Clarification RE: Stories and Pictures

[Vektor]

In case there's any question.

I was not implying that Kerry never "reached out to normal people."

Never would I say such a thing.

There were a couple of bloggers in Boston last weekend from the deep red south who suggested that Kerry might consider spending more time in these places, as some of the folks in these communities saw very little of him last year, compared to the swing states.

They said some of the locals felt Democrats (not just Kerry) "ignored" the red states. I have heard these sentiments expressed elsewhere too. If it's being said by the voting public, it needs to be addressed.

I just wanted to pass that on, since it may be pertinent.

Anyone tempted to entertain the thought that I'd ever suggest Kerry NEVER reached out to small town folk can just put that away. I know how Kerry reached out to the nation. I know how much he cares. I know what kind of man he is.

I just want to be sure that every man, woman, and child in every remote corner of this great nation has the opportunity to know that as well as we here all do.

[k j]

1. Vektor...

I tried not to moan too loudly during the campaign that very idea... that JK get to as many rural areas as he could. When the campaign basically pulled out of Missouri, many of us here were devastated. At one time, we thought the state was actually in play, and the stakes were great in the Governor's race as well. Losing here was quite a blow, because...

As it turned out, Missouri went top-to-bottom red and the sense of disaster hit everyone, red and blue, fairly quickly when Roy Blunt's "dim son" Matt bellied up to the bar with a swagger much like GWB's, and announced drastic, drastic, DRASTIC cuts in Medicaid and programs for children. Guy thought he had a "mandate." "Mandate" turned rather quickly on him, thank god/goddess.

So, the good news is... the Republicans have no one to blame but themselves now. They've got the entire ship of state in their hands. And Claire McCaskill, who narrowly lost to Blunt, is running for Senate in 06.

Go, Claire! http://www.claireonline.com/

[StoryTeller]

2. I know NOW that he did reach out...

I didn't mean to imply that he didn't, or that you were saying he didn't. I was only trying to acknowledge that a lot of us in "red" areas never got to see or hear about that reaching out. It's not his fault--it's just the way things were, for whatever reason. But if there's ever a second chance, it would be a perception that would be good to try to change. And a lot of it is in how the media presents some of these states--as being utterly irrelevant, backwards, unimportant, and worthless. It's not just in politics, either. It's a whole cultural thing that can't ever be addressed by one person, but knowing and understanding and being aware of it would be good for any public servant who really wants the best for all citizens. Everyone wants to feel like they have a voice, like they are important. Someone like John Kerry can express that respect and value because it's truly in his heart. He just needs to be given the chance to do so.

[ProSense]

3. Good points, but the problem is time and opportunity and

the fact that Kerry is fighting a false perception piped into living rooms on an ongoing basis by the media.

[Vektor]

4. Ah, the dreaded "time"

and its constraints. There's never enough of it, is there? Hopefully, there will be sufficient amount of it for him to visit some of these areas we're speaking of next time around. It's amazing how different one's perception is when they actually have the opportunity meet a person, vs. only having the horrific media to rely on. I hope many many other Americans get to know Kerry the way so many of us have had the honor of doing.

[ProSense]

9. That's why I hope

You, KJ and StoryTeller are on those letters. :)

I believe it's different now, the media has been found out. All those letters to the editor that I keep reading and posting (some) have a decidedly different slant. I never use to see letters down right defending Kerry. The few that weren't from the wingnuts, used to just slam Bush. One comfort is understanding that the process for deciding which letters to print in the editorial pages of a newspaper/news magazine is selective (not a scientific indicator of the country's mood as some are inclined to believe). The media distorted not only Kerry's record, but the perception of how Kerry is perceived by Americans, that is how many Americans truly identified with him. The media's depiction that Kerry was aloof and not connecting with people not only ran counter to many of the polls, but also to the election results: 59 million votes (and a bunch unaccounted for---stolen).

[k j]

12. Letters?

Color me clueless... what letters? Letters to the Editor kind of letters?

[ProSense]

13. Sorry, KJ

I suggested that Vektor send her story to Kerry's PAC. See here and related posts:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=59730&mesg_id=59756

[k j]

14. Thanks!

Good idea!

[k j]

5. No kidding...

the media muddled the message... period.

[JI7]

6. yeah, i hate the fucking media

they are the only reasons BUsh is where he is. there are no personal stories of Bush making any positive impression on people. it's all the media whores who continue to spew that crap.

for those who paid attention during the 2000 primary. you will remember that the media was actually truthful about Bush for a while. remember they reported on his ignorance of the issues, how he doesn't read, his arrogant smirk etc ?

but when McCain started going down and it was clear Bush would be the Republican nominee their whole reporting on him changed. it was around this same time that the crap about Gore making up things like the internet, love story etc started up again. there was already a bit of this out there but they really turned it up at this time.

also for all the attacks Gore took for the way he was in that first debate with Bush with the sighing , Bush didn't get nearly as much criticism for the way he was with the first debate with Kerry. and Bush was far worse than Gore.

can you imagine if the debates were not actually shown and the people just depended on the media reporting . and of course many did.

[k j]

8. I remember.

Still have the 7 or 8 or 12-part (whatever it was) series on Bush the Washington Post ran in the summer of 1999. For a puff piece, they showed quite a few of his warts. Don't think it got much attention, however. It was too much fun for the press to diss old Al.

Press Rasturds.

[kerrygoddess]

7. no question -

also no implication, I feel. Some of us were reiterating that this worked during the campaign and for the benefit of those here who not involved with the campaign, a few pointed up some instances.

I think we all agree more could have been done. So does JK. He's working on that to my knowledge and hopefuly time will permit him to do more.

[Vektor]

10. I wish he'd come to my neck of the woods!

But I'd be afraid to...it's FRIGHTENING.

:scared:

[k j]

11. We did...

over and over. But there really wasn't time to get to all the places his presence could have made a difference, which is why I didn't moan too loudly, because I trusted the campaign WAS doing everything they could possibly do.

And quite frankly, Missouri needed to go top-to-bottom Red. I seriously doubt the voters here will make that mistake again.

Remember my husband's reaction last November? He was the only, and I mean ONLY person I knew who voted for JK who was actually happy about the outcome. Ken's opinion was one of relief, that JK wouldn't be saddled with the Bush MisAdministration's baggage.

With any luck, Kerry will have chances to stump all across the country for the 06 elections and get a lot of face time with da folks. ;-)

[TayTay]

15. I really hope so.

This would be great. I loved, loved, loved the actions the Democratic Senators took this past spring to oppose the raping of Social Security. I would love to see the Dem Senators do a rolling road show across the country that advocates for Dem issues in '06. (The Democratic All-Stars take on the Rethug liars.) Thi could involved 2 or 3 Dem Sens going into various areas across the country and having Town Hall forums and such.

The money seems to be there to do a big push to make '06 a Dem year. I would love to see more of these efforts like the one that saved Social Security. That would be great!

[k j]

16. absolutely!

a rolling road show.