BS: Civility in the campaign

Subject: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: beardedbruce
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 08:07 PM

(CNN) -- Teresa Heinz Kerry apologized Wednesday for telling USA Today that she was unsure if first lady Laura Bush had ever held a "real job."

Heinz Kerry said she was "sincerely sorry" for the remark.

"I had forgotten that Mrs. Bush had worked as a schoolteacher and librarian, and there couldn't be a more important job than teaching our children," Heinz Kerry said. "As someone who has been both a full time mom and full time in the workforce, I know we all have valuable experiences that shape who we are. I appreciate and honor Mrs. Bush's service to the country as first lady, and am sincerely sorry I had not remembered her important work in the past."

In an interview published in USA Today Wednesday, Heinz Kerry was asked about the differences between the first lady and herself.

"Well, you know, I don't know Laura Bush. But she seems to be calm, and she has a sparkle in her eye, which is good. But I don't know that she's ever had a real job -- I mean, since she's been grown up. So her experience and her validation comes from important things, but different things."

She added, "And I'm older, and my validation of what I do and what I believe and my experience is a little bit bigger -- because I'm older, and I've had different experiences. And it's not a criticism of her. It's just, you know, what life is about."

Laura Bush earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Southern Methodist University in 1968 and a master of library science degree from the University of Texas in 1973. Between 1968 and 1977, she taught in public schools in Dallas and Houston and was a librarian in Austin.

Karen Hughes, a senior Bush campaign adviser, called Heinz Kerry's remarks "inappropriate."

"The apology almost made the comment worse because she seems to have forgotten that being a mother is a real job."
-- Bush campaign adviser Karen Hughes

"I think it's very nice that she apologized, but in some ways the apology almost made the comment worse because she seems to have forgotten that being a mother is a real job," Hughes told CNN. "I think it's just unfortunate to try to disparage women who have made the choice of making their families a priority."

Born in Mozambique, Heinz Kerry worked for the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations in the 1960s when she moved to the United States. She has also been the chairman of The Howard Heinz Endowment and the Heinz Family Philanthropies since her first husband, Sen. John Heinz, died in a plane crash in 1991.

Heinz Kerry has three sons and two step-daughters. The first lady has two daughters.



From CNN...

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: Peace
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 08:10 PM

Might be a tough choice if the wives were running, but it's still Kerry and Dubya in the race.

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: beardedbruce
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 08:17 PM

maybe we can ask the ladies to take their husbands aside, and straighten them out...

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: Peace
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 08:19 PM

Too true.

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 08:50 PM

KERRY STEPS UP PRAISE OF CHENEY'S DAUGHTERLauds Lesbian in Key Battleground StatesBuilding on a theme he established in the third presidential debate, Democratic nominee John Kerry today stepped up his praise of Vice President Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter, signaling that he plans to continue to laud Mr. Cheney's gay offspring every day between now and the election.

With eighteen days to go until November 2, Kerry strategists are huddling to determine which states on the electoral map Mr. Kerry should target for his praise of Mr. Cheney's lesbian daughter and which he should abandon.

"Ohio, Florida, and West Virginia are all looking very winnable now," said one Kerry aide. "You can expect John Kerry to visit those states to get the word out that he is very proud of Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter."

At a town hall-style rally in Tampa yesterday, Mr. Kerry used a question about health care to sound the new theme of his campaign: "Before I answer that question, Randy, let me ask you a question: did you know that Dick Cheney has a lesbian daughter? Well, he does, and I think that's awesome."

While Mr. Kerry's plan to extol the vice president's lesbian daughter in key battleground states may yield big dividends in the days ahead, the aide pointed out that the strategy is not without risk: "There's an increased chance that Lynne Cheney may murder Senator Kerry between now and Election Day."

Elsewhere, a $600 million class action suit was filed today on behalf of Americans who claim they have been permanently traumatized by the fear of receiving a phone-sex call from Fox News personality Bill O'Reilly.

And Borowitz   http://www.borowitzreport.com

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: Peace
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 09:08 PM

JtS, loved it. Neat satire.

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: Bobert
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 09:47 PM

Well, gol danged. Here Mrs Kerry mis-speaks and apologizes for having done so and she is being criticized for her apology? Hmmmmm?

Here Bush takes the country to war on a bunch od cropped up phony baloney so called intellegence which has killed upwards of 15,000 Iraqis, most of whom where civilians, and not only no apology but not even an admission of making a mistake. When asked in the third debate to mention 3 mistakes he had made, he sandbagged and admitted to nothing.

How is it that Mrs. Kerry is being held to an even higher standard than the president.

Go figure???

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: beardedbruce
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 09:51 PM

Bobert,

If you read the item, it was an example of a civil apology for a simple mistake- I think that both sides in this acted in a responsible manner.

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: Amos
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 10:01 PM

BB:

I read the item and I saw the civil apology for a simple mistajke -- but why was she then made wrong for it??


A

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 10:23 PM

My main criticism of Ms. Heinz Kerry's comment is that she doesn't understand the fact that being a full time mother IS a real job. Too bad, really.

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: Amos
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 11:03 PM

I am sure she understands that it is a job and it is certainly full-time and certainly real; but it is clear that she was using the phrase "real job" to mean a real job in the market somewhere rather than in the home. No sense twisting words.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: CarolC
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 12:32 AM

It's important, Amos. There are many people who don't think full time mothers have a real job. Being a full time mother is one of the most difficult and thankless jobs there is. (I've done both, stay at home mom, work outside the home mom, single mom working outside the home, so I can look at it from all sides.) She shouldn't be using or promoting any language that would lead people to believe otherwise.

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: beardedbruce
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 12:45 AM

CarolC,

I understand your point, and believe that was what the Republican spokesperson was saying- BUT I put this up as an example of what CAN happen in a political contest- civility and graciousness.

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: CarolC
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 12:54 AM

Hopefully we'll see more of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: beardedbruce
Date: 22 Oct 04 - 01:41 AM

LEBANON, New Hampshire (CNN) -- Laura Bush on Thursday brushed off comments about her work experience that were made by Teresa Heinz Kerry, who told USA Today she was unsure if Bush had ever held a "real job."

Asked about Heinz Kerry's apology Wednesday for what she said, Bush responded, "It didn't matter to me. It didn't hurt my feelings. It was perfectly all right that she apologized. She didn't have to apologize. I know how tough it is. And actually I know those trick questions."

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Oct 04 - 06:16 AM

It would be fun to see politicians getting caught up in some kind of escalating courtesy contest. Getting preemptive apologies in before the other side could apologise first.

It might even work. The trick would be to put out the apology in a way that made people think what a decent honourable bloke you were, and make your opponent would look like all pompous and prissy. But they'd do the same and there'd be a response in the same way...

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: beardedbruce
Date: 22 Oct 04 - 07:12 PM

McGrath

I think I would have to vote for someone who said " My opponent is as good a choice as me, but I want the job." Honesty would be such a change, in politics.

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Oct 04 - 07:26 PM

But then the other guy would say it too, and you'd be back to square one.

I have seen the occasional political debate where a politician has responded to some impassioned onslaught by saying "I agree" and sitting down. The effect can be so disorientating that its rather like the bit in a film where someone is charging at a door, and the person inside opens it wide, and the other guy runs through and falls out the window.

Subject: RE: BS: Civility in the campaign
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 22 Oct 04 - 08:04 PM

Not reading through the entire thread--honestly, I did not. I happened to see Mrs. Kerry on CSpan recently--by accident. What a breath of fresh air to hear someone speak intelligently and from her heart to the young people she was addressing.

I have heard of her untoward remark about Mrs. Bush. She apoligized---rather gracious I thought and I still admire her off the cuff way of handling things. She too did important work---not a librarian admittedly. Now she does good works thanks to the money she rcvd from her late husband.   Another idealist, was he.

Now---first ladies are not elected---but would it not be nice to have a real person there rather than a "Barbie" doll who does whatever "Ken" says---and ever so sweetly with clothing that makes all the Sears and Walmart folks feel at home.

Bill Hahn