US Senator John Kerry (R) and Democratic congressional candidate Patrick Murphy (L) address supporters at a Vote For Change rally in October 2006 in Newtown, Pa. Kerry said he is pulling back from campaigning ahead of next week’s midterm elections to avoid the continued distraction created by his remarks that Americans who neglect their education would “get stuck in Iraq.”
Reuters: Kerry apologizes for “botched” Iraq joke
Democratic Sen. John Kerry said on Wednesday he was sorry about a “botched joke” that drew election-year fire from President George W. Bush and other Republicans who accused him of insulting U.S. troops in Iraq.
Kerry reiterated the target of his joke was Bush, who immediately seized on the senator’s remarks to rally Republican supporters ahead of Tuesday’s elections, in which the party’s control of Congress is at risk.
Kerry said he was returning to Washington from a trip campaigning on behalf of Democratic congressional candidates because he did not want to be “a distraction.”
A “BOTCHED JOKE” my ass.
The Quote:
“You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.â€
Audio here.
Video here.
Kerry responds
Sounds like a whole lot of spinning going on at the DNC.
And a distraction?
How about Murtha or Hillary disavowing what Kerry said? Or do THEY think this is a VAST RIGHT WING CONSPIRACY and merely a “BOTCHED JOKE?”
Inquiring minds want to know?
PHOTO CREDIT: 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division
Fall out:
TN Senate Candidate Harold Ford asks Kerry to apologize…
Kerry Pulls Out Of Minnesota Appearance
Kerry Cancels Casey Event
Some Dems Join GOP Seeking Kerry Apology
A few Democratic candidates joined Republicans Wednesday in pressing John Kerry to apologize for a comment critics said appeared disrespectful of U.S. troops as several Kerry campaign appearances were canceled.
“Whatever the intent, Senator Kerry was wrong to say what he said,” said Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr., running for Senate in Tennessee.
“Sen. Kerry’s remarks were poorly worded and just plain stupid,” said Montana Senate President Jon Tester, a Democrat trying to unseat GOP Sen. Conrad Burns. “He owes our troops and their families an apology.”
“I’m sorry he did what he did. But I think the issue … we want to make sure it doesn’t confuse the subject of the war in Iraq,” Democratic Rep. Ben Cardin, running for Senate in Maryland, said on CNN.
UPDATE:
And even Hillary NOW says Kerry needs to apologize. Murtha?
Sen. Hillary Clinton, speaking at a Kingston campaign stop this morning, joined the chorus of Democrats criticizing Sen. John Kerry for what the former presidential candidate has called a joke gone awry.
“What Sen. Kerry said was inappropriate,†she said.
Asked if Kerry should apologize, President Bush and other members of both parties have said, Clinton said “I heard he said he was sorry.â€
Clinton tried to deflect attention from the controversy by saying “elections are about the future,†and “we don’t have to be re-fighting the 2004 election, as much as President Bush would like that.â€
Stay tuned…….
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John Kerry Watch: Kerry WARNS Students – Educate Yourselves or You’ll Get Stuck in Iraq
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