Since 2000, Slate has poked fun at George W. Bush for his torture—some say it’s merely abuse—of the English language. Our “Bushisms” collection captures (as Editor Jacob Weisberg explains in his latest volume) the president’s ignorance, incuriosity, laziness, and thoughtlessness expressed in frequent gaffes. Now that Democrats have settled on a presumptive presidential nominee, it’s time to cast a cold eye on the pomposity and evasiveness of John Kerry.
Here’s how to read a Kerryism. The text below is Kerry’s quote translated into plain English. Kerry’s actual quote, however, is full of caveats and pointless embellishments. To read these, click the numbers above the text, which will take you to the caveats and embellishments, presented as footnotes. (Words in brackets before a number are what a normal person would have substituted for the ornate phrase Kerry delivered. To see the ornate phrase, click the number and read the footnote.) To return to the main text, click the number at the beginning of any footnote. To see the whole quote as Kerry delivered it, with all the caveats and embellishments, click here or scroll down.
“I will not appoint somebody 1 who’s about to undo Roe v. Wade. I’ve said that before. But that doesn’t mean that 2 I wouldn’t be prepared 3 to appoint somebody 4 who has a different point of view. I’ve already voted for people like that. I voted for Judge Scalia.”5 6 7
—Associated Press interview, May 19, 2004
[2] if that’s not the balance of the court
[5] (Kerry in same interview, on his vote for Scalia) If you’re looking for me to admit that I made a mistake in my years in the Senate, there you go—there’s one.
[6] (Kerry follow-up written statement to AP) I want to make myself clear. I believe that a woman’s right to choose is a constitutional right. I will not appoint anyone to the Supreme Court who will undo that right.
[7] (AP report six hours later) “Aides said later that ‘some court’ was not a reference to the Supreme Court, only lower federal benches.”
Kerry version:
“I will not appoint somebody with a 5-4 court who’s about to undo Roe v. Wade. I’ve said that before. But that doesn’t mean that if that’s not the balance of the court I wouldn’t be prepared ultimately to appoint somebody to some court who has a different point of view. I’ve already voted for people like that. I voted for Judge Scalia.”
Got a Kerryism? Send it to kerryisms@slate.com.
