I have a real problem with how media and political types apologize. If I ever attempted to apologize for something stupid I did the way John Kerry just did, or the way Mark Foley did (right after the apology release the info that he believed he had been molested as a child and was an alcoholic), or countless others - the apology wouldn't be accepted, and if I was apologizing to a woman I'd promptly get slapped.I was just over at National Review Online's The Corner blog, and a reader sent in the following to Jonah Goldberg. We could all learn from it:
Real apologies
- Never contain the phrases "my words were misinterpreted" (to make it or "any [one] who was offended." These are weasel words. Nothing is an apology which attempts offload blame or place blame anywhere but on the person making the apology. Such "apologies" should never be accepted.
- Never transition to an attempt to balance the scales by showing any other party is wrong in any way. Such "apologies" should never be accepted. Indeed, they should be condemned not just as unmitigating excuses, but as abuses in their own right.
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 8)
31. As a Vietnam combat veteran (67-68 and TET survivor) I would not want either Kerry or Bush on my back! In the military we call it "covering my six." Kerry has been running down the military since the day he returned from Vietnam, so what is NEW? Who cares what he meant, it is what he said that counts. Do not be so misinformed that you think only the poor and uneducated are serving our nation in the military. I have a son that is an enlisted man with a college degree. And as a matter of information, to make captain in the Army you must have two years of college. To be promoted to Major you must have a college degree. I do not know the standards, but believe they are higher in the Air Force and Navy. So, everyone should quit making any comments that belittle our military. Most, if not all of them could make a lot more money in the civilian community; if they did not love what they are doing and have an overwhelming desire to keep this Great Nation free. Lastly, I suggest you get on your knees and start praying should the democrats make any substantial gains in the House or Senate November 7th. I know I will.
JerryD at 8:11PM on Nov 1st 2006
32. Kerry should have tried for treason, with regards to vietnam
Dale Aleshire at 8:20PM on Nov 1st 2006
33. The Republican party, of course, has managed to take John Kerry's admittedly ill-stated joke and use it to its advantage. Kerry said: "You know, education -- if you make the most of it, you study hard and you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq." To me, it's apparent that he was talking about the president. George Bush is why we as a nation are stuck in Iraq. Kerry's a war vet. So am I. Just like me, he may disagree with the current administration's policies, but he supports the troops. I hope the majority of the troops know that. The Republican party will, of course, have a hey day with Kerry's botched joke. That's just the way things go.
To those who disparage Kerry's Vietnam service, don't just parrot what you've read in the conservative press or on blogs or in chain e-mails. I invite you to go to www.snopes.com and find out the whole story. His service was honorable, and that has been verified.
Linda (retired Air Force colonel) at 12:55PM on Nov 3rd 2006
34. All the dumbass righties bitching about Kerry need to look at the "pony" they;re backiing in this race- dumbya- draft dodging-awol-dumbya. If you're still scared shitless about 9/11 as most righties seem to be- dumbya will not save your dumb ass- he went looking for a cave on 9/11 when he should have been leading the nation. If you think a guy who loves playing dress up is going to save you- you need a lobotomy.
jim cerullo at 7:35AM on Nov 2nd 2006
35. Kerry is the senator from Massachusetts. I am from Massachusetts, over 50 years, and I nor any of my friends or relatives ever liked Kerry from Massachusetts. Period. We did not vote for him when he ran for senator, or when he ran for president nor would we ever vote for Kerry for anything. But, some of us are stuck with him. Sorry John Kerry.
nancy at 8:19PM on Nov 1st 2006
36. I read things written by Republicans and Republicans who claim they are Independent, and I wonder what happened to the great America in which I grew up. The first thing that happens is Republicans call those who disagree with them cowards or stupid or fools, or they blame the other party for all the world's wrongs; never do they admit the mistakes of the current administration, nor of Bush, and the people they have in Congress who are slowly but surely eroding the rights they were guaranteed in the Constitution. In response to the Foley incident, Hastert blamed the Democrats and the Media for bringing the situation to light. He knew about it for years, so the only ones he didn't want to know, were YOU! He didn't care about the underage children whose parents entrusted them with the care of their children. He didn't care that a pedophile was given free license to seduce you boys (and girls in the case of another Republican Congressman.) Hastert and company, i.e., Shimkus, et al, just worried that Foley and his money support would damage their candidacies. When we were attacked by Saudis', Bush immediately invaded not Afghanistan, where the attack was planned by (Oh, you may not remember this guy's name, Mr. Bush doesn't much care to say it publicly) Osama Bin Laden, you know the TALL Arab mastermind behind 9/11. Bush has virtually destroyed the middle class in this country, but he sure protected the rich and Halliburton, Cheney's old company,..... coincidence I am certain. Half the pals of the Bush presidency are in jail, under indictment, being investigated by the F.B.I., reluctantly, but God, it was sooo obvious. The CIA and NSA have been subverted and abused by this so called leader, and are accused of not telling Bush and company that there indeed were no Weapons of Mass Destruction, prior to our entering Iraq. Sadam was more truthful than our glorious leader. Drugs for the sick are outrageously high because this president is too busy denegrating what America has always stood for, to worry, and besides, they can't afford to contribute to the Republican coffers. Darfur is a hell on earth due to the priorities of this man in the White House, but they are black and don't have any oil, and they don't contribute either, so screw them, let 'em die! Loans to students (so they can learn and be educated in Universities and colleges and become tomorrows leaders) are drying up because Bush can't spend money on kids, leave them behind! Hell Republicans are rich, and their kids can go to college, we don't need no stinkin' college loads! You can't talk on your phone and feel it is private, because NSA, against its will and its mission, by law, are listening in whenever and on whomever they like. Habeus Corpus, the right to bail or reason it isn't available, even the right to know why you have been arrested, and the right to a lawyer or public defender, or any RIGHTs are now Bush's decision. You can be shipped to Gitmo or a foreign country, just disappear, if Bush wants, and then you can be tortured! The press, once a proud bastion in the search for truth, well, there is Fox, the humorous side of the truth, fed by an administration that virtually owns it. The rest of the press is pretty much to tell the truth. Kartina, another proud Republican venture, was the one and only time I saw the press yank up its pants, and tell it like it is. The press knows this administration has no problem arresting them, throwing them in jail, if the press should point out the truth, and they saw Dan Rather lose his job because Bush didn't like his reporting on Bush's sterling performance during the Viet Nam War. What is the definition of coward?... Deserter? So, if you want to keep on with Bush, The Gift That Keeps on Taking, as Michael Fox recently stated about his disease, then vote Republican. Why not split your vote, and throw the Bums out? Why choose to put yourself in their pocket and run out and vote for more of the same? Why not bring back the America we had before the Bush came to power, and let people who are good back in, and get rid of these nasty people in charge of all this?
A Different Scott at 8:22PM on Nov 1st 2006
37. Would you support troops in Rwanda? or would you want soldiers to come back once a couple die like Clinton did with Somalia? because Genicide won't be stopped by the U.N. or any amount of money
A Young Intellectual at 8:32PM on Nov 1st 2006
38. It's kind of silly to knock Kerry for not apoogizing correctly, since he did not apologize at all. He in fact said, "I apologize to no one for my criticism of the president and of his broken policy."
Adam Block at 10:33PM on Nov 1st 2006
39. MARILYNN LOWDER YOU NEED TO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT OR AT LEAST KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU SAY ONLY THE POOR AND UNEDUCATED GO TO WAR IN IRAQ. ALL 3 OF MY NEPHEWS SERVED IN THIS ON GOING WAR AND THEY ALL HAVE COLLEGE DEGREES. ONE HAS HIS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER DRAFTING. ONE HAS HIS IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND HE OWNS HIS OWN COMPANY, AND ONE HAD HIS IN INTERIOR DESIGN AND WAS A PARTNER IN A GROWING COMPANY THAT HIS WIFE WILL NOW INHERIT SINCE HE WAS KILLED OVER THERE IN THE WAR WHERE THE SMARTEST ONLY WENT TO COLLEGE. YOU NEED TO LEARN A FEW MANNERS AND GO BACK AND SEE IF YOUR MOTHER CAN TEACH YOU TO EAT CROW AND LEARN HOW TO BE A HUMBLE PERSON AND APPOLIGIZE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY TO KEEP PEOPLE LIKE YOU ALIVE SO YOU WON'T HAVE TO COME DOWN OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE AND DO ANY SERVING OF ANY KIND. YOU ARE A VERY CRUDE WOMEN TO SAY THAT ONLY THE POOR AND MOSTLY UNEDUCATED WENT TO IRAQ AND THAT THOSE DAM FOOLS WHO KILLED INNOCENT MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN ONE OF THEM BEING MINE I MIGHT ADD ARE LET'S SEE IF i QUOTE YOU WORD FOR WORD HERE 'the ones who started this war all went to college and didn't serve their country'. YOUR WORDS ARE THE SMALLER CASE LETTER'S. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THOSE WHO WENT ARE THE POOR AND MOSTLY UNEDUCATED? DID YOU GO OVER AND DO A POLL? NOT LIKELY.I WOULD ALMOST BET YOU DON'T DO MUCH TO FIGHT FOR YOUR COUNTRY OR TO GET YOUR MANICURES DIRTY. YOU FIT RIGHT UP THERE WITH JOHN KERRY IN MY OPINION. THOSE MEN AND WOMEN FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY ARE SOMEONE'S CHRILDREN. HOW DO YOU THINK THEY FEEL WHEN PEOPLE SAY THIS KIND OF DRIVEL YOU SPOUT OUT. YOU NEED TO GET A LIFE.
donna at 8:40PM on Nov 1st 2006
40. I AGREE WITH YOU JOSEPH MURDEN JR. GGOD BLESS OUR MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHERE WOULD WE BE TODAY IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE FOUGHT FOR THE USA SINCE THE FIRST WAR. AND SAD TO SAY BUT I IMAGINE THIS WON'T BE THE LAST WAR BEFORE THE END OF TIME COMES. WHEN WILL THE WAR IN IRAQ END? I HAVE NO IDEA AND NEITHER DOES ANYONE ELSE WETHER IT IS REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.ONLY GOD ABOVE KNOWS FOR SURE.HE KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO EACH OF US FROM THE MOMENT WE ARE CONCIEVED UNTIL WE DIE.HE IS THE TRUE RULER OF THIS EARTH. AND THE VETERANS AND THE ELDERLY NEED MORE RESPECT THAN THEY ARE GETTING FROM THE DEMOCRATS. WHAT ABOUT THE NEED FOR BETTER INSURANCE FOR THE ELDERLY AND BETTER SCHOOLS FOR OUR CHILDREN.THE CHILDREN OF TODAY ARE OUR FUTURE. WHAT WILL THEY BE LIKE, WORSE IF THINGS DON'T CHANGE SOON. AND HILARY CLINTON HAS ONLY ONE PERSON'S BEST INTEREST AT HEART. HERS. HOW FAR CAN I GET SHE WANTS TO SEE, NOT WHAT CAN I DO OR WILL I DO TO MAKE THIS WORLD BETTER. ASK A QUESTION AND IT IS SIDE STEPPED WITH SOMETHING THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT YOU REALLY ASK HER TO BEGIN WITH.SHE IF ELECTED PRESIDENT WILL BE FAR WORSE THAN ANY MAN EVER WILL BE. NOT THAT I DON'T THINK A WOMAN CAN'T BE A PRESIDENT, JUST NOT HER.
donna at 9:04PM on Nov 1st 2006
41. Senator Kerry is insincere in his apologies or rather the excuses. When you squeeze an orange you get orange juice, you squeeze Senator Kerry and you get hatred for the military. He loathes the armed forces who defend this country and allow him the freedom to make stupid remarks.... Remember as you vote in the next election.
Fred at 9:01PM on Nov 1st 2006
42. Now think a little about this question. Would you rather have John Kerry, who served in combat, or George Bush , who hid out in the Alabama Bars, stand beside you as you face a hostile force??????
Charles Barcelo at 9:03PM on Nov 1st 2006
43. John Kerry apologized the right way. Had he apologized for offending the troops without explaining the meaning of his comments, it would have confirmed the White House spin. Anyone with half a brain knew the comments were directed at Bush and not the troops.
Denise at 9:17PM on Nov 1st 2006
44. What John Kerry said was stupid. If it was meant to be a bad joke, he should have said so right away and not finished his comment. He needs to get out of politics. However, the comments Rush Limbaugh made about Michael J. Fox were also stupid. I'm not sure people in politics know how to apologize. They need to stick to the issues.
Doris at 9:13PM on Nov 1st 2006
45. Think about the real reason we are in Iraq: this country runs on oil--period! This is the real reason we are in Iraq, to atabilize the region and gain a strategic position in the area. If we can "liberate the people" this would be an added bonus of course.As far as the death toll--one is too many, that being said, the loss of life in the region is far less than ANY OTHER WAR, OR POLICE ACTION in history!How many soldiers died per week in Vietnam, a war the smart crown in the Pentagon wouldn't let us win, and we could have if it weren't for the "whiz kids" at the time( Kennedy administration)?If you think the conflict will end by us getting out now, pinch yourself,and don't rehash the issue that we were misled about the weapons and poison gas and the like. That horse has left the barn and you cannot put him back. We have got to win this, it will not be over in the next year, and we will be in the area for twenty years at best--if not us then who? As far as Mr. Kerry is concerned he bleeds Heinz ketchup
DZIER at 9:22PM on Nov 1st 2006