Daley says Kerry went too far with joke about president's fall

Chicago Sun Times ^ | May 26, 2004 | Fran Spielman

[Quilla]

Mayor Daley scolded Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry Tuesday for making a wisecrack about the bicycle accident that scraped the face, hands and knees of President Bush.

According to the Drudge Report, Kerry was having a conversation with reporters that he apparently believed was off the record when he reportedly asked, "Did the training wheels fall off?"

Daley, who ripped the skin off his kneecap during a bicycle accident a few years ago, said the joke was disrespectful. "When someone falls . . . you should not wish ill upon anyone. It's not right. . . . You just don't do that. Let's have some respect for one another."

To Daley, Kerry's remark symbolized a hate-filled brand of politics the mayor has long despised.

"The thing I worry about in politics is all of these people hating one another [saying], 'I hate Kerry', 'I hate Bush.' I wish the former presidents -- Carter and Ford and Clinton and Bush -- would all get up and tell people, 'You may support candidates, but don't hate the other candidate.'

"You see too much hate. And I'll tell you one thing -- hate will turn on people. . . . When hate gets in politics, it's a very, very dangerous aspect."

[OldFriend]

Even the NY Sun conveniently left out kerry's mean spirited comments about the training wheels falling off President Bush's bike. Printed only that he said, I hope he's okay.

[what's up]

Daley wants Hillary in.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Mayor Daley scolded Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry Tuesday for making a wisecrack about the bicycle accident that scraped the face, hands and knees of President Bush.

Jezzuz, don't these over paid politicos have anything better to do?

[gemoftheocean]

$6000 road bikes do not typically come with training wheels.

If a bawl baby is buying one, they are standard equipment.

[gemoftheocean]

It's pretty telling that the only politically "prominent figure" who is actually making more than a token effort is blowhard Teddy. Awfully bad when the mere mention of your chief supporter's name causes sane people to break out into laughter and derision.

[talleyman]

And most democrats are stoking this fire of hatred with their partisan rhetoric on a daily basis. Yep.... and then screaming about the Bush camp running attack ads on television. Talk about hypocritical!

Repeat after me: "Whatever the Democrats accuse you of, that's what they're actually doing."

[\/\/ayne]

Speaking of jokes, here's some bipartisan ones from Jay Leno:

I heard today that John Kerry and President Bush may be getting together soon. The bad news, it’s to ride bicycles together.

Actually, Bush’s bike accident was different from John Kerry’s accident: Bush fell when he tried turning too hard to the right; Kerry fell when he kept switching gears.

[Quilla]

Ha!

Actually, I heard today that John Kerry is a pretty funny joke all by itself.

[nosofar]

"You see too much hate. And I'll tell you one thing -- hate will turn on people. . . . When hate gets in politics, it's a very, very dangerous aspect."


This is certainly one thing I find very tiresome. "I hate Bush/Hillary/Kerry/Rumsfeld, etc." It's childish to get personal. On the other hand, it is more fun.