Crocodile Tears of a Clown

“When I criticized John Edwards for gratuitously mentioning Dick Cheney’s gay daughter, I got lots of email suggesting that Edwards was simply being nice. Sorry, that won’t fly after Kerry bizarrely, needlessly and explicitly raised the subject again (“I think if you were to talk to Dick Cheney’s daughter, who is a lesbian, ….”) There must be some Machiavellian strategy behind the Democratic urge to keep bringing this up–most likely it’s a poll-tested attempt to cost Bush and Cheney the votes of demographic groups (like Reagan Dems, or fundamentalists) who are hostile to homosexuality or gay culture or who just don’t want to have to think about it. Or maybe Kerry was just trying to throw Bush off stride. In either case, the fake embrace was even creepier coming from Kerry than it was coming from Edwards–Edwards had at least been debating Cheney at the time.”
Kaus Hackula, 10/13/04

“I guess Kerry really is writing off the South! [expired link to a picture of Alexandra Kerry in a dress that becaome transparent under bright lights at Cannes]… Hello? Do Americans want a first daughter who parades around in a dress Paris Hilton would be embarrassed to wear ? And shouldn’t she have, you know, thought of that? Even if she looks good in it. … P.S.: Could she be what these pictures suggest–a bit vain, selfish and opportunistic? John Kerry’s daughter, of all people! … P.P.S.:The French will love it, of course. But Kerry already has their vote. Maybe he’s energizing his base!”
Kaus Hackula, 5/16/04

Hey, he’s perfectly consistent: he really hates John Kerry! But his conception of the inviolable dignity of the children of Republican candidates is very shrewd.