I, too, received the
Media Matters note regarding Candy Crowley's characterization of John Kerry and the Democrats as "out of touch" because Kerry requested green tea in Dubuque, Iowa. I'm a Dubuque native, so I took particular affront at her use of Dubuque to parrot GOP talking points. Moreover, her comment was insulting.
So, I sent off a letter to the editor of the Palm Beach Post (where Crowley's comments appeared). Don't know whether they'll publish it or not, but I thought I'd copy it here for your amusement. The letter appears after the jump.
To the editor:
This letter is in response to CNN's Candy Crowley, who was quoted in a November 16th Palm Beach Post article titled "CNN reporter: Kerry not public's cup of tea".
In the article, Ms. Crowley claimed that while interviewing John Kerry in a Dubuque, Iowa restaraunt hotel, Kerry requested green tea. The waitress allegedly gave Mr. Kerry a strange look and told him they had Lipton's tea. Ms. Crowley took from that moment that Mr. Kerry and Democrats in general are out of touch with the "jus' folks" people of Dubuque, and by extension, most of America.
I grew up in Dubuque. I spent 18 years there, and five more after college. All told, I've lived 35 years of my life in Iowa. And I can tell you that in Dubuque (where my parents still live), they have heard of and enjoy such modern, elitist amenities as digital cable, broadband internet access, fine dining and, yes, green tea.
I realize that there is a lot of pressure these days for journalists to conform to GOP talking points regarding "out of touch" Democrats. But perhaps if Ms. Crowley had climbed down out of her OWN elitist, out-of-touch ivory tower and bothered to visit a local supermarket (try Econofoods or Hy-Vee, Candy--there are several in town), she would have found many tea selections, including green.
Amazingly, there are Democrats in Dubuque, as well. Despite Ms. Crowley's alleged "Democratic green tea gap", Dubuque Democrats enjoy such true-Republican, down-home comforts as barbeque, apple pie and home-made ice cream. And my wife, an Iowa Republican who no one would call an elitist, has long enjoyed green tea.
Frankly, if there's a gap in this country, it's a "journalism gap". Ms. Crowley, in choosing to parrot and promote GOP myths rather than report facts, is part of the problem, not the solution. Statements such as hers do a disservice to those who listen.
Oh, and one more thing: on November 2nd of this year, the citizens of Dubuque, Iowa proudly voted overwhelmingly for John Kerry.
Sincerely,
Jonathan xxx
