The Real Reason Kerry Lost: Green Tea
By Ben Domenech Posted in User Blogs — Comments (3) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
I'm one of those folks who tend to take a simplified view of electoral politics. I think so much about winning and losing comes down to connecting with the voters who aren't just party-liners, a gut level good feeling that a good candidate inspires in those he meets and talks to. And when it comes to the late Presidential campaign of John Kerry - hefty recriminations pieces aside - I think that the lack of a real connection with the American people was a tangible problem, one that may have made the difference for a critical number of voters.
That absent connection is embodied by something very simple: green tea.
"There were many green tea instances," according to CNN's Candy Crowley. The story goes that in January 2003, Kerry and Crowley met for an early campaign breakfast at the Holiday Inn in Dubuque, Iowa.
"I'd like to start out with some green tea," Kerry told the waitress, as if ordering the first course at The Palm.
The waitress stared at him for a moment before responding: "We have Lipton's..."
Green tea IS good for you and I generally wouldn't make fun of someone for drinking it, but you're completely right in that there's a disconnect. Here in DC, I order a tea, and get brought a selection of Earl Greys, green teas, etc. Back home in Norfolk, tea means sweet iced tea. That's it. If I specify hot tea...yup, Lipton's is probably all I'd get. I remember the mini-culture shock I got when I first moved here and made friends with little tea connisseurs. Little things like that ...it's amazing.
Kerry didn't connect with enough people. Bush and Clinton won by pretending not to be rich, pretending not to be elites, pretending to be average Americans, complete with accents. Actually, it wasn't all pretending. Bush has his poor grasp of the English language, while Clinton had donuts and barbecue. Also, they were both willing to execute the mentally retarded in their respective states. Ok, kidding about that one. Well, not really. But Bush connected with non-elites. Kerry pandered to them like crazy, but he just wasn't believable. Any one can smell a phony.
This is a much better explanation than blaming fundamentalists or fraud. The left would be wise to figure it out. Who wants to bet they won't?
That is a very observant statement. Indeed you could feel there was a connection problem even if you supported him. In the first televised debate, I saw for a split second (While President Bush was responding), a smile on Kerry's face that was so genuine that you could almost think he was human there for a moment. A real connection that sparked for a second in time then fizzled into the air like a bottle rocket dud.
That was the only moment I saw that he ever connnected during the entire campaign.