Kerry Apologizes for Remark About Troops

[jefferson_dem]

Kerry Apologizes for Remark About Troops
Nov 01 4:35 PM US/Eastern

By DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON

Thrust into the midst of the midterm election campaign, Sen. John Kerry apologized Wednesday to "any service member, family member or American who was offended" by remarks deemed by Republicans and Democrats alike to be insulting to U.S. forces in Iraq.

Six days before the election, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee said he sincerely regretted his words were "misinterpreted to imply anything negative about those in uniform."

<SNIP>

The White House accepted Kerry's statement as a legitimate apology.

"Senator Kerry's apology to the troops for his insulting comments came late but it was the right thing to do," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said.

She said it was too soon to say whether the White House would now stop noting the controversy. "We'll see," Perino said. "Once he has apologized, I don't know that there is anything more to say."

Moments after Kerry issued his statement, House Majority Leader John Boehner said, "I think he has apologized. It sounds good enough." He spoke on CNN.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/11/01/D8L4H6DO0.html

[gfnrob]

1. OK over and done with, NO MORE THREADS

[OKIsItJustMe]

11. See the original line in context

(As usual) Olbermann got the story right.

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=ccef9031-58ff-4c57-ba67-d06bdf3ee1ed

[zalinda]

39. Wow, no matter what Kerry does, he's screwed

by some people on this forum. He apologized for the misinterpretation of what he said. But every rinky dink local news show took what the Bush admin said, he said, and ran with it, it even happened here on my local NY news. I am willing to bet not one of these local shows even read his speech, to find out what was said. He had no choice but to make a written statement so that his fellow dems would not be hurt in the elections.

I gain more respect for him every day. He has put his party and his country before himself in just about every circumstance. He is a real statesman.

zalinda

[The Roux Comes First]

44. What You Said

I totally agree. It did not take an IQ over 100 to understand what the intent of the statement was. It did take a serious malevolence to publicly misconstrue it - for once even some of the mainstream press seems to recognize the sick organized gang-warfare of the republican swine. As for democrats criticizing Kerry or seeking shelter, the latter seems somewhat understandable in instances like the midwest case (Iowa?) where race was tight, but as a general rule (Hilary here), what the hell are they thinking? Clinton in particular seems to have even more than usually knotted knickers. Is there any possible motive for her to have even spoken other than the self-serving (and inevitably futile) idea that she might be an '08 candidate? I'm mixed on whether an actual apology, as JK reportedly offered up, was a good idea or not. Frankly, I'm still not sure but that he gamely and purposely decided to risk more controversial phrasing we actually heard. It certainly has done the jobs of (1) revealing once again the despicable republican machinations to thwart dissent and (2) bringing Iraq and the routinely ideological, incompetent, and failed Bush routine of conquest (and control of Iraq oil) back onto the main stage.

[Fluffdaddy]

49. :Edit: Sorry about this post. Lets let this story die....... my bad

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. How many times does this apology need to be posted in one day?

[jefferson_dem]

5. This is his "latest" apology and the first news report on it that i've seen.

Whatever the case, I agree

Let's move on...

[Name removed]

3. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blm]

4. LIE Headline - He said he's sorry the remarks were MISINTERPRETED

to IMPLY anything negative against the troops. He knows damn well he didn't say them and makes that clear.

[Dr Fate]

6. I hate what my country has become.

We feel we have to apologize whenever the media and GOP tells us to, whether we did anything wrong or not.

THIS is the criteria for who the media attacks or sets up to rule us- botched lines in a speech as opposed to botched actions that have real consequences.

I put most of the blame at the Democrats who failed to have his back- after he has had their back on everything.

The Demcorats who went along with media/GOP inspired perceptions are just as much to blame as the GOP/media itself.

I did not want Kerry to apologize, but the way he was left twisting in the wind, he had little choice.

I am disappointed in everyone- but mostly my country.

[NOLADEM]

7. This issue in a nutshell is why I hate Kerry

He has it all yet can never put it together. Charm, credentials, proud military service, long legislative career, bright wife, good genes, noble stature, yet...

He has PISS poor political instincts.

He has wet noodle charisma.

He has shitty timing.

And yet, when he overcomes it all, grows a pair, and says something that needs to be said, he fucks up the line, waffles on his decision, makes a promise, breaks it, capitulates to the enemy, and shrinks from the fight.

Fuck you Kerry. When those berries drop, its a good thing! Don't fight it. Being right isn't supposed to be easy. Stick with it.

And for god's sake, don't give in to Rush Limbaugh's and W.'s demands to apologize.

You looked feal and weak.

UGH!

How is it a man who once was so proud, so right, so great (upon his return from Vietnam) goes so soft?

Does money really neuter you so terribly?

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saracat]

9. Do you even KNOW what he said? Read it ! He said he was sorry his remarks

were "misinterpeted'. He didn't apologize.

Statement of Senator John Kerry

As a combat veteran, I want to make it clear to anyone in uniform and to their loved ones: my poorly stated joke at a rally was not about, and never intended to refer to any troop.

I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform, and I personally apologize to any service member, family member, or American who was offended.

It is clear the Republican Party would rather talk about anything but their failed security policy. I don’t want my verbal slip to be a diversion from the real issues. I will continue to fight for a change of course to provide real security for our country, and a winning strategy for our troops.

[against all enemies]

17. What's funny about Iraq? Kerry made a joke about Iraq.

What's next, a couple of one liners about the Holocaust?

[Katzenjammer]

47. And that's the key question here: what's funny about Iraq? Why would anyone with 2 brain cells

EVER try to make ANY kind of joke at all that connects however remotely to a situation where hundreds of innocent people are being killed every day.

That's practically the definition of "insensitivity".

[saracat]

59. That "joke" wasn't about Iraq, and anyone with 2 brains cells knows that the joke was about BUSH!

[saracat]

60. It wasn't about Iraq! It was about BUSH! Buying GOP spin aren't you?

[Dr Fate]

10. I dont hate him-but I'm disappointed at the DEMS who did not have his back.

I did not want him to apologize either, but our "leadership" did not leave him much choice.

So long as we JOIN the GOP/media in attacking our guys as opposed to a united front, expect more of this from all who happen to get singled out and attacked DEMS.

[zann725]

33. Totally agreed. Dems DO need to stand together...especially w/ distortions

like this.

While I realize everyone has their eyes on Dem take-over in Mid-Term...still their silence almost 'says' JK is NOT their choice for '08 AT ALL... distorted remark aside. After all, his name is NEVER mentioned by Dems for '08. It's always Hilary, or Obama, or someone equally "safe."

So his peers didn't defend him. JK did so...quite well, I thought... in the very NON-apologetic way I saw in thw "Countdown" video. The only apology I heard was for "misinterpretation" of his comments. NOT a retraction.

JK has ALWAYS been loyal to the troops...both NOW and in the 70's. He'd be the LAST person to do so EVER. Repug's distortion of it, is like their trying to allege JK's medals from Nam were NOT "honestly" earned.

JK's still my candidate for '08. I stand by my Man without hesitation.

[StoryTeller]

13. Oh good grief.

It's this type of irrational disdain that made it necessary for him to issue ANY further statement today. He didn't apologize for insulting Bush! He apologized for how the right-wing smear machine twisted his words and used and manipulated the troops.

He's not weak. He has more class and courage than the majority of our public leaders ever. He's doing what he can to neutralize something that NEVER should have been an issue in the first place.

Yesterday, people wrinkled their noses and said he should apologize and STFU. Today, people attack him for apologizing. Has the world gone crazy?

Let's get back to work on winning these elections, huh? A little party unity would go a LONG way in cutting the legs off stupid non-stories like this.

[nolabels]

51. They are looking for a hero and waiting for msm to point him out

Thanks for explaining the situation to anyone who knows how to read.

In my cynical conclusion of what took place I would only try to give it this synopsis.

Today Sen. Kerry gave condolences to anyone too stupid to know he was not calling them stupid.

[confludemocrat]

18. I hear ya brotha or sista, except my response is not hate but simply pity n/t

[Polesitter]

20. I don't believe that money neuters you as long as you actually

earn it. By all accounts Bill Gates, Warren Buffet (even Jimmy Buffet) and Ross Perot have no problem in this department. No one handed them the big bucks however. I don't see that John Kerry has earned "his money" and in reality, the money is not his but his wife's - and that resulted from her first husband's family trust. While we don't know how short or long his leash is, he does come across as having been fixed, doesn't he?

[karynnj]

32. Because he genuinely cares for the real people that the RW put in the

middle. I saw some heartfelt comments on Kerry's blog that were from military people - current or veterans - who were hurt. I have no idea if there were many of these - but from all that is said of Kerry, he WOULD genuinely regret that these people were hurt - while he realizes that this line was taken out of context for political purpose.

I seriously doubt he is giving in to Bush et al, but to those people because he really cares. He would not let his pride keep him from reaching out to them.

[rzemanfl]

12. I am so depressed by this. Bush never apologizes for any

fucking goddamn thing he ever does in his fucked-up, stolen misadministration of this now-for-shit country. (Okay, I am depressed AND pissed.)

[The Straight Story]

14. I will say, the photo of the troops is pretty damned funny :)

[daleo]

22. It looks like Bush worked on their spelling, anyway

Perhaps they might have been out of Iraq by now, if Kerry had not "lost" the 2004 election. It seems odd that they would make fun of a guy who tried to get them out of there.

[humbled_opinion]

50. Yes our troops do have a sense of humor....

All the more important for what they are forced to do over there.

[TomClash]

15. Oh, please

Can we end this nonsense?

[against all enemies]

16. I hope Kerry isn't apologizing to Democrats next week for

blowing our chances of winning the House. Hey Kerry, there is nothing funny about Iraq. What a moron.

[BlueStater]

19. If people are shallow enought to let THIS effect their vote then fuck them anyway n/t

[Polesitter]

21. But this is still the USA - and nobody has the right to tell me

what is a valid campaign issue or not. If ANY citizen decides his/her vote on the basis of a candidates kid's hair style, it's their right. And the day we let others decide the ballot issues for us, rather than giving us all the information and letting us make our own decisions, THEN fuck them, all of them.

[Anakin Skywalker]

29. I Agree. F*ck 'Em!

Since when did CONservatives allow their feelings to be hurt? Since when did they have feelings?

[JackORoses]

23. he wasn't making fun of Iraq, genius

He was making fun of our Dipshit in Chief.

get it?

[demo dutch]

24. He should have quickly fixed the problem and blast the GOP after for taking

it out of context! Now he gave them a chance to rally their base! This might be enough for the repugs to run to the polls and rally around the troops, because that's how the those idiots think!

[Malva Zebrina]

25. It is all over the headlines--Kerry "apoligizes"

no matter what the apoology, in the face of the fact that he said he would not "apologize" yesterday, today he retreats and "apologizes" and removes hiself from a few campaign appearances

WTF? Why oh why, are we being jerked around by multi-millionaire presidential wannabees--we put our hearts and our souls on them, and they continually let us down!!!! We serve, we do all we can--and we are still the "proles"--we work for them, we contribute to them but it is Not a two way street.

Kerry, go away. You interfered when you are not running for anything and you skrewed it up. Your judgement is lacking. You were trying to ake a voice, but it was all for your own political purposes, imo.

You spoke the truth, but on what platform--Kerry for president in 2008? You bet. You are not running. You are not a spokesperson and those who voted for you in '04 were voting against Bush and not for you. Go away and take hIllary Clinton with you. You damage the party

[customerserviceguy]

27. This whole incident

confirms the dread I had when Howard Dean came in third in Iowa. Kerry was never the strongest candidate, he was just someone who had the connections to get nominated. Hopefully the changes in the primary structure in '08 will produce someone who can win nationally.

[enough already]

35. Amen

I've always felt Dean was by far our best chance in '04, but we let the media take him out over the fucking "scream issue". When will we learn?

[customerserviceguy]

52. He wasn't

their "appointed" one. Next time, let's make sure WE do the picking.

[JackORoses]

31. your spelling is lacking

Malva, go away.
See how it feels?

Leave JK alone, quit doing the Bushites work for them.

[Fluffdaddy]

26. JK should have done this 24 hours ago. It done now lets .....move on

Lets get back to the plan

[GemMom]

40. Unfortunately at least a couple of news cycles

were wasted over this business.

[Fluffdaddy]

48. :Edit: Sorry about this post. Lets let this story die. My bad

[Anakin Skywalker]

28. Kerry, You Disappoint! Just Yesterday I Was Praising You!

When one speaks the truth, there is no need for apologies.

[Anakin Skywalker]

30. Truly INTELLIGENT People Understood the Joke (was about Bush)

Sorry the Rethugs are so STUPID and DENSE!

[minnesota_liberal]

34. Has bush ever apologized about his "Searching for WMDs" spoof video?

And how much press did that act of stupidity get compared to Kerry's omission of the word, "us" in a harmless joke clearly aimed at the president?

[Neshanic]

36. Rove wanted apology. Kerry complies. Still want him to run?

As what? Obviously the Bush people have something so incredibly bad on Kerry, as this can only be the logical explaination.

Now all you Kerry for President kids can pin your hopes on a real candidate, and actually if Hillary had made this gaff, she would not of apologized. That I will give her.

On AA on the drive home I heard an absolutely sickened liberal guest just at his wits end to why Kerry just can't stop it and call them out and stop apologizing, along with his complete lack of making a clear point that joe average can just grab onto.

Sorry, he's not even close for considering for anything than what he is doing now. Hopefully in a Democratic administration he can find a place.

[Tellurian]

45. Yes, you're exactly right..

His political sensibilities are nil. He gets carried away with his own celebrity.
When the going gets tough, he falters and withers away like yesterday's news.

And the reason why, I have from the getgo, I support Hillary.. If she would have gotten
herself into this jackpot, she would have come out stronger at the end of it all
and energized the dems rather than weakened them.

I'm sick of the Kerry/Hillary debates wasting everyone's time and energy around here.
Kerry should have gotten off the bandwagon weeks ago and let the Dem candidates have
their air time to ensure a Dem victory on Nov 7..

I hope this is the end of the Kerry for president BS around here. He hasn't got what it takes.
And never will. Just a total waste of time to continue speculating for a miracle.

[GemMom]

54. It's not Kerry's fault that candidates invited him to campaign for them

Kerry should have gotten off the bandwagon weeks ago and let the Dem candidates have
their air time to ensure a Dem victory on Nov 7..

Last time we all checked, John Kerry as the last presidential candidate for our party in 2004 is the standard bearer. It seemed like a no-brainer for the candidates to invite him in for their campaign events and fundraisers.

[libodem]

37. Oh my gawd, no

Those pukes NEVER apologize for anything, yet any Democrat who says anything, that they can jump on, have been forced to make public apologies. I f-ing hate them.

[Neshanic]

38. Fantasy Kerry response.

"Yes I tried to make a joke, and I am not a comedian. The real comedian resides in the White House taping staged "hide and seek" games for WMD's in the Oval Office as his Republican friends laugh in a ballroom with glee, while men are dying for his war that he started for his daddy.

I served this country, and fought for this country and I will not apologize for anything I said. If any of his coward supporters wants to debate this, and their record of sending others to fight while they did not in the past and will not now, then bring em on."

See Kerry...it's that fucking simple. People would adore you.

Now your a footnote.

[Tellurian]

46. Even simpler..

Mr Bush, you want an apology from ME?

How about YOU apologize to the Troops you sent to Iraq on the Wings of a LIE?
Apologize to the dead and maimed soldiers. Apologize to the soldiers fighting for their lives in Iraq,
for what? OIL?

You want an apology from ME? When HELL freezes over!

EXIT the stage..

[JCMach1]

41. Jeesh... shouldn't take 3 news cycles...

:(

[western mass]

42. Kerry wanted a 2nd chance - he got it....

and blew it.

Now we know that the gutless, clueless John Kerry we saw last election hasn't changed.

Game over, senator.

[GemMom]

55. Do you think it's time for MA

Do you think it's time for the voters of Massachusetts to find a new senator when Kerry's term is up?

[SKKY]

43. I e-mailed a shipmate of mine who's in Iraq at the moment...

...and suffice it to say, what Kerry did or did not say is not their main topic of discussion. And I quote, "Dude, who gives a rat's ass what Kerry said. What did he say anyway?"

[brentspeak]

57. I'm not surprised

It's been a couple of months since I communicated with some friends who are in Iraq, but the message from them back then was that they're not entirely happy being the beanbag in America's political wars.

[Arkana]

53. Boner said it sounded good enough?

:wow:

No, seriously. I would have expected him and the rest of the turds to start yelling "NOT GOOD ENOUGH BLARG BLARG WARK FAPFAP"

[bkcc]

56. I can't even believe that this is such a big story.

Actually, I take it back. I can.

The majority of brain-dead voters out there can't process anything bigger than a 10-second soundbite, and Kerry gave the GOP the perfect ammunition to use against the Dems.

Kerry didn't say anything wrong, but the Repubs are going to push this as hard as they can. I've no doubt that this will swing a few of the more closely contested races. The media has been stuck on this story since it happened. The Foley thing disappeared in a few days, but this...this is gold for them.

I guess it's better to be a pedophile than to say something that can be taken out of context.

The news media makes me fucking sick.

[bigpathpaul]

58. It's unfortunate that he apologized. Smart thing to do...

would have been to "retell" the joke in clearer terms. It was obvious what he meant.

It will all fade by Tuesday, but in the interim, I think Olberman got it exactly right: that Rove et al knew what he meant, but Kerry's phrasing was ambiguous enough that it could be used against him.

We either need to let it go or -- as Olbermann says -- demand the apology from Bush

Download this: Bush Apology To America.