You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Home Front: Politix
Kerry draws Republican fire
2006-11-01
Democratic U.S. Sen. John Kerry drew election-year fire from President Bush and other Republicans on Tuesday for saying college students could "get stuck in Iraq" if they do not study hard. But Kerry, who unsuccessfully challenged Bush in the 2004 presidential election, refused to apologize and said his remark was a "botched joke" aimed at the president, not U.S. troops.

With the Iraq war a dominant issue in the November 7 elections, Kerry's comment on Monday gave Republicans, struggling to maintain control of the U.S. Congress, a chance to fight back. Kerry's office said later the Massachusetts Democrat had misread his prepared remarks that included the words "Just ask President Bush," which he omitted.

Kerry, who was criticized for mishandling national security issues during his losing White House campaign, angrily accused Republicans who have never been in war of making unfounded attacks. "The people who owe our troops an apology are George W. Bush and (Vice President) Dick Cheney who misled America into war," said the Massachusetts Democrat.

While campaigning in California, Kerry told a college crowd on Monday: "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

Kerry's office released his prepared remarks, which said, "Do you know where you end up if you don't study, if you aren't smart, if you're intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush."
Posted by:Fred

#14  It is amazing to me that people say that President Bush is inarticulate with this asshat running around. He is the master of the run-on sentence that, if there were any point at its inception, is a total muddle by the end.
Posted by: remoteman   2006-11-01 14:43  

#13  It wasn't even funny as issued in the "prepared remarks".
Posted by: Darrell   2006-11-01 11:08  

#12  Somebody needs to ask Kerry what the "botched joke" was supposed to be. I can't see a joke in there anywhere.
Posted by: Darrell   2006-11-01 11:06  

#11  "The people who owe our troops an apology are George W. Bush and Dick Cheney who misled America into war"

It should come as no surprise that this was Kerrys’ first response. The Democrats’ “I know I am but what are you?” line has been the standard bearer spin to deflect all criticism. Look no further then the shrill and repetitive slogan of “The President has no plan for Iraq”. This has been their mainstay obfuscation to the fact that they don’t have a workable solution of their own. The “botched joke” excuse is simply another version of the “You misunderstood the nuance of my statement”. (Oooh boy Senator…that’s a good un! Tell um the one about the IED.) Predictably the next angle is “The vast right-wing slime machine is twisting statements out of context”. After all it’s an election year don’t cha know.

I submit Sen. Durbins’ defiant response (P.2)to his infamous “Pol Pot” speech. (This was made prior to his “apology” in face of an eminent censure.) See if you can spot a pattern.

"The White House lashes out to me, and pretty soon the mainstream media , it just follows. It has happened time and time again. They have a good way of starting the news when they want to protect the president, but the reality is, as the poll numbers show this morning, despite all this effort, the American people are very worried about what's happening in Iraq."
Posted by: DepotGuy   2006-11-01 10:42  

#10  Imus this AM told him to just shut up
Posted by: Frank G   2006-11-01 10:17  

#9  ...FWIW, this is the email I sent to J. F'n K. this morning - and I urge EVERY 'Burger to do the same:

Senator Kerry -

Sir,
I must respectfully but firmly ask you to reconsider and apologize for your comments regarding the intelligence of our fighting men and women. The average educational level of the US military stands in direct and unquestionable reproof to your statements, and a prompt apology - blaming and chastising no one but yourself, is most definitely in order.
I had the honor and privlege of serving my country for twenty years, during which time I earned an Associate of Science degree in Munitions Systems and a Bachelor of Arts degree(with honors)in Interdisciplinary Studies - and I was far from alone in my education. I consider your statements not only a slap at the men and women currently serving but myself and those I served with as well.
And finally sir, I am medically unable to return to duty - but were it possible, I would take my poor education and report in as much time as it would take to pack my bags.


Respectfully,

Michael J. Kozlowski
SSgt, USAF (Ret)


Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2006-11-01 10:09  

#8  Jeez, did underestimate Kerry's vanity. I expected him to slink off for a few days to the mansion in Martha's Vineyard and let the networks bury this story. But Nooo, he has to stage, what like, 3 news conferences yesterday, digging a deeper hole each time. So much so it became the lead evening news story. Anyway, John, glad you are once again reporting for duty.
Posted by: ed   2006-11-01 09:21  

#7  If only Kerry could be on the receiving end of some real fire.
Posted by: Peter Jennings   2006-11-01 09:06  

#6  The D student lives down to his expectations. Lest we forget, this is not the first time Jean Francois Kerry insulted the US men and women in uniform.
Posted by: doc   2006-11-01 06:46  

#5  Demonic possession or not, Congress should be called to special session, and make ev'r last one o' dem sons-o-bitches vote yea or nay to censure Mssr. Kerry (who is reported to be American).
Posted by: Hyper   2006-11-01 03:37  

#4  Carrie's Kerry's only hope for resurrection now is to invoke the Halloween defense, and claim that he was possessed by demons (gibberish decoder ring translation: Rove).

And who wouldnÂ’t believe it?
Posted by: Hyper   2006-11-01 02:02  

#3  He muffs a stupid "joke" like that, compounds the insult, and he calls the troops (and the Prez) idiots?

This "clarification" had to have been written by one of the Kos Kiddies. No one else could be that stupid. (Ok, except for Lurch himself....)
Posted by: Swamp Blondie   2006-11-01 01:52  

#2  J. F'n K. digs, reaches bedrock. Asks for explosives...
Posted by: PBMcL   2006-11-01 01:00  

#1  Incoming!
Posted by: mojo   2006-11-01 00:16  

00:00