Dubuque Telegraph Herald welcomes Kerry
"Welcome, Senator
Drudgery: Not all Dubuquers take offense; few like fund-raising
by TELEGRAPH HERALD EDITORIAL
Dear Sen. Kerry:
Welcome to Dubuque!
You might be apprehensive about bringing your fledgling presidential campaign to Dubuque today after you appeared to disparage the city.
In 1996, you told the Boston Globe, "I hate going to places like Austin and Dubuque to raise large sums of money. But I have to." That old quote found new life the other day on the Drudge Report internet site.
The resultant publicity gave some folks the opportunity to feign outrage and to profess civic pride.
(Drudge quoted offended "Dubuque resident Marsha Vittal." How the site found her - or selected her, out of tens of thousands of Dubuquers - we are not sure. Indeed, we are not even sure there is a Marsha Vittal in Dubuque. If she does exist, she is not a registered voter.)
If people would set aside their parochial indignation for a minute and take another look at your quote, they should see that it concerned fund-raising, not Dubuque as a travel destination or place to live.
Not many people in Dubuque like asking their neighbors and associates for money, either.
Anyway, soon this tempest will pass. Enjoy your time in Dubuque today, and come back soon."