John Fuckin' Kerry sticks his foot in his mouth again! Disrespects U.S troops!

[Drew]

'I Apologize to No One'

White House, Kerry Exchange Accusations

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON ?  The White House and Sen. John Kerry traded their harshest accusations since the 2004 presidential race on Tuesday, with President Bush accusing the Democrat of troop-bashing and Kerry calling the president's men hacks who are "willing to lie."

The war of words, tough even for this hard-fought campaign season, came after Kerry told a group of California students on Monday that those unable to navigate the country's education system"get stuck in Iraq."

The two parties are searching for any edge amid indications Democrats could take back the House and possibly win control of the Senate in next week's midterm elections. Though neither Bush nor Kerry is on any ballot, the bitterness with which they fought each other as 2004 rivals spilled over as both campaign hard for their parties in a race shaped in large measure by public doubts about the Iraq war.

White House press secretary Tony Snow was asked about Kerry's comment at his regular briefing with reporters, and had clearly come prepared with a lengthy attack. He said the quote "fits a pattern"of negative remarks about U.S. soldiers from the decorated Vietnam veteran and suggested that whether Democratic candidates particularly those running on their military service backgrounds agree with their 2004 standard-bearer should be a campaign litmus test.

The White House also released in advance remarks Bush was to deliver later in the day while campaigning in Georgia, in which the president called Kerry's statement" insulting and shameful." Bush, like his spokesman earlier, said soldiers deserve an apology from Kerry.

"Our troops did not enlist because they did not study hard in school or do their homework,"Bush said in his prepared remarks for a former GOP congressman, Mac Collins, who is trying to oust Democratic Rep. Jim Marshall." The men and women who serve in our all-volunteer armed forces are plenty smart and are serving because they are patriots."

Kerry, who is considering another run for the White House in 2008, angrily fired back.

His statement called Republicans"assorted right-wing nut jobs."

And at a hastily arranged news conference in Seattle, Kerry said: "I apologize to no one for my criticism of the president and of his broken policy."

Kerry said the comment in question was "a botched joke about the president and the president's people, not about the troops ... and they know that's what I was talking about."

It came during a campaign rally for California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides. Kerry opened his speech at Pasadena City College with several one-liners, saying at one point that Bush had lived in Texas but now"lives in a state of denial."

He then said:"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."

That, Kerry said, was meant as a reference to Bush, not troops. Kerry said it is the president who owes U.S. soldiers an apology _ for "a Katrina foreign policy "that misled the country into war in Iraq, failed to adequately study and plan for the aftermath, has not properly equipped troops and has expanded the terrorist threat.

The Massachusetts Democrat called the White House attack "a classic GOP textbook Republican campaign tactic" that reveals Republicans "willingness to reduce anything in America to raw politics."

"I'm sick and tired of a bunch of despicable Republicans who will not debate real policy, who won't take responsibility for their own mistakes, standing up and trying to make other people the butt of those mistakes," he said."It disgusts me that a bunch of these Republican hacks who've never worn the uniform of our country are willing to lie about those who did."

Unsubstantiated allegations about Kerry's Vietnam War heroism from a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth figured prominently in the 2004 Kerry-Bush race. Even Kerry has blamed his slow and uncertain response to the group's claims for helping to doom his White House chances, and Democrats viewed the Tuesday fracas as a test of that lesson.

"Enough is enough. We're not going to stand for this,"Kerry said. "We are going to stay in their face with the truth."

Other Republicans, sensing opportunity for their side, piled on throughout the day with their own demands for an apology from Kerry.

GOP Sen. John McCain, like Kerry a decorated Vietnam veteran and a potential 2008 rival, said while campaigning for Republican candidates in Indiana that "the suggestion that only the least educated Americans would agree to serve in the military and fight in Iraq is an insult to every soldier serving in combat today."

Added House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., struggling to keep his party in control of Congress: "Our soldiers risk their lives in the face of grave dangers on the battlefield, and no one who chooses to courageously and selflessly defend our country can be considered'uneducated."

Separately, the White House issued President Bush's Veterans' Day proclamation praising those who have served in the armed forces a week and a half before the holiday.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Oct31/0,4670,WhiteHouseKerry,00.html

[The Dog]

I'll admit, the quote is REALLY bad.  Pretty dumb thing to say - good thing hes not running in any midterms 

But c'mon, does anyone REALLY think he was calling the troops dumb?   

If he was smart he would have said "I'm sorry if anyone thought thats what i was saying but I really meant to say....."

This is dumb news on a slow news day, much like the Jim Webb novels....the reps are desperate for ANYTHING to turn against the dems with a week till the midterms. 

Be interesting to see how other Dems respond to this (b/c you know it'll be the news of the night on the talk shows)

[Drew]

"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."

Dumb news? WTF?

So a highly ranked Democratic leader completely disrespecting our troops is dumb news on a slow day? That's crazy!!

[The Dog]

"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."

Dumb news? WTF?

So a highly ranked Democratic leader completely disrespecting our troops is dumb news on a slow day? That's crazy!!

Sigh - like I said...do you REALLY, TRULY think Kerry thinks that of our troops?  If you honestly do then I can't argue with your opinion but I think you're just joining the Rep feeding frenzy.  They are desperate for anything to pounce upon.  This isn't as blatantly "wrong" like Foley was or the Abrahmoff scandals.  He messed up his line and it came out bad, REALLY bad.  John Kerry actually served in the military (and don't start with the whole "oh he was only there for a month blah blah blah" nonsense - he was there and a lot of other politicians weren't).  I think having been there he knows how intelligent and brave the people fighting in our military are.

I can't disagree that it was totally retarded of him to day, botched line or not.  I read it and I started shaking my head.  But watch, the Reps will try to drag this "story" out for DAYS....   I think a lot of Dems will take this as an opportunity to distance themselves from Kerry and say a lot of pro troop stuff.  its not going to hurt anyone (but Kerry, but c'mon, did he really have a chance for 08 anyways?  I don't think so).

[The Dog]

Kerry's response to the Rep feeding frenzy:

"If anyone thinks a veteran would criticize the more than 140,000 heroes serving in Iraq and not the president who got us stuck there, they're crazy. This is the classic G.O.P. playbook.   I'm sick and tired of these despicable Republican attacks that always seem to come from those who never can be found to serve in war, but love to attack those who did.

I'm not going to be lectured by a stuffed suit White House mouthpiece standing behind a podium, or doughy Rush Limbaugh, who no doubt today will take a break from belittling Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's disease to start lying about me just as they have lied about Iraq . It disgusts me that these Republican hacks, who have never worn the uniform of our country lie and distort so blatantly and carelessly about those who have.

The people who owe our troops an apology are George W. Bush and Dick Cheney who misled America into war and have given us a Katrina foreign policy that has betrayed our ideals, killed and maimed our soldiers, and widened the terrorist threat instead of defeating it. These Republicans are afraid to debate veterans who live and breathe the concerns of our troops, not the empty slogans of an Administration that sent our brave troops to war without body armor.

Bottom line, these Republicans want to debate straw men because they're afraid to debate real men. And this time it won't work because we're going to stay in their face with the truth and deny them even a sliver of light for their distortions. No Democrat will be bullied by an administration that has a cut and run policy in Afghanistan and a stand still and lose strategy in Iraq ."

[Drew]

I think it is wrong to even suggest a comment like this in a time of war!

It was literally a slap in the face to all our troops.

I think the Republicans should keep this comment in the news. No, Kerry isn't running for anything but he is a very popular and looked up to by alot of democrats.

[Drew]

It didn't take long for Kerry to play the Blame Bush card at all!! 

So Kerry's response is BLAME BUSH once again? Not taking any responsiblity for his on mouth!

What a fuckin disgrace Kerry is!

[The Dog]

I think it is wrong to even suggest a comment like this in a time of war!

It was literally a slap in the face to all our troops.

I think the Republicans should keep this comment in the news. No, Kerry isn't running for anything but he is a very popular and looked up to by alot of democrats.

Can't disagree with you - REALLY dumb thing to say, in war time OR peace time.

But read his response with an open mind (or try to at least) I think the things he points out are a lot more important then one line spoken in a speech.  Not that it makes what he said any less stupid, but lets put the news and the focus on what is really important.  John Kerry's words aren't getting troops killed....Bush's failed policies and lack of body armor for the troops is.

Your last line about keeping it in the news and how even though kerry isn't even running that hes "still popular and looked up to" by other dems is EXACTLY how the Reps are thinking and what they want others to think.  That is SUCH BS dude, and you know it.  One dumb comment by a missed-chance politician doesn't mean the rest of the party thinks what Kerry said.

[crow316]

I didnt really see it as Kerry disrespecting troops. ?Its like one of those backward statements. Uneducated people wind up being troops doesnt nessesarily mean all troops are uneducated. But yeah, it wasnt the smartest thing to say on his part.

[The Dog]

I didnt really see it as Kerry disrespecting troops.  Its like one of those backward statements. Uneducated people wind up being troops doesnt nessesarily mean all troops are uneducated. But yeah, it wasnt the smartest thing to say on his part.

Thats because he wasn't. 

At all. 

Yet the Republicans are going to try their hardest to make you think that.  I think the American people have gotten a lot smarter in the past 6 years. 

[Drew]

Thats because he wasn't. 

At all.

Then what did he mean by his comment?

"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."

How more blatant disrespectful could one be?

[The Dog]

Thats because he wasn't. 

At all.

Then what did he mean by his comment?

"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."

How more blatant disrespectful could one be?

Read his response. 

Look, I'm not arguing it wasn't retarded to say, but I'll ask one more time...do you genuinely, honestly, truly think he really meant those words literally?  If you think "yes", you're entitled to your opinion.  I don't think he did.  I'm sure we'll see a poll wondering what the rest of America thinks.

EDIT - hahah AOL already has one up

roughly 70% think it was insulting, 30% don't.

not surprising.  the actual words are insulting/idiotic.  Do i think he meant what he said literally?  absolutey not.  I don't think anyone would think our troops are uneducated or dumb. 

I agree with a dem political strategist who said in more words or less, "kerry should just shut his mouth till after the election".

[Bill 213]

I didnt really see it as Kerry disrespecting troops.? Its like one of those backward statements. Uneducated people wind up being troops doesnt nessesarily mean all troops are uneducated. But yeah, it wasnt the smartest thing to say on his part.

Thats because he wasn't.?

At all.?

Yet the Republicans are going to try their hardest to make you think that.? I think the American people have gotten a lot smarter in the past 6 years.?

Exactly......it's going to be a republican version of "You people?" ?Kerry didn't make that comment intending to degrade the troops. ?He did use a poor choice of words.....he could have said "You cause an Iraq situation" or something. ?But the Republicans are going to exploit this for every last chance they can. ?I mean it's not like they have the same advantages as the Dems do right now such as Repubs trying to play hide the salami with underage pages on the internet or assaulting and trying to score with drunken chicks in Vegas or causing worldwide clusterfucks.

[Skeba]

Then what did he mean by his comment?

"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."

How more blatant disrespectful could one be?

I believe that the whole sentence was a sarcastic comment directed at Bush. The joke part being that had he studied in school well (although, yes, he's got a degree), he would've done a better job, but instead, is now stuck with the mess in Iraq. Or at least that's the way I see it. He's not trying to make this about Bush, since his original statement was about Bush also. It's the first thing he says in his response.

[D]

I still say John Kerry was  one of the worst Democratic Presidential Candidates ever.

Losing to George Bush was unacceptable after how horrible Bush's first 4 years were.

I still say he dropped the ball big time.

I am a democrat, have voted democrat for President since I started voting, but even though I voted for Kerry out of loyalty to my party, I thought he was an absolute idiot and a horrible candidate.

[The Dog]

I still say John Kerry was  one of the worst Democratic Presidential Candidates ever.

Losing to George Bush was unacceptable after how horrible Bush's first 4 years were.

I still say he dropped the ball big time.

I am a democrat, have voted democrat for President since I started voting, but even though I voted for Kerry out of loyalty to my party, I thought he was an absolute idiot and a horrible candidate.

Yeh, pretty much agree with you.  but that doesn't change the fact that this statement is being grossly blown out of proportion.

[pebbles]

I like John Kerry and think this is just a bunch of bullshit blown just a little tooooo much out of proportion by a bunch of lazy fat ass republicans who have way too much time on there hands...? Im glad to see that Bush cares so much for the troops.

[Drew]

I like John Kerry and think this is just a bunch of bullshit blown just a little tooooo much out of proportion by a bunch of lazy fat ass republicans who have way too much time on there hands...  Im glad to see that Bush cares so much for the troops.

So it's bullshit to call U.S. troops uneducated?

[The Dog]

I like John Kerry and think this is just a bunch of bullshit blown just a little tooooo much out of proportion by a bunch of lazy fat ass republicans who have way too much time on there hands...  Im glad to see that Bush cares so much for the troops.

So it's bullshit to call U.S. troops uneducated?

Drew, you keep repeating the same stuff over and over again.....read what most here are saying.  I'm curious what you think about my question too....do you believe that is what kerry was REALLY saying?  Not WHAT did he say, or how did it come out, but his TRUE meaning, his TRUE thoughts???  be honest.

[Bill 213]

I like John Kerry and think this is just a bunch of bullshit blown just a little tooooo much out of proportion by a bunch of lazy fat ass republicans who have way too much time on there hands...? Im glad to see that Bush cares so much for the troops.

So it's bullshit to call U.S. troops uneducated?

Drew, you keep repeating the same stuff over and over again.....read what most here are saying.? I'm curious what you think about my question too....do you believe that is what kerry was REALLY saying?? Not WHAT did he say, or how did it come out, but his TRUE meaning, his TRUE thoughts? be honest.

Hahaha I believe he's due the "You're a towel" treatment.