You know, I don't know what Kerry meant inside any more than any of you do, but it can be offered that his statement could be construed as pointing out that the elite, highly educucated, wealthy, etc. etc. etc. are not the ones fighting and dying for the country, it always seems to be those who are worse off in society, i.e. poor, uneducated and others who don't have many resources or a solid social backing who are recruited and sent over there to die. Those who often have to rely on enlisting to try to get money for school or an income or some sort of opportunity in life. This interpretation, given the brevity of the statement, is just as possible as any other. It's interesting the points of view that are being given and how they are representative of peoples' political affinities.

I also want to question why it is that anyone would try to indicate that Kerry, like any other American, would blatantly insult American troops or feel that they were stupid, especially when he, himself, is a veteran. It just wouldn't make any sense. So why put it out there when its obvious that no one would actually feel that way, especially a U.S. Senator. I feel the same way when conservatives say horrible things like democrats are not patriotic just because they don't agree with the way the administration is handling things. You can't disagree without this kind of rediculous criticism.

While apparently it was a joke gone bad (directed at the White House, not the troops) he's an idiot.

I just read on Yahoo news that Kerry's people are saying that he misread his notes and the statement was supposed to mean that if you aren't smart you end up in situations like Iraq, "just ask President Bush". Apparently he's calling it a "botched joke". It may be, to give him some credit, but in my opinion if you're making a joke referencing something as touchy as that subject, you better make sure you have the punch line down.

Exactly. Foot, meet mouth.

I don't think you can chalk this up as solely a political thing, because Democrats have come out today against him. This isn't a liberal/conservative thing, this is about people being personally offended. If people were offended by his comments, they have a right to be offended.

If it is a joke that went badly, well, hopefully he'll learn from it and not make the same mistake again; it happens a lot that politicians or public speakers make jokes or lighthearted remarks in speeches and appearances, and those remarks don't go over well. I (and no one else on this board) can explain his motives or what he was thinking, and I'm not going to crucify him over one remark.

This doesn't change my opinion one way or the other. I have a whole bunch of reasons why I'm not a fan of Kerry (stories from staffers, his Senate record, etc.).

This is exactly right. As usual, some conservatives have jumped all over this. It is so retarded that it always seems to come down to 'lol lie-berals'. Seriously, shut up with your ham-fisted rhetoric. Just look at this from a human perspective. Botched joke, no one found it funny, Kerry screwed up and I don't think he'll let it happen again.

It wasn't just the joke, it was his response. He's a loose cannon. "I apologize to no one." What a loser.

Yeah, I just heard about his official response to the situation, "I apologize to no one. If anyone should apologize, it should be President Bush and his failed team." What a complete douchebag.

Why should he appologize for people not unerstanding his joke? I don't appologize as it isn't my fault that people are too dense to understand. I think people should be appologizing to Kerry for jumping all over him and insinuating that he was insulting people that have been deployed.

Dude, when I heard what he said I was shocked. It basically sounded like he said that the stupid people who don't do well in school end up in the military. I don't think it was a case of not understanding a joke, it was him completely f-ing up a joke and insulting the military with his f-ed up version of the joke. The fault lies with Kerry and whoever prepared his notes.

I can't believe I'm totally agreeing with something posted by our own "Ann Coulter," but that Democratic Congressman is exactly right.

Correction: It was a bad joke gone worse.

He should apologize (1) because as scripted it was a bad joke, and as delivered it was much worse, and (2) because the problem is not that people were too dense to understand what he said. The problem was that he "botched" the joke badly, and people understood him to mean what he actually said, not what he meant to say.


What an embarrassment.

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. What about his "joke" should we all understand?......or maybe you missed the part when both parties and the public in general felt it was absolutely dispicable and ludicrous....even if he did "botch" it. Nothing about his comments sounded like a joke, nor did he say it in a joking manner. I didn't exactly hear a bunch of college students laughing about it when the footage was shown on FoxNews.


...but maybe they are all "too dense to understand."

http://www.californiaconservative.or...g-football.jpg

i've had enough of the entire senate....i think they should all be recalled, our legislature is seriously becoming a national embaresment everytime I turn to c-span it is always some dipshit prattling on, seriously i'm ashamed to live in the same hemisphere as these asshol*s

Awww, whine whine freaking whine. Typical conservative response. Get over it, there are more important things in life. Most people know Kerry is a babbling fool. Which in reference to your later post in this thread is the reason why there is so much backlash on this. Because Liberals tend to be more open-minded and realize that Kerry is an idiot. When Bush makes a blunder many Conservatives write it off as nothing instead of actually calling it out.

Many conservatives would like it if he did but they shouldn't. They should be proud of an American "sticking to his guns" or "staying the course" if you will. Oh that,'s right, it's no longer about staying the course...

Why do we need apologies for these statements? I agree it was wrong but we should be searching for ppologies from people that sent your men and women to Iraq for a number of improper reasons, regardless of why we are there now, staying the course and whatnot.