# Hey, now that you mention it... John Kerry IS white! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 12, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566 "2004-08-12T18:31:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/21 "2004-08-12T22:43:58Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > I say we stop wishing and start working. We have an amazing amount of brainpower here, let’s put it to some good use. How do we divert an asteroid? How big an asteroid do we need? > > Get cracking, people! I don’t pay you to sit around twirling your thumbs! I’m not twiddling my thumbs, I’m playin’ pocket pool, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/22 "2004-08-12T22:56:23Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > an apparent staff infection Her employees were sick? (I’m just poking a little at you, **Lib**. But the word you’re looking for is “staph” not staff. Just FYI.) ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/23 "2004-08-12T23:10:02Z")
I agree it’s stupid, but don’t make the mistake of thinking it therefore won’t work. I assume they want to turn “Bush is evil, I’ll vote for anyone” voters into “God, they’re all rich white men. What does it matter? I’ll stay at home.” voters. ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/24 "2004-08-13T03:17:31Z")
> [@Shade](#): > > I agree it’s stupid, but don’t make the mistake of thinking it therefore won’t work. I assume they want to turn “Bush is evil, I’ll vote for anyone” voters into “God, they’re all rich white men. What does it matter? I’ll stay at home.” voters. Exactly. Negative aren’t made to change who someone votes for, it’s to discourage them from voting at all. How very democratic of them. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/25 "2004-08-13T07:36:14Z")
It’s part of the new Republican tactic of “attack Kerry for everything he is that Bush also is.” ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/26 "2004-08-13T10:43:35Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Just so. Should you come under harsh criticism for staking out such a position, let me know that I may rush to your defense. As well, I am also prepared to assist in defending motherhood, puppies, and Old Glory. Well, then why make a big deal, as the Post has done, about the fact that some guy benefited from legislation that coincided with what he lobbied for? Do lobbyists disappear when Democratic controlled Congresses are in session? Does legislation cease? The tie between congressional Republicans and this Unity bunch is so tenuous that it is laughable, and yet the Post would have us believe that his being a lobbyist connects the dots between Dennis Hastert and an attack ad. It is nothing short of black journalism. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/27 "2004-08-13T10:56:24Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > It is nothing short of black journalism. While this may be technically true, I don’t believe that black letters surrounded by a white background qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/28 "2004-08-13T10:58:24Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > While this may be technically true, I don’t believe that black letters surrounded by a white background qualify. Nor do they qualify as a message board rebutal. Would you care to address my argument, i.e., “The tie between congressional Republicans and this Unity bunch is so tenuous that it is laughable, and yet the Post would have us believe that his being a lobbyist connects the dots between Dennis Hastert and an attack ad.”? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/29 "2004-08-13T12:09:58Z")
Actually liberal, when I saw your statement the original “technically true” quote was the first thing I thought of so I altered it in an attempt at humor. :smack: It’s not really that funny, but is it possible that you have been dogpiled for so long that you are a wee bit defensive? Lighten up man. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/30 "2004-08-13T12:15:37Z")
So here’s a silly, naive question: If governmental (i.e. having to do with policy) positions were unpaid, would there be any substantive decrease in the amount of bullshit that’s been associated with (American, at least, and I’d say World if I knew much of anything about world politics) politics since at least the days of railroads? ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/31 "2004-08-14T10:23:31Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > I’ll take care of the sharks with the frickin laser beams on their heads. We couldn’t get sharks, but we do have some ill tempered sea bass. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/32 "2004-08-14T11:25:12Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Sometimes I wish an asteroid would hit the planet and wipe out humanity. request for a sig line. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/33 "2004-08-14T11:38:36Z")
What I want to know is, when do we get a group blaming Kerry for Hurricane Charley? ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/34 "2004-08-14T15:51:43Z")
It’s brilliant, attacking John Kerry for being rich. Have we _ever_ had a president who wasn’t fabulously well-to-do? Even those who grew up poor, weren’t when they ran for the presidency. And when we do elect our first president who isn’t a straight white guy, you can bet he or she’s still going to have quite a bit more walking around money than your average Joe or Jane. First the bogus Swift Boat Veterans commercial, now this. I can’t wait for the debates. It’s going to be fun, watching Kerry debate against a guy who couldn’t win a fair argument against Tom Cullen. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/35 "2004-08-14T16:12:25Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > At any rate, what is the problem with Mr. Rooney getting into the business of medical and health savings accounts? Lots of people are in that business, and the plans greatly benefit those who take advantage of them. They’re structured very much like IRA accounts. According to Kiplingers, “Withdrawals you make to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses are tax-free, and your investments grow on a tax-deferred basis.” What’s the problem? What sort of hand-wringing is required to begrudge people a tax-deferred growth fund that covers their health and medical expenses? It boggles the mind. As a point of fact, MSA are NOT really all that great a deal for most people. If one qualifies for a HRA (Which have been around since 1954, even though they were revamped last year) instead of an MSA, the tax savings will be much, much greater. MSAs typically have high deductables as well and while in theory all of your out of pockets meeting that deductable could come from the savings account, it doesn’t always work that way unless you don’t use much health care. Golden Rule is about the only company that still pushes MSAs, simply because they never turned out to be the huge tax break they were touted as being when they were introduced, and I don’t know how many times I’ve moved clients from an MSA to a plan with a HRA after they tried the MSA and found out it wasn’t all that, but it’s a lot. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/36 "2004-08-14T16:28:30Z")
I wonder if the UK will take us back. Please? We didn’t mean to dump all that tea into Boston Harbo(u)r; it was just a prank. Honest. What would happen if a political party somewhere ran an ad on a classic rock radio station, urging you NOT to vote for a candidate because they’re black? Reverse racism like that practiced by “People of Color United” (yeah, right) may backfire on the rednecks that now support Bush in such droves. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/37 "2004-08-14T16:52:09Z")
“President Clinton was often known as the first black president. I wouldn’t be upset if I could earn the right to be the second.” John Kerry, March 2, 2004, to the American Urban Radio Network. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/38 "2004-08-14T16:54:14Z")
Further irony can be found in the fact that many conservative types like to hammer away at the inaccuracy of the “African-American” label. Theresa Kerry pretty much proves their point that it’s an inaccurate descriptor, and yet, in their efforts to go after Kerry, they throw out that idea all in the name of a cheap, ineffective shot, aimed at a short term enemy (short term in the sense that even if Kerry does win the election this Nov, he’ll only be in power at most for eight years, while the whole “African-American is an inaccurate term” battle has been going on since the late 80s, and will go on for the concievable future). As for the asteroid, can we pick one with a high copper content? That way we’ll all go out in a giant green flash. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/39 "2004-08-14T17:15:13Z")
Kerry is white?! :eek: Maybe I should get me a color TV already. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566/40 "2004-08-14T17:23:46Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > As a point of fact, MSA are NOT really all that great a deal for most people. If one qualifies for a HRA (Which have been around since 1954, even though they were revamped last year) instead of an MSA, the tax savings will be much, much greater. MSAs typically have high deductables as well and while in theory all of your out of pockets meeting that deductable could come from the savings account, it doesn’t always work that way unless you don’t use much health care. Golden Rule is about the only company that still pushes MSAs, simply because they never turned out to be the huge tax break they were touted as being when they were introduced, and I don’t know how many times I’ve moved clients from an MSA to a plan with a HRA after they tried the MSA and found out it wasn’t all that, but it’s a lot. Even giving you your point for the sake of argument, the bill was signed into law by President Clinton, and supported by almost every Democrat in the Senate. The most absurd part of the article to me, as I said, was tying those Unity people’s ads to Bush via a donor who is a lobbyist who lobbied for a bill in the late twentieth century that was supported by Democrats (though fewer in the House, to be sure) and signed into law by a Democrat just because it was sponsored by a Republican — I mean, damn. Ionesco himself could not have conceived such absurdity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-now-that-you-mention-it-john-kerry-is-white/259566.md?page=3)