The Hunt for Red November

There is a story in the New York Times today about a recent photo-op/pseudo-event on the part of the Kerry folks – the story is called, “Kerry on Hunting Photo-op to Help Image.” Apparently, the Kerry campaign invited reporters to cover a goose hunting expedition, in which Kerry participated, in order to “deflect Mr. Bush's portrayal of Mr. Kerry as a weak-kneed liberal, and fit into a broader effort this week to show him as a "regular guy," drinking beer while watching baseball, and speaking in a folksier style.”

So let me get this straight. Kerry is trying to beef up his image as a tough guy by shooting birds? Birds? No offense, John boy, but when I think about courage and the relative strength of a person’s knees, the ability to track and kill fowl does not enter into the equation. Were these particularly aggressive and dangerous birds? Were they terrorists?

Also, while I am from the New York City area, and cannot say that my experience of American men is highly typical, I must say that in my view, “regular” men do not shoot birds. In my experience, irregular men shoot birds. Still, my narrow regionalism notwithstanding, listen – I drink, I adore baseball, and I speak my share of folk, but if the means by which one may appeal to men is by shooting fowl with a 12-gauge shotgun, I think that it is time that we, as men, re-examine the public perception of our leisure activities.