Posted on 11/01/2006 3:12:01 AM PST by MadIvan
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 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 in next week's midterm elections.
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.
Bush calls it 'shameful'
Bush said Kerry's statement was ''insulting and it is shameful.''
''The members of the United States military are plenty smart and they are plenty brave and the senator from Massachusetts owes them an apology,'' Bush said.
Kerry, who is considering another run for the White House in 2008, angrily fired back: ''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.''
Kerry's comment the day before was this: ''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.
''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," he said.
One Democratic congressman was dismayed, according to ABC News. "I guess Kerry wasn't content blowing 2004, now he wants to blow 2006, too."
His pompousness long ago shriveled any Kerry humor cells that might have been trying to develop.
I can imagine him at about the age of 3 as a fully-developed insufferable pompous ass.
Lurch wore the uniform just long enough to disgrace it
There was no joke it was his opinion that if you can't cut it in school you go into the military. It was a slam on every brave soldier we have, period!
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
Keep digging holes, Mr. Kerry. You have just turned the last 6 days into a the issue of who respects and supports our troops more. Who do you want to lead us against the terrorism around the world.
Priceless, just priceless.
Kerry: 'I am no one'
Should the one carrying the nuclear football also be unable to tell a simple joke?
Fox just reported that IMUS told him to go ride his bicycle, go sailing, etc...but just shut up....
Hope the Chaney's are listening this morning. They'll get a good laugh from the program!
"I apologize to no one"
Didn't Kerry say something similiar to this during the 2004 campaign? I remember thinking, what an ego, when he said it.
Got an RA prefix for my trouble.
I also noticed recently that my undergraduate grades were higher than Kerry's.
He's as confused now as he was way back when.
"Lurch wore the uniform just long enough to disgrace it"
Upon his release from the military, he realized how unpopular a Vietnam vet was in the states, so he turned on them, threw his ribbons away and lied. Be assured that if he had been speaking to a military crowd instead of a college crowd, he would have told them how smart and brave they were.
Kerry is an elitist arrogant jerk!
the RNC should run ads...
"Nominated by the Democratic Party in 2004..."
"Campaigned for them in 2006..."
"Here's what the man the Democrats chose to represent them said about our troops....(cue video) you can work hard and get an education or get stuck in iraq...(replay) get an education or get stuck in iraq replay)...get an education or get stuck in iraq...
Democrats think our troops aren't smart enough.
Do You?
...paid for by.....
If you don't, you'll wind up like me.''
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