Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Kerry: 'I apologize to no one'
The Chicago Sun-Times ^ | November 1, 2006 | JENNIFER LOVEN

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."


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: asinine90; boom; election; gaffe; kerry
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-84 next last
To: MadIvan
Kerry has no visible sense of humour. Any attempt on his part to make a joke was ill-advised.

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.

61 posted on 11/01/2006 5:18:16 AM PST by JustaCowgirl (Bill Clinton is sticking his finger in the dike, holding back the tide of history.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
So, Senator Kerry, what was the botched joke?

===

It is amazing that Kerry says it was a botched joke, but he hasn't said what the meant to say. It might have been a really funny joke. It most probably was a figment of Kerry's imagination.

One thing for sure, the joke was not seared, seared in his memory.
62 posted on 11/01/2006 5:19:45 AM PST by TomGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stallone
Hahaha!!! He does that about once every 2 years, although, this may be the last. I don't think he will be able to recover from it. F!@$ him and the sugar mama he rode in on.
63 posted on 11/01/2006 5:23:50 AM PST by WV Mountain Mama (Just say no to Big Daddy! Raese for Senate!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
''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.

Lurch wore the uniform just long enough to disgrace it

64 posted on 11/01/2006 5:26:54 AM PST by Malone LaVeigh
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

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


65 posted on 11/01/2006 5:31:41 AM PST by bray (Voting for the Rats is a Death Wish)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Malone LaVeigh

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.


66 posted on 11/01/2006 5:31:59 AM PST by truthandlife ("Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (Ps 20:7))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
Mad Ivan,
I'm right smack dab in the middle of TN. While It is still technically in the "Bible Belt", there are pockets of Nashville that are as liberal as anything coming out of San Francisco. My gut tells Me Ford is toast. The "church going " folks voting in droves on the Gay marriage amendment will probably tank him.
67 posted on 11/01/2006 5:36:13 AM PST by rewrite
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
One Democratic congressman was dismayed, according to ABC News. "I guess Kerry wasn't content blowing 2004, now he wants to blow 2006, too."

Priceless, just priceless.

68 posted on 11/01/2006 5:36:28 AM PST by tioga
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

Kerry: 'I am no one'


69 posted on 11/01/2006 5:38:20 AM PST by SeaBiscuit (God Bless America and All who protect and preserve this Great Nation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TomGuy
It is amazing that Kerry says it was a botched joke

Should the one carrying the nuclear football also be unable to tell a simple joke?

70 posted on 11/01/2006 5:39:29 AM PST by cbkaty (I may not always post...but I am always here......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: SeaBiscuit

Fox just reported that IMUS told him to go ride his bicycle, go sailing, etc...but just shut up....


71 posted on 11/01/2006 5:41:07 AM PST by cbkaty (I may not always post...but I am always here......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: tioga
Kerry blew it! Gee does Bill CLinton know, he may want to get hold of him!
72 posted on 11/01/2006 5:41:45 AM PST by hoosiermama (Eric Dickerson= Indiana's November Surprise!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: cbkaty
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!

73 posted on 11/01/2006 5:44:12 AM PST by hoosiermama (Eric Dickerson= Indiana's November Surprise!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: muawiyah
My only point was that the MSM sneers at Dubya for enlisting in the Texas Air National Guard and keep on saying Kerry enlisted in "the Navy" - omitting Reserve.
74 posted on 11/01/2006 5:58:25 AM PST by Condor51 ("Alot" is NOT a word and doesn't mean "many". It is 'a lot', two separate words.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

"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.


75 posted on 11/01/2006 6:02:06 AM PST by Toespi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Condor51
Could have missed the subtle point ~ I enlisted in the United States Army for the Infantry.

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.

76 posted on 11/01/2006 6:05:08 AM PST by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: Malone LaVeigh

"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.


77 posted on 11/01/2006 6:08:03 AM PST by Toespi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

Kerry is an elitist arrogant jerk!


78 posted on 11/01/2006 6:09:40 AM PST by auto power
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mware

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.....


79 posted on 11/01/2006 6:15:45 AM PST by HHKrepublican_2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
''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'll wind up like me.''


80 posted on 11/01/2006 6:17:34 AM PST by Condor51 ("Alot" is NOT a word and doesn't mean "many". It is 'a lot', two separate words.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-84 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson