Senator Kerry,
For nearly thirty-five years, veterans have had to put up with false charges, degrading comments and scandalous accusations from you and we are sick of it.
During the Winter Soldier hearings in which you accused U.S. servicemen of atrocities against civilians including rape and murder, you besmirched the reputation of the world's greatest fighting force.
Now, during a different war, you have the nerve to say this: "You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."
Think about what the man is saying. He's essentially saying that those who are in Iraq are uneducated, dumb, non-studying losers who volunteered for the military because they are too stupid for anything else. Kerry has come out today and used the blame Bush card, which makes no sense. He's intimating that he meant Bush getting stuck in Iraq. Either way you look at it, he's screwed up; if he actually meant what it sounds like he meant about the troops in Iraq, that's despicable and he should never have the chance to be President, if he meant Bush in Iraq, he could have said that, which means he's too damn stupid to be President.
Either way Senator, most of us who enlisted voluntarily in the armed forces of the US did so because we believe in the inherent good of this country and democracy. We have a sense of patriotism that cannot be explained to the likes of you. As I've said previously, you were no longer one of us when you smeared us for political benefit with false and hideous accusations. Don't ever say you are a veteran again Senator. You don't deserve the title and have proven it once again. I speak for one veteran--myself, and must say that you disgust me.
Every so often, the mask comes off and liberals say exactly what they think. This is one of those moments. A sitting U.S. Senator slipped and said exactly what the left thinks about the U.S. military men and women. They are stupid, jingoistic murderers who are only in the military because they are not smart enough to do anything else. Thanks for the insight, Senator. As for the rest of the political left, spare me the "we support the troops, but" rhetoric, we all know you don't mean it and Kerry has ust proven it to us.
Hot Air has numerous videos and has been updating this story all day long.
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 5)
46. botched joke! senator kerry's remarks were right when he said the presidents men are hacks who are willing to lie (cheny,rumsfeld and others). as for the troops, the truth hurts when he says stay in school or go to iraq. the republican party states there will be no draft,but there is a draft its called the economic draft.its your poor and underprivileged kids who look towards the armed forces for an education and by GODS grace gets one before some war monger like the presidents hack men puts them in harms way. Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor,for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. it both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. and when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind is closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. rather, the citizenry,infused with fear and blinded by patriotism,will offer up all their rights unto the leader and gladly so. how do i know? for this is what i have done. for i am Julius Caesar. does this sound like anybody now in office. stay the course Senator Kerry.
mark at 12:41PM on Nov 1st 2006
47. I never felt right about going to war in a Iraq but I blindly trusted that our fearless leaders were much wiser than I and if they deemed going was necessary then so be it. Well....I was wrong. I volunteered for the military during Viet Nam which was another mis-adventure, but by God I went and I am proud of it.
Right, wrong or indifferent, I resent Kerry's irresponsible tone regarding things of which he should know better. We'll be better off when he and John Murtha simply stifle themselves.
Scott at 12:41PM on Nov 1st 2006
48. Thanks for all the comments from all sides. This has grown into a flame war with numerous posts throughout this site. The Iraq war is an issue for discussion, maligining our troops is not and I for one will never tolerate it.
scott at 1:00PM on Nov 1st 2006
49. Number 27, you are so wrongas to be laughable. The myth that it's the poor in the military is wrong. Most are middle class kids as I was. The myth about minorities is also just that, a myth.
One click on Google would have proven you wrong:
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20051107-113124-8563r.htm
scott at 2:30PM on Nov 1st 2006
50. As for who is stupid, it is amazing that a man with some years of political experience did not understand the only thing to do under these circumstances.
Kerry needed to make an immediate retraction and apology.
No one believes for a moment that his comment was aimed at Bush and the White House. In addition to insulting our armed forces, this utterly false explanation insults the intelligence of the Ameican public.
I am a man who has voted for both Democrats and Republicans. What I think is best for American political life is for Senator Kerry, who has never made a significant contribution as a senator, to fade from the scene as quietly and gracefully as it is possible for him to do. He really represents nothing that is currrently helpful, and offers nothing that will improve an undoubtedly difficult situation.
Charles Flood at 2:41PM on Nov 1st 2006
51. KERRY, GOING, GOING, GONE!
Barbara Michalski at 12:24PM on Nov 2nd 2006
52. I personally have a lot more respect for John Kerry
than George Bush and most of his administration. The one person I did respect was Collin Powell who is no longer a part of this sad administration.At least John Kerry served his country along with all the minorities and poor that were drafted and served during the Vietnam War. John Kerry understands the stress and fear of fighting a war, he's been there. George Bush and Chaney were not there. Also, I believe if you conducted a poll of the brave soldiers fighting today, probably 50 percent of them have more respect for Kerry than Bush and Chaney.
Doris Stephens at 1:21PM on Nov 2nd 2006
53. John Kerry's statements were deplorable. Joke? Oh BS. His ever present snobbishness, among other personality problems always finds there way to the mike. An apology? Is that what that was? Sorry I don't buy it. Liberal media (I'm not a right winger, by the way) blabbering on and on about a botched joke, remark misconstrued, and bluh, bluh, bluh...Wake up and smell the Juan Valdez people. I ached for our troops when I heard that ridiculously thoughtless comment. How much more I would have ached if I had a father, son, brother, sister, husband serving in the military-I do not. Says he's a vet? Then he should know better! Wire it shut Mr. Kerry!
stardust at 7:21PM on Nov 2nd 2006
54. Kerry served for 4-months and went home with questionable injuries while those who were less well-off served out their enlistments. I respect Kerry for serving but don't act like he was Audie Murphy. Alot of good people served and most didn't bring a film camera to record their exploits.
Bush flew jets, which I imagine requires brains, guts and skill.
As for the troops, they've made their view known immediately (http://www.nypost.com/seven/11022006/news/nationalnews/gis_drop_smart_bomb_on_kerry_nationalnews_todd_venezia_in_n_y____and_ian_bishop_in_washington.htm). They hate Kerry and voted overwhelmingly for Bush in 2004.
scott at 1:26PM on Nov 2nd 2006
55. One of your contributors said it all very nicely when he observed that the "botched joke" was Kerry. I only hope that in '08, the Adams family in Mass. reclaims it's "Lurch" again.
Robert at 3:52PM on Nov 3rd 2006
56. Now that is funny. And it explains everything. Because AOL has a less that flattering photograph of Bush, she gonna vote a straight Republican ticket. Left leaning press, huh?? How many of the people on FOX resigned after something they reported concerning Clinton was "unsubstantiated?" Not wrong -- just not verifyable?
By the end of the Clinton years, Israel and the Palestinians had come very close to a settlement. Very close. The IRA settled with the British which put an end to bombings in England -- Kosovo was an astounding success and the entire world was moving toward peace -- and now, after eight years of utterly stupid foreign policy that trend has been reversed. In case you haven't caught on yet -- we are at war with a third of the population of the world. It's WWIII. The ignorant people you elected put us there with outright deception, lies and a controlled press. Go ahead and give them another two years to run amuck. We're not at war in Iran or Korea or China or Russia -- go for it. What Kerry's joke was about is, unlike the bunch who started this war, some people actually have to fight them. That will mean a draft -- and the real elitists will take deferments for themselves and their kids and leave the fighting to those less well connected. That probably means you, your kids, your grandkids, your great grandkids... Unbelievable.
James at 4:37PM on Nov 3rd 2006
57. 56, the Clinton peace plan was this: Israel conceded to 98% of what Arafat wanted. Arafat wanted that plus all of Israel. He started the 2nd Intifada and all hell broke loose. Arafat had no interest in ending the terror because it kept him in power. Read liberal blowhard Tom Friedman and you'll understand.
scott at 4:40PM on Nov 3rd 2006
58. Now that is funny. And it explains everything. Because AOL has a less that flattering photograph of Bush, she gonna vote a straight Republican ticket. Left leaning press, huh?? How many of the people on FOX resigned after something they reported concerning Clinton was "unsubstantiated?" Not wrong -- just not verifyable?
By the end of the Clinton years, Israel and the Palestinians had come very close to a settlement. Very close. The IRA settled with the British which put an end to bombings in England -- Kosovo was an astounding success and the entire world was moving toward peace -- and now, after eight years of utterly stupid foreign policy that trend has been reversed. In case you haven't caught on yet -- we are at war with a third of the population of the world. It's WWIII. The ignorant people you elected put us there with outright deception, lies and a controlled press. Go ahead and give them another two years to run amuck. We're not at war in Iran or Korea or China or Russia -- go for it. What Kerry's joke was about is, unlike the bunch who started this war, some people actually have to fight them. That will mean a draft -- and the real elitists will take deferments for themselves and their kids and leave the fighting to those less well connected. That probably means you, your kids, your grandkids, your great grandkids... Unbelievable.
James at 4:41PM on Nov 3rd 2006
59. Apologies for the double post. This was my first attempt, and the first try didn't show up until I clicked on a link in an email -- at which time both tries showed up.
Hi Scott. I'm very familiar with the Clinton peace plan and your over simplification doesn't do it justice. I've no reason to turn to any liberal or other highly biased source since I can read the plan directly, as well as Arafat's objections. The point is, it could have worked -- and had the Whitehouse not been under siege by a pack of republican hypocrites and liars, he may well have had the political clout to have sealed it.
It doesn't matter much now, but the fact is, had the plan been accepted, it may well have averted the 911 attack.
James at 5:16PM on Nov 3rd 2006
60. How can you possibly say it would've avoided 9/11? 9/11, in Osama's own words was because the US was in the holy land of Mecca and Medina.
The Clinton plan was dead before it started, Arafat survived as leader by constant struggle. If he had been forced to actually govern and lead a nation he would've failed miserably and knew it.
scott at 5:18PM on Nov 3rd 2006