The John Kerry I Never Knew - By Mark Shields

[liberalpragmatist]

The John Kerry I never knew

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/24/shields.kerry/

Personal vanity had been only one part of the political-press consensus on Kerry. He was regularly described as aloof, patrician or emotionally detached. Yes, it was agreed, the man was smart, and he knew the issues. But John Kerry, it was agreed, was in love with his wife's husband. Never a shot-and-a-beer guy, he was not the kind of Massachusetts politician who could sing a song or tell a self-deprecating story. Although I was not an intimate of the man, it was a consensus from which I did not strenuously dissent.

Let me tell you about a John Kerry much different from that glib stereotype. Seven years ago, Kerry personally recruited Brendan O'Donnell, then 19, to become an intern in his Senate office in Washington. Senate internships are coveted positions, often reserved for the children of well-connected or deep-pocketed campaign donors. Brendan O'Donnell's mother, Kathryn, was an honored elementary teacher and a widow. Her husband and Brendan's father, Kirk, was an enormously talented lawyer-politician had died unexpectedly the previous September. In the cold calculus of power, neither Brendan O'Donnell nor his family could do anything politically for John Kerry or anybody else.

What I forgot to mention is that Brendan is learning disabled. In 1999, he explained his condition this way in a statement John Kerry later quoted on the Senate floor: "I think there should be a different name for learning disabilities ... to me, it's not a disability -- it's just that I have something which causes a storm in my mind. When I look at something, I have to take my time and take it all in." But take it in he does, performing all his assigned tasks in the Senate office with enthusiasm and dispatch.

<snip>

Although it's George W. Bush who's better known for nicknaming acquaintances, Kerry addresses his young colleague as "Brendy" or "the B-Man." What only a few get to see is the physically playful friendship between Brendan O'Donnell and John Kerry. As the senator put it when we chatted this week, referring to the shadow punches the two men toss at each other: "We hug, and we slug." In the words of another Kerry staffer, Brendan brings out "the frisky" in the senator. Asked what Brendan O'Donnell brings to his office, Kerry answers: "He has a strong work ethic. He is wonderful. He is an inspiration to everyone here, including me."

Don't try to tell Brendan O' Donnell that his boss, Sen. John Kerry, is aloof, self-absorbed or emotionally detached. He knows better. Brendan once spoke about individuals with learning disabilities: "We are the same as everyone else, and if someone takes the time to teach us, to work with us, and to help us understand, we can do whatever we want." He is right, and Sen. John Kerry has cared enough personally to take that time. Sorry if that shatters your stereotype like it shattered mine.

[TomClash]

1. A little late isn't it?

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. I wish Mark had written this before the election

but then with a rigged election, it really wouldn't have made a difference.

[Hephaistos]

12. We dodged a bullet

If Rove had gotten his hands on this story before the election, rumors would have had Kerry molesting a retard.

Rove has a history with filthy tactics like this, for example when his client was running against a certain judge Kennedy:

Kennedy had spent years on the bench as a juvenile and family-court judge, during which time he had developed a strong interest in aiding abused children. In the early 1980s he had helped to start the Children's Trust Fund of Alabama, and he later established the Corporate Foundation for Children, a private, nonprofit organization. At the time of the race he had just served a term as president of the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect. One of Rove's signature tactics is to attack an opponent on the very front that seems unassailable. Kennedy was no exception.

Some of Kennedy's campaign commercials touted his volunteer work, including one that showed him holding hands with children. "We were trying to counter the positives from that ad," a former Rove staffer told me, explaining that some within the See camp initiated a whisper campaign that Kennedy was a pedophile. "It was our standard practice to use the University of Alabama Law School to disseminate whisper-campaign information," the staffer went on. "That was a major device we used for the transmission of this stuff. The students at the law school are from all over the state, and that's one of the ways that Karl got the information out—he knew the law students would take it back to their home towns and it would get out." This would create the impression that the lie was in fact common knowledge across the state. "What Rove does," says Joe Perkins, "is try to make something so bad for a family that the candidate will not subject the family to the hardship. Mark is not your typical Alabama macho, beer-drinkin', tobacco-chewin', pickup-drivin' kind of guy. He is a small, well-groomed, well-educated family man, and what they tried to do was make him look like a homosexual pedophile. That was really, really hard to take."


Link: http://pekingduck.org/archives/001821.php (quote from a Josh Green article in the Oct. 2004 Atlantic Monthly).

[blm]

30. But...but...Rove had NOTHING to do with the Swift Boat Vets......

they did it all on their own.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. Right. Why is this coming out NOW?

[napi21]

2. Kerry is unable to show his personal side.

I don't why. I also never understood what liberal elite meant! Kerry seems to be a fairly private guy who doesn't wan't the public to really know him and his thoughts.

Unfortunately, that's a problem for a Presidential candidate!

[LittleClarkie]

13. They say it has something to do with his boarding school upbringing

Something about that experience taught him to guard himself.

The fact that he came near tears during his concession speech tells you just how emotional that was for him. He doesn't let that wall down much.

You can even tell in an interview if Kerry trusts the interviewer or not. I saw one on CNN where he was talking about 1971 where he seemed very relaxed, and another profile piece where he was very guarded.

I loved a line from that piece where the interviewer asked Kerry about an experience he'd had that had caused much introspection, and his response was that yes, he'd learned alot about himself, none of which he was sharing with the interviewer. I don't know why, but I liked the way he said it.

I didn't start falling in love with Kerry until I saw him being very affectionate and loving toward a group of vets (probably Band of Brothers, though I didn't recognize them at the time.) That moment on CSPAN helped me to want to know more about him.

[karynnj]

31. Maybe also from Nixon inspired effort to destroy him

I had wondered if some of his keeping reporters at bay might have stemmed from the 1971-1972 experiences. In all of the early 1971 tapes, he seemed so serious, but also so open and honest - with the same big smile he has now. (This was based on seeing Gowing Upriver and a few excerpts of Dick Cavett, so it may be very off.) Maybe all the hatred that was thrown at him caused him to build up walls that make him appear guarded.

[politicasista]

17. Oh like the others are so much better

I blame Ms. Cahill and Mr. Shrum for that.:cry:

[GalleryGod]

3. I Love Shields ,but, Yes like the Dreaded 'Make-Up Call"

By lousy Refs Everywhere!:puke:

[kikiek]

4. Thanks for sharing that. Great article that says a lot about John Kerry.

[utahgirl]

5. asdf

I'm not surprised at all. And I'm delighted to know about Brendan.

Also, every picture I've ever seen of a child with Kerry, the child is engaged and happy. I can't say the same about pictures I've seen of *.

I don't understand where the aloof perception came from, but I felt that a different haircut could have 'softened' his face. Damned weird country we live in, where a haircut can make or break a president.

utahgirl

[babylonsister]

7. Thanks for this. Nice article, and

I'm not surprised. Mr. Kerry seems like a very compassionate guy.

[blm]

9. Bush would do something like this only so Karl could use it for campaign

ads. The entire media would use it to convey Bush's "special" and "commanding" goodliness.

There is much people never got to know about Kerry. The GOP web of lies about him, dating back to 1971, satisfied most of the media.

[NC_Nurse]

10. What a nice story...

I wish we had heard of it sooner. Frankly, I think it speaks to the fact that Kerry is not a huckster like W. He doesn't USE people and circumstances like * does, becuase he has taste and humility. I wish the more of the public had enough sense to see that.

[hopein08]

11. Awww

that was so sweet...thanks for sharing!

[karynnj]

14. press

So are brilliant media managed to portray a loud out-going bully as a nice guy and a rather shy basically kind, decent man as a strangely aloof loner. This was similar to some of the stories around the convention time - ie when he helped one of his swiftboat crew when he was depressed and suicidal years after VN or the comments in the band of brothers ad where one of the crew was saying how he unlike any other officer the man ever had when around asking if everyone was ok when they returned from missions where they were firedon. It seems if the press wanted to try, they could have learned more.

[blm]

27. This is EXACTLY the John Kerry I see. Why did journalists rely on 30 years

of planted stories by operatives of GOP administrations? Guess it was easier to collect their paychecks WITHOUT having to work at original thoughts and angles.

Imagine if Kerry HAD used this situation to benefit his campaign image. The media would have KILLED him as phony. Much like they did whenever Kerry enjoyed sports he participated in for over 40 years, like biking, hockey, soccer,hunting, and those he has done for relaxation the past 10 years, like cycling, snowboarding, windsurfing.....it didn't matter how long he enjoyed those sports, the media treated him like a phony for doing them.

George Bush was treated like the ultimate sports hero, when the doofus couldn't even ride a Segway without falling. But, the press told the public that Bush was a cowboy, rancher, allaround sports hero, and manly commander-in-chief, while Kerry was a big nothing.

Now, who is really afraid of horses, a poor marksman, a cheerleader, and went AWOL during wartime?

[newyawker99]

28. Hi karynnj!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[politicasista]

15. Thanks for posting this.

I didn't know it was already posted. Sorry.:nopity:

[SharonRB]

16. This made me cry

And just reinforced how I already feel about JK.

[Just Me]

18. Given Kerry's spectrum of human experience which I completely respect,...

,...I am not, at all, surprised.

It is incredibly unfortunate that people fail to explore and embrace the unusual realm of human existence composed by this whole being, John F. Kerry.

While I fully support all "advocates" for democracy and for "the people" (Dean and Boxer, Sharpton and Clark, Byrd and Kennedy, THE PARTICIPANTS ON DU *LuvUall*, etc.), I truly respect the wisdom Kerry carries as a result of his "detached" yet fully engaged human involvement.

I have learned something from the "right-wing" character assassination machine: I IDENTIFY MY ENEMIES/COMPETITION. My ENEMIES/COMPETITION include the OBVIOUS dishonest political predators. My friends include All others who present an open door to a conversation and an opportunity to grow from one another.

I'd rather spend my energy supporting those who have "moments of integrity" than spin my wheels condemning the imperfect (while "the enemies" are profitting from my distraction).

Yah. So. That's my "rant". :bounce:

[blm]

29. I think it's more than a rant,

it's well stated, thoughtful and deserves its own thread.

[against all enemies]

19. Hey Mark, thanks---for nothing!! I'm sure your whore-friend Novak

wouldn't have waited till after the election to tell warm Bush stories. As if that old, senile piece of shit Novak would know a warm Bush if it hit him in the face. Novak go to hell. Traitor. CNN whore. I can't wait to hear that he's got spit running down his chin.

[HeatherG.]

20. I Don't Understand

I am glad Mark Sheilds realizes now that he was wrong. But why did Sheilds fall for that negative characterization in the first place? I am sick of shy, reserved people being characterized as emotionally detatched. They called Gore cold too back in 2000.

[Be Brave]

21. Great story Mark Shields! n/t

[kiraboo]

22. Excellent story, and I don't doubt it.

I have never understood the "aloof" label. What I saw in Kerry was an intelligent man who expressed himself with extraordinary clarity. An intellectual, yes... a man who understands the idea behind the action. Why half of Amerika found that offensive mystifies me. Don't get me wrong. I'm pretty certain Kerry was the wrong man this past election, but for reasons other than those for which he's been criticized.

[sendero]

23. Well ok...

.... I've never had a doubt that Kerry is a good man. By "good man", I mean someone who is interested in the welfare of others, not just of his own.

We live in a culture where that is no longer fashionable. Look at our culture, TV, movies, music - those who care about others are seen as losers at best.

I respect John Kerry, but he is not a man for our time. A man for our time will have to be tough and mean on occassion. A man for our time will have to call out the other side and nail them for their mistakes.

Kerry seems unable to do that in any forceful way. He'll never be president.

[politicasista]

24. Yeah like Dean or Clark

You must be a Deaniac or Clarkie.:cry:

[LittleClarkie]

25. If someone who is interested in the welfare of others

is no longer fashionable, then I don't want to be fashionable.

I can't believe you are advocating someone who sounds like a Democrat Cheney.

If John Kerry is not the man for our time, then I want to find out what time he was meant for, and go live there.

[sendero]

26. Way to...

... totally not hear what I'm saying.

It doesn't matter how big your heart is if you can NEVER GET ELECTED.

As for the other respondent, yes I am a Clark person if there is such a thing. Why? Because he is our best chance to take the white house in 2008. I sure don't want to waste another shot on "mr electable".

[raysr]

32. Rove will

get karma someday, and it will fit the crimes perfectly!

[really-looney]

33. Brendan is a beautiful kid

He wrote a piece about Speaker O'Neill when he died that actually made me cry. I am not usually one who cries over things.

[marcologico]

34. Creepy write up, worthy of Maureen Dowd.

"What only a few get to see is the physically playful friendship between Brendan O'Donnell and John Kerry."

Translation: just another paedophilic Catholic.

Pretty faint praise if you ask me. How many payrolls is Shields on, anyway?