PR Blunder Number 2324

Sheesh! I almost feel sorry for Senator Kerry. Heck I'm a surly Republican and I could do a better job than his PR people are doing. Maybe he's just ignoring their advice.

From the Houston Chronicle:

Kerry joined them [Senator and Mrs. Edwards] inside [a Wendy's Hamburger franchise] and spied a table of Marines. But when he struck up a conversation, the Marines answered tersely and expressed irritation.

"He imposed on us and I disagree with him coming over here to shake our hands," said one, who did not give his name.

Apparently, the senator hasn’t had much exposure to military personnel in the interval between the end of his Navy service and the beginning of his presidential campaign. If he had, he would remember some of the basic rules for interaction with this august group.

1. Never get between a GI and his/her food.

2. Never get between a GI and his/her food when the GI is obviously on his/her lunch break and has to get back to duty at a specific time.

3. Never get between a GI and his/her food in order to score a photo op.

4. Never get between a GI and his/her food when you don’t know for whom he/she is voting.

5. Never get between a GI and his/her food (it bears repeating).

6. Never point at a GI.

Actually, in the house I grew up in, it was considered rude to interrupt any sit-down meal, outside of emergencies and it was considered rude to point. I guess there is a different etiquette play-book on Senator Kerry’s level.

(Okay, I feel better today.)

AFTERTHOUGHT:

7. Never point at a GI while getting between said GI and his/her food, especially if the GI is a Marine. Marines aren’t that picky about what they eat.

Comments

[Marc]

Jesus! I noted this story about 28 hours ago, this is the first note I have seen from a dead tree source. Til now I only saw it on the wire services.

Glad to see it is getting a little more play. It was my laugh of the day at my place, but when looking at the photo it isn't as funny as just reading the story.

The look on Kerry's face and the pointing gesture appears as though the poor Marine is being admonsihed.

[Acidman]

I would like to see the Marine point a finger back at Kerry. And NOT the index finger.

[S. Morris]

How does George Bush avoid these kind of screw-ups? Given that he's apparently the most hated man in America these days, you'd think he would have encounters with angry people all the time....

[S-Train]

AND?!?! Sorry Juliette. I can't stand it anymore. Kerry and a U.S. Marine have a spat. So the hell what? So what does this mean. TELL ME!! WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS MEAN?

Could happen to Bush Jr. just as easily; trying to do a photo op and getting it thrown in your face. No matter how well you try to handle situations, this can happen. Oh if it happens to Bush Jr., I can just see all the Democrats and Liberal bloggers just tearing at Bush Jr. *SIGH*

And as far as getting between GIs, apparantly he did, wasn't scared, and is the one with the finger pointed at the Marine's chest. Not vice-versa. In my 'hood, that's a punk out. The Marine should have represented. Bump if he's a presidential candidate.

[Jim]

I guess Kerry has one thing in common with Bush:

An arrogant, elistist attitude.

I'm thinking about leaving that part of the ballot blank this year.

[Beth Donovan]

Thanks for that explanation, Juliette - I knew there was something very wrong about the whole episode, and I knew it was Kerry in the wrong, I just didn't know exactly why, and now I do, and I just love you to death for pointing it out!

[baldilocks]

S-Train: It means that Kerry needs new PR people.

In my last post, I pointed out that anyone who is inclined to find out substantive things about Kerry (or Bush, or Nader) knows where to look. Certainly you are among that number, dear.

I'm merely having a bit of sport with the guy. I have done the same with the president and would do so with Nader, if he were funny.

[baldilocks]

Jim: Surely you have something more devastatingly "elitist" than that. I could use a little fodder to make fun of the president. At least he'd probably laugh at it himself if he saw it and that I likely wouldn't get an IRS audit for my trouble.

I've teasingly done that to people. I guess I'm an elitist. Sigh. What shall I do?

[Duane]

My photo caption reads: Hey Seargent, could I borrow a few of those ribbons? I "accidentally" threw mine away.

[La Femme Crickita]

Well, thanks to Kerry voting for all the salary cutbacks for the military Wendy's is all any one in uniform can afford. what a toad. And I would advise the Marine to not ingest that finger. He might get mad cow disease.

[samkit]

whoa, forget real issues, Pres. Bush wiped his glasses off with someone's shirt! vote him out of office! ridiculous website that is. i could see poking fun at him for such a thing, but voting against him?

[BradDad]

I think Duane's on to something there - it sure looks like Kerry's looking at the Marine's ribbons.

[S-Train]

But Juliette, you know how this goes. There are people that will look at that picture and say:

Kerry disrespects our soldiers! That makes him a ----- (fill in the blank with words like traitor, etc)

Maybe I'm being a prude (damn, an ex-gang member and ex-con a prude, go figure) but it just seems that we live to see how far we can break a person. Not saying that presidential candidates should have scrutiny but we seem to enjoy it too much. I don't know. I do like to play the dozens with my friends and all but they ain't runnin' for president. I have to give you some dap though, you have your sport and are done with it. Some folks just beat it until nothing exists, try to resurrect it, and beat it some more.

[Ernie G]

I don't get the remark in Drudge's headline about the Marines "Dissing" Kerry. They were professional and by-the-book respectful when they spoke with him. Whatever thoughts they may have had they kept to themselves. "Yes, sir. No, sir."

What they said afterward, in response to questions, was candid and honest.

How many of us could deal with such a situation? (Forget about fantasies of telling him what to do with that finger. We're talking Real World here.) One minute you're sitting down for a bite of lunch with friends, and the next minute you're looking into your open grave if you say the wrong thing.

[baldilocks]

S-Train: In the previous post, there's a link to a story about Senator Kerry's people handing out a press credential in your neck of the woods--Detroit, for those who don't know--with a Rolls Royce on it.

The theme isn't "disrespect to Marines," it's either the total incompetence of his PR staff or his general tone-deafness. Which is the correct diagnosis? I don't know. I do know that perception--like it or not--makes a difference.

[baldilocks]

More...

Now whether the senator or his people think that they can do better is up to them. If such things mean little to how on-lookers will vote, more power to them.

For the record, I think the senator has put himself in this position. He has used his service as a point in his favor to become the next POTUS. With that in mind, he and his people should be very careful how any interactions between the candidate and military personnel are viewed. They screwed this one up.

[Indigo]

Wonder if he has ever pointed that notorious finger at Chirac? Just wondering.

People, people... we're missing the real story here. I have heard rumors that Wendy's gets their Ketsup from HUNTS!!

[lilred4x4]

Given Kerry's previous comments and complete disrespect for our servicemen and women, I'd say that Sargeant is real lucky he isn't staring at a court-martial board for taking that finger and jamming it fair up Sen. Kerry's rectum.

The Marines showed remarkable restraint in this instance I'd say.

[rightisright]

As much as I despise Kerry, I don't think that finger was pointed in an "accusatory" manner.

It's the good Marine's facial expression that gives the photo this demeanor. And I can'ts says I blame him.

That said, the Marine's after-comments probably echo the sentiment of a large majority of servicemen/women.

[Half Canadian]

I'm Canadian (who are horrible at PR) and even I know this was going to be a disaster from the begining. And pointing your finger at a Marine? What was he thinking. He should have saluted him and gone his way.

[S-Train]

That's the problem, PR folks thinking they know everything. How about a simple, "May I sit with you are talk about a few things" before photo-oping. Oh well. I'm just "simple folk". :)

[ic]

s-train, Kerry is too busy to sit with a marine, he's even too busy for national security briefing.

[Cog]

Respected abroad, strong stance against carbohydrates at Wendy's.

[Joatmoaf]

If you wonder why the military doesn`t like Kerry check out this video and wonder no more.

http://www.stopjohn.com/movies/hanoi-john.htm

[baldilocks]

To be fair, the polls taken among the military, including reservists and vets, show that a majority of military people favor the president over Senator Kerry, but it's not an overwhelming majority: something like 54% for Bush and 40% for Kerry.

I think it is a doctored photo. That finger looks far too straight and a little too long to be a finger.

The sound bite difference between the candidates to me is that Bush wants to win the war on terrorism; Kerry wants to be president.

[MDD]

The picture shows an ugly rank-pulling side of Kerry's character. He is famous for saying to people, "Do you know who I am?" when they object to his cutting in line. He was pulling rank on the Marines, rank he neither has nor deserves.

[Protagonist]

I don't think a bad photo-op or even disrespect to Marines is what makes the incident so distasteful.

Kerry opposes the war in which these Marines are involved. He opposes the very reasons for doing what they are doing. He has made statements which, carried to their logical ends, would conclude that these men are giving their lives for a cause that is at best futile, at worse criminal.

Yet in spite of his statements and political stands (if any are even non-contradictory), he choose to act buddy-buddy with these men for the sake of a self-serving photo-op. He used these men, after spending a year defaming them.

Admirably, these officers stood attention and begrudgingly showed respect to a sitting Senator. A few weeks back, when another Senator displayed faux-friendship to the Vice President, Cheney told him to go "F" himself. I'll leave to the reader to decide which response--if any--was more appropriate.

P.S. This is a good blog, which I was linked to via Michelle Malkin. I'll be sure to visit some other time.

[David C]

Huh, looking at it again, I can kinda see how you might think "doctored photo." But according to Reuters, it's the real deal:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040730/ids_photos_ts/r3493219289.jpg

And when Reuters doctors things, it's usually to help out the *other* side.... ;)

[Christopher Taylor]

President Bush the younger is not a junior. If you want a jr, Al Gore was a jr.

But ultimately what this means is: the troops have no confidence or respect for Kerry. That does not speak well of his ability to lead or his interest or competence in security of the nation.

[Hunting Dog]

Protagonist nailed this one (above.) Kerry tried to use these men after a year of talking down the work they do.

[The Commissar]

Yeah, you're right.

I gotta stop getting that dog wet. She doesn't like it, and reacts the same way every time. You know what I mean. :)

[Gavin]

It's a forged photo guys.
It's Republican Re-Touching RR#2324.
Have a look at it in PhotoShop.

[Helen]

Here's the kicker. The whole Edwards-Wendy's story was a lie. Kedwards used it as a photo op. Here's the link: http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/8/1/115950.shtml

[teal marie]

Helen, I read that story and wondered if Ben Afleck is having qualms about serving as a Useful Tool. This story, even more than the look of loathing on the Marine's face, shows how phoney Kerry is and how stupid he thinks Americans are.

[DANEgerus]

Just another DoYouKnowWhoIAm moment...

[DANEgerus]

Turns out the "Wendy'sMoment" choice for lunch was a fake too... the real lunch was:

The gourmet meals to go included shrimp vindallo, grilled diver sea scallops, prosciutto, wrapped stuffed chicken, and steak salad. The meals came to about $200.

in the bus...

http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/KerryEdwards_menu-31Jul04.htm

Wendy's is too low class for the chief ASS.

[DJDrummond]

"polls taken among the military..."

Yeah, sure. Got a source?

[ waits ]

[ waits some more ]

[ wipes off the gathered dust and resumes ]

I know that when Bush went to Iraq, troops ran to see him. When Hillary went to Iraq, they had to ORDER troops to have dinner with her, so she'd have an audience.

I also recall who wanted to throw out military votes in 2000.

Kerry can salute at a convention, but that doesn't mean he can fool a Marine.

[baldilocks]

DJDrummond: Who are you talking to? The source is in the next post, so you were waiting for something that happened yesterday.

[Michael]

As a Marine I hate being bothered while eating lunch. That's my time. GRRRRRRR!!!

And the finger pointing...yeah I would have been irritated also.

[torchy]

Kerry moved too gracefully (for an Ent) for it not to have been a choreographed event. Dead giveaway (pun intended). His domineering gesture of pointing is probably the way he addressed his swift boat crew in Nam. The photo his campaign uses of him and his crew onboard shows him standing apart from them. That says alot to me but probably not what his campaign intended.

teal marie - Ben Affleck has a storied history of being a Useful Tool™, why stop now? Matt Damon and J-Lo bested him as a result their partnering. Always the bridesmaid.........

[Helen]

Teal Marie, IMO, Affleck is a bimboy, not half as clever as he would like to think that he is. Shallow.

[DJDrummond]

My bad, Baldilocks. On another site, I got into a discussion with a poster who claimed vets would support Kerry overwhelmingly in November.

I think I came here right after that, and I must have had a Parris Island flashback.

Sorry for the confusion.

[baldilocks]

DJD: Cool! It's forgotten.

[RC]

For everyone that wonders why the good Sergeant didn't just tell Al-Querry to leave him alone and drop dead I would remind them that it is a court martial offense to criticize congress or member of congress.

[DJDrummond]

Well, RC, that and the fact that every Marine is trained to respect all people, and so not to make fun of the conceptually challenged.

[Strider]

Ben Affeckless a 'bimboy'? I always thought the term was 'himbo'

[Rich]

Caption:

"Could I borrow your ribbons for a couple of hours, I have this campaign rally, and lost mine? I was in Viet Nam you know."

Rich

[Dunerati]

CAPTION:

"Did you know I was a war hero once?"