'57' uncensored

John Kerry has a big nose. His face stares at me from the cover of this week's Time magazine. The feature article wants to know, "What makes John Kerry tick?" \nTeresa Heinz Kerry makes John tick. An inset picture on the cover shows the glowing heiress. It seems the media cannot mention one without the other. This year's presidential election is not simply about Kerrynomics. Rather, it is John and Teresa versus George and Laura. The change was inevitable. As my roommate says, a liability follows John Kerry everywhere: his wife. Of course the media will take full advantage of Heinz Kerry's straight-shooting speech, especially her "shove it" remarks. But the more pertinent issue is whether the first couple will play the Kerrys' game. \nBefore we examine our starting line-up, you should excuse me for being slightly new to the political arena. I voted in the 2000 presidential election, but I do not remember Laura's or Tipper's face splashed across every magazine like Heinz Kerry's seems to be.\nThat said, let's see why this election would bore even Kenny G if it weren't for Teresa's tongue and Laura the Librarian.\nHeinz Kerry was born in Mozambique, educated in South Africa, learned five languages, married into the Heinz condiment fortune, gave birth to three sons, earned 10 honorary doctoral degrees, lost her first husband (a senator), married another U.S. senator and still managed to do her own grocery shopping. She is a billionaire Wonderwoman. \nBut Heinz Kerry has not learned to hold her tongue, nor does she intend to. In her Tuesday night speech at the Democratic National Convention, Heinz Kerry said, "My right to speak my mind, to have a voice, to be what some have called 'opinionated,' is a right I deeply and profoundly cherish." \nJohn Kerry's wife acknowledged how the media typecast her as opinionated and a threat to her husband's election. "My only hope is that, one day soon, women — who have all earned the right to their opinions — instead of being labeled opinionated, will be called smart or well-informed, just as men are."\nAs an opinionated (hello, this is an opinion column) and well-informed (most days) woman, Heinz Kerry's comments liberated me. Who said a candidate's wife has to remain silent and supportive? Who decided first ladies must be banished to afternoon teas? It's about time a first lady wannabe broke the dutiful wife mold. Heinz Kerry's sudden stardom caused me to wonder where Laura Bush has been hiding. She managed even to stay off Joan Rivers' worst-dressed list. As I searched her Web site, I thought certainly she had laid low while her husband fought terrorists and increased gas prices. \nYet as much as I would like to criticize the first lady's recent invisibility, she has taken national initiatives to promote reading. I would be hypocritical if I neglected her work promoting books. As a librarian's daughter, I appreciate those who value literature.\nWith daily speaking engagements, education committee meetings and breast cancer campaigns, Laura has been a busy bee. She stood loyally beside her husband through messy international affairs. She made educating America her goal and did it with grace.\nBut I doubt Laura Bush will come out of the shadows enough in the next three months to rival Heinz Kerry's exuberance. John Kerry understands that not even his big nose can make me, and perhaps most women, feel as empowered as his wife did Tuesday night. If George Bush wants to keep his day job, he needs to recognize this race is not one to be fought mano a mano. He needs to use all his players. Laura needs to inspire me.