President's spokesman says Massachusetts senator owes an apology

 

WASHINGTON - The White House accused Sen. John Kerry on Tuesday of troop-bashing, seizing on a comment the Democrat made to California students that those unable to navigate the country?s education system ?get stuck in Iraq.?

 

?Senator Kerry not only owes an apology to those who are serving, but also to the families of those who?ve given their lives in this,? White House press secretary Tony Snow said. ?This is an absolute insult.?

 

Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran and Bush?s rival in 2004, 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 a harshly worded statement. ?I?m sick and tired of these despicable Republican attacks that always seem to come from those who never can be found to serve in war, but love to attack those who did. I?m not going to be lectured by a stuffed suit White House mouthpiece standing behind a podium.?

 

One week before the midterm elections, the two parties are searching for any edge amid indications Democrats could take back the House and possibly win control of the Senate.

 

Snow was asked about the comment which Kerry made during a campaign rally Monday for California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides. The White House spokesman was clearly ready, consulting his notes to read a fuller account of Kerry?s statement and unleashing a sharp attack.

 

The Massachusetts senator, who is considering another presidential run in 2008, had opened his speech at Pasadena City College with several one-liners, joking at one point that Bush had lived in Texas but now ?lives in a state of denial.?

 

Then he 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, you can do well. If you don?t, you get stuck in Iraq.?

 

Snow said the quote ?fits a pattern? of negative remarks from Kerry about U.S. soldiers 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.

 

Unsubstantiated allegations about Kerry?s Vietnam War heroism from a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth figured prominently in the 2004 Kerry-Bush race. Even Kerry has blamed his slow and uncertain response to the group?s claims for helping doom his White House chances.

 

Snow said a lot of Americans have joined the military since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

 

?As for the notion that you can say this sort of thing about the troops and say you support them, it?s interesting,? the press secretary said.

 

A potential rival to Kerry in 2008 ? Republican Sen. John McCain ? said in a statement that Kerry ?owes an apology to the many thousands of Americans serving in Iraq, who answered their country?s call because they are patriots and not because of any deficiencies in their education.?

 

Like Kerry, McCain is a decorated Vietnam veteran.

 

House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, also called on Kerry to apologize, labeling his comments ?disrespectful and insulting to the men and women serving in our military.?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15499174/

well that was a bright thing to say Kerry.

 

Actually I'm guessing he probably meant it as a dig at Bush & his administration, etc, for "not making an attempt at being smart" or studying, etc, and not directed at being a soldier. (i.e. "If you study you can do well, if not you get us into messes like this")

 

Otherwise what would be the point of that statement? Kerry was in the military himself.

 

Regardless it's a dumb thing to say, and certainly came out sounding terrible. Stop trying to sound funny Kerry, it doesn't work for you.

 

Bush used to live in the state of Texas but now lives in the state of denial? BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!

:|

Otherwise what would be the point of that statement? Kerry was in the military himself.

Who threw his medals in the garbage and turned his back on his brothers to make a name for himself. Makes me sick.

 

He's in front of a bunch of college students who are clearly liberal, because he wouldn't be making Bush jokes if they weren't, and he says ?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.?

 

We all know what he meant by his comments.

Yeah I know, every war protestor to you is a traitor.

 

Anyway I know you'd like to think that's what he meant, but I doubt he's that stupid Accord. He may be guilty of being an elitist, but he's not an idiot.

 

It was just a slip-up. Dumb statement regardless, but nevertheless. Who's going to go out & proclaim that soliders are the dumb and uneducated? It's political suicide. You'd have to be insane.

Yeah I know, every war protestor to you is a traitor.

You don't know what you're talking about. He fabricated countless lies about his former brothers in arms and even called them BABY KILLERS all in the name of political gain, he did nothing but contribute to and encourage even more of the extreme anti-military sentiment and exploited those still serving in Vietnam for political gain. He doesn't give a sh*t about the troops, and the only ones who are idiots are those who don't think Kerry honestly meant and believed what he said in his little slip up.

 

Kerry is just saying out loud what most elitist dems truly believe but are too afraid to come on out and admit it for reasons that you already mentioned (political suicide).

Otherwise what would be the point of that statement? Kerry was in the military himself.

Who threw his medals in the garbage and turned his back on his brothers to make a name for himself. Makes me sick.

 

He's in front of a bunch of college students who are clearly liberal, because he wouldn't be making Bush jokes if they weren't, and he says ?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.?

 

We all know what he meant by his comments.

ok...so im gonna look at this a different way...first of all accord...tell me again who walked out on the air force during the cold war? yeah...thought so...secondly...where the hell is kerry wrong? if you are dumb, then you dont have alot of options, pumping gas, ditch digger, flipping burgers, and the military(and im by no means saying the military is full of idiots(i have a ton of family in the military and if i did say that...i might as well jump up on the cross)...also...from what i can tell about middle eastern history...why the hell would you ever want to be iraq, for anything...nevermind a religious/economic/civil/greed filled war...John Kerry is absolutely right...if you are smart, generally...you go into jobs that keep you away from the battle field...but nevertheless, leave it to the GOP to rip on what other people say(especially the already beaten kerry) when their leader can barely get speak complete sentences and entertain the notion of complete thoughts

 

Yeah I know, every war protestor to you is a traitor.

You don't know what you're talking about. He fabricated countless lies about his former brothers in arms and even called them BABY KILLERS all in the name of political gain, he did nothing but contribute to and encourage even more of the extreme anti-military sentiment and exploited those still serving in Vietnam for political gain. He doesn't give a sh*t about the troops, and the only ones who are idiots are those who don't think Kerry honestly meant and believed what he said in his little slip up.

i suggest you read about the vietnam war...we were killing babies...and civillians and so on...we killed everyone...had people not been looking at our casuality numbers, most would say that the USA won the vietnam war

Otherwise what would be the point of that statement? Kerry was in the military himself.

Who threw his medals in the garbage and turned his back on his brothers to make a name for himself. Makes me sick.

 

He's in front of a bunch of college students who are clearly liberal, because he wouldn't be making Bush jokes if they weren't, and he says ?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.?

 

We all know what he meant by his comments.

ok...so im gonna look at this a different way...first of all accord...tell me again who walked out on the air force during the cold war? yeah...thought so...secondly...where the hell is kerry wrong? if you are dumb, then you dont have alot of options, pumping gas, ditch digger, flipping burgers, and the military(and im by no means saying the military is full of idiots(i have a ton of family in the military and if i did say that...i might as well jump up on the cross)...also...from what i can tell about middle eastern history...why the hell would you ever want to be iraq, for anything...nevermind a religious/economic/civil/greed filled war...John Kerry is absolutely right...if you are smart, generally...you go into jobs that keep you away from the battle field...but nevertheless, leave it to the GOP to rip on what other people say(especially the already beaten kerry) when their leader can barely get speak complete sentences and entertain the notion of complete thoughts

Can you please tell me who ran to England to avoid going to Vietnam? Oh, that's right, it was Bill Clinton. See, I can play your game too.

 

John Kerry is not right, infact he could not be anymore wrong and to suggest otherwise is downright ignorance, you just don't want to acknowledge it because you're a pacifist hippy. Go look at most senators, congressmen, former presidents, and fortune 500 executives, among countless others and you'll see that an overwhelming majority have one thing in common, and that is military service.

 

Also, you're in absolutely no position whatsoever to rip on anyone's sentence structure...

?This is the classic GOP playbook"]

 

:notworthy :notworthy :notworthy

 

Best thing I've heard him say yet.

Otherwise what would be the point of that statement? Kerry was in the military himself.

Who threw his medals in the garbage and turned his back on his brothers to make a name for himself. Makes me sick.

 

He's in front of a bunch of college students who are clearly liberal, because he wouldn't be making Bush jokes if they weren't, and he says ?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.?

 

We all know what he meant by his comments.

ok...so im gonna look at this a different way...first of all accord...tell me again who walked out on the air force during the cold war? yeah...thought so...secondly...where the hell is kerry wrong? if you are dumb, then you dont have alot of options, pumping gas, ditch digger, flipping burgers, and the military(and im by no means saying the military is full of idiots(i have a ton of family in the military and if i did say that...i might as well jump up on the cross)...also...from what i can tell about middle eastern history...why the hell would you ever want to be iraq, for anything...nevermind a religious/economic/civil/greed filled war...John Kerry is absolutely right...if you are smart, generally...you go into jobs that keep you away from the battle field...but nevertheless, leave it to the GOP to rip on what other people say(especially the already beaten kerry) when their leader can barely get speak complete sentences and entertain the notion of complete thoughts

Can you please tell me who ran to England to avoid going to Vietnam? Oh, that's right, it was Bill Clinton. See, I can play your game too.

 

John Kerry is not right, infact he could not be anymore wrong and to suggest otherwise is downright ignorance, you just don't want to acknowledge it because you're a pacifist hippy. Go look at most senators, congressmen, former presidents, and fortune 500 executives, among countless others and you'll see that an overwhelming majority have one thing in common, and that is military service.

 

Also, you're in absolutely no position whatsoever to rip on anyone's sentence structure...

 

 

and how many of those current senators , congressmen, former presidents and fortune 500 execs currently have sons and daughters serving in the military...my guess is less than 20...and as far as MY sentence structure goes, you and fox are the only ones who seem to care and/or mock my sentence structure...as where the rest of the world mocks W.'s inability to speak correctly beyong one letter words...and tell me...as a military man...are you more or less ashamed of a brother in arms who goes AWOL as opposed to a joe shmoe from arkansas who is smart enough to see the writing on the wall about vietnam...i suppose you still fire your gun for target practice at muhammad ali...because i do believe mr clay, didnt believe in fighting there either

Kerry's remarks are meant as a truth that one should go to school and attend college and try to better onself. As for the military right now half of the units shipped to iraq shouldnt be there. Naval units, air force units that arent combat or police units are stuck there out of position and suffering for it.

 

The death tolls continue to rise, the populace doesnt want us there, and the military (many military leaders and great men) have stated the folly of "bush's war". The cost of this war in money will affect my children's children and the affect of this war in loss of life for the iraq people and our soliders will cost far more then that.

 

All this war has accomplished is let the terrorists go free, ruin the work in afghanistan, bring foreign powers against us, ruin and Cost thousands upon thousands of US citizens their lives, cost in money for the future that will come into the trillions, ruin future economic growth, destroy the budget, weaken this country as a whole.

 

Yes our people shouldnt go into war, this president should of been impeached for blatant lies and manipulations and we should of concentrated on finding the REAL culprits whom attacked us.

Kerry's remarks are meant as a truth that one should go to school and attend college and try to better onself.

So you can't better yourself by joining the military? What a ridiculous statement. In this day and age, having a piece of paper that says you graduated from a four year college does not make you a better person, for most people all it means is you partied for 4 straght years. Regardless, It's almost impossible to retire from the military without at least a bachelors degree considering you can take online classes anywhere and at anytime, absolutely free and most military training will leave you with almost enough credits for an associates degree right off the bat without ever even having attended a single college class. You really don't know what you're talking about.

 

 

 

?This is the classic GOP playbook"]

 

:notworthy :notworthy :notworthy

 

Best thing I've heard him say yet.

Too bad his argument holds no water. John McCain absolutely blasted your boy Kerry today and put him in his place:

 

Senator Kerry owes an apology to the many thousands of Americans serving in Iraq, who answered their country's call because they are patriots and not because of any deficiencies in their education. Americans from all backgrounds, well off and less fortunate, with high school diplomas and graduate degrees, take seriously their duty to our country, and risk their lives today to defend the rest of us in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.

 

They all deserve our respect and deepest gratitude for their service. The suggestion that only the least educated Americans would agree to serve in the military and fight in Iraq, is an insult to every soldier serving in combat, and should deeply offend any American with an ounce of appreciation for what they suffer and risk so that the rest of us can sleep more comfortably at night. Without them, we wouldn't live in a country where people securely possess all their God-given rights, including the right to express insensitive, ill-considered and uninformed remarks.

 

John McCain

All politicians are bound to say stupid things when they are in the limelight for so long. How come you never jump on Bush or another republican for saying something stupid?

 

 

 

And Kerry does need to issue an apology. A lot of people join the military to get an education because they can't afford it.

Kerry is just saying out loud what most elitist dems truly believe but are too afraid to come on out and admit it for reasons that you already mentioned (political suicide).

The fact that you would even say something like this is so outlandish it's not even worth responding to.

 

I'm not having this conversation with a wall.

Bush or another republican for saying something stupid?

When has was the last time Bush or another high ranking republican ever personally insulted millions of American servicemen serving around the world?

John Kerry is a loser always has been always will be

The libs on this board really make me laugh and arent worth addressing.

John Effin Kerry is an elitist jerk, and had he the least bit of decency he'd offer our troops an apology.

Kerry is just saying out loud what most elitist dems truly believe but are too afraid to come on out and admit it for reasons that you already mentioned (political suicide).

The fact that you would even say something like this is so outlandish it's not even worth responding to.

 

I'm not having this conversation with a wall.

YOU may not feel that way, but that's because you're a moderate and you're capable of thinking for yourself. However, an overwhelming majority on the extreme left certainly do feel that way, they see the US military as the root of all of America's problems and they believe only the lowest in society would ever join up. They would be horrified if their 19 year old son came home one day and informed them that he joined the Air Force because that's what he believes in. Most hardcore liberals cannot fathom why anyone would possibly join the military unless it's a last resort outside of being homeless, and it's disgusting.

 

Don't even try and deny it.

Kerry is just saying out loud what most elitist dems truly believe but are too afraid to come on out and admit it for reasons that you already mentioned (political suicide).

The fact that you would even say something like this is so outlandish it's not even worth responding to.

 

I'm not having this conversation with a wall.

YOU may not feel that way, but that's because you're a moderate and you're capable of thinking for yourself. However, an overwhelming majority on the extreme left certainly do feel that way, they see the US military as the root of all of America's problems and they believe only the lowest in society would ever join up. They would be horrified if their 19 year old son came home one day and informed them that he joined the Air Force because that's what he believes in. Most hardcore liberals cannot fathom why anyone would possibly join the military unless it's a last resort outside of being homeless, and it's disgusting.

 

Don't even try and deny it.

 

Nice to know that the Limbaugh and Coulter juice is working well.

Bush or another republican for saying something stupid?

When has was the last time Bush or another high ranking republican ever personally insulted millions of American servicemen serving around the world?

Bush insults them with his lies.

 

 

 

Rhetoric only gets you so far.

Kerry is just saying out loud what most elitist dems truly believe but are too afraid to come on out and admit it for reasons that you already mentioned (political suicide).

The fact that you would even say something like this is so outlandish it's not even worth responding to.

 

I'm not having this conversation with a wall.

YOU may not feel that way, but that's because you're a moderate and you're capable of thinking for yourself. However, an overwhelming majority on the extreme left certainly do feel that way, they see the US military as the root of all of America's problems and they believe only the lowest in society would ever join up. They would be horrified if their 19 year old son came home one day and informed them that he joined the Air Force because that's what he believes in. Most hardcore liberals cannot fathom why anyone would possibly join the military unless it's a last resort outside of being homeless, and it's disgusting.

 

Don't even try and deny it.

 

 

That has to be the most ignorant statement I have ever read upon these boards

Kerry is just saying out loud what most elitist dems truly believe but are too afraid to come on out and admit it for reasons that you already mentioned (political suicide).

The fact that you would even say something like this is so outlandish it's not even worth responding to.

 

I'm not having this conversation with a wall.

YOU may not feel that way, but that's because you're a moderate and you're capable of thinking for yourself. However, an overwhelming majority on the extreme left certainly do feel that way, they see the US military as the root of all of America's problems and they believe only the lowest in society would ever join up. They would be horrified if their 19 year old son came home one day and informed them that he joined the Air Force because that's what he believes in. Most hardcore liberals cannot fathom why anyone would possibly join the military unless it's a last resort outside of being homeless, and it's disgusting.

 

Don't even try and deny it.

 

 

That has to be the most ignorant statement I have ever read upon these boards

Truth hurts.

Kerry is just saying out loud what most elitist dems truly believe but are too afraid to come on out and admit it for reasons that you already mentioned (political suicide).

The fact that you would even say something like this is so outlandish it's not even worth responding to.

 

I'm not having this conversation with a wall.

YOU may not feel that way, but that's because you're a moderate and you're capable of thinking for yourself. However, an overwhelming majority on the extreme left certainly do feel that way, they see the US military as the root of all of America's problems and they believe only the lowest in society would ever join up. They would be horrified if their 19 year old son came home one day and informed them that he joined the Air Force because that's what he believes in. Most hardcore liberals cannot fathom why anyone would possibly join the military unless it's a last resort outside of being homeless, and it's disgusting.

 

Don't even try and deny it.

 

 

That has to be the most ignorant statement I have ever read upon these boards

Truth hurts.

 

 

Warped associations and beliefs dont make them true Accord.

 

I am sure the KKK believes white people are superior to all others. To them that is the truth. Just like your truth you believe they are utterly and competely wrong and all folks are special in their own individual ways. Just as all Liberals and conservatives should be judged upon an individual basis.

 

 

lord forgive the fact that most of the umarked and marked graves of american soliders lived and died as americans not liberals or conservatives.

Kerry is just saying out loud what most elitist dems truly believe but are too afraid to come on out and admit it for reasons that you already mentioned (political suicide).

The fact that you would even say something like this is so outlandish it's not even worth responding to.

 

I'm not having this conversation with a wall.

YOU may not feel that way, but that's because you're a moderate and you're capable of thinking for yourself. However, an overwhelming majority on the extreme left certainly do feel that way, they see the US military as the root of all of America's problems and they believe only the lowest in society would ever join up. They would be horrified if their 19 year old son came home one day and informed them that he joined the Air Force because that's what he believes in. Most hardcore liberals cannot fathom why anyone would possibly join the military unless it's a last resort outside of being homeless, and it's disgusting.

 

Don't even try and deny it.

 

 

That has to be the most ignorant statement I have ever read upon these boards

Truth hurts.

 

 

Warped associations and beliefs dont make them true Accord.

 

I am sure the KKK believes white people are superior to all others. To them that is the truth. Just like your truth you believe they are utterly and competely wrong and all folks are special in their own individual ways. Just as all Liberals and conservatives should be judged upon an individual basis.

 

 

lord forgive the fact that most of the umarked and marked graves of american soliders lived and died as americans not liberals or conservatives.

i dont know about the rest of you...but if there is a category for post of the year in the bullpen...this is it...in fact...that is one of the best posts i think i have ever read anywhere...well done sir...ok...im done with the brown nosing...but good work :thumbup :thumbup

Bush or another republican for saying something stupid?

When has was the last time Bush or another high ranking republican ever personally insulted millions of American servicemen serving around the world?

Bush or another republican for saying something stupid?

When has was the last time Bush or another high ranking republican ever personally insulted millions of American servicemen serving around the world?

 

404 insult not found.

 

From a military standpoint, Iraq was an incredible success. We overwhelmed and completely annihilated the Iraqi republican guard and the rest of their military and took the country in under 2 weeks quite easily. So yes, "mission accomplished" in that regard.