Posted on 07/17/2004 11:57:29 PM PDT by Liz
BOSTON -- The knock on John Kerry nationally is that he doesn't evoke much passion, either for his presidential campaign or against it. It's not much different here in his home state.
Although he has represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate since 1985, was the state's lieutenant governor, a high-profile county prosecutor and made his name as a Vietnam War hero and protester, opinions of him are not strong here.
Kerry seems generally well thought of by the home folks. But a visitor encounters little real affection for the 60-year-old Kerry, or animosity either -- the kind of strong reaction any mention of Kerry's Massachusetts Senate colleague, Edward M. Kennedy, elicits.
Louis DiNatale, a pollster and politics professor at the University of Massachusetts, says Kerry "gets respect here, but not much love."
"Over time most incumbents experience a growth in negative ratings," DiNatale said. "Not Kerry."
The irony in how differently Bay Staters view Kerry and Kennedy is that there's little daylight between them on the issues. Both are conventional liberals, at least as measured by their voting records; indeed, one national political magazine gave Kerry a slightly higher liberal rating. Where they differ, dramatically, is in style and personality. Where Kennedy is the often raucous voice of liberalism, a backslapper extraordinaire and the happiest of warriors, Kerry's liberalism, at least as his Massachusetts neighbors know it, is marked by reserve, even reservation, and an aloofness that seems to some almost morose.
In his past, for example, are speeches in which he raised questions about affirmative action and criticized some positions of the teacher unions, both Kerry deviations from standard liberalism. And Kerry supported the reform of federal welfare produced bythe Republican-controlled Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton while Kennedy opposed it as a cynical sell-out of the poor.
"Democrats tend to get trapped by their constituencies -- blacks, labor teachers," says DiNatale. "Kerry resists that. If they think he's coming to save them (as president), they'll be disappointed. He'll more likely want to reform them."
OUT OF SYNC
Despite his long winning record here, Kerry seems a bit of a cultural misfit for Massachusetts -- both for the liberal mandarins who dominate the media and Boston's vast academic establishment, and for the state's rough-and-tumble Irish-dominated street politics.
The Boston Globe, New England's largest and most influential newspaper, found Kerry wanting at every step he took up the political ladder. It opposed him editorially when he sought (unsuccessfully) the Democratic nomination for Congress in 1972, again in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor in 1982, and when he first went after the Democratic Senate nomination two years later.
In each case, the Globe favored Democrats more conventionally liberal and supported by labor and such Democratic Party icons as House Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill.
Martin F. Nolan covered Kerry in Washington, and later as the Globe's Editorial Page chief wrote many of the editorials opposing him. "I underestimated him," said Nolan, now retired from the Globe and doing some freelance writing. "Once, I thought he was an empty suit, but I was wrong."
Part of the misreading, Nolan said, was that Kerry struck liberals and the Democratic establishment here as culturally different. At the top of the social and income scale, that difference amounted to something like, "We're Harvard, Kerry's Yale," Nolan said with a laugh. That particular aspect of the cultural divide seems to have been bridged during Kerry's long Senate career.
But the old cultural gap is still very much in evidence in places like South Boston -- the city's storied "Southie," a center of blue collar opposition to court-ordered school busing 30 years ago and a bastion of conservatism today, where the memory of Ronald Reagan is revered.
It's on vivid display these days in places like the L Street Tavern, a shot-and-beer "Southie bar." The bartender there the other day, who gave his name (a little reluctantly, it seemed) as Ralph Browne, dismissed Kerry -- to nods of agreement from onlookers --as "an effete snob. I never voted for him and I won't vote for him this time."
Asked his impression of Kerry, Jack O'Brien, a white-haired L Street regular, thought for a moment and said, "I really don't know him. He's a liberal. We never see him down here." Only Ernie McLaughlin, younger than most of L Street patrons, professed a preference for Kerry -- but as a lesser of two evils. "Bush frightens me more," McLaughlin said.
'DISTANT AND COLD'
The old whaling seaport of New Bedford is a community Kerry has carried easily in past campaigns, but the view of him offered by voters there was mixed -- again with few strong feelings pro or con.
To Nancy Healey, Kerry is "a Senate man. He's distant and cold but he's a better choice. I want a president who seems really intellectual." Bob Golden, a teacher, likes Kerry because he is "a strong environmentalist," and Sandra Leahy says she plans to vote for Kerry, but adds that neither Kerry nor Bush is a "strong candidate."
"Kerry's not ready to be president," said Dan Lowney, "he's too liberal."
----SNIP----
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
.........In his quest of a suitable base, Kerry at one point acquired residence in three different districts. He needed a real estate agent more than a campaign manager, the local wags had it. Some of his Massachusetts critics see something of the same "opportunist" streak in his metamorphosis from Vietnam War hero (who at first supported the war) to critic (when the national mood shifted). Although he has represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate since 1985, was the state's lieutenant governor, a high-profile county prosecutor and made his name as a Vietnam War hero and protester, opinions of him are not strong here.
Opinions of Kerry are stronger out in Middle America..........strongly negative.
Too Liberal for Massataxes?
This thumbsucker of a story could have been boiled down to one sentence: Massachusetts voters think Kerry's a dyck, but they vote for him anyway.
It tells us nothing about the presidential race.
Kerry's personality is not the key to this election. The issues are what matter. We need to get engaged on the issues. Calling him "Flipper," "Hanoi John," "Ketchup Boy," "John Fairy," etc., may be fun, but it gets us nowhere.
I guess in Taxachsetts, the definition is a bit more, shall we say, liberal.
This is really a subtle attempt to paint Kerry as a centrist. See? The liberals don't love him so he *must* not be that liberal...
Well, you can be both liberal and a cold fish (as clearly illustrated by CNN's Aaron Brown). Just because he doesn't always vote like a Kennedy doesn't mean he doesn't think like a Kennedy.
Exactly. All this stuff about Kerry's style is a sideshow,
and deludes some voters.
Gee, we're frequent visitors to MA. We rarely hear anyone say anything complimentary toward Kerry. The attitude we've most often seen displayed toward the guy is one of contempt. He's the butt of all kinds of jokes, many of them off-color. If that's affection, I'd hate to see dislike.
Kerry...Kerry - is he the millworker's son, or the one who "served" in Vietnam? I can never remember.
The Legislature, the courts, the gays, the teachers, the firemen, the police and all who work for the Socialist Commonwealth feel he's not left enough.
The minority rules by being in bed with the government. They say shit... and the government says how much and where.
"He made his name as a Vietnam War hero."
Ain't no bias here.
Kerry performed his duty in Vietnam at a time when many didn't. But, was he a hero? Not in anyone's mind but his own.
OK, I'll help you out......heheheh.
Kerry is the one with the personal butler, married to a billionaire, who thinks foul-mouthed Whoppi G and the Hollywarped weirdos (hey, sounds like a rock group) are the "heart and soul" of America.
Edwards----also known as No-Bouce Eddie--- is the onr with the custom-made hair gel.
Yeah, but that goes to show you have superior friends and acquaintances.
BTW, when are you gonna post those Kerry jokes?
To Nancy Healey, Kerry is "a Senate man. He's distant and cold but he's a better choice. I want a president who seems really intellectual." LOL!! Hey Nancy, if I tell you I'm a millionaire and drive a fancy car, will you like me because I seem rich? C'mon lady, get a clue.
Really? I know a number of Vietnam veterans who all but froth at the mouth at the mere mention of the man's name.
Yeah, well I wonder if Mr.Golden has bothered to think about what a few dozen of these in the hands of terrorists can do to the environmnet:
Thanks - clears that right up. Personl butler - sweet - I'm sure it helps Mr. Heinz keep in touch with the middle-class. The HW's - yes, they were actually a punk-rock band in the mid-80s.
I know them by: Needs (uses?) botox - Kerry. Good hair - Edwards. Trial Lawyer Weasel - Edwards. Wears bicycle pants (ewwwwwww) - Kerry. Threw ribbons over fence - Kerry. Most liberal (!) member of the Senate (and this is a Senate with Ted & Hillary) - Kerry. Likes to recite poetry - Kerry. And with all that touching (manno-au-manno) last week, it would be the first openly gay presidency.
When he loses and dumps Heinz, I think Kerry should go after someone more aligned with France - perhaps an heiress to the French's Mustard fortune.
When IAAAAAAAA become President of The United States IAAAAAAA will NOT be George W Bussssssh! Thank You and ___ Bless America!
Pray for W and The Election
In many respects, Kerry reminds me of ex-Governor Michael Dukakis (remember him?).
LOL. If I posted the ones I can remember I'd wear out my asterisk key :)
I love this one.
Kerry established so many residencies to get into the race for Congress that the joke was he needed a real estate broker as a campaign manager.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.