DUers, don't hate me because

[senseandsensibility]

I got to talk to our next President of the United States last night! John Kerry came to California! I saw him at a fundraiser for 2000 people! We stood next to the stage for 4 hours to get to see him up close. He was only about ten feet from us when he spoke to the crowd, and later we talked to him, got his autograph, and shook his hand.
He was great! Contrary to what some posters here have implied, he DOES have a sense of humor. It's a low-key. self-deprecating kind of humor, in stark constrast to *'s faux redneck "humor", which usually involves putting OTHERS down. For instance, a kind of off-beat"psychadelic westcoast rock" band called the Flying Other Brothers was going to perform after he spoke. He said something like I hear you're going to see the Flying Other Brothers tonight? Well, I guess I'm all that stands between you and great entertainment, as if we wanted him off the stage so the band could start. Of course the crowd yellled No! No! And with a grin he said,mock seriously, "OK, I'll stay." The crowd, admittedly made of up of true believers only, kept punctuating nearly everything he said with chants of "Kerrey! Kerry! Kerry!"
John Kerry was charismatic and incredibly relaxed. He was introduced by the wonderful Rob Reiner, and Carole King sang her standards like the great woman and singer she is, but he was the
real deal, the one the crowd came to see. In person, he had as much star power as they did, if not more. He really seemed to be enjoying himself.
Later, he patiently worked the line, and I got a picture of him with his high school Electra band autographed, and my hubby got a 1981-82 Boston Bruins media guide signed. Kerry really reacted to the Boston Bruins media guide; he really is a hockey fan.
I'm sorry for the length of this post, but as you can tell, I'm still pumped from the experience. I wanted to do my best to convey to all of you that we have a charismatic, funny, intelligent, competent, and wonderful candidate in John Kerry! We are in good hands for November IMHO.
If you wouldn't mind, please keep this kicked so that others can see how great Kerry was in person. Also, although this was a very successful fundraiser, raising four million dollars in two cities, Kerry is visiting a local college for a free rally this morning.
GO KERRY!!!

[never cry wolf]

1. Awesome! Good on ya, I am JEALOUS!..n/t

[Sequoia]

2. You are so lucky!

We are all just pea green with envy. That is good news.

[merh]

3. Happy to kick - thanks for sharing. (eom)

[CrispyQ]

4. He spoke in complete sentences, right?

What a treat! I like John more every day!

Kerry for President!
Bring back complete sentences!

[senseandsensibility]

5. Oh yes...

Complete sentences abounded! And, he didn't pause for four full seconds everytime he said a word with more than one syllable!

[obnoxiousdrunk]

13. He

doesn't get bored in the middle of a sentence. That's enough for me to vote Kerry.

[senseandsensibility]

18. Won't it be

heaven when we don't have to be embarrassed by our president anymore?

[RedEarth]

6. I too was able to see Kerry when he was in Oklahoma and he does

come across very personable and approachable in person. He interacted with the crowd very well and spent a lot of time after his speech shaking hands and visiting with people. On television, for some reason, he doesn't seem to be as warm as he is in person. Perhaps, it's the liberal media showing his stiffer side.....????

[senseandsensibility]

8. Yes

I watched our local media's coverage of this event, and they didn't show any of the funny moments, or much of the speech at all. Plus one station, the CBS affiliate, seemed to be having a lot of trouble coming to terms with Kerry's popularity. They kept repeating that the only reason any of the people there liked Kerry was because he wasn't *. They used the term ABB about six times. Oh well, at least it conveys the idea that * is unpopular.

[LTR]

9. I was impressed with his TV ads

They present him in a very positive, personable light.

He really needs to show more of this side. I imagine we'll see more of it soon.

[mistertrickster]

7. Kerry On!

nt

[Toucano]

10. Consider yourself HATED!

Or at least envied! LOL :)

Thanks for sharing that wonderful story.

[senseandsensibility]

12. You know

I probably would have hated myself just a few days ago. I was whining to everyone I met that Kerry never came to California because it's a "safe" state for him. Go see Kerry when he comes to your town! Then you, too, can be hated.:P

[Oddman]

11. Thanks for sharing . . .

The Kerry campaign should take excerpts from this rally and edit it into a commercial showing the REAL John Kerry!!!


Cheney the Clown and Sideshow bush

[senseandsensibility]

14. Great idea!

I don't get to see many of Kerry's commercials because they don't run them too much in California, but I agree that he needs something showing him interacting with people and reacting to the crowd. He seems to have kind of a static image now.

[ArkDem]

15. He was rasing funds for 2000 people? What a GUY!!!

[senseandsensibility]

16. LOL!

Yes, we all got about five hundred bucks each. Now you can see why I'm so pumped.

[sandnsea]

17. Great report!

I agree, he is funny and warm and genuine. I think I'm going to go through DU and get all the personal reports together and send them in to the media. They haven't known what they were talking about for a long time.

[senseandsensibility]

19. Yes, do that!

There were reporters there, but the essence of the event just wasn't portrayed by the media. And I'm getting really sick of the way Kerry is being portrayed as dull, and the lesser of two evils.

[chimpymustgo]

20. I wrote one last week.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&(1000+ posts)


Fri Jun-18-04 05:26 PM
Original message

Had lunch with John and Teresa Kerry today. They are FABULOUS!



Okay, it was me and a couple of thousand at the Women for Kerry luncheon in DC. Raised 1.3 million dollars.

Teresa was spellbinding. She spoke very quietly, but passionately. And Kerry is no slouch in the charisma department. He gave a terrific speech - not a stemwinder, but it brought the crowd to it's feet many many times.

Teresa and John were very affectionate. She said Kerry would make a great nursery school teacher - she said he is just amazing with 2 year olds! Teresa also spoke about regaining America's standing in the world community.

It is so inspiring to listen to these two smart, compassionate - and witty - people. They are going to lead America through a wonderful transformation - out of the wilderness and into a new golden age.

This was an incredible event - for those of you wondering where JK was today. He did give a short soundbite to a reporter as people were crowding the barriers afterwards to take pictures and get autographs, but I heard it on CNN, and the sound is pretty bad. Hopefully he will have another press availability shortly.

Both JK and TK spent a long time after the event shaking hands and talking to people. One young man told Kerry he was just back from Iraq, and, he said to Kerry "You would be surprised how much support there is for you in the military!". Kerry thanked him for his service, and chatted about what branch of military, etc. Kerry had a kind word for everyone who wanted to meet him.

Folks, we have a great future President and First Lady!

 

[senseandsensibility]

21. I read that

and you did a great job of conveying what I was trying to convey too: namely that JFK is not a boring, humorless candidate.