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Tuesday, October 31, 2006

The Ridiculous Kerry Flap

Posted by James L.

So John Kerry stuck his foot in his mouth yesterday, botching a joke intended as an insult against the President. And now the GOP, desperate with the clock ticking down and trailing a few dozen points on the scoreboard, is despicably frothing at the mouth, accusing Kerry of slandering America's troops. They know better--they know that Kerry botched a joke, so they're doing all they can to keep the attention on him, rather than Bush's botching of an entire war.

If the GOP wants to play that game, fine. Remember this nugget, from an August 2004 Bush speech?

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.

Everyone had a big laugh over Bush's verbal gaffe two years ago. Did you see John Kerry and the Democratic Party issuing press releases calling on Bush to cease his treasonous war against the citizens of the United States of America? No, because to do so would be completely ridiculous. Just as ridiculous as the sanctimonious, dishonest drivel that Tony Snow and George Bush are trying to feed into the media narrative tonight.

No one took Bush's verbal stumble seriously in August 2004. And by the same measure, no one should hold Kerry's stumble to a higher standard.

Posted at 06:18 PM in 2006 Elections, Media | Technorati

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Comments

Atrios is right. This isn't the first time that Bush has taken criticism of him and his Iraq policy and pretended it was an attack on the troops.

Posted by: KCinDC at October 31, 2006 09:33 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

We will disavow Kerry comments if W will disavow Rumsfeld and Katherine Harris.

Posted by: Larry at October 31, 2006 10:14 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Speaking of Kerry, his "3 at the Buzzer" vote starts in the morning. I know it's mainly a way to get me back on his e-mail list, but I'm still voting for Webb, McNerney, and Massa.

Posted by: KCinDC at November 1, 2006 12:50 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I do realize that Kerry's explanation is that it was directed at Bush, not the troops... but I find it obnoxious that military recruitment is focusing on low-income and minority populations in inner city and rural areas, where young men and women do not have much hope for attending college or finding high-paying jobs... but then the GOP gets their shorts in a twist over a perceived insult toward the troops? It's not like recruiters are setting up booths at private colleges! I know there are great opportunities in the military--my brother had great success and received his education through that system--but we can't pretend that our troops are filled with the top GPA high school students... haven't there been news reports about the military lowering their recruiting standards in order to fill their quotas? How many young people join the military because college is not an option for them, academically or financially???

My point is this...even IF Kerry didn't mean for it to sound the way it came out, was he wrong? That isn't insulting to the troops... that is acknowledging the economic crisis faced by our young Americans and what choices are available to them...

Just my opinion...

Posted by: Diana Rowe Pauls at November 1, 2006 12:14 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment