Wandering through the city, looking for anonymity
I was doing well. I was getting over it. I had stopped waking up in a pool of sweat every tuesday. I had not kicked a dog (never puppies, I am not a monster) in anger for probably two months. After many meetings with my support group, I had begun to accept the results of the election in November, and come to terms with the direction this country is heading. That was all before tonight.
Tonight I traveled to Georgetown to the popular spot for teens to hang out (according to an article I saw in a local DC paper), the Prince Cafe. They have recently added seats outside, so it being a beautiful night my fellow travelers and I occupied this newly acquired aluminum seating. As luck would have it, in a moment I was looking toward the sidewalk and street at nothing in particular, I spotted a familiar face sauntering by me. Focusing my blurred gaze, I realized that the tall and imposing character before me was none other than John Kerry (accompanied by one of his daughters).
My mind began to race as my heart rate increased. The Senator obviously was not looking to be gregarious, but it was not every day that a man whom you anonymously supported and defended in virtually every conversation you took part in for months on end literally strolls by. With time ticking and the subject further away with every hurried step, I stood up. After taking a breath, I confidently said, "Senator Kerry." I waited for a response and at first thought that I had thought I may have seen a different Herman Munster look alike on a city street after dark (lord knows there is no shortage).
However, following a sigh and what looked like bracing himself, the man turned around and quietly muttered "yes?" At this point, I could tell that my intrusion into his private bubble was less than welcome. I made my comments brief. Maintaining eye contact with Senator Kerry (who still looks as if he has just gotten punched in the stomach), I told the man from Massachusetts exactly this: "I really appreciate what you did, thank you very much."
He quietly thanked me, quickly turned, and was off.
I have spent the remainder of the night chewing on this encounter, and keeping in mind the fact that the man is no longer campaigning, I have come to the following conclusion:
This is why John Kerry lost the election in November. It is not that he had no ideas for Iraq, or was too liberal for Middle America. These reasons are why the election was close. Politics dictates that any national election these days will be close. However, he could not win the extra two percent of votes he needed because as a man, not as a politician, but as a man, he can not connect with the average citizen. He is aloof.
Despite the fact that he has no reason to be friendly and outgoing now, I still believe this. It is not enough to be a good or even great politician these days. You must be naturally inclined to have a conversation with someone interested. You need to send out a feeling that if the President had it his way, the White House would be open to any friendly face that knocked on the door. You need to have an aura about you that there is nothing you would love more than to sit with me and talk, but just have to keep going.
Bush has this. Clinton has this. Kerry does not. Gore does not. Dukakis does not. And so it goes.
The voter is no longer satisfied with a well delivered speech, but wants a well delivered talk. Bush talks, he does not speak. He addresses Jim, and Henry, and Frank. Kerry speaks. He addresses Mr. Smith, and Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Michaels.
George W. Bush beat John Kerry fair and square last November. I am not ok with it, but now I know why.
Tonight I traveled to Georgetown to the popular spot for teens to hang out (according to an article I saw in a local DC paper), the Prince Cafe. They have recently added seats outside, so it being a beautiful night my fellow travelers and I occupied this newly acquired aluminum seating. As luck would have it, in a moment I was looking toward the sidewalk and street at nothing in particular, I spotted a familiar face sauntering by me. Focusing my blurred gaze, I realized that the tall and imposing character before me was none other than John Kerry (accompanied by one of his daughters).
My mind began to race as my heart rate increased. The Senator obviously was not looking to be gregarious, but it was not every day that a man whom you anonymously supported and defended in virtually every conversation you took part in for months on end literally strolls by. With time ticking and the subject further away with every hurried step, I stood up. After taking a breath, I confidently said, "Senator Kerry." I waited for a response and at first thought that I had thought I may have seen a different Herman Munster look alike on a city street after dark (lord knows there is no shortage).
However, following a sigh and what looked like bracing himself, the man turned around and quietly muttered "yes?" At this point, I could tell that my intrusion into his private bubble was less than welcome. I made my comments brief. Maintaining eye contact with Senator Kerry (who still looks as if he has just gotten punched in the stomach), I told the man from Massachusetts exactly this: "I really appreciate what you did, thank you very much."
He quietly thanked me, quickly turned, and was off.
I have spent the remainder of the night chewing on this encounter, and keeping in mind the fact that the man is no longer campaigning, I have come to the following conclusion:
This is why John Kerry lost the election in November. It is not that he had no ideas for Iraq, or was too liberal for Middle America. These reasons are why the election was close. Politics dictates that any national election these days will be close. However, he could not win the extra two percent of votes he needed because as a man, not as a politician, but as a man, he can not connect with the average citizen. He is aloof.
Despite the fact that he has no reason to be friendly and outgoing now, I still believe this. It is not enough to be a good or even great politician these days. You must be naturally inclined to have a conversation with someone interested. You need to send out a feeling that if the President had it his way, the White House would be open to any friendly face that knocked on the door. You need to have an aura about you that there is nothing you would love more than to sit with me and talk, but just have to keep going.
Bush has this. Clinton has this. Kerry does not. Gore does not. Dukakis does not. And so it goes.
The voter is no longer satisfied with a well delivered speech, but wants a well delivered talk. Bush talks, he does not speak. He addresses Jim, and Henry, and Frank. Kerry speaks. He addresses Mr. Smith, and Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Michaels.
George W. Bush beat John Kerry fair and square last November. I am not ok with it, but now I know why.