A thought provoking question

[politicasista]

Although it is early and I am focused on 2006, I am beginning to come to a conclusion that the senseless attacks and recent articles written about Kerry and Momma T's picks, etc, the WA PO article, and the one written by Ms. Tucker of the AJC, that not only is Kerry still a threat, but they are just writing all of this to distract us from Bush and the far more serious issues facing the country today. (sad isn't it?)

Something else also thought about. In that Brooks Anti-Kerry column, Island Blue's reply nailed something I was about to say. The sad thing about all this is that people read this stuff and buy into the image of Kerry and Momma T as "elitist" and "privileged" instead of what Kerry is doing in relation to Kids First, 10 point plan, bringing the troops home and holding Blinky accountable, veterans benefits, ANWR, and so on.

We have been talking about this at KG and Ron's blog (DD) as well. I am glad that JK brought in a PR media person, but we were also in agreement that he (or his PR people) need to find a way to get he and Momma T's true story out to the people in their own words, not through the words of pundits.

I know none of us know what the political landscape will look like two years from now, but the true stories need to get out, otherwise, it could put him in a tough position if he runs in 08. Am I wrong? :shrug:

I know I am being long-winded again, but it's just some two cents from someone that's been dissed (mildly) for not having any logic as to why Kerry won the primaries, but supposedly wasn't commanding enough in the debates to beat Blinky and win. Hint....

[karynnj]

1. I agree that it has to get out there but I think 2007 is probably a

better time. Partially because a huge percent of this country seems to have the attention span of gnats. Some possible things were mentioned.

Kerry has said something about a book he is writing I think about the environment. In 2004, his speech on the overlap of alternative energy technology, job creation and the environment really was incredibly well done - but little heard. If Kerry actually does this he might tie his efforts as Lt Governor through all his efforts as Senator. He should definitely include the fact that it was the environment that brought him and Teresa together. (It establishes some of Teresa's own credendials - and that story of them meeting when neither were looking, but just doing good work (and they even both went to church) would knock away a lot of negative stereotypes. I assume he would appear to talk about it and it would be in setting easier than those he faces as a politician.

Alexandra is working on a movie and book about 2004. I think we can assume she had good access and will have a flattering point of view. In 2004, Alexandra and Vanessa were incrediblely good speaking for their dad. In addition to being very intelligence and likable, they obviously had very very good relationships with their dad. (Alexandra was makinga real movie that sounded pretty interesting too.)

As to the primary/general election question. I think that Kerry was head and shoulders better than the others who ran based on intelligence, experience and ideas. He was also by far the best debater. In the general election, I think that there were only a small number of people in play. (I also think the pundit's rule of 50% needs to be looked at - because the approval rating may be closer to a minimum rather than a maximum. If you approve, you may be reluctant in a time of war to change. But, of those who disaprove, many be off to the right and would thus like Kerry even less.)

I think people also felt they didn't know Kerry as well as previous challangers. Many blamed Kerry for not getting his message out rather than noting that the media drasticly cut down coverage - which hurt only the lesser known challanger. But this is where you already are - questioning how does Kerry get his story out.

[ginnyinWI]

4. nobody's to blame but the RNC smear machine

I think that's where it begins and ends. What to do about THAT is what I'd like to hear. They've been bad for years and only get worse each election cycle. I recently heard again about the way they smeared McCain out of the 2000 primaries, after he won New Hampshire with something like 67%. Whatever we think of him now, we know he'd have made the better president at that time. Either that, or Gore would have won and been the president from 2001 on.

They took out McCain, and then they smeared Gore, and then Kerry. Everyone knew it was coming--Kerry talked about knowing it was coming--but still they did the damage. Until we can answer the question about what to do about lies and smears from the Right, what else really matters?

[ProSense]

2. If the question is about the debates, Kerry was more than commanding.

He nailed it:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=61453&mesg_id=61458

[_dynamicdems]

3. I too have been thinking about this a lot lately.

There are a number of things I'd like to see: some really good photos for one thing. The senator has got the suit and tie, professional and presidential thing nailed, but I'd like to see more of the casual Kerry that the public doesn't usually see. We do because we scour the net to find these gems.

How's this for a photo you'd like to see: JK on the beach building a sand castle with some kids. His hair is a little longish and windblown. He's tanned and wearing shorts and a white cotton shirt (one of those casual summer pima cottons) with rolled-up sleeves. The shirt is unbuttoned. (Sorry, but shirtless is too much to ask of a senator although I know a few folks here who wouldn't mind seeing THAT photo.) He's smiling and the lines in his face are noticeable in an attractive, aging beachcomber sort of way. This photo would be the best PR money could buy.

We also need to see more lovely photos of Teresa. Just let the photos speak for themselves. She is beautiful and she also has that inner glow that the right photographer could capture. She is also warm and earthy and so approachable. That one photo of her with her hands crossed over her chest (when she was receiving an award?) is perfect.

I'd also like to see more photos of them doing things together. There is a magic you can't help but notice when you see them together. The two of them walking barefoot and holding hands at the edge of the surf would make a nice PR photo. When I see these two people smiling and holding hands, I feel that all is safe and right with the world. These are the kind,loving and wise parents our orphaned nation deserves.

[Noisy Democrat]

5. What you said

Your description of the perfect PR photos is brilliant. From your mouth to their press person's ears. :)

[_dynamicdems]

11. Just one step in a hundred thousand, but it could help.

People are so into image today. It's sad. But it is reality. I also think that word of mouth goes a long way. People love to hear stories from people who have met the candidates. JK is doing the smartest thing he can working the grassroots around the country right now. He hasn't forgotten any promises either and he is there for the people who helped him last time around. He's building a foundation brick by brick.

[ProSense]

7. As long as it's natural

There are actually great photos of them, many have been posted here, but the MSM will not go out of there way to publish such photos. I remember the image, shown during the Democratic Convention, of Kerry sitting on the beach with Teresa behind him up close. Beautiful photo! It has to be natural, not contrived. This early out too, I wouldn't want to see overkill. I say that because none of the other candidates are parading their spouses about just yet (parading is an awful term, but fits the situation that will unfold). Teresa is out there, not as much as we'd like or as much as she should be, but think about what the other candidate will have to do to introduce the person who would be first lady to the country.

[_dynamicdems]

9. Agree: it is too early. He's not even a candidate...yet.

Yes, natural photos. Casual and natural. Candid shots. And they need to be OUT all over the Internet. I can't tell you how much I dislike some of those "portrait" photos that show the cheek rouge. Egads!

Parading the spouses is a horrible thing. All I can think of is Laura Bush. That is just for show. Not what I had in mind. Just insights into the reality of the people as opposed to the unreality of the campaign trail.

[Mass]

6. Some very good points.

One way to do that is to get them out and to put out his vision. What you quote are examples of what Kerry is after. I think the book he is writing may be part of this, but I dont think it is going to be published before next year.

The same program existed in 04. His book "a Call to Service" was a very compelling vision that convinced me definitively to go from Dean to Kerry. He used it successfully during the primaries.

Unfortunately, this theme disappeared after the primaries for themes that were good, but probably a lot less personnal. Each time he returned to his theme during the GE, his polls went up. Each time he quit them, his polls went down.

Casting Kerry as another Clinton, as some strategists tried to do, was a stupidity. Kerry is not Clinton. He may be a less charismatic person, but he has a lot of other positives that must be exploited (Feingold, Gore, or even Dean are not that charismatic either).

[fedupinBushcountry]

8. One thing about Kerry

that I found out during our primary in Virginia. He came here 2 days before so my husband and I went to see him. Now what came as a surprise to me was that 2 days before Edwards had come and had a audience of 300, Clark had come and had about 200 for his event, so I'm thinking about the same numbers would show up for Kerry. Boy was I wrong, 2500 people showed up.

As I was talking to people while waiting for JK, I asked why they had come to see him and if they were voting for him as I was. The answers blew me away, lots of I've been waiting for him to run for a long time, thats a President, his experience, and his telling it like it is. They weren't dissappointed after he gave his speech, and he stayed to shake as many hands as possible.

As far as the primary he won by over 50% in this military area and Clark only got 9%, Edwards got 23% and Dean 5%.

I think we are his voices too, many minds can be changed when you know what you are talking about and you have the facts to back it up. I know I talked to all my kids friends about him and told them what to believe and what not to believe, and a lot of them voted for Nader in 2000. It was funny as the campaign went on, I had Kerry signs in my front windows and my yard on both cars, and these kids would come in and say "GO Kerry". It sure made me feel like I did my part in getting out the vote.

[karendc]

10. FedUp

"It sure made me feel like I did my part in getting out the vote."

Yep. You did!

[TayTay]

12. I think part of this process just has to be gone through.

Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.
John F. Kennedy

I think people learned a lot from 2004 and what to do and, hopefully, what not to do. The thing to remember is that the next fight will not be like the last one. There will be powerful echoes of the '04 race, but it won't be the same thing. The motivations for voters will be different, the issues will be different and the candidates, whether they ran last time or not, will be different. Politics is so often the art of hitting a moving target and it will be that way in the next cycle.

We don't yet know what will motivate voters in '08. We just don't. People are trying to hedge their bets right now and do what they think will be the right thing to be in that sort of mystical listing of the politically viable. That game is being played to a rather narrow audience. The voters are not and will not really be engaged in a Presidential race until nearly Nov. of 07. So, what audience are you aiming this at? Who consumes this stuff so early in the game?

I think there are positives and negatives for Sen. Kerry at this point. He has to deal and deal very publicly with the fact that he lost and the fact that Dems are often mean and vicious to people who don't win. That this is cruel, dumb and possibly a case of 'cutting off your nose to spite your face' is all true and all somewhat irrelevant. Politics can be a very cruel and impersonal thing and people get put through the grinder whether they deserve it or not. I think that Sen. Kerry is bearing up pretty well, actually, but then again he always was made of different stuff. (I could not withstand this type of thing. I have had times in my life that were really tough and I got through them with the requisite amount of grit, but I could never get through this. I flat-out am not that kind of person. I don't have that unearthly degree of 'intestinal fortitude' that says running again, despite what he and his family went through last time, is a good idea. I was blown away that they considered it again so soon after the loss in '04. Blown away. Dear Gawd, no wonder Del Sandusky called Sen. Kerry a 'National treasure' and a 'real warrior' at that Veterans event in Boston. Yeah, he can take a punch and get up again. So many people are destroyed by that.)

This negative and abusive spin won't stop by itself. It's too useful to too many people, some on 'our side,' some on their side. I think that you get through it by playing straight, acknowledging that mistakes were made and showing (showing) that you learned something, showing that you are trying harder and working smarter on problems and showing (showing) that you have the inner strength to deal with all the cruel bastards in the world. What else is there?