# Say it ain't so, Kerry. Not another intern! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 12, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876 "2004-02-12T16:56:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/161 "2004-02-16T20:58:28Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > So what? How is that a scandal? > > They also said there was no affair. the fact that they intend to vote for him in the election would indicate that they didn’t think he was all _that_ sleazy. > > What exactly are you suggesting anyway? what do you think really happened? Is there any charge of illegality, even if there _was_ an affair? > > This is private sexual behavior we’re talking about. It’s not like it was anybody’s business in the first place and now we have nothing but denials from everyone involved. Is there any compelling national interest to keep badgering them about this? I don’t know what really happened and neither do you or probably anyone else - but certainly she knew and she said nothing. Now - after four days of worldwide reporting on the issue she – uuummm, breaks her silence because she finally figured out that the question doesn’t answer itself. Come on. ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/162 "2004-02-16T21:04:06Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > …four days is not. a long. time, especially if you’re hoping the whole thing dies down without having to comment on it. everything that was even mildly suspicious about thisis explained away. It’s now up to the other side to come up with the evidence. Four days is forever under these circumstances. Note that Kerry is the front runner for President of the United States. I wouldn’t buy her excuse for not coming out and denying sooner if my cousin gave it to me - and he is 10. We’re dealing with a grown woman, with a grown woman’s family who made derogatory comments about Kerry then - and now four days later take a 180. All I’m saying is why the four days and why the 180. It seems no one else thinks this in the least bit odd. How odd … ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/163 "2004-02-16T21:10:34Z")
You really think the father would have no reason to think Kerry sleazy unless he had banged his daughter? That’s quite a compliment to Kerry, one you might not realize you’re making. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/164 "2004-02-16T21:13:58Z")
> [@Tigers2B1](#): > > after four days of worldwide reporting on the issue What?!? While the Drudge Report can be accessed anywhere in the world, that doesn’t mean that everywhere in the world accesses the Drudge Report. Mountain/molehill; pot/kettle; whatever - the story didn’t have legs for 4 days (including the weekend). ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/165 "2004-02-16T21:18:37Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > What?!? While the Drudge Report can be accessed anywhere in the world, that doesn’t mean that everywhere in the world accesses the Drudge Report. Mountain/molehill; pot/kettle; whatever - the story didn’t have legs for 4 days (including the weekend). Ah, **Munch** – The Drudge Report isn’t the only source for this story contrary to your post. This story got play in Europe, it got play in the States — I suggest you go do a Google. Why all the twisting and turning?? Why aren’t these questions legit? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/166 "2004-02-16T21:19:49Z")
I got the impression that her initial response was, “I’m not going to dignify this with a response.” When she realized, after four days, that that wasn’t going to work (maybe after a call from the Kerry campaign), she changed her mind. Not odd at all; I could see myself doing the same thing in her circumstances. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/167 "2004-02-16T21:20:58Z")
The previous post by **Tigers2B1** abundantly deserves a :rolleyes:. Is it really that difficult understand why someone would be reluctant to enter the national media spotlight? Especially considering what it has done to the lives of other young women? That she might hope for it blow over, since the accusations were utterly lacking a factual basis, without her having to come forward and face media scutiny and a right-wing hate machine that has a long track record of doing anything it can to destroy the careers and lives of prominent Democrats? _Not to mention the fact that she is presently in Nairobi?_ :rolleyes: In her phone interview with the AP, the young woman in question [_pleaded_](http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Kerry-Polier.html) for the media to respect her and her parent’s privacy…Why is that so hard for you to understand? ---
**Author:** ![laigle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laigle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laigle)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/168 "2004-02-16T21:22:05Z")
This is purile. She was in Kenya. She sure as hell wasn’t listening to American conservative talk radio. She wasn’t going through checkout lines to grab British or US tabloids. There’s a fair chance she didn’t even have internet access. All this incident shows is that Drudge is a tabloid, talk radio listeners will believe anything, and Bush supporters need their tinfoil beanies adjusted. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/169 "2004-02-16T21:23:08Z")
How about you “do a google” for me, and show me how someone vacationing in Africa would (a) hear about the story, and (b) take the initiative to contact press about her side of the story. Seems to me that if there was a story, and if it was as brutal as her “friend” claims it was, she’d have jumped at the opportunity to spill her guts. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/170 "2004-02-16T21:23:22Z")
Okay, now [this](http://www.drudgereport.com/mattjk7.htm) is weak… > [@](#): > > A woman at the center of John Kerry intrigue dated longtime Kerry Finance Director Peter Maroney, sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT. > > When pressed by media outlets in recent week, the Kerry campaign confirmed the relationship, according to top sources. So now, the story has degenerated into ‘some woman you never heard of dated someone in Kerry’s campaign.’ Astonishingly stupid. If this continues, it’s going to end up giving Kerry a coat of Scotchguard against mudslinging throughout this campaign. All he’ll have to do is raise an eyebrow, and make a reference to ‘internship program-related activities.’ ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/171 "2004-02-16T21:23:57Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > I got the impression that her initial response was, “I’m not going to dignify this with a response.” Well IF that was her real reason – she wasn’t going to dignify the question — she should have told her parents before they started in on the Kerry name calling. Sorry - doesn’t add up unless you just want it that way – ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/172 "2004-02-16T21:24:50Z")
Um, okay, Tigers2B1, I may regret this, but: What basis \*do \* you have to think there’s anything at all to this? ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/173 "2004-02-16T21:26:56Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > How about you “do a google” for me, and show me how someone vacationing in Africa would (a) hear about the story, … No **Munch** - because I already know this was also carried by some papers in Africa. And I promise you - if you don’t want to take that 10 seconds out to do the simple search – it will appear here within minutes IF what I’m saying isn’t the case. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/174 "2004-02-16T21:28:42Z")
> [@Tigers2B1](#): > > Well IF that was her real reason – she wasn’t going to dignify the question — she should have told her parents before they started in on the Kerry name calling. Why? Her parents are certainly entitled to their opinion, as is she. And if she didn’t even know about the story, when would she have had the opportunity? If one of my ex-girlfriends is currently running for office back home in Kansas, my parents are probably going to be contacted before I am. I’d imagine the same would hold in spades for someone currently in friggin’ _Nairobi_. Your current position is less than pathetically weak. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2004, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/175 "2004-02-16T21:30:50Z")
> [@Tigers2B1](#): > > No **Munch** - because I already know this was also carried by some papers in Africa. And I promise you - if you don’t want to take that 10 seconds out to do the simple search – it will appear here within minutes IF what I’m saying isn’t the case. I think your definition of logic is the exact opposite of the real definition of logic. ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/176 "2004-02-16T21:42:05Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I think your definition of logic is the exact opposite of the real definition of logic. …and you know - some here say she didn’t respond for four days because ‘she didn’t want to diginify the question’ - others like you suggest that she ‘didn’t hear about this because she was on vacation,’ and yet another poster suggested that she didn’t provide a timely response because this fell partly on a weekend. Guys - I just don’t know what else to say. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/177 "2004-02-16T21:43:08Z")
How about something that resembles a reasonable argument? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/178 "2004-02-16T21:48:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Guys - I just don’t know what else to say. Nothing at all would be nice. 😛 What exactly are you insisting here, **Tiger**? That they MUST have had an affair because it took four days for her to respond? ---
**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:** [February 16, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/179 "2004-02-16T21:53:40Z")
No, no, Marley. I think he’s saying that they MUST have had an affair because there are newspapers in Africa. ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876/180 "2004-02-16T21:54:25Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Nothing at all would be nice. 😛 > > What exactly are you insisting here, **Tiger**? That they MUST have had an affair because it took four days for her to respond? Well **Marley23** - if you’d read my posts you see that I’m not insisting anything. I’m asking questions that should still me out there. - If those questions aren’t legit (and should be ignored here) - please let me in on the reasons why. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-aint-so-kerry-not-another-intern/228876.md?page=10)