Why don't Republicans like the chumminess between Kerry and Edwards?

[AP]

It's because they had 90% of their strategy based on the idea that (like Gore) Kerry is wooden and boring.

The last few days have turned that strategy upisde down. You can't deny that Kerry is now very convincingly a man with a happy, funny and friendly persona.

After seeing the coverage the last few days, who'd you rather hang out with at a BBQ? Cheney and Bush, or Kerry and Edwards?

It's too obvious: Kerry and Edwards. Even Bush's attemtps to discredit Edwards's experience have simply made Kerry and Edwards seem more like the guys with whom you'd rather share a beer.

So, what are the Republicans left doing? They're trying to scare Kerry into not being so friendly with Edwards so that they can call him stiff again. I don't think it's working. I'd still rather hang out with Kerry-Edwards than with the Naked King and Darth Vader.

[Padraig18]

1. Bingo!

Go to the head of the class!

:thumbsup:

[calico1]

20. I agree with everyone who says that

it takes away the Rethugs ability to paint Kerry as wooden like Gore. In fact, I'm sure the "wooden Gore" memory is not lost on Kerry. And I definitely think that they are attempting to link the hugging with the idea of homosexuality. To plant it in people's heads. It also reminds the Conservative homophobes of how scared they are that deep down inside they are afraid they might have some homosexual leanings. This tactic probably works with the so called base--the wingnuts. Trouble is, it won't work with Moderate swing voters. All you need to do is go to any sporting event like a basketball, baseball or football game. Lots of hugging, pats on the butt, etc. Normal people are not intimidated or put off by any of this.

[stevedeshazer]

25. Don't touch me. I'm manly. That's so gay.

[calico1]

29. Eeewww!

They both look drunk!

Now I wonder if we will have any Bush/Cheney hugging? I don't know if my stomach can handle that!

[LittleApple81]

2. Not only a barbeque. I would love to have them as my guests in

my house... My house is poor but lots of fun! I always have had guests that are intelligent, good conversationalists, and good friends.

[Southsideirish]

3. Terrified of men touching each other -would rather die first - very

very sick.

[Cassandra]

12. But, but...

Bush holds hands with Saudis....

[olddem43]

4. It's simpler than that -

They're trying to stir up their base of homophobes.

[AP]

7. I think that was their reactionary strategy. But I think what made it ur-

gent is that it was threatening their "isn't he wooden?" strategy.

I think the Dems should just cut to the heart of this and do a photo-op at a BBQ with the Johns sharing a beer with some NASCAR dads.

[TexasSissy]

5. (1) Jealous. (2) Want to play up the gay marriage issue by implication.

[Concordance]

6. To be honest

To be honest, all the hugging, obviously almost always initiated by Kerry, is little pathetic. Kerry is just screaming.. "I am with him!! Really, we's good buddies!". Hah. Kerry looks like hes trying to rub some of that charm off Edwards onto himself. Too desperate, way too desperate. It just reeks with desperation when Kerry does it.

[AP]

8. It's a winning strategy because it denies the Republicans their Gore

strategy.

You can't say he's wooden anymore.

I'm sure the Republicans are steaming over this.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Concordance]

17. "you guys"?

You talking to me?

[Hoping4Change]

26. Yeah we're talking to you.

[Concordance]

27. Oh...

A slang thing? I see.

[rumguy]

10. Kerry has been like this to a certain extent

I noticed it during the primaries...

[JI7]

11. right, people just didn't see it on a larger scale until he picked his vp

the fact that he was like that is one of the reasons he did end up winning in the primary.

[AP]

14. Calling him stiff sort of stuck during the primaries. It doens't now

because of what people have seen the last few days.

It terrifies the Republicans because they had built a huge advertising strategy organized around that idea.

They're trying to salvage that campaign by trying to put distance between Kerry and Edwards. And if they don't, they're trying to make them pay for it in a different way, but I think that's not going to work so long as Kerry and Edwards look like guys you'd like to talk to at the BBQ.

[JI7]

19. true

but not in the early states of iowa and new hampshire where people got to meet directly with him. his wins there helped him in later states since he was still seen as a winner despite any criticisms later on.

i also think bush comes off as mean,hateful, and disgusting with his attacks on edwards. i think bush is jealous because edwards is a real southerner with a true accent unlike bush. he probably reminds bush a bit of the last guy who kicked his dad's ass in 1992. while just winning is good. i would especially love to win some of the southern states which bush thinks belong to him. they were taking north carolina for granted and probably some others which they aren't anymore.

[Hoping4Change]

28. I think Kerry's comfort level about expressing himself physically

stems from his war service. He, like other Vets, went through an intense experience where the usual competitive relationship between men was surpassed, men serving together in a life-threatening situation became brothers. Kerry still has a very competitive instinctive but he has had the experience of men being there for each other.

[JI7]

30. he is very close to them

i have seen him with those he served with and others who didn't serve with him but served themselves. like max cleland. he is the same way with cleland as he is with edwards. and often at his campaign events when people going off into the military see him he gives them a hug and spends some extra time speaking with them . he does kind of favor them but it's understandable and good.

[AP]

31. When the campaign goes national you have to rely on the media to mediate

your indentity. You can't count on them to tell the truth, so you have to make sure the photo-ops tell a good story -- and that's what Kerry-Edwards know to be the truth of campaigning in America.

[oldcoot]

18. First, Kerry had an "intern" problem and now he is gay

So who are the desperate ones again?

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[randr]

13. Apparently homophobes do not like to see public displays

of affection between men. They just like to dine naked among themselves according to a recent anti-discrimination suit somewhere.

[patricia92243]

15. Kerry hugs his wife a lot. Big deal - Republicans - get over it.

[madrchsod]

16. why it`s simple

they are a couple of fags..shit everyone knows them demorats are a bunch of sissy boys..when the fuck`n race on..hey! where in the hell is my beer?..ya, i hope that pretty boy gordon don`t win,you know,he`s another one of them...dam,get me another beer..whoa-lookie there! they just crashed!!
we republican, i mean american men don`t like that touchie stuff- shit we`ve been trying to find that bastard of did that movie deliverence and those europeens kiss each other..makes ya upchuck my beer just thinking about it..got to go ..just had another wreck

[VolcanoJen]

21. Yes, and when they're out of issues, they turn to SEX.

Every single damned time. It's straight out of the Lee Atwater playbook.

[eleny]

22. Because they have nothing n/t

[jdonaldball]

23. Because they don't have any friends

nt