The Kean Name is "Swiftly" Losing its Luster

by: Jeff Gardner

Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 11:47:13 AM EDT

I'm not sure why a pleasant, moderate Republican wants to become Dick Cheney. I don't think Dick Cheney would want to be Cheney if he could be a Kean.

The Kean name for generations has stood for responsible, honorable public service.

The braintrust behind Junior's attempt to pull a Swift-Boat style smear forgot the critical element in its success against Kerry: the complicit national media who took the story to the top of the charts in their "fair and balanced" coverage of lies.

That's not working in New Jersey, where smart commentators like Tom Moran and now Alfred Dolin are shaking their heads, bewildered and unamused as they catch on to the real Tom Kean Junior.

This is July. It is way too early for a last-ditch assault on the integrity of a political rival. In July, voters want to know what Tom Kean Jr. would do in the U.S. Senate. Attacking Democrats isn't a good enough reason to be elected.