I seriously doubt that.
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."
You give sKerry too much credit here. The term he created was "stuffed suit", a heretofore unknown euphemism.
LOL. I want to know who said this! 'Fess up, Rat!
I seriously doubt that.
He's pure GOLD for th GOP!!!
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