You might be shocked

From the looks of the televised Democratic National Convention, it appeared that the Democratic candidate was seen as a virtual messenger from God, reporting for active duty in a troubled world. The truth is, only nine years ago, the same Democratic Party thought John Kerry was a running joke to be re-elected Senator or anything else. It wasn’t until his marriage to Theresa Heinz and her widow’s dowry, on May 26, 1995, that Kerry was taken seriously. Only four days later, on May 29, the Boston Globe ran an article by Scott Lehigh, entitled “Heinz Fortune May Give Kerry Challengers Pause.”

The issues of the day debated by candidates, Gov. William F. Weld and Sen. John F. Kerry, were making Social Security and Medicare solvent for future generations and balancing the Federal budget. See “Senate Race Turns Witless,” Boston Globe, June 8, 1996, written by Brian C. Mooney. Kerry won that election. Kerry had no plan and sponsored no legislation to solve either problem. And now what? Aren’t these the same promises that John Kerry made to us this past week, as he accepted his Party’s nomination for President? As Senator, Kerry couldn’t conceive of and propose one single piece of Federal legislation to save Social Security and Medicare or to balance the Federal budget. How dare he expect us to believe he will come up with a plan, if elected President?

In spite of the large infusion of spousal monies into Kerry’s Senate campaign in 1996, the people of Massachusetts saw through his claims to be an advocate for the poor and underprivileged. His ratings went down sharply after his tax records revealed that he had not made a single charitable donation over a year’s time. See “Charity Issue Trips Up Kerry in Weld’s latest Opinion Poll,” by Adrian Walker, Boston Globe, June 23, 1996. In his campaign video and acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention, Candidate Kerry claimed to be a simple man of the people. But does such an uncharitable man really care about the poor?

A review of the Federal record shows hundreds of bills proposed by the other Massachusetts Senator, the liberal Democrat, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. What bills has Kerry proposed ?

It is not a coincidence that Hollywood chose this time to remake the movie “The Manchurian Candidate”, and to release it the same week as their party’s convention. The theme of “The Manchurian Candidate” is that an influential special-interest group--- foreign in the original script, domestic in the new one--- can create a President to do its bidding.

For the Democrats’ joint venture with Hollywood, they needed a leading man. Casting the lead character, they looked for someone with no strong personal identity. Choosing an actor with strong ideas would be a risk, because his ideas might conflict with the Party line. The Democrats looked for a face with no distinguishing past--- someone who stood for nothing, but could be made to support any agenda. It makes perfect sense that Hollywood has come out so strong for their candidate. He is the answer to their casting call.

Now that we have our leading man, say our backroom boys, we need a script. And

here it is---- how about a remake of the 1963 movie PT 109, which starred Cliff Robertson? The movie is based on the life of the young John F. Kennedy. As the captain of a small PT boat in the Pacific during the Second World War, Kennedy’s PT boat was fired upon by the Japanese. Kennedy heroically led his men to safety on a remote island in the Pacific. The story is worth retelling. It truly is a Portrait of Courage.

As a young boy, John F. Kerry worshipped John F. Kennedy. He used to boast to his friends that they even had the same initials. Unlike the scripted version of his story, which was told at the Democratic National Convention, John F. Kerry did not volunteer to serve his country. He applied for a student deferment to study in France. His request was turned down. Whether he liked it or not, he was headed to Vietnam, so he figured: Why not use this opportunity to remake the PT 109 story? Once he was in action as a Navy Lieutenant (Junior Grade), commanding a Swift boat in Vietnam, he could not resist the chance to make his own movie. He decided that he would recreate his adventures on the Swift boat, filming them on 8 mm home movies. He went back to the scene and filmed re-enactments after the fighting was over and the river was free of enemy attack. Those old “home” movies, which he promised were for his personal use and never for political use, were used at the Democratic National Convention.

Watch the campaign as we approach the election. The references and associations with the name of John F. Kennedy have a clear purpose. The script has been written. The players are ready. The Democrats hope for the reality movie to match the fantasy flick they have created.