Video: Kerry refuses to apologize for insulting American troops
posted at 3:21 pm on October 31, 2006 by Ian
Send to a Friend |
printer-friendly
Sen. John Kerry held a press conference moments ago to address a controversial remark he made implying those who are uneducated serve in the military and get stuck in Iraq. Kerry made it “crystal clear” that he apologizes to no one, adding his remarks were a “botched joke” about the President, not the troops.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « 1 [2] 3 »
Certainly this doesn’t lose votes for Dems if the media drops this as they seem in a hurry to do. However I think it’s got the GOP base fired back up. Remember folks, this is the leader of the Democratic Party who they tried to make Commander in Chief. If anyone was stupid enough to vote for Democrats in the first place, nothing but a Iranian nuke up their ass would make them change their mind.
RightWinged on October 31, 2006 at 4:10 PM
Shame on you John Kerry. What a tool. I knew there was a reason why I chose to serve my country. I guess I ain’t so smart and stuff or things.
Watching Kerry try to excuse this is almost as offensive as the original comments.
Oh yea, Mary K-H is on Fox. She’s moving up in the world… nice to see.
BadBrad on October 31, 2006 at 4:10 PM
Grebrook,
The insult of Kerry’s comments was that it implied those who serve do so because they are too stupid to do anything else. That is insulting to more than just the “Republican base.” Many people may have misgivings about the war but would take offense to the suggestion that our soldiers are bottom-of-the-barrel.
As for the NJ decision, I think you contradict yourself. You whine that focusing on Kerry’s slander will only play to the base, but I can’t think of an issue that plays stronger to the base, and less to “swing voters” (no pun intended), than the issue of gay marriage.
angler on October 31, 2006 at 4:11 PM
I thought at the last Presidential election we proved that President Bush actually had a higher GPA than Kerry.
You’d think with all the liberal comedians somebody could write better jokes for Kerry. And doesn’t anybody review what he is going to say? I mean it’s politics! The PC police are listening to every speech. Just ask Goerge Allen. Maybe old Kerry was ad libing. I don’t think he would last long on “WHat’s My line”
Drtuddle on October 31, 2006 at 4:11 PM
I think we, and especially Rush, are in his head. He’s totally losing it.
SouthernGent on October 31, 2006 at 4:11 PM
Waiting for the update that Kerry checked himself into the
sanatoriumrehabilitation center.Entelechy on October 31, 2006 at 4:14 PM
It all works out in the wash. As a retired Army MSG, I neither want, desire or accept any apology from this POS.
De Opresso Liber
SPIFF1669 on October 31, 2006 at 4:15 PM
Gotta love all those American flags in the background.
Talk about contrast…
You make a valid point, Master Sergeant. If an apology were forthcoming, you’d have to consider the source.
Crytologic Technican (Collection)
USN-RET
Corky on October 31, 2006 at 4:17 PM
Hey Kerry, you twerp. I figure that you meant only enlisted personnel were failures… I don’t imagine that you included the Officer Corps (except maybe the officers of the Swift Boat organization)in your disparagement.
But get this, jerk: In the early 70’s when I was ENLISTED in the Army, I had a B.B.A; most of the guys that served around me had at least a little college. My best friend had a freaking PHD! (of course I’ll have to admit that his PHD was in European History, so he WAS basicly unemployable in private industry and HAD to get a job somewhere within the government. ;-) )
And a most of the guys that I knew who weren’t high school graduates when they came in got their GED’s quite early and many even got a few college courses behind them during their first term of enlistment.
And after my six years of service I managed to parlay the GI Bill into an engineering degree and an MBA.
For the smart young people who can’t be GIVEN college degres by wealthy parents, the military is just about the best way to earn and learn your way into success.
LegendHasIt on October 31, 2006 at 4:20 PM
Kerry conspired with North Vietnam in France. Kerry called our troops rapists etc ala Gingis Khan. Kerry calls our troops uneducated. Forgive me for wanting to question this “Patriot” about his character.
infidel on October 31, 2006 at 4:21 PM
I agree with chsw - I am SO THANKFUL this man is NOT our President!
MsUnderestimated on October 31, 2006 at 4:22 PM
Gobsmackingly Vile.
What a douchebag.
Jaibones on October 31, 2006 at 4:22 PM
Why does John Kerry hate America?
*cue eyes welling up with tears*
natesnake on October 31, 2006 at 4:23 PM
Grebrook = liberal sockpuppet = moby
Suggest we not feed the troll.
BohicaTwentyTwo on October 31, 2006 at 4:27 PM
I’m not exactly sure we can call what he did in Vietnam “service”.
E L Frederick on October 31, 2006 at 4:28 PM
To Senator Joh F Kerry.
Sir I dont want an apology from you.
I want you to resign.
Sincerly the US public.
William Amos on October 31, 2006 at 4:28 PM
“N. Korea agrees to six party talks”. Kerry wrong again.
infidel on October 31, 2006 at 4:28 PM
This just about says it all.
Warning: Foul Language, do not click if offended by the F word.
thirteen28 on October 31, 2006 at 4:28 PM
hehehe! His Boston office’s voice mail is FULL!!
Laura02420 on October 31, 2006 at 4:29 PM
Dear Sen. Heinz-Kerry,
Please at least admit that you have always hated the military and slandered them in the past.
Thanks,
Me
benrand on October 31, 2006 at 4:32 PM
Okay. So they borrowed the flags from me. Just trying to be helpful. After all, Johnny boy is doing SO MUCH today to help incumbant Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell. BTW, those drums that you here in the background are courtesy of Republican senatorial candidate Mike McGavick’s campaign staff. They are accompanying Mike as he dances in the end-zone. (After today, I don’t think he has anything to worry about next Tuesday.)
CyberCipher on October 31, 2006 at 4:33 PM
I truly deeply and - yes - even madly love John F’n Kerry. He is the gift that never stops giving. He’s that favorite toy you get for Christmas, and a decade later it’s still at the top of the toybox, the undisputed champeen of fun things to play with.
If he runs in 2008, I’m officially registering as a Democrat and voting for him in the primary.
I may even have a man crush. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Keep talking, War Hero. Just. Keep. Talking.
What was Rove’s October surprise? It was simple - he handed a microphone to John F’m “My Man Crush” Kerry. Oldest trick in the book, but still a winner.
Professor Blather on October 31, 2006 at 4:35 PM
Being a billionaire means never having to say you’re sorry, or at least that’s what it means if you’re married to a billionaire.
I love the smell of liberals crashing and burning ugly. It smells like … victory.
Tantor on October 31, 2006 at 4:37 PM
CNN Headline –”BUSH JOINS ATTACK ON KERRY”
Once again an Dem can do no wrong, just a poor victim.
conservativecaveman on October 31, 2006 at 4:37 PM
Great idea Prof; in fact we could generate a grass roots campaign to make sure he’s on the ballot; get him the nomination, then sit back and watch him shoot his mouth off to defeat AGAIN.
dalewalt on October 31, 2006 at 4:38 PM
Yo, Kerry!
You’ve already shot yourself in the foot.
Now you’re suckin’ around for a self inflicted head wound.
Be careful when counting those Absentee Ballots from Overseas. You and your slimy minions are not going to like the results.
Jack.
Jack Deth on October 31, 2006 at 4:38 PM
William Amos is right.
Nothing less than Kerry’s resignation will suffice.
Enough is enough.
Let’s get behind this and show our soldiers the respect they are due.
Kerry-RESIGN!
there it is on October 31, 2006 at 4:39 PM
“I’m sorry Old Yell’r. Paw says that it’s time to put you down.”
natesnake on October 31, 2006 at 4:44 PM
How does the same electorate that voted Mitt Romney governor keep electing Kennedy and Kerry?
conservativecaveman on October 31, 2006 at 4:46 PM
Kerry really ought to stick with making love to rich widows.
You have to imagine the Dems are crying big salty tears in their soy milk right about now.
Zelda on October 31, 2006 at 4:46 PM
John Kerry’s jokes about the troops in Iraq being stupid and uneducated are the most disgusting thing I have ever heard uttered from a liberal’s mouth.
The scary and sad truth is that most liberals in Kerry’s circle feel that way about the troops. Because they feel no patriotism, they project their feelings onto the troops. Therefore, according to them, the troops cannot have decided to serve their country first and get a degree later; the liberals feel they are doing it because they are stupid. After all, liberals rarely serve their country.
That is why a liberal in the military is so rare as to be “ominous as a blazing star.”
His comments are also incredibly untrue and un-American. My father fought one full year in Vietnam (as opposed to Kerry’s four months), and then he got a degree from Georgia Tech in Economics in the mid-1970’s. Not everyone has the same attitude towards America that John Kerry has now and had during the Vietnam War.
He was a traitor then, and he is a traitor now.
januarius on October 31, 2006 at 4:47 PM
Is it me or John Kerry sounding like he took a little ride on the albore mobile?
bloggless on October 31, 2006 at 4:50 PM
He believes he owes no one an apology? Okay, I’m good with that.
bloggless on October 31, 2006 at 4:51 PM
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! sniff.. Old yeller..
GoodBoy on October 31, 2006 at 4:51 PM
Kerry really ought to stick with making love to rich widows.
bloggless on October 31, 2006 at 4:56 PM
If you’re active duty please sign my “Appeal for Courage“.
It’s in response to guys like Kerry, Murtha, and an “Appeal for Redress” some left-wing groups are doing to oppose our mission in Iraq.
I’ll have orders to Iraq in January and I’m hoping to submit it before then.
Thanks,
Jason on October 31, 2006 at 4:56 PM
Well John Kerry is an idiot but I said on the first thread about this that I thought he might be talking about Bush and not the troops. I still have yet to see a transcript of the full speech to make a completely informed opinion. Even so as it stands this blow up looks worse for conservatives that more than likely drew the wrong conclusion from Kerry’s statement than John Kerry.
Benaiah on October 31, 2006 at 5:00 PM
after looking thru nutroot blog comments it seems most nutroots are very mad at him for saying it but support the concept behind it………shhhhhh…don’t let the public know what we really think…….hehehehehehehehe
Limerick on October 31, 2006 at 5:02 PM
MKH on Fox “its a reflection of what we’ve come to expect from democrats, which is at best an unseriousness about national security and at worst it seems maybe a contempt for those who provide it for us. You rock MKH.
infidel on October 31, 2006 at 5:03 PM
S/b “KERRY MADE AN ASS OF HIMSELF AGAIN”, but wait,
Entelechy on October 31, 2006 at 5:04 PM
From a HuffPo thread, which, as a badge of honor, references wingnuts like HOT AiR and MM (twice), here’s a commenter’s take:
Entelechy on October 31, 2006 at 5:07 PM
Uh, he was talking TO STUDENTS.
What the hell do you THINK he meant???
benrand on October 31, 2006 at 5:07 PM
Who’s doing the spinning here?
I agree that Kerry completely disagrees with Bush’s policy in Iraq.
However, that’s not the issue here. While I don’t know if he intended to directly insult the intelligence of those in the military, to put the most positive spin on what he said, I think I would interpret it as, “If you don’t study hard and become educated, you will have no other options in America to be successful unless you join the military.”
Even that’s pretty dumb and outrageous.
asc85 on October 31, 2006 at 5:08 PM
Ok, so he misspeaks, makes an obvious, but perhaps unintentional (LOL) swipe at the troops. Add his intentional swipes at the troops in 1971, and his outright lies about Vietnam.
… and were supposed to think that he was just making a Bush joke?!?
E L Frederick on October 31, 2006 at 5:10 PM
Is our students learning?
Entelechy on October 31, 2006 at 5:10 PM
How long before Mothra punches through again with some of his ‘in cold blood’ garbage to complete the trilogy?
Readymade on October 31, 2006 at 5:10 PM
what he should have said:
“Uhhh, can I get me a sense of humor here”?
Laura02420 on October 31, 2006 at 5:14 PM
Kerry spent 4 months in Vietnam, I spent a year in Afghanistan, and 3 months in Iraq… but I’m the “chickenhawk”.
E L Frederick on October 31, 2006 at 5:15 PM
Where is Kenneth Star? Indict Kerry!
infidel on October 31, 2006 at 5:15 PM
In the famous words of the Warner Bros. cartoons……what a MAROON.
fightingirish24 on October 31, 2006 at 5:16 PM
Yeah, right. This really sucks for us conservatives, we’re sooooo broken up and dispirited that Kerry has lured us in and got us on the defensive like this.
Well, Grebook seems to have left and now another liberal sockpuppet comes in for reinforcements. Do you guys really think we can’t see right through you?
thirteen28 on October 31, 2006 at 5:17 PM
I’m not sure what he meant and won’t be until I can read a transcript of what he said before and after the statement he made. Looking at that clip that’s only a few seconds long doesn’t tell me everything I need to know to make an informed opinion.
I will say that Kerry’s past statements about our troops certainly make it impossible to rule out that he was making the statement about them. However, it could be interpreted either way. If it was Kerry’s intent to smear Bush with the statement then he should have known to make it crystal clear that that was who he was talking about.
Benaiah on October 31, 2006 at 5:19 PM
Does this mean he qualifies for another purple heart?
F15Mech on October 31, 2006 at 5:20 PM
This is gonna be GREAT on the Sunday talking heads shows…..what….48 hours before the election….you know the reps won’t let this alone on Sunday…………
Thank you John!
Limerick on October 31, 2006 at 5:20 PM
Heh, I’m a christian conservative. I’m so conservative that I won’t vote for Republicans because they are no longer conservative. What I also am not is a Limbaugh listening kool-aid drinker. I like to make rational informed opinions based on what I see and hear not what Rush sees and hears.
Benaiah on October 31, 2006 at 5:22 PM
Of course, if it was a botched joke there would be no big deal in apologizing either.
“I misspoke, I never intended to insult our men and women in uniform. I regret that I tripped over my words in such a fashion that our troops were accidentally maligned.”
But ya know… that would take a REAL MAN.
E L Frederick on October 31, 2006 at 5:22 PM
Our son is back in college after completing a year in Rimadi, Iraq. Before he left he had a A average..Kerry is a walking insult today as were his comments in 1971….
robo on October 31, 2006 at 5:23 PM
John Kerry, “It was a botched joke. I was just trying to make the soldier that just got his leg blown off to laugh at how stupid he is.”
dougless on October 31, 2006 at 5:24 PM
I bet he didn’t get one “boo-yah” from our troops watching his sorry speech. How pathetic.
Mallard T. Drake on October 31, 2006 at 5:24 PM
I don’t know if someone has posted this yet, but I was on Huffington Post, and this is what someone said on a message board there:
Oh c’mon. Here’s what he said:
You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq.
He did not say, you end up getting stuck in Iraq.
He was not talking about the troops, and it was not a mis-statement. Read it again.
INCREDIBLE!! I thought I couldn’t possibly have mis-heard that statement. In fact, I didn’t. His “revision” of the quote is pure fabrication. Yet that is what many other Lefties are now saying is the actual quote. I guess if you can’t defend the actual quote, make something up!!
asc85 on October 31, 2006 at 5:26 PM
Yesterday, the liberal posing as a conservative, Grebrook, was vehemently stating that Rasmussen was the most scientific poll around because it showed that Webb was ahead of Allen by five points, implying that conservatives should just stay home because the race is over. This was even after I made a link to Rasmussen’s 2004 data, showing that they consistently underestimated Republican voter turnout in the 2004 election.
Now he is stating that Kerry’s comments will actually help Democrats. (Orwell called this “doublethink.”) I noticed on Yahoo headlines that the MSM is attempting to do the same thing. They are trying to refocus Kerry’s disgusting articulation of what he and liberals believe about our troops to Bush’s “accusations,” as if Bush is to blame. Are Democratic operatives and the MSM in bed together, or what?
januarius on October 31, 2006 at 5:28 PM
Revisionist is he.
infidel on October 31, 2006 at 5:29 PM
No, you are a liberal posing as a conservative in order to lamely attempt to keep conservatives from voting. . .as if we would fall for your charade.
januarius on October 31, 2006 at 5:31 PM
Great, that means I can’t watch TV tonight… or the BullShavick meter that I hooked up to it is going to go apeshiite.
E L Frederick on October 31, 2006 at 5:31 PM
Yeah, we can tell, you are just one super duper uber conservative, who just happens to be so conservative that you hate Rush, refer to his listeners as “kool-aid” drinkers, impugn their ability to think for themselves, and are so conservative that you are willing to sit at home on election day and let moonbat liberals take over congress. Yep, you’re a conservative all right. Come to think of it, your response to me was downright Kerry-esque.
AP, can we rename this thread Sock Puppet Theater, since that’s what it’s becoming?
thirteen28 on October 31, 2006 at 5:32 PM
Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck… I dub thee, a DUCK.
E L Frederick on October 31, 2006 at 5:33 PM
Honestly janarius, I don’t think sockpuppet Grebook really believs that Kerry’s comments will actually help Democrats. The fact that he’s puppeteering on this thread trying (however lamely) to convince us otherwise indicates that they know this is damaging to them.
thirteen28 on October 31, 2006 at 5:35 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you Kerry for reminding us all what pieces of crap are waiting for their moment, should the DEMs take Congress. f-ing cockroach.
dhimwit on October 31, 2006 at 5:36 PM
So Kerry wants us to believe that it is OK to make jokes about the CinC of the troops he insists he didn’t insult? Too much nuance there for the likes of this dummy to understand.
Retread on October 31, 2006 at 5:38 PM
Slublog, as usual, you are right on the money with your comment.
thirteen28, Sock Puppet Theater would be perfect.
All I can add for the troops is “Just so you know, I’m ashamed the Senator from Massachusetts is from the United States of America.”
PattyAnn on October 31, 2006 at 5:41 PM
AllahPundit;
Where is KP? Any reason she wasn’t weighted in on this one? Not like her to be quiet in the middle of a good debate.
She hasn’t gotten gun shy has she?
E L Frederick on October 31, 2006 at 5:41 PM
Which translates to …
I’m so conservative I’m going to purposely put the far left liberals in power.
Yeah. You’re a genius.
Gregor on October 31, 2006 at 5:41 PM
Am I the only one who thinks “Grebook” is a contraction of another well-known sock puppet and his book=Gre*******book?
PattyAnn on October 31, 2006 at 5:44 PM
That’s it, He gets the Ass Hat of the Year award…
Sacwannabe on October 31, 2006 at 5:47 PM
I think Benaniah is sincere. Misguided in my opinion, but sincere in his beliefs, and a conservative.
Slublog on October 31, 2006 at 5:48 PM
You saw the video, now read the book!
Seixon on October 31, 2006 at 5:50 PM
I have not read all these posts but, I have been trying to call Kerrys office in DC but can’t get through. I did however get through to his Boston office and left a message, if you have not done so yet Please Do.
My message was Mr Kerry you voted yes to send our troops into Iraq & now you call them uneducated. You owe them an apology, and you sir are a disgrace.
Boston
One Bowdoin Square
Tenth Floor
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 565-8519
ekuspa40 on October 31, 2006 at 5:51 PM
Pull your skirt back down from over your head, grebrook. You lefties are completely misunderstanding that statistic. It’s legitimate to assert that 60% are dissatisfied with the way the war is going. But what you don’t realize is that a large portion of that figure is angry because we’re not fighting the war HARDER.
And go put on some deoderant, you lib moby. That panic sweat stinks.
techno_barbarian on October 31, 2006 at 5:54 PM
He said they were smart before they were stupid.
Gregor on October 31, 2006 at 5:54 PM
Oh good grief. Well at least now I know how Michelle feels after she got attacked for not drinking the kool-aid and calling things like she saw them.
Ok, a very short (posting) history lesson for you idiots -
http://hotair.com/archives/2006/10/28/video-obsession/
My post -
“And the sad part is that a) most leftists won’t make it passed the first 2 minutes of this program and b) they still won’t change their minds even if they do.”
http://hotair.com/archives/2006/10/23/video-hunter-asks-blitzer-does-cnn-want-america-to-win-this-thing/
My post -
“Showing that video was a disgusting ploy for ratings and was done in hopes that it would further hurt Republican candidates as the election nears.
CNN is garbage.”
http://hotair.com/archives/2006/10/19/do-pregnant-women-have-a-constitutional-right-to-shoot-themselves-in-the-belly/
My post -
“Once again our courts astound me. Here’s where I wish there was a emote on this site showing a head banging into a desktop because that’s me right now.”
I feel that’s enough to make my case but you can look back and find more if you wish. I’ll vote for Republicans if true conservatives ever take the party back. If not, not. You are free to do as you wish.
Benaiah on October 31, 2006 at 5:56 PM
You rang? Kerry should shut up and get back to his harpsichord.
stonemeister on October 31, 2006 at 5:58 PM
Let the MSM spinning for Kerry begin - this will be quite interesting to watch. The MSM/Dems talking points should be going out soon. But of course, this is all Bush’s fault. Botched joke about the Pres & not the troops? Funny I didn’t hear Pres. Bush’s name in his comments & that is “crystal clear.” In critizing troops, Kerry needs to look in the mirror (Vietnam)!
Kat13 on October 31, 2006 at 6:02 PM
he just got ahead of himself. he came up with the premise 16 hours after he delivered the joke.
jummy on October 31, 2006 at 6:04 PM
Hey Johnny,
It’s a done deal, over, kaput, finito, fini.
Listen to the music in the background………
Song: THE PARTY’S OVER Lyrics
The Party’s Over, it’s time to call it a day.
They’ve burst your pretty balloon and taken the moon away.
It’s time to wind up the masquerade.
Just make your mind up the piper must be paid.
The Party’s Over.The candles ficker and dim.
You danced and dreamed through the night,
it seemed to be right just being with him.
Now you must wake up, all dreams must end.
Take off your make up, The Party’s Over.
It’s all over, my friend.
USN6872 on October 31, 2006 at 6:05 PM
Didn’t Ampex invent videotape in 1965? At least that’s what Olby says.
PDFletcher on October 31, 2006 at 6:08 PM
(from a news report trying to explain Mr. Kerry’s slip of the tongue)
…as when Robert “Exalter Kleagle” Byrd said, “We oughta hang that uppity n*gger from that tree over yonder”…when he’d actually MEANT to put “really hadn’t” inbetween “we” and “oughta”?
…as when Ted Kennedy said, “You get started and I’ll take us across this bridge, *ZIP*”, when he actually MEANT to put
“swimming, lady” inbetween “started” and “and”?
…as when Custer said, “Forward, men!” when he MEANT to put “ahead of us is every bloody Indian not nailed down in the Montana Territory” after “forward” and “so I’m bugging right heck outta here” right in front of “men”.
…two little words can mess you up badly: “I do” “Pill? Sure!” “Husband? Chicago.”
…so, I sympathize with the two words Mr. Kerry is reputed to have left out of his remarks, leaving us with the impression that he thinks that our soldiers, etc., are the same mouth-breathing, genital electrifying, torturing, raping animals he thought *and said* our Vietnam veterans were.
Puritan1648 on October 31, 2006 at 6:10 PM
I’m Bill Maher, and I approved this message….
Puritan1648 on October 31, 2006 at 6:11 PM
Puritan
PattyAnn on October 31, 2006 at 6:13 PM
i haven’t looked, but i bet that on each thread on each nutroots site, every 40 posts is one that goes”…this is the version of john kerry who should have run in 2004…” followed by two or three “amens”.
just a charicter study.
jummy on October 31, 2006 at 6:13 PM
That was supposed to say:
Puritan :::clapping hands:::
PattyAnn on October 31, 2006 at 6:13 PM
…lighten up…wedge and chock your head up your fourth point of contact for 22 years in the Senate and see what it does to *your* complexion. That’s not moisturizer up there, y’know….
Puritan1648 on October 31, 2006 at 6:14 PM
puritan
Its all about the botox
paid with hollywood elite money
Defector01 on October 31, 2006 at 6:19 PM
Comment pages: « 1 [2] 3 »