the American people 'know little about John Kerry' seems to be a line that is in the boilerplates of every newspaper in the country. it works well for the republicans because it helps them define kerry, er rather, un-define him. the very fact that we have a major-right-wing-slant in the media at the highest levels (and even at some lower levels), helps them to continue this charade that kerry has not yet defined himself.

but he has, and if anybody were to just pay attention to him, they would see it. but that's the whole point. republicans don't want people to see it. so the media, the lapdog pets they are, abides and falls into their rovish rituals of portraying kerry as 'someone who the people don't know', and bam! the people say they don't know. repeat a lie often enough, it'll become a truth.