Saturday, July 10, 2004

The homoerotic Kerry-Edwards gallery! It's sickening how John Kerry and John Edwards are pandering to the gay vote. You won't see pictures of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney like this, because they're not sissies. (Seriously, though, what happened to the 18 inches of body space between non-lovers that's supposed to be part of the American culture? Perhaps Kerry and Edwards need to stand close to each other to be able to hear each other in a crowd, but in most of these photos The Two Johns look like lovers. [Which would be fine with me, but they're not. (Right?)] Anyway, what's up with it?) OK, OK, to be fair and balanced, here are some pix of The Two Johns being butch. You won't see pictures of George and Dick like this, either, because George tends to choke on pretzels and to fall off his bike -- I don't think that he could handle a football without hurting himself any more than I could -- and Dick has that heart problem; if Dick and George were to try a photo op like this, if might be their last... Oops -- I think they got gay again there at the end. (Hey, I tried...) Associated Press, Reuters and AFP photos P.S. (Sunday, July 11, 2004) Maxine notes that Kerry patting Edwards' cheek is a political mistake. I agree, although perhaps not for the same reason. Kerry might as well just pat Edwards on the head. You can't claim that your choice of veep is experienced enough to take over the presidency and treat him like a boy at the same time. Also, I just ran into this Associated Press story, titled "Kerry, Edwards Show Public Affection": Bear hugs. Pats on the back. Shoulder squeezes. John Kerry and John Edwards are all over each other. The two Democrats and one-time rivals have shared so much public affection since becoming a team Tuesday that the presidential candidate even joked about it in New York after Edwards introduced him at fund-raisers and rallies -- and hugged him before turning over the podium. Kerry grinned and shook his head. "There's been a lot of hugging this week," the Massachusetts senator remarked with a chuckle Friday. Later, Kerry mentioned that Jay Leno had teased the Democratic ticket for being so touchy-feely. Mocking the apparent chemistry between the candidates, "The Tonight Show" strung together clips of the two in their first three days as running mates with Joe Cocker's weepy 1974 hit single "You Are So Beautiful" played in the background. "We make a great couple, ladies and gentlemen," Kerry joked as New York donors cracked up. Hugging, kissing and squeezing has become a part of every event since Kerry and Edwards set off on the campaign trail with their wives, Teresa Heinz Kerry and Elizabeth Edwards, for the first time together Wednesday. It doesn't matter if Kerry is introducing Edwards, or vice versa, the scene is always the same, the lovefest playing out at rallies in Ohio, Florida, West Virginia, New Mexico and New York. With a toothy smile, the North Carolina senator opens his arms wide and wraps an equally sunny Kerry in a bear hug. The two clap each other sometimes once, often twice, on the back with both hands. Pulling apart, they each drape an arm around each other. Kerry waves with his free hand, and Edwards pumps his fist in the air, thumb up. Sometimes the two tilt their heads together to make inaudible comments. Often described as aloof, wooden and emotionally detached, Kerry now appears much more relaxed and affectionate, his style more closely resembling his younger Senate colleague. Foes in the Democratic primary season, Kerry and Edwards were joined at the hip as they strode across the lawn of Kerry's wife's sprawling estate in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, making their first public appearance as running mates. Holding hands with their respective wives, the two walked side by side, grinning, laughing and leaning into one another to talk. As Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico welcomed the ticket on stage in Albuquerque on Friday, Kerry and Edwards threw their arms around each other or patted each other five times in less than a minute, and then clasped hands and raised them above their heads. It's not just the candidates; their wives have been affectionate as well. On Friday, Heinz Kerry and Elizabeth Edwards embraced at three different venues. And both men have covered their wives -- and each other's wives -- with kisses and hugs.... John Kerry a swinger? Who knew? Anyway, I wish I had caught the "Tonight Show" bit; it sounds hilarious. Apparently I'm not the only one who has noticed how awkwardly physically close and overly physically demonstrative Kerry and Edwards are in their public appearances. I want a job on the Kerry-Edwards team: To hose them down when they get too worked up and start pawing each other. P.P.S. (Sunday, July 11, 2004): Touchy-feelygate seems to be taking off, so I want to make two things clear if I have not done so: I support the Kerry-Edwards ticket. In fact, I gave the Kerry-Edwards campaign $100 this past month alone. (After Kerry accepts the nomination at the end of this month, you won't be able to give directly to the Kerry-Edwards campaign, but will be able to give only to the Democratic National Committee, which I am loathe to do because your money can go to several different Democratic candidates, not just Kerry and Edwards, so that $100 might be the last money that I give. I have issues with the DNC and the Democratic Party, but that's another post.) I have no problem whatsoever with same-sex affection. The world needs more touch, not less. But this is a perception issue, and perception is everything in politics. While the BushCheneyCorp ticket is pushing war! terror! war! terror!, Kerry and Edwards are looking like they should just get a room already. Not good.     5:22:49 PM    Comments []