# Does Teresa Heinz Kerry speak English? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 11, 2004, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510 "2004-07-11T02:03:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/81 "2004-07-12T02:27:28Z")
> [@Brandus](#): > > Preschoolers tend to nod in agreement with important people no matter what they’re saying. Did you watch her on Larry King? I was aghast at how much she was struggling. > > Picture her saying all this in a choppy, wandering tone and you would reach the same conclusion I did. She may speak 5 languages but obviously english is not her best one. I am concerned that this may be a liability to Kerry. Sigh. Brandus, I am going to try answering this and assuming you’re not just a tool. Have you ever been interviewed? Without being able to prepare answers in advance? It’s tough- very tough (I know, I have been in that “hot seat”). Very very few (and GWB is not one of them) have the skill to answer tough surprise questions without sounding “wandering” and “confused”. “First Lady” is not a “job” at all, but I guess in a way it is a “position”- but few First Ladies have had that skill. Dude- ask GWB those same questions (and don’t allow him to prepare or know what the questions are going to be) and I’ll bet he’ll even sound worse than Mrs. Kerry. In fact, he is a fumblemouthed gaffe-master when he does have to do that. I will point out that this does not disqualify him for _President_ so I don’t know why this would disqualify a woman from being “First Lady”. :rolleyes: :dubious: Not that I am defending Milroyj, but I can’t understand the furor over his question. 😕 Again- I hardly ever cut GWB any slack- but Mexican Spanish (or the texan dialect of it, which is again different) is spoken WAY different than Spanish. I know becuase my Grandmother spoke fluent Castilian, and although that got her respect from the Mexican workers- they had problems understanding her, and she had to make them slow down or else she could understand them at all. So- i agree with Polycarp on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/82 "2004-07-12T03:12:55Z")
> [@Brandus](#): > > Did she stop being a catholic at age 18? Now you are just being intentionally stupid. Obviously she attended a Catholic school staffed by nuns. Most people graduate at eighteen, but you apparently had to repeat several grades, so this reference was lost on you. Do try to keep up. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/83 "2004-07-12T04:20:59Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Does rictus-grinning, stick-up-her-ass, stepford-wife Laura Bush represent the women of America? Cripes, I hope not. > [@milroyj](#): > > Are you seriously arguing that there’s NOT a liberal bias here? On the part of both the posters, and the mods? Seems to me, the few conservative mods have been relieved of their duties (for whatever reasons). Unless you count Dex, but he doesn’t post very often in the threads that I read. And never mind all the conservative posters that have been run off, or outright banned, on this board. OK. Here goes. By the way, this is my personal post, and in no way represents the SDMB, or the Reader. **Chefguy**. You’re a putz for saying this. It has little bearing on the OP, and is gratuitous. It only serves to give conservative posters an inroad into this thread. I’m sure you didn’t want that result, but that’s what happens when you post stupid statements that can be flung back at you/us. **Veb** posted a very good comeback. Why people with a liberal point of view have to post statements that are derogatory and demeaning is beyond my understanding. There’s enough stupidity on the part of many conservative posters that you just don’t need to help them out. **milroyj**. Tell it to the illuminati! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/84 "2004-07-12T06:23:54Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > OK. Here goes. > > Quote: > Originally Posted by Chefguy > Does rictus-grinning, stick-up-her-ass, stepford-wife Laura Bush represent the women of America? Cripes, I hope not. > > Quote: > **Chefguy**. You’re a putz for saying this. It has little bearing on the OP, and is gratuitous. > > **milroyj**. Tell it to the illuminati! But here’s the difference- Chefguys post was funny. Yes, not PC, I know, but I still chortled. Gratuitous insults are cheap shots I agree. But if they get a few laffs they have _some_ redeeming qualities. Outside of here in the PIT, it would be **right out** of course. So I agree- a "_putz_ "- but _not_ a “jerk”. IMHO of course. But Milroyj’s post just confused me. IF he meant what some seem to think he meant, well… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/85 "2004-07-12T07:48:31Z")
I saw Ms. Kerry her last night on 60 minutes, and I like her. I do not like Ms. Edwards, however. She could not constrain herself from uttering the dreaded “common good”. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/86 "2004-07-12T08:20:51Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I will point out that this does not disqualify him for _President_ so I don’t know why this would disqualify a woman from being “First Lady”. :rolleyes: :dubious: Because the president does get his speaches written in advance? _cynical_ ---
**Author:** ![Brandus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Brandus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brandus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/87 "2004-07-12T12:55:01Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Very very few have the skill to answer tough surprise questions without sounding “wandering” and “confused”. How can you possibly consider “Do you like John?” and “What do you think of Clinton’s book”? To be tough, surprising questions?? A tough, surprising question would be something like “Mrs. Heinz Kerry, why do you hate freedom and love france so much?” But she was asked if she liked John McCain and she choked as if she were in a police interrogation room for murder. Not that I’m saying Teresa’s lack of speaking ability makes W the bright morning star of coherence, but I actually want Kerry to win and I’m worried that his wife won’t contribute to his campaign. ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/88 "2004-07-12T13:05:54Z")
> [@Brandus](#): > > Can a billionaire, camera-shy, non-fluent-in-english woman really represent the women of America? Hopefully we find out! … Meanwhile, can a billionaire, camera-whore, non-fluent-in-english man really represent the people of Caahleefohrneea? > [@Chefguy](#): > > rictus-grinning, stick-up-her-ass, stepford-wife The spirit of description through caricature is present in this legitimate character sketch, though I must disagree with the use of the word “rictus”. Laura Bush’s sinister toothiness is a clear tribute to Batman’s ancient foe, the Joker! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/89 "2004-07-12T13:34:29Z")
> [@Brandus](#): > > But she was asked if she liked John McCain and she choked as if she were in a police interrogation room for murder. Considering that the idea that Kerry had wanted McCain to bolt parties and be his VP is _extremely_ touchy, and will certainly be used against him, she probably dreaded saying a _word_ about McCain, as _anything_ she said would be taken in the “wrong” sense. So " I like him" is as much as you can reasonably get. > [@](#): > > Not that I’m saying Teresa’s lack of speaking ability makes W the bright morning star of coherence, but I actually want Kerry to win and I’m worried that his wife won’t contribute to his campaign. Sounds more like you’re already worried that he’s not going to. Better to get out there and start contributing to the campaign some yourself, there’s no time to waste on hand-wringing over something we can’t change. In any case, I don’t really recall that presidential-candidate spouses trying to keep a low profile was so objectionable ever – people also seemed to “have issues” with how Howard Dean’s wife was not front and center in the campaign either. You’d think that after the pounding Hillary took (after the ill-advised early implications that we’d get " to for one" meaning she’d be a big player in policymaking), the strategy for first spouses would be one of blending into the background. But no, damned if they do, damned if they don’t – if they’re stand-by-your-man supportive they’re “rictus-smiling stepford wives”; if they participate actively and put forth their own proposals they’re “the real brains” of the Plot to Impose Unvoted Policies through unelected office; if they try to stay under the radar they must have something to hide; etc. Makes you wonder how anyone married ever runs for office, really… except that, of course, an unmarried President would get a " he’s over 40 and not married yet?" reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/90 "2004-07-12T14:11:08Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Why is he called ‘Dubya’ - can’t he pronounce W properly? Because his parents have been calling him that his entire life. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/91 "2004-07-12T14:29:27Z")
My mom’s family is Italian-American. You should hear the nicknames we use. I’d hate for any of them to be a campaign issue, should someone decide to run. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/92 "2004-07-12T15:19:45Z")
> [@Sublight](#): > > Of course she doesn’t. Massachusetts Ivy-League liberals all speak French, remember?. “She spoke French to a counterman. Cahn you ih-MAHG-ine, she spoke French to a counterman?” (Sorry…no feelings about her one way or another but I couldn’t resist.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/93 "2004-07-12T15:49:44Z")
I like THK. She has that very slight, hard-to-pin-down accent, and she always seems half-drunk when she’s interviewed. She comes across as someone who pretty much states her mind, and isn’t concerned with what people think of her. I’ll probably catch a lof of flack for say this, but I just can’t resist-- Note to Mrs. Edwards: Lose some weight! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/94 "2004-07-12T16:32:12Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Note to Mrs. Edwards: Lose some weight! I’ll leave the flak flinging to someone else, but I am curious if you felt the same way about [Barbara Bush](http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/cousins/georgebush/images/bushbarbaradadogaldieri-2.jpg). So long as you are reducing the First Lady to a beauty contest, you must admit she has always had quite gut on her. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/95 "2004-07-12T18:13:22Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > I’ll leave the flak flinging to someone else, but I am curious if you felt the same way about [Barbara Bush](http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/cousins/georgebush/images/bushbarbaradadogaldieri-2.jpg). So long as you are reducing the First Lady to a beauty contest, you must admit she has always had quite gut on her. At the risk of digging myself deeper into this hole… 🙂 Babs was a lot older as first lady. She was more like our national grandmother, and looked to part. Also, considering how everyone fawns over how attractive John Edwards is, I was just really surprised the first time I saw his wife. ---
**Author:** ![Daisy\_Mae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daisy\_Mae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daisy_Mae)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/96 "2004-07-12T18:31:56Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > At the risk of digging myself deeper into this hole… 🙂 > > Babs was a lot older as first lady. She was more like our national grandmother, and looked to part. Also, considering how everyone fawns over how attractive John Edwards is, I was just really surprised the first time I saw his wife. \>hands you a shovel\< Keep digging skippy, you’re doing a great job. I can’t even imagine how frightening it is to live in your head if you really believe these things. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/97 "2004-07-12T18:58:39Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > [sub]soto voce: Before you decide to gang up on me, I’m growing more confident every day. I’ve posted a sign on my ‘fridge’ --“free manny.” So, take heed. :eek: [/sub] > > While the Superman outfit gives me added confidence, … What you really need is a **Fenris** -penned Origin Story. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/98 "2004-07-12T19:19:42Z")
> [@Daisy Mae](#): > > \>hands you a shovel\< Keep digging skippy, you’re doing a great job. > > I can’t even imagine how frightening it is to live in your head if you really believe these things. If you polled 20 physicians and asked them if they thougt Ms. Edwards should lose weight, what do you think the response would be? Also, you might consider that this is The Pit, not GD. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/99 "2004-07-12T20:30:35Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > If you polled 20 physicians and asked them if they thougt Ms. Edwards should lose weight, what do you think the response would be? And the same 20 physicians, do you think they would tell Babs Bush to lose weight? Or is she, as the National Grandmother, so old that it doesn’t make any difference, as she’ll be dead soon anyway? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510/100 "2004-07-12T22:16:26Z")
I happened to hear a few clips of her voice this morning and afternoon on the radio. (WCBS), which happens to be a bit right-leaning station. I think her accent is a bit unique… it’s not merely portuguese. It may very well be portuguese/bostonian, though, which does sound a little drunk. But I thought I could understand her quite clearly, and she has a lovely voice. That help any? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-teresa-heinz-kerry-speak-english/254510.md?page=6)