May 23, 2004
I Want To Ride My Bicycle
Let’s compare and contrast these two stories. The first is from May 3, 2004:
Kerry uninjured in spill from bicycleCONCORD, Mass. (AP) - Democratic presidential Candidate John Kerry took a spill from his bicycle after hitting a patch of sand during a ride Sunday afternoon, but he was uninjured, Campaign officials said.
…He was approaching a stop light at the intersection with Route 2 and was slowing down when he veered left into the oncoming lane and fell, according to an Associated Press reporter who witnessed him fall. Secret Service agents and local police immediately stopped traffic while Kerry and a handful of bicycling companions moved to the shoulder.
"He's fine. They took the bike into the bike shop, and he went home," said Kerry campaign adviser Michael Meehan.
The Massachusetts senator was riding his custom Serotta bicycle, and was wearing a helmet.
…
The second is from today:
Bush takes a tumbleCrawford, Texas - President George W Bush suffered cuts and bruises when he fell while mountain biking on his ranch, White House spokesperson Trent Duffy said.
Duffy said Bush was riding on Saturday with a military aide, members of the Secret Service and his personal physician, Dr Richard Tubb.
"He had minor abrasions and scratches on his chin, upper lip, nose, right hand and both knees," Duffy said. "Dr Tubb, who was with him, cleaned his scratches, said he was fine. The Secret Service offered to drive him back to the house. He declined and finished his ride."
Bush was wearing his bike helmet and a mouth guard when the mishap occurred. Duffy said he didn't know exactly how the accident happened.
"It's been raining a lot and the topsoil is loose," the spokesperson said. "You know this president. He likes to go all out. Suffice it to say he wasn't whistling show tunes."
…
So… Bush was mountain biking, Kerry was doing the roadie thing. You can infer a comparison there if you want, but it’s not really valid. Both are challenging.
Kerry was uninjured in his accident, but he didn’t finish his ride - the article said the bike went to the shop so perhaps he bent his custom Serotta as he slowed to a stop. President Bush was scraped up pretty good, yet when offered a drive home he refused and instead completed his ride. I think there is a pretty clear analogy to be made between those two statements.
The final comparison will be how the media treats the President’s story. Will there be more or less coverage than Kerry’s mishap? Will it be another opportunity for them to portray him as a bumbling clutz, or will they play up the environmentally conscientious side of biking?
I haven’t seen any pictures of Bush on his bike, but this scares me:
Do we really want a president who thinks that orange and yellow go together?