Is it just me or does it seem that people who support John Kerry are downright mean? Perhaps that's unfair. Perhaps it is people who oppose Bush are mean, and John Kerry is just "there", so to speak.
But what do I mean by mean?
Well, there's Michael Moore.
And then there are the celebrities who came out for a Democratic fundraiser last night:
"This guy's as bright as an egg timer," actor Chevy Chase said, ridiculing the president for his tendency to sometimes flub the English language. Referring to presidential hobbies, Chase rattled off a list. "Clinton plays the sax, John plays the guitar, and the president's a liar," he said matter-of-factly, drawing laughs and cheers.Actor Paul Newman assailed Bush's tax cuts as "borderline criminal," saying, "There is serious and dangerous stuff out there and something's gotta change."
Actress Jessica Lange asked the crowd, "Are we going to continue to follow a self-serving regime of deceit, hypocrisy and belligerence?" Remarking that she usually refrains from quoting bumper stickers, Lange said she thought, why not? "We're in a time when our so-called president speaks in only bumper sticker slogans." The latest one she saw: "Defend America. Defeat Bush."
John Mellencamp sang "Let me tell you a story about the Texas Bandito," a tune that referred to Bush as a "cheap thug." John Leguizamo, a comedian and actor who is Puerto Rican, quipped: "Latins for Republicans. It's like roaches for Raid."
But Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt put things in perspective:
"It is a great example of John Kerry's priorities that on the day he said he did not have time to receive his intelligence briefing on threats to America, he found time to attend a Hollywood fund-raiser, filled with enough hate and vitriol to make Michael Moore blush."
I do not think the majority of Americans are mean.
I do not think that the majority of Americans like the President being the subject of trash-talk regardless of their opinion of his policies.
And I do not think that Kerry, being freely associated with this type of vitriol, be it from celebrities, Michael Moore or MoveOn.org is going to win him any votes among the undecided.
