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John Kerry's "Joke" No Laughing Matter?

by Sherry Holetzky | More from this Blogger

02 Nov 2006 07:39 AM

By now, most people have heard what John Kerry recently said about getting a good education or you'll "get stuck in Iraq." He tried to play it off, claimed that he simply misspoke, and that he had intended to bash the Commander in Chief instead of the troops (as if that were a good thing). He claimed it was a botched joke, but unfortunately for him, nobody is laughing.

Kerry was asked to apologize, which he would not immediately do. After hearing terms like "political suicide," used to describe his career and future election plans, he did apologize. At first he basically said, "Sorry you misinterpreted my comments." He later went on to give a more detailed apology, citing his own military service.

Many people were very offended by his comments, including some troops as well as their families. Some soldiers in Iraq responded with a message painted on a large banner, which read "Halp us Jon Carry - We R Stuck Hear N Irak." The misspellings were obviously intentional, and meant to show Mr. Carry... um... Kerry, what they thought of his message. You can see the photo HERE.

Kerry's handlers are now working overtime in damage control mode and have issued a "transcript" of the speech, indicating that he was supposed to have said something else. The claim is that the comment should have actually been something to the effect of, "If you don't get a good education, don't do your homework, you get us stuck in Iraq (like Bush)."

Whatever, Mr. Kerry. Most people aren't buying it. A pattern is noted, from "testimony" about Vietnam as well as accusations of our troops "terrorizing" women and children in Iraq, to these latest words.

When even some fellow Democrats are disgusted, it means trouble, and it doesn't look like most are lining up to defend him. Apparently, some support Kerry in the same manner that he supports our troops.

President Bush described the recent remarks as "shameful" and "insulting." The White House later issued a response, stating that while it came late, Kerry did the right thing in apologizing.

For more on John Kerry, here is some related reading:

Excerpt from Unfit for Command

Comments about Vietnam and Iraq

For those who would like to show real support for our troops, here are some resources:

Ways to Thank the Troops

Projects to Support Our Troops

The United Service Organizations (USO)

 
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Learn more about Sherry Holetzky
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Sherry Holetzky is a work at home mom and freelance writer. Married to her best friend, Sherry and her husband are raising their family in a quiet rural setting in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

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User Comments

Sherry Holetzky (11404) 04 Nov 2006 08:11 AM

If anyone has more resources for supporting the troops, please add them here in the comment section or PM me with details and I'll add them. Thanks.

Heather Long (16954) 04 Nov 2006 08:33 AM

I send coffee through the Boca Java membership I have.

Sherry Holetzky (11404) 04 Nov 2006 02:18 PM

Awesome! Thank you.

Libby Pelham Online! (12876) 12 Nov 2006 08:31 PM

Thanks for posting the USO link Sherry. I can't volunteer now because of a certain Mr. Busy 2 Year Old, but I volunteered for them for about six years before I got married and they do great work on tight budgets - they are not government funded. The military, especially those that are single, really appreciate the special programs and holiday events they do!

Sherry Holetzky (11404) 13 Nov 2006 07:05 AM

That's great, Libby. I love learning about organizations that help our military! Thanks.

galebdriver (5) 14 Dec 2007 07:03 PM

With all due respect, Sherry, some of the US troops are indeed terrorizing women and children in Iraq. As well as men, of course. There are a lot of scared young men and women over there, and not all of them are behaving as they should. Many people in the rest of the world are looking on in amazement at America and its people, right now. "Support our troops"? I understand why, as a military wife, you would want to. My own father was military, and believe me, I understand. But what if your troops have been sent to the wrong place, to kill the wrong people?? Surely you don't support them and their military aims under all circumstances? Nearly 4000 Americans have been killed in Iraq, "defending freedom"? I'm truly sorry to hear that, and about the many thousands more American troops who've been maimed in Iraq. To put it in context though, the troops America's military wives are married to and support so vehemently have killed tens if not hundreds of thousands of people. People just like you and me, only brown people who don't speak English. And, as everyone knows but no-one evers seems to mention, the terrorists who carried out 9/11 were not Iraqis, and or were they supported in any way by Iraq. Saddam Hussein and Al Quada were mortal enemies, actually. This is just so sad, and there are no easy answers except, no doubt, more hatred, and more supporting of more troops, killing more people. And so it goes...

Sherry Holetzky (11404) 17 Dec 2007 11:04 AM

To be quite honest, galebdriver, many of my opinions concerning the war have changed since this article was written (although I still don't agree with the way John Kerry tends to conduct himself). That said, I do find myself questioning more and more...

Any troops who do behave improperly should of course be punished, but I can't help but feel for those scared young men and women you mention. I believe leadership (or lack thereof) is where most of the blame lies....

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