"Shut up. Shove it."

The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, provides the latest sign that Teresa Heinz Kerry, for all her dough, may be a campaign liability for hubby (though great fun for the viewing public):

Citing negative ads President Bush's campaign is airing about her husband, [Heinz Kerry] said, "We need to turn back some of the creeping un-Pennsylvanian and sometimes un-American traits that are coming into some of our politics."

When Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial page editor Colin McNickle asked which un-American activities she was talking about, Heinz Kerry accurately denied that she used the word "activities." Then, despite taped versions of her remarks, she repeatedly denied she had said the word, "un-American."

"I didn't say that, I didn't say that word," she told McNickle. An aide rushed her off down a rope line, but Heinz Kerry shoved back past her aide, and leaning forward, shook a finger at McNickle and said, "Shut up. Shove it."

Whole thing here. Not quite as pithy as Dick Cheney's "Go fuck yourself," but not bad. Especially since, as the AP has spun the story, the outburst came right after THK "urged home-state delegates to the Democratic National Convention to restore a more civil tone to politics."

Comments

[Todd Fletcher]

joe,
"I don't know, Laura's got that tipsy-by-2-o'clock look about her, and she's been boring as hell."

I think Laura has a trace of Down's Syndrome - you can see it around her eyes. That would explain the dull part.

[Gilbert Martin]

"Oh, great, another great friend of "America's working families" who acts like Leona Helmsley when she thinks nobody's looking."

From the stuff I've read in the press about her, she's mostly gotten a pass from the media up till now. Stuff about how smart and confident she is,etc.

I'd like to see her whacked down a few notches. She goes stutting around acting like she's actually acomplished something when all she realy did is marry a rich man and inhereit a pile of money.

[Evan McElravy]

I just saw the clip on CNN a little while ago. Terrific stuff, though not very well contextualized (they left out that she had in fact said "anti-American" beyond any doubt). "What newspaper are you from? The Trib-Review? Of course! Shove it." And off she went. Incidentally, the very next segment was an interview with governor Big Ed Rendell from the floor of the Fleet Center. He was standing right next to THK in the state capitol during the relevant moments, but they didn't ask him anything about it. I think it's safe to say she's still getting a pass from the media.

[joe]

"I'd like to see her whacked down a few notches. She goes stutting around acting like she's actually acomplished something when all she realy did is marry a rich man and inhereit a pile of money."

Dammit, Gil, why do you people only draw that distinction in regards to liberals and/or women?

Cowboy/businessman Bush my ass.

[joe]

Todd, now you're making me feel bad.

[joe]

She's a rank amateur, no doubt about it.

But she's a hoot.

[Gary Gunnels]

How refreshing.

[Jack]

Why would she bother to deny saying "un-American"? Does she think Republicans have trademarked the word and will sue her for royalties?

[Evan McElravy]

Un-Pennsylvanian? What, the Bush machine is using open bids on highway contracts on attack Democrats?

[Douglas Fletcher]

Hoot hoot. I can't wait until she starts talking about the little people.

[Evan McElravy]

By the way, does anyone else find just a bit quaint the folk belief of journalist-types that when politicos are snippy or mean to them, this is bad or a "liability" for their campaigns?

[Josh]

By the way, does anyone else find just a bit quaint the folk belief of journalist-types that when politicos are snippy or mean to them, this is bad or a "liability" for their campaigns?

Good point -- there is no level of journalistic bias that trumps journalistic self-importance.

[Seamus]

This reminds me of a story I heard during the 1988 campaign, about Michael and Kitty Dukakis. According to the story, Michael was getting into a car with Kitty, who was (as was her wont) smoking a cigarette. In the typical Puritan fashion that so endeared him to the American voting public, Michael told his wife that he wished she'd give up that habit, to which she replied, "Fuck off, Michael."

I'd have voted for her a lot quicker than I would have for her husband, which is the same way I feel about Kerry and Heinz.

[Douglas Fletcher]

Maybe Tereza is on pills too.

[a concerned voter]

As long as we don't have a repeat of Tipper and Al Gore's make out session at the 2000 convention, I'll be happy with her.

[Doc]

What about Bush's "Asshole" comment last time too?

Frankly, it'll make the echo GOP echo chamber and others will frankly enjoy hearing a reporter berated.

[Call me snake]

Anyone else find the Teresea H-K "works closely with Scaife's wife on philanthropic matters" thing a bit strange?

Talk about compartmentalization!!

[Mr. Nice Guy]

She looks like a booze-hound to me. If we were guaranteed 4 years of bitter drunken theatre then Kerry would get my vote.

[joe]

I don't know, Laura's got that tipsy-by-2-o'clock look about her, and she's been boring as hell.

[Bob]

Kevin Drum over at Washington Monthly reports that THK has a history with the reporter in question...

[Kevin Carson]

Oh, great, another great friend of "America's working families" who acts like Leona Helmsley when she thinks nobody's looking.

Like Hillary, Rosie, and Barbra weren't enough.

[praktike]

Anyone else find the Teresea H-K "works closely with Scaife's wife on philanthropic matters" thing a bit strange?

No. Pittsburgh is a very dense network of old rich families that work together on philanthropic projects. Not strange at all. What is strange is that Scaife would allow his newspaper to trump these ties and go after THK in the matter that it has. It's all a pack of nonsense, especially given all she's done for the town. Which is why she's so pissed.

[joe]

Kevin, the reporter didn't work for her. She had no authority over him whatsoever.

Odd to see you making a remark about oppressive bosses that ignores the power relations or lack thereof.

[Dan]

Dammit, Gil, why do you people only draw that distinction in regards to liberals and/or women? Cowboy/businessman Bush my ass.

Bush did accomplish something; he successfully ran for governor, and for President. Obviously being born rich helped him achieve that, but simply being born filthy rich doesn't win you an election. Just ask Al Gore.

I don't care what Anna Nicole Smith or Kevin Federline have to say about politics; why should I care what Teresa Kerry has to say? The only thing they've proven they know anything about is how to marry rich people. When I want to marry into wealth, then I'll ask their advice.