Heinz Kerry encourages hurricane victims to walk around naked
 

Heinz Kerry visits hurricane aid center
By Sam Dolnick, Associated Press Writer | September 15, 2004

NEW YORK --Teresa Heinz Kerry, encouraging volunteers as they busily packed supplies Wednesday for hurricane relief efforts in the Caribbean, said she was concerned the effort was too focused on sending clothes instead of essentials like water and electric generators.

"Clothing is wonderful, but let them go naked for a while, at least the kids," said Heinz Kerry, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. "Water is necessary, and then generators, and then food, and then clothes."

Heinz Kerry stopped by a market in the heart of Brooklyn's Caribbean community, where she spoke French with Haitian vendors and shook hands with volunteers busy packing food, clothes and other relief supplies to be shipped to several Carribean islands hit by Hurricane Ivan. Her husband's campaign donated water, blankets and first aid kits.

"I think it's important we help all the kids we can," Heinz Kerry said.

Ivan swept through the Caribbean last week, killing more than 60 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.

Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr., president of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and coordinator of the market's relief effort, said the visit helped make difficult days a bit brighter.

"It's a major boost for us and the community to show we have someone on a national level concerned with what's happening in the Caribbean region," Hastick Sr. said.

Supporters gathered on the sidewalk shouted "We love you," and "Good luck" as Heinz Kerry made her way to a waiting car.


© Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company

-Rudey
--I'm cracking up reading this.

Thats pretty funny. Least her heart was in the right place.

She's a little on the strange side...

She's a fricking nut job.

OK can we be honest here? Forget about politics.

What do they see in each other?

She is loaded from her husband and a quack.

He is not as loaded but still somewhat loaded and at least very intelligent.

Why are they together? It's not for looks. He cant probably hit it up with a hottie. So why?

-Rudey

Because he loves her even if she doesn't always say the right thing. Thats like asking why did Laura Bush marry George because he is a horrible public speaker which tends to make him come off as stupid.

OK but there is a difference in terms of speaking and thinking. Let's be honest, she is a kooky gal. It's not what she says in public only but also the way she pushes him to alternative medicine and things like that.

I don't know enough of Laura Bush's background but was she as well off as George? George also has a popular aire and charm to him, hence why voters "like" him more than Kerry.

-Rudey

In spite of NOT being a Kerry supporter, I certainly don't think this was a big deal.
See, this is what happens when the press doesn't give the full story or full quote for that matter. It changes the "takeaway" in some cases so that the reader who just gets the "bite" may be shaking his head. It's just unusual to see it happen to the "other side", IMO.

And quite frankly, if I saw a child dehydrated and dying of thirst, would I stop and notice his clothing - or lack of it? Would anyone? She's not wrong. At least not in this instance. ;)

It's not a big deal
 

I wonder what would have been the media's response if Laura bush had "told little black children to run around naked"?

It doesn't take much reality to realize that Dan Rather and his lackies would make this a front-page above the fold story for three days - all negative. Anybody remember Trent Lott?

To me it's not a big deal. I just think she's a weirdo but hey whatever.

-Rudey

French??? I thought that Creole is much more widely spoken in Haiti than French. (My old neighborhood in South Florida is mostly Haitian.)

French and Creole are both official languages.

My friends from Haiti who live in Brooklyn speak French.

I don't think it's a big deal. It's about priorities: food, water, medicine, generators, shelter, and then clothing. It's great that the Kerrys are sending so many things to help the people who are suffering because of the hurricanes.

Oh, Teresa. She's so amusing. I have no problem laughing at her and making fun of her for being all crazy and stuff. I do think she is very independent and that for some strange reasons she and Kerry are happy. Kooky, kooky!

"Let them eat cake..........."

Nice.

She's Kerry's Marie Antionette.