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Who's French Now, Karen?
John Kerry is playing
this one right. He’s thrown a demented right-wing talking point
frequently used against him right back at a prominent Bush-Cheney 2004
figurehead, and this time, its based on more than just the aura of
Frenchiosity. Presumably tired of
months of horrendously ridiculous and borderline racist attacks on his
French “connections” and “French” appearance, Kerry has taken it
upon himself to point something out that nobody else would. Karen Hughes, one of
George W. Bush’s chief propagandists, was herself born in France. "I
understand that Karen Hughes was born in Paris”, Kerry stated, on the
27 March 2004 broadcast of MSNBC’s Hardball. The host, Chris
Matthews, a Democrat with Republican leanings (or is it the other way
around?), found the comment funny—as most likely did every non-Bushist
watching. Normally, being born in Paris wouldn’t raise many eyebrows. But the significance of Karen's birthplace is realized when comprehending the enormity of the Republican campaign to connect Kerry to the right wing’s favorite enemy, France. The excellent website
Spinsanity summarizes
some of these attacks, which started with a Bush advisor telling a
newspaper that Kerry “looks French”. The Kerry-is-a-ruthless-Frenchie
campaign blossomed from that point on: he’s been called everything
from a "haughty, French-looking Massachusetts Democrat" and
“Jacques Kerry”, to being accused of “favoring a French-style
high-tax regime” to flying in "a black, French-made twin-engine
six-seater". Editor-in-Chief of the outrageously fair-and-balanced
Washington Times wrote "You have to feel a spot of sympathy for
someone who looks as French as John Kerry" (yes, this appeared in
what some would call a major newspaper). The RNC made it known that Kerry had a French cousin (oh my
God, is this man really fit for the Presidency?). Tom Delay, known for
dodging the draft by holding an esteemed insect-killing position, had a
bug of his own when starting off speeches with "Good afternoon, or,
as John Kerry might say, 'Bonjour.'" It’s quite clear
that the Kerry-French meme was in development as soon as the now-famous
“flip-flopper” script. Both are ridiculous, considering how often
Bush has flip-flopped himself, and how French Karen Hughes is now known
to be. I haven’t read
Karen’s new book, as I’m not yet interested in reading (and to an
even lesser extent, buying) something that would make Goebbels blush.
Still, I have a good idea of what is contained within the books pages
(and what is within Karen’s mind) from reading reviews, articles, and
watching this woman make the rounds on various television programs. As
she circles the media circuit, she hawks two products: her book, of
course, but most importantly, the most powerful ‘product’ of
all—the fabricated image of George W. Bush. As a synopsis in the
Fort Worth Star Telegram so succinctly described, Hughes’ “descriptions
of Bush -- "awesome," "phenomenal," "decisive
leader," to name a few -- border on hero worship.” Seeing how integral a
component Karen Hughes is to the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign, one would
expect Hughes to at least, you know, not have been born in France. But
she was, as Senator John Kerry was wise to point out. Kerry is on the right
track when he patiently observes the mindless smears thrown his way, then
cautiously and confidently unloads a return volley that shows the
silliness—and hypocrisy—of the Republican attack machine. Karen Hughes, that
nice young lady from Paris, France, is an important screw in that
machine. Kerry has just loosened it. Now, ever so cautiously and
confidently, he must—with a strong grip—keep the screwdriver
rotating. |
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© 2004 CounterBias.com