By LIZZY WYNOT, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry launched a new ad in New Mexico on Wednesday that mentions his police record and seeks to counter a conservative group's criticism by stressing the senator's whitebread uptightness.
The 30-second ad describes Kerry as a hunter, thug and criminal who deals nickel bags. The ad also points out that he is the author of "A Strategy to Rolling Dove-Tail Joints". Kerry said "Most people thought John Lennon was talking about woodworking, when in reality it was rolling two spliffs together into one damn fine smoke".
The Kerry ad is the first by either presidential candidate address openly the use of pot. The current President has only admitted to being too drunk to smoke anything.
Kerry took a break in his campaign advertising this week and spoke to New Mexicans on TV about his ideas for a July 4 BBQ. "I've always liked Willie Nelson", said Kerry with bloodshot eyes. I think the Hispanics in the Southwest would come, especially if there was free smoke. "Hell, probably a few Injuns too". The BBQ will take place in Albuquerque, N.M.
Democrat Al Gore said he would love to come, but Kerry had not asked him yet. He also stated, "Ol' Kerry hasn't asked me to be the new VP yet, even though I sent him my resume". President Bush said he'd go if asked.
Kerry will have to provide the munchies though, but that should not be a problem for him. He has raised more cash than President Bush recently, many from private donations. When asked if this had been his plan all along, Kerry retorted, "Not Yes, but Hell Yes".
Stephany Cutty-Sark, a Kerry campaign spokeswoman, called Kerry's new ploy - which also labels Kerry as a husband, a father and a pilot of small planes in and out of Mexico, "an important piece of hoopla introducing John Kerry to the nation".
Mostly, however, the BBQ stresses the foreign policy between the US / Mexico. The four-term Massachusetts senator has vacationed there often and is on a 1st name basis with some very powerful people. Said Cutty-Sark, "Bush is just friends with
Vinnie, but John really knows the players".
Steve Nicks-Schmidt, a Bush spokesperson, called Kerry's BBQ "a real something." Schmidt took issue with the BBQ's claim that Kerry "will oversee the cooking of yardbird himself".
Nicks-Schmidt argued that that Kerry doesn't know "doodle-lee squat about southern cooking,'specially yardbird". "That boy couldn't smoke a cigarette".
Kerry's BBQ will provide bumper stickers, buttons, a speech on Leonard Pelitier and Kerry's new cook book. The cook book is reported to include a section on 'the use of pot in the making of hot sauce'.
The campaign spent about $500,000 on firewood and smokers in Albuquerque this past week. The media market is all a frenzy. Cutty-Sark said the BBQ will likely be televised if Willie brings his guitar. Plans are on for BBQs in two other states.
