Kerry: intern's TV confession

The Mail (London) ^ | 2.16.04 | David Gardner

[ambrose]

Kerry: intern's TV confession
From David Gardner in Washington

femail.co.uk - 16th February 2004

A woman who claims she had an affair with presidential hopeful John Kerry has taped a kiss-and-tell interview with a U.S. TV network, it was revealed last night.

The news is the latest blow to hit John Kerry, the 60-year-old senator who is expected to be George Bush's Democrat challenger for the White House in November.

Former Washington intern Alex Polier, a 24-year-old journalist, is said to have recorded the potentially explosive interview over Christmas.

The network is reportedly sitting on the tape while it carries out its own probe into her claims.

Polier, who works for the Associated Press news agency, is now in Kenya on holiday, allegedly at the behest of married father-of-two Kerry, until the storm blows over.

But an American TV executive said: "She wants to tell her story.

"She is claiming this is a two-year affair. The problem is that no one is believing her."

Dirty tricks

The allegation came just as Mr Kerry appeared to have sidestepped the sex scandal by winning two more decisive poll victories in his bid for the Democratic nomination to challenge Mr Bush.

Last night, Mr Kerry, a father of two whose wife is an heiress to the Heinz food fortune, accused his Republican opponents of dirty tricks.

Speaking at a Democrat dinner, he said: "I promise you that when the Republican smear machine trots out the same old attacks in this election, this is one Democrat who will fight back.

"I've fought for my country my entire life, and I'm not about to back down now."

He added: "Given the record of this administration and their stunning lack of vision, the Republican attack machine may well have no choice but to resort to smear and to fear.

"They can gear up their attack machine, but I'll tell you what: They can't escape the truth. November is coming, George W Bush is going."

Fears

Fears that the affair allegations would damage his push for the White House proved groundless after his easy wins in Nevada and the District of Columbia on Saturday expanded his lead against rivals John Edwards and Howard Dean.

It gave Mr Kerry victories in 14 of the first 16 contests to find a Democratic challenger to Mr Bush.

They also set up a crucial showdown in Wisconsin tomorrow, where both his rivals will make a final stand.

If, as expected, he holds them off, it will seal Mr Kerry's nomination.

Last night, Miss Polier, who spent some time in 1998 doing work experience at the House of Commons, refused to comment at the Nairobi home of her boyfriend's parents.

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&copy2004 Associated New Media

[goldstategop]

LOL!!! Its the dreaded Republican "smear machine" at work. Looks like John F*kn Kerry can't stand the heat and is whining about this coming out. I believe Alex Polier when she says she had a two-year affair with the Senator. What possible reason could she have for making it up? The Democrats will have to label her a slut and one can see how well THAT plays with the Soccer Moms.

[demkicker]

Wonder what network it is.

[capitan_refugio]

I wonder if the press is trying to smoke him out? After making a blanket denial, can Kerry afford to come clean, or are we going to see the Clinton "stonewall" until Kerry has enough delegates to clinch the dumbocrap nomination?

[goldstategop]

The story came out too late to affect the caucus votes. Still the Democrats like someone who laid an intern. Its not exactly a career-killer in their neck of the woods.

[goldstategop]

The Kerry campaign will try to ride it out. Democrats don't give a damn if he had an affair but you betcha it only adds to the perception the Democrats are culturally out of touch with the larger electorate. Its not something they want to go into in the fall campaign. The Democrats are known as the party of gays and interns. Where else can they go astray? We'll see.

[ambrose]

or are we going to see the Clinton "stonewall" until Kerry has enough delegates to clinch the dumbocrap nomination?

Interesting question... the reactions from the DUers is of interest. The majority of them want Kerry out if the charges are true.

Of course, people said much of the same thing when the Lewinsky story first. In its first week or two, it seemed like Clinton would be driven from office - but that was before the Clinton spin machine went into overdrive.

[capitan_refugio]

I remember well.

[goldstategop]

We'll see if the Kerry spin machine is the equal of the Clintons in fending off political disaster.

[ambrose]

Kerry's denial would certainly seem to bring us back in the Gary Hart territory. Isn't it the media's obligation to investigate whether his denial was truthful?

[Fledermaus]

Exactly. This is a ploy to make Kerry another victim of the evil VRWC.

It also signals, to me, a move to have Hillary the VP! This is all orchestrated by the Dems.

[KQQL]

"This is not going to go away," one American friend of Ms Polier said yesterday. "What actually happened is much nastier than is being reported."

[ambrose]

Clinton, in addition to a good spin machine, had a strong base of rock solid support. I think Kerry's support right now is much like Howard Dean's back in December. A mild wide and an inch deep.

[Mike Darancette]

The Democrats will have to label her a slut

They'll have to label her a Republican slut.

[KQQL]

[WaterDragon]

We'll have to wait and see whether Alexandra can prove her allegations of an affair.

Frankly, the important point of this whole charade is that the liberal media are being ever so cautious, not wanting to rush into print without proof, they say.

Yet, rushing to cover, endlessly, rumors about Republicans has been their stock-in-trade, always. This whole thing devastatingly makes the point of the media's liberal bias.

[capitan_refugio]

This story has legs, even if it is lacking substance. A "tell-all" would continue the controversy, but I remember Juanita Broderick's interview and the leftist media's "big yawn."

Still, this election is not so much about a Democrat holding his base, but whether he can capture that 20% +/- in the middle. A big fat lie about a sexual affair to start a national campaign is not exactly getting off on the right foot."

[Young Rhino]

Its not exactly a career-killer in their neck of the woods.

Only for the female, particularly if Teddy Kennedy takes her for a drive.

[Waco]

Rape would help his image" a lot more. But, you gott take what ya can get J. Fonda.

[KQQL]

Alexandra Polier can describe his body parts and that should confirm the affair.....