Kerry in deft comedic form at the Follies

Published Mar 01 2008, 07:03 PM by Ian Donnis

As befits the intense presidential fight in Rhode Island -- which gets front-page attention in today's New York Times -- last night's Providence Newspaper Guild Follies had some high-profile guests from the world of national politics. The event, held at the Venus de Milo in Swansea, Massachusetts, ritualistically takes place on the last Friday in February.

Chelsea Clinton, in town to campaign for her mother, was squired around by US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. And US Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, the Democratic nominee in 2004, turned up as a surprise guest about a third of the way into the program, upstaging the eventual Mystery Guests, Attorney General Patrick "Superdelegateman" Lynch, his Clinton-supporting brother Bill, chief of the RI Democratic Party, and their mother, who mediated their clashing presidential choices. Vote your conscience, she said.

Kerry, seeming more loose than he appeared from afar in 2004, offered a deft comedic touch, yet he also upset some of the Clinton supporters in the audience of more than 1200 by closing with an impassioned endorsement of Obama.

After Kerry was introduced, the audience seemed to anticipate something other than the actual senator. As he bounded on stage and was recognized, Kerry called himself the best you can get on a Friday night in Massachusetts when Ted Kennedy isn't available. Surveying the packed crowd of Rhode Islanders, he said, "[So] this is what four electoral votes looks like."

Kerry went on to call the gathering the biggest collection of Ocean State pols since a 2005 get-together at the Allenwood Federal Pen. Having paid so much for so little "makes us like Mitt Romney's supporters right now," he said. Kerry explained how some of the past and present presidential contenders couldn't make the event, Fred Thompson since his wife has "a lot of homework this weekend," and John McCain because "he used to date Venus de Milo."

The junior Bay State senator spoke of his recent trip to Pakistan, a place "where the candidates are Swift-goated," and where some hot air vented by Joe Biden, one of his traveling companions, helped to right their listing aircraft.

In contrast to memorable remarks associated with FDR and JFK, Kerry lamented he will be remembered for the phrase, "Don't Tase me, bro." He brightened, though, in outlining hopes for environmental Dems and death-penalty Republicans to come together -- thanks to a solar-powered electric chair.

Turning more serious, Kerry recalled talking with President Bush after the 2004 election and telling him of the need to bring the country together. The senator called Obama the best person to immediately begin that process. The Illinois senator, Kerry said, has the potential "to turn the page of history," and to be "a transformational, not a transitional" leader. Responding to critiques that Obama lacks experience, Kerry pointed to the scant previous national time in office of Abraham Lincoln, the man who observered that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

The forceful partisan endorsement led to cries of "Hillary!" from some of the Clinton supporters in the audience. The Obama supporters loved it.

Filed Under: Democrats, 2008 presidential race, Media, Providence Journal, Nightlife

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4 Comments

rhody said:

If Kerry had told his jokes and given Obama a quick plug, it would've been cool. But he did not to pull out the boilerplate stump speech at a night of music and comedy - it killed the show's momentum, and the cast and crew had to work its collective arse off to get it back. As an Obama supporter, I was disappointed to see Kerry hijack the show (one cast member timed him out at 17 minutes).

March 1, 2008 9:27 PM
Linda said:

rhody, kerry was allowed to wallow for 17 minutes? oh my god! who makes the decision on something like that? since it's a highly liberal newspaper does the guild ever invite republicans to participate? ian, my question from below is who did not show up? that's always the interesting scenario at events like these. did the governor show this year? buddy cianci? was cianci even invited? how about guy dufault?

March 1, 2008 11:03 PM
Ian said:

Linda, as Guild members might hasten to tell you, there's a bit of a distinction between ProJo management, which is not involved in staging the Follies, and the Guild, which is. Republicans were in attendance, including party chair Gio Cicione. I did not see the governor at the event, but I don't know whether he attended. I didn't see Cianci or Dufault, either.

March 1, 2008 11:46 PM
rhody said:

Somehow, my earlier comment didn't make it on. I didn't see Dufault, but my sister claims she did. Linda, the Follies has had Republican mystery guests before (and the state GOP did have a table this year). Believe me, if The Don was interested in the mystery guest slot, he'd be more than welcome - his staff had a table, and I'm sure some of them begged him to do it. Problem is, from what I understand, Sue can't take the heat (or the jokes), so she keeps Don out of the kitchen. If you had attended, you'd have found Dems on the receiving end of the vast majority of jokes, songs and skits. You'll be entertained, no matter which side of the spectrum you're on.

March 3, 2008 4:15 AM

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Kerry in deft comedic form at the Follies

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