Recently, Vanessa Kerry,
daughter of Massachusetts Senator and Democratic presidential candidate John
Kerry, sat down with Broadside for a one-on-one interview. She has taken four
months off from medical school to assist her father with his national campaign
in his bid for president. She discussed her childhood, political beliefs and the
future of Kerry’s campaign.
Broadside: How is the campaign going so far?
Vanessa Kerry: I think my dad’s campaign has been going unbelievably well.
I think we’re actually at a very strong point where the foundations are really
deep and really wide.
Broadside: Do think that [your background] alienates you from regular
college students?
VK: People make an assumption that I’m a rich little kid. I grew up, I
think, just like everybody else. I did go to good schools and I had a great
opportunity educationally and I’m sure in a lot of ways I probably did grow up
luckier than a lot of people and I’m not by any means ignoring the opportunities
I’ve had in my life. I had chores. I worked through high school. I worked
through college and I have loans just like everybody else and I think everybody’s
experience is just different.
Broadside: Why did you decide to take time off to help with the campaign
and did your father ask you to help?
VK: No, he didn’t ask me. I [work] in a hospital and I’m aware of this
campaign and I’m emotionally invested in it…I’ve listened to nurses. I’ve
listened to patients and I’ve listened to things going on in people’s lives. I’m
focused on international health and I’m invested in people who are doing work
there and I know what’s at stake and frankly to not be a part of effecting
change kind of scares me. I’d rather make a huge effort to change the course of
where this country’s going...than complain.
Broadside: Why is your father suited to be president and what sets him
apart from other Democratic candidates?
VK: Two principled things. One, my father has an unbelievable domestic
record in which he has fought for things that you didn’t necessarily see the
good in right away as he’s been willing to look at long term [results]. He is
also a Vietnam War veteran.
