Kerry will have to appeal to working class, but...

[Pontus]

I wanted to see my wife's reaction to Kerry and his wife on 60 Minutes. My wife is from an authentic socialist family (her grandfather active in rail unions in the 40s) but when she saw the interview she said she wouldn't vote for Kerry because he showed no connection to the workers and his wife seemed like a typical arrogant rich woman. Her question was how can one believe he can represent the poor and working class from his background. I am sorry Lieberman is out now and I think Democratic voters meda a huge mistake (could it have origins in the Republican strategy rooms?) thinking Kerry is the best hope for winning in November.

Any comments?

[MaineDem]

1. I was at a dinner at which Kerry spoke

The wait staff was standing next to my table watching and listening to the speech. Most of them were young women; I assume at least some had families. Kerry spoke of trying to raise a family and the need for people to have two jobs just to survive, let alone do well. He spoke of other issues which I can't remember off the top of my head that dealt with the "average working class". Their reactions were interesting to watch. He had their attention for sure and I saw some of them nodding at the things Kerry was saying. He was reaching them with no problems.

And Teresa is a great woman. She'll make a gracious and charming First Lady, similar to Jackie Kennedy.

[adadem]

3. I have met

Teresa and Kerry's daughter Vanessa...spoke with them for a bit and neither was the least bit haughty....they are totally down to earth and like normal "mainstream" Americans.

[aldian159]

7. I second that.

n/t

[brainwashed_youth]

4. yes she is

From all I've seen and heard from both sides, Teresa seems like she would make a great first lady. And Kerry is a most appealing person. Just look at his decisive victories yesterday. For a Massachusetts liberal, he's awright. I say that because I'm a good ole Georgia boy

[bryant69]

2. Isn't the ability to win elections

A measure of one's ability to reach the people? I mean discounting the idea that there's been massive voter fraud (which I know some believe), doesn't the fact that he won elections show his ability to reach democratic voters?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Both FDR and JFK were fabulously wealthy

and both were extremely popular among the working class.

It's not where they come from, it's what they do. If Kerry can do something that brings perceptible benefits to the working class, then he will be popular among them.

[AP]

9. FDR was popular because he was a class traitor. Is Kerry? Has anyone

ever called him that as he has gotten wealthier and wealthier?

And let's look where FDR's life got him? Are his descendant's fabulously wealthy and controlling the destiny of America, like the Bush family? It looks like FDR traded all his family's wealth and potential for power to make America better. The working class loved him for the right reasons.

JFK? It didn't hurt that he was a catholic and a recent descendant of immigrants who was shut out from the WASP hegemony that was really trying to run America at the time. He was also a playboy at the one time in American history when it was OK to be a playboy -- in the middle of the golden era of American economic development.

Today, when Americans are getting pounded by the rich, and feeling poorer and poorer every year, are Americans going to get excited over deciding between voting for a guy who stands to inherity 100 mil (Bush) and a guy who's the richest man ever to run for president (Kerry)?

I really don't think so.

[LeahMira]

6. The President is not everything...

Her question was how can one believe he can represent the poor and working class from his background.

I think it takes a willingness to represent the poor and working class and a willingness to listen to them in order to learn what they feel will be most helpful to themselves.

Certainly someone who comes from a middle or upper class background won't know instinctively what unique problems haunt the very poor, but anyone who sincerely wants to learn can learn.

I think that Senator Kerry has demonstrated his willingness to question authority, to challenge "the way things are," and to look at creative and innovative proposals.

I also think that he will need a supportive Congress that is willing to work with him and maybe help him to understand specific issues. Congressmen and women, especially in the House of Representatives, are the people who should be working for the best interests of their constituents. They are closer to the people than the President is. They are the people who write legislation and propose policy. They are also the people that the poor and working classes need to approach first.

I don't know why you imagine that Lieberman would have been a better candidate, but I do think that while a Democratic President is very important, it's at least as important, if not more so, to have a strong Democratic Congress.

[AP]

8. I had a conversation with a friend comparing Dean and Edward's college

plans.

Edwards's pays down the prinicple, reduces debt, including interest payments. Dean's encourages you to go into more debt, but has taxpayers subsidize interest payments by giving you a credit, which is just guaranteed profit for the wall st banks which manage these loans.

Friend said: "of course Dean wouldn't care about the difference. He's never had to go into debt for anything in his life ever. Of course Edwards cares about the difference. He knows what it's like to have to finance you're own economic development from working class to middle class (and beyond)."

That's how biography matters to voters.

[SangamonTaylor]

10. Kerry's wife makes me want to go get some catsup! n/t

[Mairead]

11. I stand by my original heuristic: check their office website

Kucinich's, like Sanders's, was packed with 'tissue issue' material. 'These are some of the important issues right now and here's why, this is what I think we should be doing about them, here's how you can help with that, here's some progress we've made or setbacks we've endured, this is what's coming up next'.

Kerry's was packed with 'this is how you get a flag, here are some interesting things to see if you come to DC, here're some photos of me with other politicians, this is my biography, here are things I've voted on recently'.

The contrast was as obvious as it could possibly get.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

12. I don't like Kerry one bit.

But if people voted for Kennedy's in the past I don't see the difference now of voting for another filthy rich man. I'm a couple of paychecks away from the poor house. When it comes down to it I'll probably vote for him and just cover my nose as I press the button. I'm sure a lot of other working class or poor people may feel the same way about voting for him.

[genius]

13. This is where Kucinich and Edwards would bring in voters.

Both Dean and Kerry are upper class. Kerry's got a much better labor record. If Kerry gets the nomination, he should pick someone like Dennis or Edwards with a working class background to round out the ticket. He should avoid picking someone from the elite class.