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Kerry apologizes for "botched" Iraq joke
Yahoo! News ^
| 11/1/06
| Reuters
Posted on 11/01/2006 8:35:21 AM PST by libertarianPA
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. John Kerry said on Wednesday he was sorry about a "botched joke" that drew election-year fire from President George W. Bush and other Republicans who accused him of insulting U.S. troops in Iraq.
Kerry reiterated the target of his joke was Bush, who immediately seized on the senator's remarks to rally Republican supporters ahead of Tuesday's elections, in which the party's control of Congress is at risk.
Kerry said he was returning to Washington from a trip campaigning on behalf of Democratic congressional candidates because he did not want to be "a distraction."
A day after rejecting calls to apologize for his remarks, Kerry, appearing on the "Imus in the Morning" radio show on MSNBC, declared: "I said it was a botched joke. Of course, I'm sorry about a botched joke."
While campaigning in California on Monday, Kerry told a college crowd: "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 said the senator had misread his prepared remarks. They said he had intended to say, "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."
TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: absolutebasskerry; botchedjoke; hanoisherokerry; insult; iraq; joke; kerry; ketchupboy; longtimetraitor; lurch; realgigolo
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Kerry's military service in the past doesn't excuse his treason now.
To: libertarianPA
Surveillance photo of Kerry before apology.
2
posted on
11/01/2006 8:36:06 AM PST
by
michigander
(The Constitution only guarantees the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
To: libertarianPA
Kerry's military service in the past doesn't excuse his treason now. Not to mention the treason in his past...opps...guess I just did.
3
posted on
11/01/2006 8:36:28 AM PST
by
highlander_UW
(I don't know what my future holds, but I know Who holds my future)
To: libertarianPA
4
posted on
11/01/2006 8:36:46 AM PST
by
newconhere
(bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. zap)
To: libertarianPA
He said he would apologize to no one.
I guess this is another one of his flip-flops.
"I apologized after I did not apologize."
5
posted on
11/01/2006 8:36:56 AM PST
by
Brilliant
To: libertarianPA
He called a PRESS CONFERENCE yesterday specifically to NOT apologize. Give us a break, AP, this isn't an apology.
To: libertarianPA
7
posted on
11/01/2006 8:37:33 AM PST
by
SeaBiscuit
(God Bless America and All who protect and preserve this Great Nation.)
To: libertarianPA
The DNC should apologize for the botched joke which is the Kerry candidacy.
8
posted on
11/01/2006 8:37:56 AM PST
by
bpjam
(Not Voting in '06? Turn in your VRWC card at exit quietly)
To: libertarianPA
"I said it was a botched joke. Of course, I'm sorry about a botched joke."
That's not an apology! That's admitting you are an asshat, and we already know that! APOLOGIZE TO THE TROOPS....NOW!
9
posted on
11/01/2006 8:38:06 AM PST
by
avacado
To: libertarianPA
Kerry's office said the senator had misread his prepared remarks. They said he had intended to say, "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." Rewrite #47!
10
posted on
11/01/2006 8:38:09 AM PST
by
rocksblues
(Do unto others as they do unto you!)
To: libertarianPA
I don't accept his apology.
11
posted on
11/01/2006 8:38:16 AM PST
by
CAWats
(And I will make no distinction between the terrorists and the Democrats)
To: libertarianPA
What a contrived bunch of B.S.
12
posted on
11/01/2006 8:38:18 AM PST
by
Lando Lincoln
(For what cause would a liberal go to war? Revolutions don't count.)
To: libertarianPA
Kerry's office said the senator had misread his prepared remarks. They said he had intended to say, "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." Misread?!? He not only left out "getting us" but also "Just ask President Bush". Misread? I don't think so.
13
posted on
11/01/2006 8:38:44 AM PST
by
Pete
To: libertarianPA
It was Rove's and GW's fault.
14
posted on
11/01/2006 8:38:51 AM PST
by
Grampa Dave
(There's a dwindling market for Marxist Homosexual Lunatic wet dreams posing as journalism)
To: libertarianPA
Kerry's office said the senator had misread his prepared remarks. They said he had intended to say, "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." Bush isn't smart and is intellectually lazy, but Kerry can't read off a piece of paper.
That's funny as hell!
15
posted on
11/01/2006 8:38:53 AM PST
by
michigander
(The Constitution only guarantees the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
To: perfect_rovian_storm
He has not apologized to the troops or their families. He has apparently apologized for his "botched joke."
Still won't sell.
FYI - new poll at msnbc.com -- Kerry now losing 61% of the vote.
16
posted on
11/01/2006 8:39:12 AM PST
by
mwl1
To: Lando Lincoln
His explanation makes no sense either.
17
posted on
11/01/2006 8:39:21 AM PST
by
AZFolks
To: libertarianPA
He's merely apologizing for botching his joke. He's not apologizing to those he scorned.
Kerry...after his "botched joke." French toast
BTW, did a Hillary supporter write the joke for him. Is this the first case of Clintonian Iraqancide?
18
posted on
11/01/2006 8:39:29 AM PST
by
syriacus
(MJ Fox tells the US, "Show me you love ME, baby, by giving up your life for ME.")
To: libertarianPA
""I said it was a botched joke. Of course, I'm sorry about a botched joke." "
Is this the gift that keeps on giving or what?
He is sorry he botched the joke, not that he called the troops stupid.
19
posted on
11/01/2006 8:39:30 AM PST
by
DaiHuy
(I have never seen a situation so dismal that a policeman couldn't make it worse)
To: Lando Lincoln
General McInerney on Fox had the correct attitude. He said Kerry's had enough time to apologize, and he hasn't. McInerney wants him to RESIGN.
20
posted on
11/01/2006 8:39:57 AM PST
by
Miss Marple
(Lord, please look over Mozart Lover's and Jemian's sons and keep them strong.```````````````````````)
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