David Broder calls Kerry "tall handsome", and does does everyone else who isn't a big fat Bushie disinformation freak.
Kerry is ready to run
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Column by David Broder
WORCESTER, Mass. — Last Friday night, as he has so often before in his almost 40-year Senate career, Ted Kennedy stood before hundreds of the faithful at the Massachusetts Democratic convention, giving them the message.Once again, he told them that their commonwealth and their party had the historic mission to provide leadership that would "bring the American dream to every family and every child," to assure people "a fair wage and a secure pension, good schools, clean water and clean air."
But this time, his task was to convince them that the man who could do this, "a strong American leader in each of these causes, a powerful, powerful national voice for the Democratic Party," is none other than his junior partner for the past 18 years, Sen. John F. Kerry.
In introducing Kerry, Kennedy praised him so lavishly that audience members might have been reminded of that classic line from colonial Massachusetts: "Prithee, John, why do you not speak for yourself?" And when Kerry did, the spontaneous roars of agreement that Kennedy had evoked turned sporadic and labored. Reading a version of the standard stump speech he has delivered in recent months to other Democratic gatherings, Kerry was hampered by a balky TelePrompTer and, as he said later, "never found my rhythm."
What comes easily to Kennedy does not to Kerry.
That is part of the problem that lurks for the 58-year-old senator — tall, handsome, battle-tested, wealthy and in the eyes of many colleagues, wise — as he prepares to be the latest Massachusetts Democrat to test the presidential waters. |
