Kerry rides Harley onto 'Tonight Show'

AP | 11/12/03 | GREG RISLING

[kattracks]

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Riding in on a borrowed Harley-Davidson, John Kerry appeared Tuesday on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" as rancor within his presidential campaign continued to boil.

The Massachusetts senator, wearing a leather jacket, blue jeans and a denim shirt, rode the motorcycle onto the stage.

The Democrat talked mostly politics during the interview with Leno, generating few laughs. He criticized George Bush's handling of the war in Iraq and told the president to "get off his high horse" and involve other countries in postwar efforts.

Kerry also said the improving economy wouldn't be a major issue in the 2004 presidential election because people are more focused on health care.

He described his campaign to date as a "long and humbling experience."

Kerry learned Tuesday that his press secretary and deputy finance director quit in reaction to the firing of campaign manager Jim Jordan over the weekend. Jordan was replaced by Mary Beth Cahill, who was chief of staff for Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

"You notice how quick we filled the spots...Done," Kerry said following the show. "This campaign is moving. We know exactly where we are going, know exactly what we are doing."

Once considered the top Democratic candidate, Kerry now trails former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean in opinion polls in key states such as New Hampshire and Iowa.

Dean appeared on Leno's show in September, where he was shown playing a guitar on a street to raise money for his campaign.

During his own appearance, Kerry predicted that Dean would lose the Democratic race but joked that the physician would make "a great general surgeon."

Kerry said he had a good time on the show.

"If I wasn't in public life, I would have kept the bike," he said.

[kattracks]

What's he trying to do, give Harley riders a bad name?!?

Bet it had training wheels.

[Pharmboy]

I watched Leno up 'til about 30 seconds after Kerry sat down. He's pathetic; I switched to the Weather Channel.

[max_rpf]

What's he trying to do, give Harley riders a bad name?!?


NO! He is trying to get Elton John's support.

[toomuchcoffee]

Oh man! I wish I'd watched. What a wonderfully funny thing to see. I hope it's run again on Fox. Kerry is such a Bobblehead.

[capt. norm]

Didn't get to see it, but it sounds like a Dukakis moment. (the tank photograph)

[Tallguy]

Let me get this straight? Kerry rides onto the 'Tonight Show' set on the back of a Harley, and he's advising George W. Bush to be humble?

[Pharmboy]

Dukakis moment

LOL! Exactly right...

[Semper Paratus]

"Is this the brake? --NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Rennes Templar]

Kerry also said the improving economy wouldn't be a major issue in the 2004 presidential election because people are more focused on health care.

A few months ago Kerry said health care wouldn't be a major issue because people are more focused on the economy.

[Fester Chugabrew]

"Riding in on a borrowed Harley-Davidson, John Kerry appeared . . ."

O wow! He really is just like one of us!

/s

[Dan from Michigan]

This jagoff is trying to hard to shed that candyass image of his that is well deserved. Hunting(with a poor stance) and riding a Harley now.

[Dan from Michigan]

"If I wasn't in public life, I would have kept the bike," he said.

Bwahahhahahaha. I'd keep the bike anyway. Where I'm from, I'd gain votes from it.

[Jimmyclyde]

Senator Kerry just one question, "Why the long face?"

[50sDad]

His ride on the cycle reminds me of Ducacis's "tank" photo op. All I can think about is, "what a phoney!"

[BigLittle]

He described his campaign to date as a "long and humbling experience.

Was he talking about his campaign or his face?

[50sDad]

"If I wasn't in public life, I would have kept the bike," he said.

You mean it isn't yours? Was somebody riding one back stage and you just decided to come out on it? Or was it brought as a pre-planned photo op with the only goal being getting votes?

[mhking]

"Ketchup on Hog" -- ain't that barbeque sauce?

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[freedomson]

VIVE LA FRANCE!!!!

[BigLittle]

[Texagirl4W]

He can't land on an aircraft carrier. This was the best he could do. I left the TV on only because Toby Keith was also going to be on and I didn't want to miss that. I was also curious to see what the audience reaction would be to Kerry. I would say lukewarm.

[Quilla]

I suspect it was an elaborately pre-planned photo op. Sad that a politician has to pull such a stunt to draw attention to himself. Harley's are rather neat though, I bought my husband one last week. He loves it.

[Let's Roll]

Every time I hear about one of these "events" involving the dwarfs,including the debates, I think that this all started months if not a year too soon. Maybe if you have that many running you have to do it that way.

[hellinahandcart]

There has to be a screen cap of this somewhere. There just has to be. Bwaaaha!

Whattadork...

[freedom1st]

I noticed that Kerry stayed through Toby Keith playing "I Like This Bar". Kerry followed Leno over to shake Toby's hand and Toby was polite enough to shake Kerry's hand, but I bet Toby was thinking what a goofball Kerry is.

[Quilla]

I believe mhking posted one in #17.

Whattadork - LOL!

[mountaineer]

Exactly the word I was thinking of: Dorks of the world unite, and hail your king!

[hellinahandcart]

Oh, thanks for the picture!

I don't know why, but I find it hilarious that he's wearing a helmet indoors when he wouldn't wear one outdoors on the street...

[killjoy]

What's he trying to do, give Harley riders a bad name?!?

Do you know Kerry served in Vietnam?

[crude77]

I saw this on FOX as I was passing through the den this morning. It looked to me like he had a little trouble bringing the bike to a stop. Did I see it right?

[kattracks]

He was a waiter too?

[AngryJawa]

Smell The Desperation...

[kattracks]

He wore a helmet? To go 20 feet?

[BJungNan]

Rebel without a cause

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Rebel without a clue.

[killjoy]

[WilliamWallace1999]

Do you know that Kerry became a communist pawn after he served and led soldiers in throwing their medals onto the White House lawn?

[SamAdams76]

What will Kerry do for his next campaign stunt? Go down to Texas and ride a bucking bronco at the rodeo with a plug of tobacco in his mouth. Just to show that he's a regular guy, don't you know.

Remember, this is the guy who once nagged the city of Boston to move a fire hydrant from the front of his townhouse because it was "unsightly."

[knarf]

"This campaign is moving. We know exactly where we are going, know exactly what we are doing."

"If I wasn't in public life, I would have kept the bike," he said."

Folks ... are you listening?

We know exactly what we're doing ... we're robbing you blind if we aren't watched too carefully

[hellinahandcart]

Dorks of the world unite, and hail your king!

Love the lipstick on the dipstick. Don't you?

[Snowy]

I'm appalled. Is he aware that motorcycles pollute more than SUVs? It's true. Look at this link...

http://www.evworld.com/databases/storybuilder.cfm?storyid=260

[Sunshine Sister]

Oh but he had to go up a ramp! That's awfully dangerous don't you know!

[FITZ]

Go down to Texas and ride a bucking bronco at the rodeo

And his hair-doo still "perfect", every hair in it's place.

[Sunshine Sister]

I'm suprised he didn't shoot the plywood backwards when he gunned the bike to get it up on stage. What a funny picture that would have made.

[encm(ss)]

Placing a french kiss on Tipper Gore will get more votes than riding a Harley on stage. Maybe riding Tipper Gore on stage would get a horse face elected?

[aardvark1]

I thought repeating the mantra "It's the economy, stupid" was the answer to all campaign questions.

[xrp]

Was Kristina Abernathy on?

[Born Conservative]

Shades of Hillary wearing a Yankees hat...

[N. Theknow]

What's the difference between Kerry's Harley and a Hoover vacuum?

The location of the dirt bag.

[Sender]

Consider the irony of this:

Kerry runs video of President Bush landing on the aircraft carrier in his ads, bashing him as being a poser.

Kerry borrows a Harley and rides onstage in a leather jacket, as if that's how he travels.

WHO'S THE POSER NOW???