Bush camp knocks Mrs. Kerry for Laura job dig

President Bush’s re-election campaign yesterday expressed indignation at Teresa Heinz Kerry for suggesting that first lady Laura Bush, a former teacher, librarian and full-time mother, never “had a real job.”

“I think most Americans would agree that teaching is a real job, that being a librarian is a real job,” campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt said. “Staying home, working from the home and raising children is not only hard work, but that’s a real job also.”

In an interview in yesterday’s USA Today, Mrs. Kerry was asked whether she would be a different type of first lady than Mrs. Bush.

“I don’t know that she’s ever had a real job,” Mrs. Kerry said. “My experience is a little bit bigger because I’m older.”

Mrs. Kerry’s remarks came just one week after her husband, Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry, started a family-related flap by referring to Vice President Dick Cheney’s lesbian daughter Mary during a presidential debate. Mr. Kerry has since defended the remarks as merely an attempt to compliment the Cheneys.

In the interview, Mrs. Kerry said her words were “not a criticism of [Mrs. Bush]. It’s just, you know, what life is about.”

But the Bush campaign and the White House took it as a very direct criticism of the first lady. When various officials began to express outrage, Mrs. Kerry hastily issued an apology.

“I had forgotten that Mrs. Bush had worked as a schoolteacher and librarian, and there couldn’t be a more important job than teaching our children,” she said in a written statement.

“As someone who has been both a full-time mom and full-time in work force, I know we all have valuable experiences that shape who we are,” she added. “I appreciate and honor Mrs. Bush’s service to the country as first lady, and am sincerely sorry I had not remembered her important work in the past.”

That did not satisfy Bush campaign officials, who found it impossible to believe that Mrs. Kerry had forgotten that Mrs. Bush raised twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, who have made high-profile campaign appearances for the president.

“The apology almost made the comment worse because she seems to have forgotten that being a mother is a real job,” said Bush adviser Karen Hughes, who gave up her full-time job at the White House two years ago to spend more time raising her son.

“Her comments threw a very inappropriate wedge between women who choose to work at home and women who choose to work outside the home,” Mrs. Hughes added on CNN. “I think most women and most men will be offended by that.”

Another Bush aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity, pointed out that Mrs. Bush has maintained a grueling schedule in support of the president since moving into the White House nearly four years ago.

“Anyone who thinks that serving as first lady isn’t a real job isn’t ready for the job themselves,” the aide said. “Does that put Mrs. Heinz Kerry in her place?”

The official went on to say that “the contrast is immense” between Mrs. Kerry, who has criticized both the president and first lady, and Mrs. Bush, who has declined opportunities to fire back at Mrs. Kerry.

Story Continues →