Posted on 10/31/2006 1:52:37 PM PST by Rennes Templar
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerrys botched joke about students needing to study hard or risk becoming stuck in Iraq has ignited a political firestorm over the war exactly a week from the election.
Kerry lashed out at the White House at a press conference in Seattle this afternoon for attacking him for his comments. The White House, however, called on Kerry to apologize for troop-bashing. A defiant Kerry refused.
Let me make it crystal clear, as crystal clear as I know how, Kerry said. I apologize to no one for my criticism of the President and his broken policy. If anyone owes our troops in the fields an apology, it is the president and his failed team.
Kerry then admitted my statement yesterday, and the White House knows this full well, was a botched joke about the president and the presidents people, not about the troops.
Yesterday, at a rally for California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides, Kerry told a cheering Pasadena City College audience: Education, if you make the most of it, you study hard and do your homework and you make an effort to be smart you can do well. If you dont, you get stuck in Iraq.
Video snippets of the speech have popped up on www.youtube.com, prompting irate calls by mothers of U.S. soldiers to Boston radio talk stations.
U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) issued a statement today calling on fellow Vietnam veteran Kerry to say hes sorry.
Senator Kerry owes an apology to the many thousands of Americans serving in Iraq, who answered their countrys call because they are patriots and not because of any deficiencies in their education, McCain said in a statement posted on drudgereport.com.
And the White House also called on Kerry to apologize.
Senator Kerry not only owes an apology to those who are serving, but also to the families of those whove given their lives in this, White House press secretary Tony Snow said. This is an absolute insult.
Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, fired back, saying the president and his administration are the ones who owe U.S. troops an apology because they misled America into war and have given us a Katrina foreign policy that has betrayed our ideals, killed and maimed our soldiers, and widened the terrorist threat instead of defeating it.
This is the classic GOP playbook, Kerry said in the harshly worded statement. Im not going to be lectured by a stuffed suit White House mouthpiece standing behind a podium.
I have been laffin' my butt off ALL afternoon! This man is a GIFT to the GOP! He is also proof positive that money NEVER buys class or a BRAIN!
This Kerry non-joke is worth at least 2-3% in the polls...
Watch here what Kerry said. Pretty clear the Democrat Machine is simply lying to try and cover for Kerry.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1729197/posts?page=1
A war which you advocated, Senator, voted for, and then backed out of as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
History of your life, isn't it?
He's hurting the 06 campaign for the Dems right now.
I'm deeply saddened! NOT!!
And take down some mid-term Dims with him!
What kind of dim witted clowns keep re electing this scum?
Meadow Muffin
"my statement yesterday, and the White House knows this full well, was a botched joke about the president and the presidents people, not about the troops."
Uh, no. It was about education and the troops.
LOL Thanks for the October surprise, Johnny. We GOPers appreciate it very much!
Somebody's 'goose' feathers are REALLY ruffled!
How does Rove do it?
Dead...you post some of the best and funniest stuff, I swear!!!!!
THAT is a riot!
It's like he strapped on a belt of C-4... and bolted straight into DNC headquarters!
That's why we have to give money to the Kerry campaign! hehe
He is out of his mind.
Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran
...we know, WE KNOW, GOOD LORD...WE KNOW!!!
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