Test Pattern: Kerry too serious on ‘Daily’ - Cheney the media

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4326967/

<snip>

After a couple of other bits, Kerry was introduced about halfway through the program. The senator walked out wearing a suit with a pale blue tie, an American flag pin, what looked like a Lance Armstrong Live Strong wristband, and a huge smile that never left his face. But once he sat down next to Stewart, it was as if the normally quick-moving show ground to a halt.

Stewart started him out with a nice easy one: "I watch a lot of the cable news shows so I understand that, apparently you were never in Vietnam." Kerry gave that one a good laugh and what seemed like some off-the-cuff remarks about how yes, he'd like to know too exactly where he was. That felt unrehearsed and human.

But when Stewart asked if it was hard for him not to take the attacks personally, Kerry started talking about how it was disappointing for the American people, who'd like to have an intelligent conversation about the issues. Which is fine, heck, which is true, but the question as put to him was so personal, the answer, so impersonal.

Kerry did make me think he was going to personalize his answer when he said "I've been through worse," but then he left it at that. That statement reminded me of reading an article about the dedication of the World War II Memorial, in which someone asked one of that war's vets if they were been afraid to travel to Washington, DC because of terrorist threats. The old vet said no, never crossed his mind, and the unspoken statement was "I've been at Iwo Jima, why would I be afraid in Washington?" I would have liked to have come away from "The Daily Show" appearance with that sense about Kerry. But when he was handed the opportunity to go deeper, to get a little personal, the senator seemed to shy away.

[trotsky]

1. The Gore-ization of Kerry is well underway.

If he's too loose, too friendly, he's "reinventing himself" or being phony.

If he's too staid and serious, he's stuck up or arrogant.

Give me a break.

[Nite Owl]

That is exactly what I

thought he meant that it was worse for him, he was in war and shot at by the enemy. He didn't have to say it and if he had they would have been complaining about that.

[wurzel]

2. It is the "Gore" effect.

The slightest variation from the "Truth" will be pounced on by Cable. He has to be aware of how easily he can be "misquoted".

[democraticinsurgent]

3. kerry does not get any breaks!

I saw this too and it pissed me off.

I thought he handled himself beautifully. He wasn't auditioning for his own Comedy Channel show. He was auditioning for PRESIDENT!

Kerry is by nature cautious, thoughtful and reserved. And if he had tried to be funny, or too personal, or whatever, he would have been lambasted for it.

At first, I thought he was a little nervous. But rather quickly he hit his stride, laughed a lot and still got several nice points across.

I am more and more proud of our candidate each day. When he wins, a lot of people's fantasy worlds are going to be turned upside down.

I can't wait.

[gasperc]

20. Kerry got the jokes, he laughed, he was awesome

like other posters have said, the Gore-ification is well under way

[JI7]

4. and articles before this complained he was going on a comedy show to

discuss something like this.

[DemoTex]

5. Last night's "Daily Show" re-runs at 7pm EDT tonight.

I'll be watching.

[JI7]

6. he went on the daily show because it's the closest to REAL NEWS out there

that's why he passed up the whores which distorted and lied and spun things . he went on the daily show because they were the most accurate in the story on the swift boat liars.

[Cocoa]

7. Kerry IS a Boston Brahmin

and he doesn't pretend to be a farmer.

Ironically (Orwellianly, really), Kerry's refusal to be something he's not is used by the whores as evidence he's a fake.

[Demoiselle]

21. Exactly right, Cocoa!

I watched him last night...and he IS who he IS. An essentially serious man, and a patrician. Good sense of humor, but not about to compete with Jon in the jokes department. I was thrilled that he got a chance to make some points. And his remark about the amazing number of people who introduce themselves to you in the men's room was a genuinely funny observation. I like the way he laughed at Stewart's jokes, too.

[goju]

8. I thought he did great

I rarely get a chance to watch the tube but, thanks to another poster yesterday (?), I made time to watch it. I thought he was loose, smiled alot, seemed comfortable, and handled himself very well.

He not only appeared loose and "a guy you'd have a beer with", but he remained presidential.

[Skarbrowe]

12. I got goose bumps!

I haven't been very fond of Kerry. I'm a die hard Democrat and I've sent money to his campaign and I'll be supporting him all the way to the Presidency. After seeing him on The Daily Show ( God, you gotta love JON STEWART! ), I actually got goose bumps and realized Kerry is the MAN. He is an intellectual elite and that's just a fact of life. It doesn't have to be an albatross. The man is smooth and calculating in his comments, but when every word you say can be twisted a hundred ways it's hard not to be. He was warm and relaxed and Jon Stewart genuinely cracked him up. It was a joy to watch.

In my opinion, only Jon Stewart could have brought this out in Kerry at this time in the Presidential battle. Extremely smart move on Kerry's part to go on this show.

Skarbrowe

[MikeG]

9. I heard Leonard Pinth Garnell loved it. So there. Gael.

BTW what kind of name is Gael?

[Ready4Change]

10. I liked Kerry on the Daily Show.

He showed a lot more good humor than I think most presidential candidates would be able to show. He was able to laugh at himself.

I'd love to see Bush on the same show. Can you imagine his reaction to similar jabs?

[THUNDER HANDS]

he was okay last night

The thing that I took from it is that Kerry can be funny occasionally, but he's probably more comfortable sitting next to Tim Russert than John Stewart.

Kerry is a serious guy and these are serious times.

But you think his handlers would have thrown him a joke or two, or at least a funny line.

Like the flip flop question. Instead of saying 'yeah, i flip flopped, flop flipped' he should have said:

"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
and then shrugged his shoulders and go "Maybe."

THAT would have been funny.

[Insomnicole]

11. God, these people are predictable.

The minute the show ended I knew I was going to see at least one slam piece from some yabbering head complaining that he was stiff and boring.

Kerry was fine last night. It was nice to see him really loosen up, laugh, and have some fun. I actually thought he came off better than Clinton, who was okay but seemed oddly uptight during his interview.

[TheDonkey]

13. I think Kerry should go on Oprah, he'd do good there.

Kerry is very friendly, funny, and personal.
I do think he was being too serious on the Daily Show, I've seen JK on Leno and he was much more laid back. I'm sure he was just a little tired and worn out with all this faux scandal to fully get comfortable.

[zulchzulu]

14. How many Repuglified Freeperzoids watch the Daily Show?

I'm sure they love what Stewart has to say about Chimpy.

So Kerry didn't whip out his guitar and play the National Anthem...let's analyze his interview to death to see if he messed up in any way we can.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

15. Kerry looks/sounds GREAT on all the clips and in print

We all know he's not the most charismatic politician. Doesn't matter, the clips look good and so do the comments.

[Sparkle]

16. Did anyone capture the stare by Kerry and Jon?

I'd like to see a pic of that! And I liked the joke Stewart said after Kerry asked about a profile of their stare, he said something like "We don't want to do that, I'm all Jew". LOL!

[AmerDem]

17. Was it Kerry too serious or Stewart acting over the top trying to be funny

I say the latter, there is only so much of the Stewart i can take!

[indigo32]

23. It was neither IMO

I watched it... with my mother, and we loved the whole thing.

[KharmaTrain]

18. Kerry Is Thanking Us...

This was his first real media appearance and he chose this show to come out on. This shows both the power of this program and the high regard he, as well as many of us have in this program, Stewart and the many great people that do this thing every night. Clinton did the same a couple weeks ago. The Daily Show is "The" Liberal program and reaches a younger audience that has helped rejuvenate both the party and the candidates.

I thought he came off very well. If anything Jon was "fawning" a little bit and if I were a wingnut I'd be throwing things at the screen (a good thing!!). Right now Kerry needs a forum to speak issues, issues, issues. He can't do it on CNNservative or through this slimeboat and then GOOPfest noise. Jon gave him a great platform and one we may look back on as being a lot more important than what it may have appeared last night.

Remember, Clinton brought out a lot of first time voters and created a lot of special bonds with millions through playing that sax on Arsinio and making the rounds of all the talk shows. I expect Kerry will do more "letting loose" in weeks ahead as he and we get more comfortable and energized. Just wait til the ACT tour coming up...and if you don't see JK with a guitar on one stage or another, I'd be surprised.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. Kerry is speaking directly to the American people and MSNBC hates it

lol

[Qutzupalotl]

22. I think it's professional jealousy...

Check this out:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5809660
Seriously, Kerry picks ‘Daily Show’ for interview
Senator's camp says show good way to reach young voters
By Lisa de Moraes
Updated: 4:52 p.m. ET Aug. 24, 2004

When John Kerry decided it was time to do his first national TV interview since the Swift boaters for Bush launched their attack on the senator's Vietnam War record, he did not choose CBS's "60 Minutes," ABC's "Nightline" or "NBC Nightly News."

Kerry picked Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," where he will appear tonight in an extended interview.

Now I bet you feel terrible that you dismissed as fools those TV critics who, back in July, collectively crowned "The Daily Show" the year's best news and information program. I know I do.

(snip)

In fact, Stewart's show has so much buzz during this election, it's annoying some of the traditional TV newsies.

[Nightjock]

24. He's running for President

not for his own Comedy Central show.

I believe he struck a very good balance between distingished and down to earth.

Everyday I watch and listen to the man I love him more.
God willing, he will be a great President.

[Lefty Pragmatist]

25. Kerry was very good on the Daily Show.

It's a tough format for a candidate, because if you're serious you look stiff, and if you're funny you look flippant. The only politico I've seen pull off a "10" on the show is McCain, and he has more freedom because he aint running for anything.

Stewart obviously loves Kerry, and the audience was over the top pro-Kerry -- all of that helped, even if TDS TV audience is 99.9% liberal.

The major networks are p1ssed off that the public no longer respects them. They did it to themselves -- sound bites, soft stories, and mindless parroting of each side's talking points are not news. When they crossed that line, they rendered themselves an inferior choice to a real entertainment show. If they ran a real news hour and were not afraid to present analyses that exposed lying and corruption (by either party), they'd get their audience back. There are millions of people who are intelligent and mature enough for real news.

[Catt03]

26. Kurtz from Wshington Post thought it was OK

and you know Howie.....usually not on the liberal side

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/columns/kurtzhoward/

I thought he ws a little stiff but that's Kerry. He was funny at unexpected moments.

[Ducks In A Row]

27. any bets all he did was skim the transcript

because he didn't see the same show my friends and I did.