John Kerry reminds me of Abraham Lincoln. Before you choke on your B-Feld, understand that I'm talking about Lincoln the person, not Lincoln the legend. Several friends and pundits alike criticize Kerry for not being "likable" and "inspiring." Emerging from the primaries as a "vague" Democrat, Kerry is merely the anti-Bush. All Kerry has going for him, it seems, is his brilliance and strength of character. A walk down memory lane shows Lincoln possessed these virtues. Do we really need a popular, TV-friendly president? We're in serious times and a president with strength of character and intelligence is more compelling than, as one former congressman describes, a "frat boy."
Lincoln wasn't popular. We all know the story about his many failures, and finally, his victory as 16th president of the United States. To be sure, many did not vote for him and were contemptuous of Lincoln. In 1836, Lincoln was elected to Congress. He took an unpopular stand against President James Polk concerning the Mexican War. Lincoln saw it as unjust. He even introduced the "Spot Resolutions" that challenged President Polk. Lincoln's constituents disliked Lincoln's actions. The Civil War and Lincoln's decision to emancipate slaves also made him an unpopular president among Southerners. Lincoln's decisions, unpopular at the time, have led to his canonization after his assassination.
John Kerry isn't exactly hip and groovy. The cherubic baritone of the unpopular choir, Tom Delay, describes Kerry as the French "Jean Cherie." Kerry reminds some of us of the kid who finished his spinach as a child. A recent poll shows that President Bush enjoys almost unanimous support from Republicans whereas Kerry has received milder, albeit still strong, support from Democrats. A Fox News poll says 50 percent of voters say Bush is the "most likeable" candidate whereas 30 percent choose Kerry. Perhaps you wouldn't invite Kerry over to watch a game, but contemporaries of Lincoln wouldn't have invited Abe out for a drink.
But Kerry has strength of character. A Winthrop and blue-blooded Yalie, Kerry had the courage to enlist in the army and serve in Vietnam. "I thought it was important if you had a lot of privileges like I had, to go to a great university like Yale, to give something back to your country," says Kerry. Imagine that Dartmouth senior who went to Exeter and who now wears his polo collar flipped up with a wry smile saying, "Instead of working at Bain, I want to serve in Baghdad." In combat Kerry received the Silver Star, bronze star and three purple hearts. And when he returned, some may disagree, he demonstrated courage and character when he criticized the war in which he fought. He wasn't exactly the most popular guy but his colleagues respected him.
Lincoln, too, demonstrated strength of character. Lincoln's pastor, Dr. Phineas D. Gurley, eulogized Lincoln: "He merited it by his character, by his acts, and by the whole tenor, and tone, and spirit of his life." Big deal, you might say. Every pastor talks about strength of character in a eulogy. But Lincoln said of himself: "I am now the most miserable man living To remain as I am is impossible; I must die or be better." Lincoln was a depressed man, according to historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Lincoln's "mysterious melancholy" was thought to be the result of the death of his sisters and mother while a kid, the death of his fiancee, and his own personal shortcomings. His many failures to win elective office and business failings added to his sadness.
How could such a depressed man become one of America's finest presidents? One must ponder the effects of depression, personal setbacks, and obstacles. Many times they lead to tremendous character builders. Lincoln was perhaps the least prepared president in terms of political experience, but he brought with him a capacity to take measured risks, and, ultimately, understand how to do deal with failure. In his perceived weakness -- not being popular and "likable"-- there was strength.
To compare Lincoln and Kerry, some may say, is tenuous at best. But both men demonstrated courage when it wasn't popular. And both share unmeasured political brilliance. Teddy Roosevelt said: "Americanism is a question of character. It is not a matter of birthplace or creed or line of descent." Notice he didn't include "popularity." The "distant" and "aloof" Lincoln was president serious times. The "distant" and "aloof" Kerry could be the right fit.