Kerry statement on CNN - Very good

[Mass]

Time to move on for this week.

http://www.johnkerry.com/news/releases/release.html?id=37
:div class="excerpt"]

November 1, 2006

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.

[WildEyedLiberal]

1. Hopefully this is the end of it.

Watch for the "he caved" people to start showing up in GD now, though... personally, I think this apology was completely unnecessary, although I do like how he apologized that the Repukes twisted his words. I would have preferred he say that more forcefully, however.

Yesterday's was better, hopefully he'll be bringing the fight to them on Blitzer tonight.

[babylonsister]

2. Carville just pointed out that Kerry "refused to

apologize before he apologized." Gee, thanks for pointing that out, James. :eyes:

[Mass]

3. At least, he attacked Bush and co. Hillary spent cable time talking about

how we could not afford to distract from the issues. :banghead:

[wisteria]

6. See, he can't win. Now it will be reported that he apologized to the troops

only after pressure and this will reinforce the belief that he belittled them. Oh, and then we have the Flip flop, nuanced remarks.
I am very di scourged today for our party. We have not learned any lessons and the Clinton wing is still controlling things. I don't know, maybe I shouldn't be working so hard for a party that kicks me in the teeth and then still expects me to give them money.

[fedupinBushcountry]

9. James is wrong

Yesterday Kerry said: Let me make it crystal clear, as crystal clear as I know how: I apologize to no one for my criticism of the president and of his broken policy.

Today he apologized for a botched joke, not his criticism of Bush or his policy.

[wisteria]

13. This is too nuanced for the majority of pundits to understand.

Smart enough to read, they are not.

[ProSense]

21. Too nuanced

for opportunist!

[wisteria]

14. And, it won't make any difference.

The media will report he apologized for his remarks against the troops and the blogs will disown him because he caved. This really sucks. It really does. We all know what he was apologizing for, but by apologizing at all he cements the republicans claims.

[Mass]

16. Hillary cemented the republican claims

After that, he did not exactly have a choice: either attack her or do what he did.

[beachmom]

17. I think Mass is right. He had no choice. Had the Dems stood with

him and called the charges bunk, it would have fizzled. But with Hillary's traitorous remarks, it's over. So has she won?

[wisteria]

27. Well, not with me. i will never vote for this woman, dem or not.

She has not integrity or even loyalty. F*ck her.

[wisteria]

22. He could of said she is entitled to her opinion, but I can not apologize for

What I did not say or even imply. Excuse me, but screw Hillary. Hell will freeze over before I will vote for her for President. I don't care if she is a Democrat. I want the Clinton's out of power.

[Inuca]

25. What exctly did Hillary say?

I am at work and do not have to time to look.

[Mass]

28. Here

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--clinton-kerry1101nov01,0,1054510.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

Asked Wednesday at the VFW post about the Kerry remarks, Clinton said: "We don't need to be reciting the 2004 election, as much as President Bush would like that to happen. This election is about him and his policies."

"What Senator Kerry said was inappropriate," she added.

Clinton also said, "I believe we can't let it divert us from looking at the issues that are at stake in our country. We do need a new policy in Iraq."

[Inuca]

30. Thanks

Nasty! Including the comment about 2004, which (maybe I am reading too much into it) seems to be addressed more to Kerry than to Bush (he "won" after all).

[karynnj]

31. I assume Kerry is too much a gentleman to ever

speak about repeating the "early sex education" course given to the young children of America - my youngest daughter was 7.

She is pretty nasty with the 2004 line.

[zann725]

42. "Inappropriate?" Whose campaigning here...at whose 'expense?'

Hil's "inappropriate," distancing comment re: JK is yet another reason why I'd NEVER vote for Mrs. C...for ("Cautious") indeed.

[beachmom]

4. What?

I'm a little confused by this. Someone please interpret.

[Mass]

5. What he said or my comment?

[beachmom]

8. Well, the whole approach -- "NO APOLOGY!" yesterday

to "okay, I'm sorry" today. I feel very surprised by this, and confused because we were all saying he shouldn't apologize, and I thought that's how he felt, but now suddenly he turns around and does just that. I'm not an expert, so I'm hoping one of you guys can explain to me how this helps. Well, I guess it helps our 2006 candidates, but how it helps him. Or maybe that shouldn't matter right now.

[beachmom]

10. Okay, just read Fedup's comment.

Technically correct, but this is going to be really hard to explain.

[Mass]

11. He said he would not apologize to Bush on his intended joke.

He did not. He apologized to the soldiers who could have misunderstood him.

However, it is clear that the yelling of such big voices as Hillary and Levin, added to the noise of some candidates, forced him to do something. They were keeping the issue alive more than any Republicans would have. It is why we are unable to strike against the GOP. As soon as somebody tries to attack GOPers, they muddle the message.

[karynnj]

32. I vote for this as the best explanation.

Look at some of the comments on his blog - there were some very polite ones that begged Kerry to reach out to military who were confused and hurt. Many comments seemed simply RW agitators - but there were a fair number of these people. there were also some insisting it was wrong not to admit when you make a mistake and make amends. I don't know if he saw any of that - but good people feeling confused and hurt might have changed his mind.

I assume after the election, Kerry will try to make amends if needed with the veteran/soldier communities. This is likely essential because this hits at a strength he had. If you look at the list of candidates mentioned for 2006 - in the Democratic primary - Kerry might have been the most likely candidate (assuming Clark didn't run). Bill is hated by the military, Edwards seems too lightweight - Kerry is likely the only one who can speak to the most life changing moment of their life.

The apology is nice as it is to any offended military person, while re-iterating that he did not criticise them, nor would he. (In fact the hardcore will not like this). I really think people CAN make far too much over people changing to make things right. I would hope if asked - Kerry would say that his intial reaction was anger at the WH et all spinning this in a way they knew was a lie and contrary to everything in his life and that he still felt that - but felt he needed to respond to people he cared about who he hurt or offended. It takes a bigger man to do that than to stand on ceremony.

[fedupinBushcountry]

12. He said he was sorry

this morning on Imus, and he will not apologize for what he said about Bush and the republican hacks.

[beachmom]

15. Thanks, that's true.

I'm really depressed by some posters on Raising Kaine -- Democrats who side with the Swift Boat Veterans on Kerry's war protest. Are there that many wackjobs in Virginia that we have to put up with this shit from DEMOCRATS in our state?

[sandnsea]

23. 2006 is what matters

It doesn't help him that I can see, although I do hope a few more people can see how Democrats can get in the media when a certain someone wants them to. Line up the commentators - Milbank, Alter, Kurtz, whichever ones were spewing against Kerry yesterday - they had gotten the word from the Clinton camp and that's who they perceive the Democratic Party to be. Any time someone varies from what Hillary wants to run on - you can bet these guys will be out there with their 'no plan', 'disarray', and other lines that hurt whoever is challenging her policies. I wish he'd been clearer in referencing that this was a completely manufactured 'insult' and he was sorry his words had gotten entangled in it, but it's done now. You just can't fight the media and the right wing alone, just like he couldn't do it in 2004. The party has to unify and they just never do.

[rox63]

7. Hopefully, this will spell the end of the issue

Even though I don't think he said anything wrong, I think he needed to do this, so the news cycle can move on to other subjects.

I hope he and Teresa can now take some much needed time off, and get a bit of R & R.

[Mass]

18. It seems the GOP and the WH accepted the apology.

(not that it was aimed at them, but still).

[beachmom]

19. So it's over? By tomorrow is this all forgotten? n/t

[Inuca]

20. It is NOT an apology for belittling the troops

and that's what assorted idiots asked of him yesterday. I think this masterfully written. He states that the content of what he said was nothing to apologize for, but that he understands that his words were open to misinterpretation, and apologizes to those that the unintended meaning might have offended. ANd then he goes on the offensive.

I think that it is precise, clear, and to the point. And of course it will interpreted in a 1001 wrong ways, but that is not something that he can do much about. The fact is that what he said WAS open to misinterpretations. When I first heard it, my first reaction was "has he gone crazy?", and I am most definitely not a JK basher. True, it was out of context, etc., but the words nevertheless were there.

My first reaction in reading the statement was "Wonderful!". I think it continues in the same line of "doing the right thing". He was viciously attacked, and he responded yesterday (and probably will continue to do so) beautifully. But to deny that there was a tiny tiny actual spark that created all the smoke & mirrors charade we witnessed yesterday, would not be "the right thing to do" IMHO.

[ProSense]

24. Exactly

His first statement should have sufficed! Of course, a number or RW meme pushers surfaced in our own party, so he issued a second statement: RW distorted the comments.

Sad, that he has to explain this to other Democrats!

[karynnj]

35. I think that off DU there were people who were confused

the angry retort to the RW distorters, didn't help people who heard the RW version - and I know I misinterpreted it (though it was beyond illogical to assume that because some grunts are poor kids without options, the entire military is - the RW is just as illogical claiming that everybody in the service (or in the WTC) was a hero) - and were genuinely hurt or offended by it.

We all saw the photos of Kerry at a funeral - there was no mistaking his care and the fact that he was there for the family - and they knew it. In the Senate, Senator Warner mentioned Kerry like others going to the hospitals etc to see the wounded. To my knowledge Kerry never mentioned this.

[politicasista]

34. I agree n/t

[StoryTeller]

26. He did what he needed to do

I've been in this type of situation before--on a MUCH smaller scale, of course. But I've been in a position where I said something that was right--only it angered the people in power (in an organization). They demanded an apology, and I said no because they were in the wrong not me. I had a lot of people supporting me on this and I expected that it would blow over pretty soon because it was rather clear that I was not in the wrong. However, the clamor for an apology grew louder and louder, despite my defense of myself. (I also didn't have anyone willing to actually step forward publicly to defend me.)

I had a very good friend (who was not in a position to defend me) advise me to go ahead and issue an apology. His reasoning was that the conflict was hurting not just the organization, but also my own reputation, and that the membership as a whole knew I had nothing to apologize for, but the act of humility would basically make me the "bigger person" in the conflict. So I did it. I can't say I actually meant it in my heart, but I did what I needed to do in order to help everyone move past the ridiculous situation. Yes, it flared things up for another day or so, but it died down in the end, and eventually some of the leaders who were attacking me even apologized to me for it. (Privately, of course, where they didn't actually have to take responsibility for it...but I digress.)

I think Kerry was in much the same position. I don't know if it would have been better for him to have issued this type of apology in his speech yesterday before proceeding to attack Bush or not. But I don't think it matters. The attack yesterday and this apology today were for two separate audiences. The first was a message to the smear machine. The second was to a group of people he cares deeply about and does not want to see them caught in the crossfire.

There's only so much he can do. I guess it's up to the rest of us to continue pointing out what actually happened and to show people that it takes a really classy leader to do what he's done over the past two days. Pundits or not, people know the truth. This is not 2004. And apology or not, nobody can say now that he's spineless OR unsupportive of the troops.

[WildEyedLiberal]

29. From your lips to God's ears.

God I hope you are right. This whole thing has me depressed beyond belief. I still don't think he should have apologized, and sadly I think your post represents a mindset far more mature and thoughtful than 99% of the people involved in politics.

[StoryTeller]

33. :) I hope I'm right, too.

But you know--none of us know what will happen. However, I believe that Kerry is doing the right thing to the best of his ability. And sometimes doing the right thing doesn't bring the rewards or appreciation it ought to bring. But we love JK because of this sense of integrity and desire to do the right thing. And no matter what happens, I want him to continue living his life with a clear conscience and the sense that he did what he believed to be right. To me, that's more important than winning a political battle, or even winning an election.

His integrity may be rewarded--and I hope (and am begging God in not-very-reverent tones) that this will be the case. I'd like to see the good guy win for once. But I'm also realistic enough to know that it may not happen. But for me, the bigger issue is that JK stays true to himself and his beliefs and lives his life in a way that has nothing to be ashamed of.

To me, that's the only way to really win.

And yeah, this might sound too idealistic when we're in the midst of a mud fight like this. But this moment in time is not all there is. There's a bigger picture out there--something bigger than political power or personal reputations. And that's what I'm going to try to keep my eyes on.

So don't be depressed, my dear WEL-friend. :) Not over this. I feel sad for him because I hate the idea of such a great person getting trashed like this. But in the end, if he keeps his integrity and principles, HE WINS, no matter what happens.

By the way, WEL--have you put that birthday card in the mail to me yet???? I definitely want to sign it!!!

[WildEyedLiberal]

37. Your post has me near tears

Beautifully stated, and you are right of course. No matter WHAT happens from here on out, he did the RIGHT thing. He never swerved from his conscience. I'll stand next to him even if it means standing alone. Of course, I don't think I'd be completely alone... there are so many awesome people here, and I feel blessed for knowing each of you.

Aw, jeez... :cry:

And yes, I did! Check your pm! :D

[StoryTeller]

38. Aw...

A hug for you...

:hug: :hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:

(Okay, maybe more than just "a" hug!)

I'd post a nice JK picture for you, but I'm afraid you all are FAR ahead of me on good JK pics. :)

[Firespirit]

39. You won't be alone.

One thing has changed: We MUST win the House this year. It's non negotiable now as far as his chances for 2008 are concerned. Unfair as it is, John will be blamed for it if we don't win the House.

[WildEyedLiberal]

40. The GOP, media, and DLC Weeniecrats are working together to take him out.

I still don't think he should have apologized. Why isn't he going on Blitzer tonight? This shit is NOT HIS FAULT! He can't let them win!

Fuck everything.

[ginnyinWI]

36. Well done.

He didn't accept any of the GOP's framing or inferences. Characteristically for him, he went straight to the troops and how he wanted to make sure that they were not offended. That's where his heart always is. And really, that group is the one that matters in all of this.

And he uses the opportunity to place the responsibility where it really belongs: the GOP for deliberately misinterpretting his joke. And continued to expose their tactics.

They did not get him to back down and accept that he had actually offended the troops. It was them. It's always them.

Well done, Senator, as always.

[jillan]

41. I'm glad he did it

I really am. Only because this is all that they talked about on the news since yesterday. Now the msm needs to drop it, and instead talk about Allen's staffer beating up a blogger!