Posted on 11/02/2006 4:45:35 AM PST by Molly Pitcher
Let's not get lathered up worrying about what Sen. John Kerry meant when he contrasted the value of book learning to the value of getting shot at in a foreign war. Instead let's assess the public reaction and its possible impact on Tuesday's elections.
Parsing Kerry's words is a waste of time. Did he mean a lack of education might make one, like George W. Bush, an ignorant warmonger? Or only that hard work and hitting the books will keep one far away from the violent desert sands of volatile Iraq? Most informed speculators have adopted the second interpretation. But who knows?
Kerry blundered badly, and that's the point. He canceled campaign appearances with Democratic candidate hopefuls. Even Sen. Hillary Clinton -- probably for her own opportunistic reasons -- called for Kerry to apologize to American troops. Finally he did.
By now, quick Internet distribution and TV broadcasts have made common currency of the photograph of U.S. troops forming a line in the sand (literally) and holding a banner that reads, "Halp Us Jon Carry We R Stuck (c and k printed backward) in Irak."
The soldiers' message was clear, and apparently so was John Kerry's. Yes, he might have simply left out words from his statement that would have made it clear he was talking only about the president. No matter. These troops and their families took Kerry's "joke" as a direct insult. Unfortunately for Kerry's Democratic Party, a fair number of otherwise unmotivated Republican voters, and some independent ones, likely took offense, too.
The pregnant question now is whether the Kerry goof will rescue an entire election for the GOP. Perhaps not. Still, it has unquestionably put the brakes on the alleged Republican freefall that pollsters and pundits have been declaring for weeks. At the least, the senator's remarks might reverse Democratic fortunes in scattered close races, especially in the South.
Look at the places President Bush has campaigned in the last week. One key congressional race is in Georgia's District 12. Our latest InsiderAdvantage survey showed former Republican Congressman Max Burns barely trailing incumbent Democrat John Barrow.
In the same state, Bush also stopped off to help former Congressman Mac Collins as he tries to unseat Democrat Jim Marshall.
As little as a month ago, neither of these Republicans was given a chance of winning. But both of these districts have strong military ties and big blocs of independent swing voters. Deft use of Kerry's remarks could be the fillip needed to energize disenchanted Republican or lethargic independent voters to weigh in for the pro-military Republicans.
In Florida, the topsy-turvy race to replace resigned and disgraced Republican Congressman Mark Foley is suddenly being viewed by top political analysts as up for grabs. That, even though Foley resigned too late to take his name off the ballot and substitute the name of the Republican replacing him as the candidate. That means state Rep. Joe Negron must persuade voters to check the name of the now-reviled Foley in order to elect Negron. But it's a Republican district, and the electric voltage of Kerry's misstep could persuade voters to reject the conservative Democrat Tim Mahoney.
Then there's Tennessee. Democratic Congressman Harold Ford Jr. is in a nationally prominent battle against Republican and former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker. Within 24 hours of Kerry's statement, Ford was distancing himself from Kerry's remarks in a big way.
Ford has slipped slightly in the last week's polls. The last thing he needs is to be defending John Kerry instead of attacking Bob Corker. Complicating matters for Ford, he's trying to become an African-American, Democratic senator in a Deep South state. That's news in itself. He doesn't need bad news creeping in from points north.
In today's political world, major gaffes become minor blips overnight. Kerry's ill-spoken words may get drowned in a cascade of negative TV ads and the overwhelming volume of political news in these last days before the election.
The task at hand for the Republicans is to be bold enough to take Kerry's statement to the airwaves and into the field for grassroots, get-out-the-vote efforts. They might do well to recognize the power of images over mere words, or, in this case, an image of words -- misspelled words. Those soldiers' banner could become history if it makes for a surprise banner year for Republicans. Regardless, the Democrats aren't likely to soon turn to John Kerry for any more "halp."
Kerry's certainly one of the sleaziest low-lifes ever to disgrace the American political arena--and that's saying A HELLUVA LOT! The Democrats sure know how to pick 'em.
The Today show actually showed this picture in their opening. I was dumbfounded.
| Caption U.S. soldiers mocking John Kerry |
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| Posted by redstates4ever On 11/02/2006 6:24:54 AM CST · 29 replies · 754+ views 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division, via Drudge Report ^ | 11/01/06 | unknown |
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Have seen this many times - but still funny!
I LOVE THAT SIGN! I saved it. It's awesome.
GO TROOPS!!!
ON his FNC interview last night I thought I was listening to a young Zell MIller. Talk about SLICK fast talking.
Glad to be back on with you both, I'm a Christian, everyone needs a second chance, his intent was to challenge the campaign in Irag. Believes it was a joke. We forgive Rush for the Fox issue, you have to have Kerry on, now mentions the VP's shooting incident...I took Cheney's word, even the Pres has changed his stay the course.
Now mentioning the Jesus and guns issue. Where do you stand on the issues compared to pelosi et all. I'm my own man, I'm going to be the man I've been in the Congress, I'll vote to find new energy path, health ins for birth to 18, more money for NCLB, faith defines my politics. Eliminate taxes on the first 10 grand, except for millioniares, I was pro-choice at one time. After I saw something a doc showed me in Memphis, I changed my abortion stance. I'll vote my conscious.
Got real heavy into his 'faith'.
The Right to Life ad must really be impacting him...he made it clear he was pro-life, changed his mind AFTER a Memphis doctor showed him what PBA was like. As late as 2006, this year, Planned Parenthood gave JUNIOR a 78 percent rating.
I believe that, like I believe there is life on Mars, or there is ocean front property to be had in AZ. Said his epiphany on abortion came about 3 years ago..well JUNIOR your change of heart is a out right LIE in 2006 you were still voting 78% for Planned Parenthood. Said he was PRO-2nd amendment, a tax cutter, not a tax hiker. JUNIOR you are a FRAUD!
JUNIOR kept saying something about the need to forgive, kept insisting he's changed, he's for tax cuts, he's now pro-life, really kept yammering on about his 'faith'.
2006 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 78 percent in 2006.
2005-2006 Representative Ford supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 22 percent in 2005-2006.
2005 Representative Ford supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 60 percent in 2005.
2004 Representative Ford supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2004.
2003-2004 Representative Ford supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 25 percent in 2003-2004.
2003-2004 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Democrats for Life of America 33 percent in 2003-2004.
2003 Representative Ford supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 30 percent in 2003.
2001-2002 Representative Ford supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 19 percent in 2001-2002.
2001 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 75 percent in 2001.
2001 Representative Ford supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2001.
2000 Representative Ford supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 75 percent in 2000.
1999-2000 Representative Ford supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 6 percent in 1999-2000.
1999 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 88 percent in 1999.
1995-2004 On the votes that the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Assocation considered to be the most important in 1995-2004, Representative Ford voted their preferred position 82 percent of the time.
1995-2003 Representative Ford supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood (House) 78 percent in 1995-2003.
Thank u Jon Cary!
My anger at this despicable, worthless waste of skin has not and will not abate any time soon. He insulted me, my wife, and our beautiful daughter, and I don't take that lightly.
And as for the half-assed, pitiful "apology" this coward put on his web site...I doubt the brave men and women in the picture you posted will find it acceptable. I know I sure as heck don't!
This photo always makes me laugh--not just because of the spirit of the banner and the smiling (knowing!) faces of those holding it--but the arrangement of those particular letters just plain looks funny!
HALP US JON CARRY
Something I'd never noticed before in this mahhvelous pic! Perhaps it's just me?
NOTICE THE FAINT BUT DISTINCT BOOTPRINTS AROUND JON CARRY'S NAME!
LOL, well done soldiers!!!
The apology statment was posted on the Kerry blog by one of his toadies.
Let's see him in person, in his own words and before the nation actually apologizing to all service men and women.
A blog post Mr. Kerry IS NOT a public apology!
..don't worry jon curry...their only jokin
putz
Doogle
This latest Insult by Kerry is really not News his history of insults goes back to his Vietnam fraud.
They all speak of his great service to the Cause.
The only cause he had was to get out of the service with his three Bandaid wounds and purple hearts.
I really can,t understand how so many people think this guy is good for the Country and good for Massachusetts (Peoples Republic of Massachusetts".
He has more positions on any one issue than a Fly on Manure.
"Halp Us Jon Carry"
This is a bumper sticker if ever there was one.
Regardless of the result of this election, that banner is part of our American history. It demonstrates the spontaneous ingenuity of the American spirit.
Humor, intelligence, and spirit. Every time I see that picture, I'm so filled with emotion, I can hardly put it in words. The American G.I. is awesome.
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