Media to attack Kerry's wife... again

[MaroonOut2005]

http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org/prelaw/index.php?action=post;board=13.0

http://news.bostonherald.com/dncConvention/view.bg?articleid=37308

Basically, in an interview a while ago, Teresa Heinz referred to the Democratic party as "putrid" and called Edward Kennedy a "bastard."  I don't know where I stand on this.  On one hand, I think the media is going way overboard with their assaults on Teresa Heinz.  Does she really play that big of a factor in the election?  On the other hand, she does tend to put herself out there, thus maybe she had it comming.  What do you think?

Thanks and Gig 'Em,
Jason

[casino]

i gotta admit, i saw the clips last night when she clearly referred to something or some policy as being potentially viewed as "un-american" and thought her level of denial and fury afterwards was comical when the reporter asked her what she meant about it.  as for the election, i don't give a *&^% one way or another -- as, i am sure, most americans do not -- but it was entertaining nonetheless.

casino

[The ZAPINATOR]

edit

[jgruber]

The basic question is do you decide who to vote for based on who they are married to.

I don't, but many people do.

[buster]

i gotta admit, i saw the clips last night when she clearly referred to something or some policy as being potentially viewed as "un-american" and thought her level of denial and fury afterwards was comical when the reporter asked her what she meant about it.

The paper for which the reporter works, which is essentially a megaphone for Richard Mellon Scaife, who financed many of the efforts to bring Clinton down,  has been making false claims regarding the Heinz Foundation for some time. I agree that her denial of something she clearly had said was comical, but I think there was a bit more to her anger than meets the eye at first glance.

[Minc]

I think the media has definitely taken quite a few tough shots at Teresa Heinz Kerry lately. However, I think this comes with the territory. All politicians, potential political figures, and even the general public has some notion of this. If you are in the public eye, you had better be extremely careful before you speak.

While I think it sucks that she is getting slammed, I think she has brought this upon herself. I mean, you don't see anything being said about Laura Bush, do you? I think some presidential spouses or presidential candidate's spouses sometimes forget that they are not the one running for/serving as president. If you want to be a media target, keep talking. If not, let the president/candidate do the talking. 

[jas9999]

laura bush doesn't control a billion dollar charitable endowment. teresa heinz kerry has been in the spotlight a lot longer than she's been called teresa heinz kerry... don't forget, when john heinz died, the pa republicans wanted her to run for his seat, but she refused.

also, the reporter with whom she had the exchange works for a far right wing paper, run by richard mellon scaife. they've accused her and her foundation of laundering money - with no evidence - on repeated occassions. she has a long history with them, which is necessary to understand in order to place the 'shove it' comment in the proper context.

[Minc]

Good point, jas. I wasn't really taking into consideration Teresa's involvement in politics independent of Kerry. Still, though, I think that being in the arena sets you up as a target.

Just want to mention that given the situation you've described, I'd have told him to shove it too!

[Tobias Beecher]

Laura Bush is a zillion times better than her.

She better learn some manners.

What a joke.....and she wants to be the first lady?

[However, dumbya is still the worst president in U.S history].
 

[Bman]

From what I've seen of Teresa, I don't particularly care for her. She was a Republican until very recently and she said she became a Democrat because the Republicans impugned Max Cleland's patriotism in 2002 (a liberal myth that simply will not die). I think its disrespectful how she still refers to her former  husband lovingly in front of her current husband. Her speech last night seems to be a pretty good summary of her self-indulgence- she was supposed to introduce America to John Kerry the person and instead spent the entire time talking about herself.

But, as much as I dislike her, I dislike a particular line of pro-Teresa commentary that's going around. You've probably heard it before- Conservatives don't like Teresa because they fear a strong, independent woman. The idea seems to be that pointing out Teresa's undignified manner is presumptively sexist. Really it's just a way of silencing criticism.