There is just no way, in any context, that Kerry's remark could be a joke about the President. He should have thought a little longer before doing this flip-flop and issuing an excuse because this pig is never going to fly.
For one moment Kerry thought he was a Jr Lieutenant and was looking down at enlisted men and it slipped out in a freudian way. He thinks more of liberal college students than the troops.
And to think they had all that time to come up with that excuse. He must think the populace is that stupid. Well, almost half of America voted for him, he thought he had a chance.