The 'Botched Joke' Excuse

WSJ ^ | 11/1/06 | James Taranto

[pissant]

Pardon our morbid fascination with this story, but in a way it makes us feel vindicated. We first noted that something wasn't quite right with John Kerry way back in December 2002, but even we didn't realize how not quite right he was until this week. At a news conference yesterday, Kerry offered the latest "explanation" for his statement suggesting that the troops in Iraq are stupid and uneducated:

My statement [Monday]--and the White House knows this full well--was a botched joke about the president and the president's people, not about the troops. The White House's attempt to distort my true statement is a remarkable testament to their abject failure in making America safe.

Well, here is what Kerry actually said:

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, uh, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq.

"The White House's attempt to distort my true statement" consists in taking what Kerry actually said at face value.

Even if the statement was a "botched joke," what on earth would possess Kerry to think that this excuses what he said? George Allen and Trent Lott didn't get passes for "botched jokes"; indeed, here is what Kerry himself said about Lott, according to Salon:

Sen. John Kerry, a [haughty, French-looking] Massachusetts Democrat [who by the way served in Vietnam] and 2004 presidential contender, became the first member of the Senate to suggest Lott was now unfit to lead the upper chamber. "It saddens me greatly to suggest this, but in the interests of the Senate, his party, and the nation, I believe Trent Lott should step aside as majority leader," Kerry said.

[Grampa Dave]

What the US Army recruiting poster under "President" Kerry would look like:

Our brave warriors n Irak respond to Jon Carry"

Kerry is no different re his hatred of a strong America and our warriors than 99.9% of the rats in congress. Every rat running for election should have to face a copy of this banner everytime they show their treasonous faces. Pelosi, Murtha, Clintoon, Boxer, Kennedy, Durbin, Levin, Rangle, Reid and other rats in congress hate our military and a strong America. Just look at their voting records the past two years as President Bush pointed out this week.

Kerry is shown leading his fellow hate America and our military Rats to their final destination in American Politics:

Vote against all traitors this election day. Support our troops and their CIC, President Bush.

[pissant]

Well done.

[CaptRon]

The White House's attempt to distort my true statement is a remarkable testament to their abject failure in making America safe.

Mornonic non-sequitur, anyone?

[pissant]

Has there EVER been anything less than moronic from these idiots lips?

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks. It is easy with the skills of our Freepers.

[pissant]

Yep, there is some talent here.

[CougarGA7]

Well, it did give me a new tagline, and it gave dirtboy what I think is the quote of the year.

[pissant]

Nice. kudos Dirtboy

[justshutupandtakeit]

Come on over and tell us your theory that Kerry is telling the truth.

[dirtboy]

Thanks, although Kerry's meatheaded mendacity makes it all possible.

[pissant]

There is someone on this forum that think Kerry is telling the truth about it being a botched joke? He just forgot to mention the president, or structure the sentence in a way where it could be used to refer to him. And he was going to joke that not studying can lead to you being a two term president, with an ivy league MBA, a fighter pilot background and a stint as owner of a baseball team?

[Revolting cat!]

Should of blamed it on Checkers, the dog!

[Texaggie79]

Exactly what the article says. At least it's honest saying "even if it was a botched joke", which I believe it was, he still owes the troops an apology. You won't even go so far as this article does.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

It was no joke. He meant what he said. The media are totally and completely in the tank for the left. There is no credibility at all in the media.

[Texaggie79]

Kerry Get's a Taste of the Medicine

[CougarGA7]

I've watched the extended version of that video. There is no way that he didn't mean to say that. If you look at the video you hear a couple short chuckles and a bunch of gasps. The girl behind him to the right (his left) suddenly looks very uncomfortable standing there.

If he didn't mean to say that, he would have corrected himself immediately after he saw that reaction. Nope, he meant that exactly how he said it.

[Texaggie79]

Not if he thought her reaction was at his insult of Pres Bush.

[CougarGA7]

Well he couldn't see her. She's standing behind him. But I dont buy that he couldn't see that everyone in front of him was shocked at what he said. And he did nothing. I cant imagine that he would have thought that he felt that reaction was due to him insulting Bush. He was in the wrong venue for that type of reaction. He meant it as he said it.

[Revolting cat!]

The dog ate my joke!

[Texaggie79]

Well he may have well meant it as it was taken, against the troops. However when I watched the whole think on youtube, before the reactions started coming out, it seemed quite apparent that he was trying to insult Bush.