Presidential 'gigolos'

[firecat]

This article discusses one of the arguments that the Right put up against John Kerry in 2004 -- that he was unsuitable as a presidential candidate because his money came from having married wealthy women. (They called him a gigolo.) Now the tables are turned because McCain's wealth also comes from his wife. Should Democrats campaign using the same tactics?

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/22/gigolo/

(The OH found the article.)

Comments

[ckd]

I think they should make a point of very loudly asking the folks who said and wrote that stuff in 2004 if they still agree in 2008, and if not, why not?

[klwalton.livejournal.com]

Excellent!

[liveavatar.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me. Their answer will be "Well, that's different," but it'll still be fun to watch them squirm.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

I don't think I could call McCain a "gigolo" with a straight face. It worked on Kerry because he was reasonably good-looking; McCain breaks mirrors. Obviously he's got something to offer a rich wife, but my guess would be that it's the traditional offering of old men with power -- reflected status.

OTOH, it's definitely a point worth making. Just don't use the word "gigolo" unless you want to provoke giggles rather than thought!

Re: Presidential 'gigolos'

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

yes, that. the tactics are slimy, but the pure high road is stupid. reminding people of the sliminess without descending to the same level might be difficult, but dammit, those tactics piss me off.

[innerdoggie.livejournal.com]

I think marrying rich women makes me admire both Kerry and McCain more -- they were clever enough to get a wealthy person to say 'yes'. :-)

But, yeah, it would be fun to trot out all the anti-Kerry stuff from 2004 and just change the names.

[firecat]

What I don't admire is dumping your wife to marry a rich woman.