach or anything, ya know?

[Blitz]

8. So what?

There's no context provided. He could well be pointing to someone who wants to ask a question.

[ozone_man]

167. The only person he could be pointing to

is the devil. :evilgrin:

[SeattleRob]

180. So what?

I'm a Dean supporter and I don't see what the big deal is.

[Lungs]

9. I don't get it...

What's the big deal with this pic? Even if it's real...so?

[hippiechick]

10. He just always looks like a sour, snippy man to me ....

Definitely not the temperament I'd want my president to have.


:hippie:

[leyton]

16. Well, obviously he just stepped in dog doo.

I would get a bit sour too.

[THUNDER HANDS]

11. um....so please tell me oh masters of public perception

How am I to react to this?

Angrily?
Happily?

What exactly is Kerry doing that's so ghastly? He's freakin' pointing his finger down.

Am I missing something?

[incapsulated]

12. Uh, he's pointing down...

and this means what exactly? Do you know he is doing it as a response to Dean supporters or if he's pointing at his shoes?

:silly:

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. It's John Kerry.

He can do that. Then tomorrow he can say it was just a "process" for exercising his finger and frown. :)

[Jack_Dawson]

15. Are you suggesting he's pointing to his "package"

Jeeeez MzMolly where is YOUR mind these days?

[Field Of Dreams]

17. Did he drop his sandwhich?

[MrSlayer]

18. Um....What exactly is bothering you here?

He's pointing downward with Dean and Clark signs behind him. I don't see what the problem is. He's not flipping them off or pulling out his balls.

[JasonDeter]

19. For someone to change their vote over something like this...

[mzmolly]

36. How many people changed a vote over an overblown scream?

Yep. They declared John Kerry more *Presidential?! That doesn't ring true.

[youngred]

47. you can't see a difference there?

pretty big if you ask me....but you didn't.

Dean's scream is overblown, but you're doing the same thing the media did...take something and turn it into something its not.

[mzmolly]

59. First you say there is a difference, them you claim there isn't...

John Kerry alienated Dean supporters, that should be obvious.

Imagine Dean standing in front of a Kucinich sign with in the same situation, and then tell me you'd defend Dean...

[youngred]

65. Yeah, i would

its a shitty photograph that means nothing. Dean's scream was twisted by people into something that it wasn't just as you're attempting to do with this photo.

John Kerry alienated Dean supporters? That's silly, and if you're alienated or offended by this then you have a mighty thin skin.

PS Dean has done much worse things to Kucinich than that

[Name removed]

126. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[youngred]

127. Lord

You're the one who kept hammering him into this. So I respond with a likewise example saying that despite things that Dean has done which are worse than what you very dubiously claim Kerry has done that I bear Dean no ill will.

Can't defend your weak spin, throw up a strawman!

[mzmolly]

133. Weak spin... Again, do you think he stubbed his toe? The strawman is

Dennis Kucinich, who is NOT the topic of this thread.

[youngred]

137. You're the one who brought him up

and then slammed on him unecessarily. You want me to just let you attack my candidate because I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill over a godamn picture?

Nice of you nto to refute ANY of the points I made though...

[mzmolly]

141. I did not bring him into this conversation unless your referring to

the suggestion that you imagine JK standing in front of Kucinich signs? :eyes:

[youngred]

144. There was that

and then you continued with other snips.

[HuskerDem]

139. The difference here is

Kerry does not look like a fucking maniac, and we don't have the audio to ice the cake with.

[youngred]

142. That's unfair

Dean's move was a pep speech to his supporters and a smart political move (yes I know he's been hit hard on it, but its ended up with some very beneficial results for him and the furor will die down)

The difference is that Kerry here is not pictured doing anything wrong or being devisive, or smug, or arrogant, or petty or any of those other accusations, but some will find fault with anything and be so willing to take offense at the drop of a hat

[mzmolly]

146. Thats right he stubbed his toe, or hurt his wee wee.

;)

[HuskerDem]

184. It is fair

Dean provided in really intense 3-D some great material for every radio morning show and late night comedy in the nation. THAT IS NOT A SMART POLITICAL MOVE.

Yeah, some will find fault with anything. That's true, very true. And who the hell knows what Kerry was doing in this photo? I don't. I wasn't there, and I sure don't trust some 3rd string reporter to give me an unbiased view.

Ain't anything here, that I agree with but Dean's blowout in Iowa? That was all Dean. Can't make a fire without oxygen and fuel and he gave both.

[youngred]

189. Dean did it to himself no doubt

but long long long after the scream has faded one pays attention to the fact that even on Kerry and Edwards BIG days they got half the media coverage (if that)

[mzmolly]

143. No he looks like a pompus ass.

The maniac thing has been proven false, via numerous interviews with family friends who say *Dean is not a maniac*

The pompus ass thing remains undisputed. Just denied really.

[youngred]

145. because one's friends say they are not a maniac doesn't make it so

just look at Hitler

AND NO THAT IS NOT COMPARING DEAN TO HITLER

[mzmolly]

147. I'd say you need evidence to call someone a maniac. Like oh say murder

or a history of being hospitilized for maniacal behavior etc.. I think friends and family are a good judge of maniac-ness myself. That along with various personal history.

[youngred]

148. friends and family have a percieved bias

only a psychologist can determine that. Not friends and family and not internet posters who saw a 10 second clip taken out of context and spun by the media (likewise for percieved slights;-))

[mzmolly]

151. But I think maniacs are hard to miss.

:P

[HuskerDem]

185. And many have seen and recognized

the mad doctor for what he is. It was pretty damn hard to miss.

[TheDebbieDee]

20. I don't know..........

The skin color of the face and hand does not match. Could the head have been photo-shopped onto the body?

[RogueTrooper]

23. Botox?

could be.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

21. Not the most convincing photoshop job i've ever seen.

Still, pretty damn funny.

[killbotfactory]

22. It's not photoshopped

It's real.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

30. You're sure? His head looks stuck on.

And why would he be standing in front of those signs?

[MercutioATC]

31. It always looks that way...

...sorry, couldn't resist. Peace.

:evilgrin:

[Screaming Lord Byron]

46. Fair enough, I'm convinced. I'd chalk it down as an unfortunate

combination of Kerry moving and the photo catching what looked like a downwards point. I'd like to think JK's not dumb enough to be so crass.

[mzmolly]

68. He is very crass, and it's now on film. The perception of Kerry being

beyond this is false.

[leyton]

35. No, his head is real.

If you go the photo unity thread, you'll find more pics of Kerry in the same clothing. He's always got the blue scarf (and under it, an orange or pink tie...)

[no name no slogan]

24. "Hope Not Fear"? Once again DK leads, everyone else follows.

Nice "Hope Not Fear" signs-- those must be brand new.

Funny, because DK's campaign slogan for the last couple months has been "Fear Ends, Hope Begins".

Just like how DK said he'd vote against the $87 bil for Iraq, while the others waffled around before finally opposing it.

And don't forget Diebold. DK had the cojones to post their internal memos on his congressional website. A week or two later, Kerry and Dean put out statements "denouncing" Diebold's strongarm tactics.

Kerry's pointing down in front of a swarm of Dean supporters-- so what? Is it not legal to point down these days?

[redqueen]

50. DK leads, the 'frontrunners' follow

It would be funny if the result didn't mean more lives lost and hundreds of billions more diverted from domestic needs to fuel the MIC.

[TLM]

25. Is he pointing at his junk?

How presidential.

[JaneQPublic]

26. Right-click the photo for its Properties: You'll see it's from Yahoo News

Therefore, not photoshopped.

[arcos]

27. it IS real... here's the URL... and the original caption...

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-Ma) points down as he passes placards for contender Howard Dean during a visit to the Jewett St. School polling station in Manchester, New Hampshire, January 27, 2004. Kerry began today's New Hampshire primary election day at the front of the Democratic contenders, according to most polls. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

[slinkerwink]

29. see? the caption said kerry pointed down as he passed the Dean signs

[THUNDER HANDS]

40. wow...talk about subtelty

If that's how Kerry chooses to dig at Dean then that's about as classy as it gets. I mean, it's not like gave the middle finger to a 5-year-old Dean supporter who asked for his autograph. :)

[HuckleB]

118. Hardly.

That look on his face is hardly subtle. And pointing down like this is ridiculous. Any Kerry supporters who want to call for unity have got a big problem. Their candidate is a serious divider without class. This is a scummy move from the word go. I have no respect left for Kerry. He has used it all up with trashy moves over the past week.

[youngred]

119. look on his face? he's blinking fer crissake

this is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen people complain about

tempest in a teapot

[youngred]

49. and I'm sure many of those Dean supporters were yelling cheers of love

big f*ing deal

[JohnKleeb]

67. I remember a picture of Dean that by this logic would be considered worse

Hes like near a sign that disses the other candiates. This really is trival. :shrug: wouldnt it be nice if we focused on why our candiate is better than Kerry. It would be easier, and nice too. Ive seen a lot worse than this, Dean and Kerry are like Patton and Monty :).

[mzmolly]

69. Fact is John people are flocking to Kerry because he supposed to be

Presidential? :puke: This is not Presidential. The photo speaks for itself.

As I said, imagine him doing this infront of Dennis Kucinich signs?

[youngred]

85. Or sending out a flyer claiming to be the only candidate opposing the war

or continual snubs about BBV and stealing Dennis' slogan...

If Dean were doing this in front of Kucinich signs I'd say the same thing...bad photo, worse spin

[mzmolly]

130. I know he should have said the only candidate with a snow balls chance

in hell. You must have missed the thread where we indicated the NUMEROUS times Dennis referred to himself as *the only* candidate for this or that. google, you'll find it. He claimed to be the true progressive/only candidate with a single payer HC plan etc. :puke:

Now back to the subject...

[youngred]

131. Now I would like it to be noted

that you're the one who dragged Dennis into this and started being insulting.

BTW he IS the ONLY candidate who doubted the WMD claims. He and Sharpton are the ONLY candidates to oppose the war from the start. He is the ONLY candidate in favour of single payer health. He is the ONLY candidate who will take our troops out of Iraq now.

Dean Lied about being against the war from the start. He is the ONLY candidate with a high rating from the NRA. He himself admits to being moderate at best, but claims he's a progressive for votes. HE was AGAINST the Civil Unions law that he now claims proudly as his own and had it foisted upon him by his state legislature. He WAS a member of the DLC for a long time.

I know what Dennis said and he's right when he says it. Dean lies, shifts and obsfucates.

but, like you said back to the subject after your rude interruption

[mzmolly]

135. Puhleeze.

I refuse to rehash the Dennis's shit doesn't stink *here* thank you. There is a thread for that if you'd like to discuss. I am fully aware of EVERY statement Dean made about the war, I know he was consistant. Is he anti war no. Did he feel this war was necessary NO?

Now back to the *subject* which believe it or not DK :hi:

[youngred]

140. You call support for Biden lugar and saying we need to get Saddam

and then compare that to what he's said now, consistant?

You brought Kucinich into this first look over your posts. You want to get back on topic, yet you keep straying further and further off topic with needless attacks and baseless posts.

[mzmolly]

152. Actually I don't recall anyone saying *we need to get saddam*

But Bush and Lieberman. Additionally, he has been consistant. Also, I did look over the posts, and I believe you brought up Dennis first in post 59.

Dean would have supported war under these conditions:

1. The UN deemed it was necessary-as we are part of the international community.

2. Saddam was found to have Nukes and was an immediate danger to the US.

These criteria were not met, thus he did not support the war. Again, back to the subject.

[youngred]

155. You brought him up

I replied why I don't hate Dean even though he has done worse things to Kucinich than have a picture of Kerry pointing down with some Dean signs in the background. Further I did not start a ridiculous thread claiming that something as stupid as a badly cropped photo is a reason to vote against someone. I post that and you slam Dennis to which I reply. Read a bit more carefully.

I remember hearing Dean say that, but I don't have a link so will drop it. I know full well Dr. Dean's opinions on the war, he was my first choice for a time last year when he was just starting out, until I began to do more research on his positions and found that he and I do not agree on too many things for him to get my vote in the primaries.

[mzmolly]

157. see post 59...

:hi:

[youngred]

159. yes....and your point is?

do you have one? that's you mentioning him for the first time

[mzmolly]

160. Actually post 65 the reply to 59 brought him into the conversation

I brought up Dennis Kucinich signs. The post 65 baited with a dig at Dean.

[youngred]

163. 59 is before 65 last I checked

and what there was a dig at dean? I said the scream was overblown (that's not a criticism, that's supportive). I said that Dean has done worse things to Kucinich than you're complaining about Kerry doing, which is true.

Care for a third try?

[mzmolly]

166. I brought up a scenario with a Dennis Kucinich SIGN. You said

"Deans done much worse to Dennis Kucinich" thus bringing him into the conversation. Dean hasn't done anything *to* Dennis Kucinich so I don't need a third try.

[youngred]

168. yes, he has

for someone who claims to know all about the Doctor you haven't been paying attention.

You brought it up, I furthered your scenario and pointed to real facts.

[mzmolly]

173. Dennis Kucinich has had it in for Dean for a year plus... his supporters

are buying his claims without considering the facts. I know all about "The Doctor" and I've seen the posts here by DK and DK's own website where he singles out Dean.

I can only assume your referring to Dennis's "I'm the only one" claim. Well, here this outta make you feel a bit better...

http://www.google.com/search?q=dennis+kucinich+and+i%27m+the+only&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N

Theres lots here. Dennis says he's the only lots, even when it doesn't apply. Like when he claimed to be the only candidate who favors single payer health care, when CMB was still in the race.

There was an entire thread on this before. Remember Dennis calls himself THE progressive choice. How bout the others who voted in favor of choice, and keeping minors out of prison? How bout Carol M Braun, is she not progressive?

[youngred]

176. Dennis Kucinich has had it in for Dean for a year???

Dean launched the first salvo when the campaign was still in its infancy when they were both nobody's running for the same votes

I know the facts, and no I'm not referring to the "I'm the only one" comment

First of all the choice thing is over-done and you ignore the fact that he has since changed his opinion. nice try though.

Carol MB is not *as* progressive as Dennis, and CMB was only in the race to see how far she could go. Before she sold herself to Dean anyway.

[mzmolly]

178. That's right Dennis was always progressive on choice and other issues

gimme a break. Dennis is selectively progressive. He claims hes the TRUE progressive, but if you examine his voting record, it shows otherwise.

Im done with the conversation regarding Mr. Kucinich. I've spent far too much time on him already. :hi:

[Beaker]

92. So?

is there something dreadfully wrong about this that I'm obviously totally missing?

[Caution]

107. Seriously people

If this kind of thing is actually having an effect on your feelings about a candidate what the hell are we going to do once Bush's campaign actually has the nominee in his sight and the real smear campaign starts. Issues people, issues! Save up your visceral hatred for Bush and concentrate on attempting to sway dem voters to your guy as opposed to why some other guy sucks. And for record, I am undecided on who i will support besides ABB. I leaned Dean for a while but he has turned me off quite a bit in the past couple of months with his policy statements. I'm leaning Kerry now, but either way I certainly think that any of the current candidates would be a LOT better than Bush.

I think our anger towards the mis-Administration is getting redirected at anyone who isn't our specific candidate right now.

[youngred]

108. AMEN

so to speak

[oasis]

28. We can defeat the real enemy together if we can get the bitterness out

of our systems and get to work.

[salinen]

32. Now if he would have pointed up

I'd really be pissed off!

[mzmolly]

34. John Kerry may have lost my vote.

:( I am greatly disapointed and ashamed of this man. Were this Dean they'd play it 700 times. But I am sure John will get a pass. Pathetic.

[oasis]

37. I honestly have no idea of what you are implying about this picture.

[youngred]

If it were Dean no one would care

just like no one really cares about this...except you

[mzmolly]

72. Me and several othe r Dean supporters. Also the AP found it newsworthy?

hmmm, imagine...

[Monument]

77. mzmolly are you dizzy yet?

spin spin spin spin spin spin

[mzmolly]

79. I dunno, is the AP dizzy? They posted it first.

:hi:

[youngred]

86. the AP finds a lot newsworthy

including random pictures of candidates in odd positions.

Remember the Gephardt picture of his shadow on the flag with his hands making an aparent penis...doesn't make this valid

[PROGRESSIVE1]

98. Dean will have to fight in the GE to get my vote.

Afterall, Dean is very conservative on domestic issues as his Governor records have shown.

[jsw_81]

117. You're hilarious

You find one picture of John Kerry standing in front of some Dean signs while pointing at something we can't even see, and you think there's something sinister going on? LOL!

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mindfulNJ]

38. this is the dumbest thing I have ever seen

on this site! For all we know he could have been asked about the temperature going down! Is this for real?!!! C'mon people!:eyes:

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CWebster]

41. A picture is worth a thousand words

Ignorant, arrogant petty bastard. Always knew he was a self-impressed windbag.

Damn presidential. Yeah we really want to elect him.

[mindfulNJ]

45. see how presidential you would look

if you had a camera on you 24/7! This is ridiculous. For the record I'm not even a Kerry supporter.

[CWebster]

53. Ah ah ahh

What;s good for the goose is good for the gander. He can't strut around like he is some kind of statesman and pull this kind of shit. It should be screamed out of the networks 24/7. After all, it is only fair.

[youngred]

54. ignorant? arrogant? petty? self-impressed windbag?

:eyes:

[CWebster]

58. You tell me

nice expression, eh? Great sport.

[youngred]

61. Come on, this is ridiculous

mighty thin-skinned to read so much crap into one photo.

Photo's can also lie

[CWebster]

73. What was that about Dean's pep rally again?

You know the one that won him broad disdain? Could it have been as petty as this? At least it was good-hearted of Dean....

[youngred]

87. Since you're the first to bring it up

I think that was a smart political move by Dean, intended or not. What this, and that is, is stupid spin of an image taken out of context.

[Egnever]

93. Agreed and if Deans video can be used to hand kerry NH

Why shouldnt crap like this be used to take it from him?

Again Deans speech was encouragement for his suporters kerry's display here is nothing but negativity.

[youngred]

99. So you're just going to buy the spin

without considering what else he could be doing?

Do whatever you want but its shoddy reporting, journalism and silly spin like this that enable Bush to keep his mastery of the media.

The Dean video isn't going to hurt him taht much in the long run

[mzmolly]

153. Do tell me what you think was happening in this photo?

It's pretty tough to draw any other conclusion. I don't see Kerry posturing like that often...

[youngred]

156. I don't know

but I don't jump to conclusions without knowing any facts.

The fact that more than half the people responding didn't "get it" must mean we're all "IQ Challenged" and sorry, but I don't think your 'wisdom' is enough to save us all

[mzmolly]

161. I don't doubt that wisdom is lacking in great part here.

;)

But, I'm tired of this conversation. I'm off to await the primary results, which are far more important.

Good eveninggggkk... :evilgrin:

[CWebster]

95. Hmmm, I must be missing something in the translation, here, nt

[youngred]

97. guess so nt

try again

[youngred]

42. You think he really posed that way?

or perhaps he just doesn't have Bush's crew going around and making every background perfect.

someone's grasping at straws.....

[mzmolly]

80. Yes he really posed that way, according to the Associated Press

No staws, cold hard facts.

[youngred]

89. from the same organization that gave us the Gephardt's Penis pic

and many many other pictures

Plenty of straws, still no facts from you. Prove he 'posed' that way. I'm sure he said 'wait, let me get some dean signs behind me and make a derisive motion so that the AP can cath it!' :eyes:

[mzmolly]

124. What the hell do you think he was doing? Do you think he had a stubbed

toe? He's fussing because he's penilly challenged? What is YOUR summary of events? Does John often point to the ground and whimper?

[youngred]

128. No, but the point is

That candidates have cameras around them all the time and sometimes the picture comes out in a way that does not reflect reality. Must I spell it out for you? I brought up another stupid widely circulated picture that they took...point being they're not a bastion of truth nor even accuracy

He's smiling, blinked and has his hands around his stomach. He could be pointing, clutching his jacket tight or any number of things. There are Clark signs in the background, and other pictures showing his signs around, you think he's pointing down to his own signs, why that DAMN NE lieberal...he must be defeatist pointing at his own signs!

Come on, be better than this stupidity

[dfong63]

43. no

it's the smug look of a man who has utter contempt for grassroots activists of his own party.

[no name no slogan]

51. Um, no.

Dean activists are not the only "grassroots" activists in the party. I've been one for 18 years, and I certainly think it was directed at me.

[Uzybone]

44. Ding ding

this is the most ridiculous post I have ever seen on DU.

[delete_bush]

48. Obviously a secret hand signal

to his fellow bonesmen!

[no name no slogan]

57. Let the grasping begin!

[Anwen]

60. It's pretty rude.

No, it's not a huge deal, he's free to express himself. But it is a pretty arrogant gesture to make. To me that is *much* less presidential than someone giving an enthusiastic pep rally.

[Monument]

63. Why would you assume he is saying anything about Dean?

Just because a Dean supporter shoved a sign in front of the camera? All the caption says is that Kerry points down. It says nothing about what conversation he's been having.

[Anwen]

74. The wording of the caption implies it.

" U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-Ma) points down as he passes placards for contender Howard Dean "

I don't know what he's really doing. Maybe he just stepped in dog shit? :D But the picture coupled with the caption imply he's pointing down in regards to Dean supporteds he just passed. Perhaps they should explaing WHY he is pointing down, or even better, maybe they should have printed a picture of him where he is not pointing down to avoid implications.

[youngred]

91. there's also half a clark sign in the background

HE MUST HATE CLARK AS MUCH AS DEAN! HOW DARE HE WALK BY SIGNS AND MAKE AN APARENTLY RUDE FINGER MOTION! HOW DARE HE!

[mindfulNJ]

64. Has ANYONE

seen a clip of this "gesture" in context? Why is everyone assuming that it has anything to do with the Dean signs?

[redqueen]

82. The AP said so, and they're a bastion of honesty

:eyes:

[mzmolly]

94. The picture speaks for itself fer gawds sakes.

:hi:

[youngred]

100. obviously not well enough

that so many are having trouble getting it
:shrug:

[Hav]

111. .

Well,I guess if you can't see what that gesture without any additional information or context means,then I guess one can't help you.
What kind of Democrat are you that you don't even have that connection to our leaders like molly.I mean look at the pic,it's right there, whatever you want to see in it,it's definately there!

I can't believe how fast people jump on the candidates with so little knowledge about the situation.

[redqueen]

105. Really it doesn't, though

I would never have assumed that he was gesturing in response to the signs, since when indicating something sucks or is getting worse, I'd usually use my thumb. I'd never point downward, that's for sure.

That's why I didn't 'get it' -- it's not how I would indicate such a thought, nor is it how I'd expect anyone else to.

I would think 'maybe it's just me', but the dozens of posts that say the same thing belie that thought.

[Andromeda]

122. It's a combination of the look on his face...

AND the finger pointing down. The meaning is clear.

[youngred]

129. Not really

look in the background there are clark placards behind him, and other pics of the same event show his there too. He's blinking and has a finger pointing down and some Dean signs right behind him.

Because someone caught an odd off kilter pose you're going to attack him? this is ludicrous

[mzmolly]

154. There are 6 Dean place cards, and 1/8th of a Clark one...

Perhaps he was killing two birds with one stone. I think its obvious, and with all the denial here, I'd say Kerry supporters are having a hard time with the actions of their man.

[youngred]

158. or perhaps the photographer was standing in an area to catch that

how do you know there aren't Kerry signs on his other side as other pictures show?

YOU DON'T KNOW. You *IMPLIED* something that isn't necessarily there

[mzmolly]

162. Actually the AP implied. I concurred.

:hi:
" Sen. John Kerry (D-Ma) points down as he passes placards for contender Howard Dean"

[youngred]

164. and I've already pointed out that the AP isn't exactly reputable

in the pics deptartment or other areas.

[mzmolly]

169. I guess that's a matter of opinion, however I hold an opinion of my own

and looking at the pic, I share the opinion of the AP.

[youngred]

170. guess it is

but there is also no proof to your assertion. Further, you're selective reading because it doesn't say that he's pointing down AT the Dean supporters, but rather that he's doing it as he passes them...as in describing the picture

[mzmolly]

175. Oh goodness, that explains everything.

:eyes:

[Name removed]

177. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Andromeda]

171. This is not just an off-kilter pose...

There is intent and meaning behind this gesture and I don't think this is presidential.

[youngred]

172. mighty big rocks your throwing

in the glass house.

You know nothing more than what you read into the picture and the caption.

[jsw_81]

62. Is this?

The last one was a joke, in case you're wondering.

[Monument]

66. LOL Great pic with the kitten!

[salinen]

71. Nice photoshoping

to take out chimp squeezing the life out of Carla Faye.

[mzmolly]

76. What has passion got to do with snide arrogance?

I realize the last one is photo shopped. Unfortunately the one of John Kerry isn't.

[Anwen]

78. LOL!

The one with the kitten is hysterical! :D

[vision]

101. Reminds me of TR or LBJ

Both would get excited and could get in you face. I would take either one over the last 5 Republican Presidents that we have had. I would say they were "Presidential".

[no name no slogan]

113. Say, is he gonna eat that kitten?

otherwise, I'm sure Gee Dubyah's like a bite first.

:D

[TheDonkey]

120. OMG LOL!!!! THATS HILLARIOUS!

[Andromeda]

174. Very funny...

Dean is a passionate guy; I happen to love his enthusiam, his fire and his commitment.

[dweller]

70. Presidential?

hmm, i dunno, but i do know this is:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=205182

for all i know, Kerry is responding to a photographer...'do you want me to stand here?'

:shrug: who knows?

dp

[oasis]

84. A thousand possible interpretations. An ink blot test will follow.

:eyes:

[onecitizen]

75. Oh! I thought he was taking a toke........

off a joint or something.

Now THAT would be stupid! hehe

[TheDonkey]

81. What is he doing?! Doesn't seem that bad to me.

He actually looks pretty good. At least he didn't whip out the butter and start smearing it over the Dean signs (ie: like one would do to TOAST).

[Dookus]

88. dumbest..... thread..... ever

[bigtree]

90. Oh, no!

He's revealed the secret SKULL&BONES handsignal! :P

[MaineDem]

96. Oh my God, Kerry pointed!

Stop the presses.

Your "obvious implication" - perhaps I'm one of the IQ challenged although no teacher ever insinuated that - is lost on me.

[Snivi Yllom]

102. Is he telling someone their fly is undone?

:)

[Snivi Yllom]

103. "I Got Your Blog-For-America right here"

:)

[KFC]

104. Mabye he is HOLDING IN A FART

Could be pointing at his junk, as someone suggested.

[not systems]

106. Skull and Bones gang sign.

:evilgrin:

[KFC]

110. LOL - "Representin!"

Not frontin'!

[Snivi Yllom]

112. bwahahahahahaa

stop..that hurt I laughed so hard..

[HuckleB]

109. Ugh.

This is not a man who should represent the party in the biggest election in years.

[Catherine Vincent]

114. He's probably doing that John Travola dance from SNF.

"Night fever, night fe-ver, you know how to do it"

[creativelcro]

115. Guys... take a video frame out of context and it will look alien

Taking stuff out of context looks awkward, in general. It means nothing. And I'm not a Kerry supporter. That is true for Dean's speech as it is for this photo....

[coralrf]

116. Yahoo says only ....

that Kerry is pointing down as he passes some Dean placards. The photo is carefully aimed so Kerry, Clark and other signs cannot be seen. It was taken near a polling station and all candidates had folks there.

There is absolutely no way to know what Kerry is doing at that micro-second in time. No way. You can clip a photo like you do text..and totally misrepresent the moment or the intent.

Considering what has been going on..pointing down is pretty light.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

123. Thanks for a sane comment

another difficult thread here at DU.

[starscape]

138. Probably talking about the economy..

You can tell the people with the signs are further back than they appear from the focus - looks like the photog used a zoom lens.

What a bizarre thing to get so upset about (?)

[Forkboy]

125. Can you say "overreact"?

I knew you could.

[starscape]

132. What a dumb thread.... Are you just looking...

For things to get frustrated about? This is politics!! The Deanies were probably having fun with him, and he was teasing them back. Who cares?

Gosh, and I don't even like Kerry. But this.. this is just silly!

----

Edwards 2004!

[Piperay]

149. This is

crap, making a big deal out of something like that. :wtf:

[knight_of_the_star]

150. Huh

It looks more like he stepped in something gross and someone asked him what he stepped in and he's pointing at it. Doesn't look all that demeaning to me. It's not like he called Dean a "cockroach".

[ozone_man]

165. Kerry is the chosen one, get used to it.

Not.

[no name no slogan]

179. I FIGURED IT OUT!

John Kerry is just reprising his role as a scrappy, streetwise disco-dancer from the movie "Saturday Night Fever"...

[Woodstock]

181. Damn, I've been trying not to say anything negative about the candidates

I'll back Kerry, but there's nothing pulling me toward him, and stuff like that just keeps pushing me away.

[LiberalBushFan]

182. hey! why'd they center on Dean signs & cut the Clark ones on the left?n/m

[DS1]

183. Looks like it to me

:think:

[George_Bonanza]

186. A picture says a thousand words...

And some of you are picking and choosing only the spiteful ones. Who knows what John Kerry was really doing? I could take any photo of Dean while at a Kerry rally to capture a momentary smirk or a tongue sticking out and say, "This is MEAN DEAN!"

[RummyTheDummy]

187. Boo hoo

Dean is getting trounced and this is the best you can do? I'm really enjoying the Dean tail spin :)

It just goes to show you, don't count your chickens before they're hatched -- Deanies!

[Tesha]

188. Remember this moment when he needs the Dean voters later

Janeane Garafalo in Mystery Men:

"I'm sorry Spleen, there isn't enough beer in the world. I'm sorry."

Tesha

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

190. I've read and re-read this post

I still don't get what the big deal about it is. The shot was taken from an angle and cropped so you can only see the Dean signs. He wasn't intentionally flouncing about in front of Dean supporters, there were all the candidate's placards there. You just can't see them from the angle at which it is shot.