Looking Beyond Charisma

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Registered: 03-25-2003
Looking Beyond Charisma
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Fri, 07-09-2004 - 1:23am
“At some point, if we're sane, we'll get past the explosion of superficiality that has accompanied John Kerry's selection of John Edwards as his running mate.”…

July 9, 2004

OP-ED COLUMNIST

Looking Beyond Charisma

By BOB HERBERT

At some point, if we're sane, we'll get past the explosion of superficiality that has accompanied John Kerry's selection of John Edwards as his running mate.

Right now we're consumed with who has charisma and who doesn't, and such compelling matters as whether the candidates' wives get along.

"Do they really like each other?" asked a breathless, straight-faced TV reporter, referring to Teresa Heinz Kerry and Elizabeth Edwards. Mr. Kerry himself contributed immeasurably to the foolishness by happily proclaiming that in addition to his team's grand vision and bold ideas, "We've got better hair."

One of the more disturbing things about our presidential elections is the extent to which they can turn on criteria more suitable to high school campaigns. He's cute. Would you look at the way she dresses?

Abe Lincoln, who was decidedly not cute, and F.D.R., with his wheelchair and Eleanor, wouldn't stand a chance in the current atmosphere.

When we finally get serious, we'll see that we're facing one of the most important elections in American history. The nation is locked in a war in Iraq that we don't know how to win and don't know how to end. And the White House sent another tremor of fear through the country yesterday when it announced, with its usual absence of details, that Al Qaeda may try to disrupt the election.

Domestically there are two very divergent paths looming on such issues as the economy and jobs, taxes, health care, Social Security and government support for education. It is in this area that the differences between the two major parties are starkest, and as the campaign unfolds it's likely that the clearest evidence of the divide will come not from the top of the respective tickets, but from John Edwards and Dick Cheney.

This could be the most interesting fight of the campaign.

Dick Cheney believes, and has acknowledged (which is rare), that one of the main reasons for cutting taxes is to starve the government of resources. In an interview published in The New Yorker in May 2001, the vice president said, "If we collect those taxes, government'll spend 'em."

"So to some extent," he added, "by preventing government from collecting taxes that it currently has no use for, we avoid a situation in which we collect them and spend them and put them into the baseline to become a permanent part of the government."

That's a statement of values from a man who is proud of his hard-right political credentials. According to Time magazine, "The Washington Post once referred to Cheney the congressman as a `moderate,' prompting him to order an aide to call the paper's editors and `suggest they look at my voting record.' "

As we've learned, there was nothing moderate about the Bush-Cheney tax cuts. They've transformed the Clinton-Gore surpluses into staggering budget deficits. And there was very little that was moderate about Mr. Cheney's voting record as a congressman from Wyoming. He opposed federal funding for abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. He voted against funding for Head Start, against subsidizing school lunches for poor children, against aid to college students and against the Older Americans Act, which offered nutrition and other services to the elderly.

"Cheney's voting record was slightly more conservative than mine," said Newt Gingrich a few years ago, "but his style was not as confrontational."

Mr. Cheney's positions on some issues have no doubt evolved since the 1980's, but he has not undergone any transformation of values and still considers himself a "hard-liner." In some ways he is more of an embodiment of the Bush administration than the president himself.

Senator Edwards is as straightforward as the vice president about his own views and values, which can fairly be called populist. Mr. Edwards objects to what he calls the "two Americas," and believes government has an obligation to try to maximize opportunities for everyone. "We will say no," he says, "to kids going hungry, to the kids who don't have the clothes to keep them warm, and no forever to any American working full time and living in poverty."

This will not be an election between tweedledum and tweedledee. Charisma and hairstyles aside, by November it should be apparent that voters will have a clear and unambiguous choice about the direction this nation is to travel over the next several years.

http://nytimes.com/2004/07/09/opinion/09HERB.html?hp

Avatar for car_al
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 07-12-2004 - 5:15am
<<...if we are doomed to listen to power hungry politicians on both sides of the aisle until it destroys what we have.>>

IMO we will have to listen to them until the electorate decides it's had enough. I'm optimistic (foolishly perhaps) that the people will eventually reign in the excesses of any politician. Now if the media would do its job of informing the public about the real issues - wow, I really am an optimist here! Then the public by voting will strengthen not destroy what we have.

C

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Registered: 03-18-2000
Mon, 07-12-2004 - 9:55am

"Now if the media would do its job of informing the public about the real issues"


I looked forward to the interview last night (Sun.) of the Edwards' & the Kerrys by Lesley Stahl. I was very disappointment with it. Stahl asked trivial & pointless questions & appeared combative some of the time. This could have been an informative & positive interview, instead it was trite, IMO.


Exclusive: Kerry/Edwards Interview.












60 Minutes talks to Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards -- and their wives, Teresa Heinz Kerry and Elizabeth Edwards, in their first television interview.

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Mon, 07-12-2004 - 10:48am
<>

I think people just become apathetic. Because representatives manage to take care of their constituents, people are happy with their representatives, it's other politicians who they view power hungry. They can't do anything about those power hungry (since it definitely isn't their rep) the public becomes apathetic.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Mon, 07-12-2004 - 10:55am
<>

I agree, I was very disappointed in Stahl. What I did notice is how adept Edwards is at answering questions, and how Kerry has a difficult time.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Mon, 07-12-2004 - 11:11am

"how adept Edwards is at answering questions"


Shows his expertise as a defence lawyer. Appears very comfortable with himself.


"Kerry has a difficult time."


Seems as though he thinks too much & then tries to explain things. Needs to be quicker on his feet.


Stahl should get a slap on the wrist for that interview....... or go into the entertainment industry & interview stars about their private lives.

cl-Libraone~

 


Photobucket&nbs

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Registered: 09-05-2003
Mon, 07-12-2004 - 12:58pm

On the other hand, I seriously have to question Kerry's competence, reliability, & trustworthiness. He vacillates on too many issues, he's instigated too many unsubstanciated Bush rumors, & his campaign promises are risky &/or improbable.


I think that Bush has done quite a bit of work to take unsubstantiated rumors against Kerry as well, for example the things that make you think that he "vacillates" on too many issues.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Mon, 07-12-2004 - 2:58pm
<>

I agree he has complex ideas that don't fit nicely into a quick sound bite. I don't think "guick" is his forte; I prefer president who thinks to one with fast combacks. New slogan for me, I prefer flip/flop to flim/flam. :-)

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Registered: 03-18-2000
Mon, 07-12-2004 - 3:17pm

 


Photobucket&nbs

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Registered: 04-22-2003
Mon, 07-12-2004 - 4:51pm
I missed that interview but I saw Kerry/Teresa interview on Larry King Live. i was quite happy with Kerry, and that was the first time I saw him ans questions one on one. May be he is not as good as Edwards but he is far superior to Bush. Remember the last press conference where he avoided all the answers?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Mon, 07-12-2004 - 5:00pm

"I saw Kerry/Teresa interview on Larry King Live"


I saw that interview too. I liked the interaction between Kerry & his wife. That was a much better interview than the one on 60 Min.

cl-Libraone~

 


Photobucket&nbs