Surely it must have been a slip for Maureen Dowd to align the artistry of my late husband, Gene Kelly, with the president's clumsy performances. To suggest that "George Bush has turned into Gene Kelly" represents not only an implausible transformation but a considerable slight. If Gene were in a grave, he would have turned over in it.
When Gene was compared to the grace and agility of Jack Dempsey, Wayne Gretzky and Willie Mays, he was delighted. But to be linked with a clunker -- particularly one he would consider inept and demoralizing -- would have sent him reeling.
Graduated with a degree in economics from Pitt, Gene was not only a gifted dancer, director and choreographer, he was also a most civilized man. He spoke multiple languages; wrote poetry; studied history; understood the projections of Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes. He did the Sunday Times cross word in ink. Exceedingly articulate, Gene often conveyed more through movement than others manage with words.
Sadly, President Bush fails to communicate meaningfully with either. For George Bush to become Gene Kelly would require impossible leaps in creativity, erudition and humility.
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Maureen Dowd, a good Irish Catholic girl, clearly intended no harm or insult, but rather merely recognizes that Gene Kelly means dancing joy, and as such, is a common analogy which all Americans understand and celebrate.
Now -- if the comparison had been: Bush has turned into a Gene Kelly gone horribly wrong, there might have been some point to it.
For George Bush to become CHRIS MATTHEWS would require impossible leaps in creativity
his dance routines over and over again (love those dvds). I would come home from work
and there would be my kids gathered around the tv set, watching him singing in the rain or
doing that marvelous bit with donald o'conner and the elocution professor.
Good memories of a good man. Thanks.
Kelly was also famously idealistic
What a treasure he was--and still is--to us all.
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