Along the campaign trail, John Kerry has made every effort to be recognized as "John F. Kerry" -- a distinct reference, of course, to our 35th president.
I have to believe that Kerry's inference suggests comparisons in policy or is an attempt to evoke and capture Americans' respect for John F. Kennedy during his presidency. However, he probably didn't anticipate an impending double entendre regarding their social lives. JFK's extramarital affairs were widely publicized, entertaining the likes of Marilyn Monroe and mob moll Judith Campbell Exner. Now with questions arising over Kerry's affairs, he resembles not only Kennedy, but also a more contemporary figure, Bill Clinton.
Before I continue and risk losing a portion of my readers, allow me to establish my thesis: This column is not about adultery, morality or Bill Clinton; I'll be the first to admit that Republicans are as equally vulnerable to infidelity as Democrats. The core of this issue revolves around a potential political fallout by the Democratic Party's most promising candidate at the moment.
Last Thursday, Drudgereport.com cited the claim that Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry had a two-year affair with a 24-year-old intern, who has since fled to Kenya. Interestingly, earlier last week former rival Gen. Wesley Clark told 12 reporters off the record that "Kerry will implode over an intern issue"; three reporters then confirmed Clark's comments.
Granted, no proof corroborates details of the alleged tryst, and unlike in Clinton's case, no court testimony exists as evidence to any such encounters. Because of the dearth of hard facts, few media outlets want to touch this story before it molds into something more tangible. Still, don't dismiss Drudge as a cyber-supermarket tabloid; he's often first to pick up leads from around the Beltway that frequently foment into political disaster. For the record, Drudge was first to break the Monica Lewinsky scandal in 1998. And if these allegations are in fact true, John Kerry is sunk.
As expected, Kerry is taking the well-trodden approach of deny, deny, deny. He's addressed few media sources since the story broke, but last Friday, he told Imus in the Morning that "there is nothing to report ... so there is nothing to talk about." Worried? "I'm not worried about it."
But he should be worried. Kerry's success throughout the past month isn't a freak coincidence. Leading up to the official primary season, most pundits and political junkies (myself included) prophesied that Howard Dean would finish the rounds standing safely in line to nab the Democratic nomination -- few, if any, then prophesied his cinematic denouement, fizzling in Iowa with the "I have a scream" speech.
John Kerry emanated a certain appeal to Democratic voters that Dean simply couldn't. Sure, Dean was passionate and fiery and well funded at the time, but he became too exuberant. People realized that if he faced Bush in November, he'd probably get crushed. Kerry, on the other hand, while not quite as charismatic as Dean, is a seasoned senator and a decorated Vietnam veteran. With three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star, it's rather difficult to attack his patriotism or integrity.
That integrity convinced voters he could win -- and victory, regardless of how cheap or how narrow, is all that matters in politics. The Feb. 3 primaries serve as a perfect example. Of the seven contests held that day, Kerry won five, but in all of them, exit polls revealed that the people believed Kerry, over any other candidate, held a better chance of defeating President Bush.
Take Kerry's win in Arizona, for instance: Among voters' reasons to opt for Kerry, "Can Beat Bush" reigned with 65 percent, followed by bubblegum issues like "Right Experience" with 51 percent, and "Cares About People" with 15 percent. In Delaware, 71 percent of voters deemed "Can Beat Bush" as their primary candidate quality, as did 78 percent in Missouri. The London Telegraph reported yesterday that some polls showed Kerry leading President Bush 52 percent to 42 percent.
So what happens if one can now legitimately question Kerry's integrity? If Kerry in fact had an affair with this 24-year-old intern, voters inevitably will question his judgment beyond government, and the lofty notion of decency could disintegrate.
Damage control is working overtime to quell the rumors, but they'll have greater problems if these speculations congeal into truth. Yet Kerry's campaign could deteriorate independently of primary voters. One concern is his wife: What might she do under these circumstances? Clearly, she hasn't addressed the concern, but Theresa Heinz Kerry seems to hold little tolerance for disloyalty. The New York Daily News revealed Friday that she once told Elle magazine that she "jokingly" forewarned her first husband, "I'll maim you. Not kill you, just maim you" if he drifted. Unless Mrs. Kerry acts Hillary-esque, her motions won't pan out too well before the camera.
It's important to remember that this purported scandal is all talk right now. If nothing materializes, Kerry's support base shouldn't diminish. Nevertheless, if truth emerges from the gossip, then Democratic leadership, as well as Democratic voters, have a colossal impediment before them.
Michelle Dubert is a College freshman from Closter, N.J. Department of Strategery appears on Mondays.
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