Kerry made it clear he was talking about BUSH et al, not troops! So WHY is MSM...

[gauguin57]

... calling it a "bad joke about bad students winding up troops in Iraq"? Rhetorical question, I know ... but ... when I first heard the statement from Kerry, I KNEW he was talking about chickenhawk Bush, not the troops.

Kerry has explained that's what he meant. Kerry was Ivy League -- clearly not a "bad student" and he VOLUNTEERED for Vietnam, and wound up getting shot at to save others on his Swiftboat. Why in God's name would Kerry make a joke about the troops, when he's been a "troop" himself?

This whole thing is ridiculous -- anyone who believes he was talking about the troops is ridiculous ... and Kerry should continue to pound his message (stating it more clearly) that if you're a bad student who grows up to be a total PUPPET MORON, then you, too, can steal elections and become president of the United States and get us into an effing QUAGMIRE

[SaveElmer]

1. Simple...

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The truth doesn't bring juicy ratings!!!

[asjr]

7. You nailed it!

[Lars39]

2. Because msm won't report the real news...Bagdhad's under siege.

[MrModerate]

3. MSM is afraid that their election coverage lacks any high points . . .

And so are jumping on this as "news." 'Licans are taking advantage, as anyone would. We can make an omelet out of this broken egg by highlighting 'Lican hypocrisy and cowardice. With a little nerve, this one breaks our way.

[RobertSeattle]

4. Anyone got a transcript of what Kerry said right before the Gaffe?

The right wingers conventiently just show the gaffe and not the context before (about Bush I believe) and the laughter after (they get the joke)

[Pathwalker]

5. They'll lose their PAYOLA for shilling for Bushit.

Gotta have that taxpayer money, ya know. They need, need, need a new SUV for Xmas!

[_dynamicdems]

6. Our media is a joke. They are owned by large corporations and they

have been slanted to the right for the past 20 or so years. Forget the liberal media. It used to mean that they were "liberal minded" and gave equal time to all ideas and to the ideal of fairness. No more.

[gauguin57]

8. I'll be so disappointed if Kerry now makes himself permanently scarce ...

... he needs to continue his after-message message -- a la Keith Olbermann -- about how the Republicans lie and cheat and twist people's words in order to take the focus off their miserable failures in power.

He needs to keep his next campaign appointment, and keep repeating that anyone with any sense knows he was talking about Bush, and those who are twisting his words are not in that "having sense" category. And that the GOP are the ones who are unpatriotic ... AGAIN calling a decorated war veteran unpatriotic!

And then he should pound away on the damned war. And the economy. And the minimum wage, and other ways the underprivileged are being screwed in this counry. And the degrading environment, without the fixing of which all the oil fields in Iraq and terrorists in Afghanistan, etc. will not make a bit of difference.

[BootinUp]

9. Kerry is spinning like a top

and few DU'ers are brave enough to admit it. Everyone outside DU world saw through the joke excuse.

[Crunchy Frog]

11. Sorry Jim. I can't agree with that interpretation.

John Kerry clearly was referring to Bush, and not the troops, in that speech, even though he flubbed the delivery of it. He has since clarified his statement, so there can be no mistaking what the intent was behind his words. The MSM and the Repukes are flat out misrepresenting and lying, and using this incident to whip up faux outrage to try to gain some advantage in the upcoming elections.

Most of the people outside DU world get their information highly filtered through the corporate media. That doesn't mean that they're seeing through anything. The worst thing Kerry could do at this point is apologize.

[BootinUp]

12. Clearly referring to Bush

How did you come to that conclusion, which article or video convinced you? Something on tv? I have not seen long video clips. I would admit I am wrong if I saw something that made it "Clear".

As to the apology, it is too late now. But that is not stopping Dem Senate candidates Ford, Tester, and Cardin from calling for an apology.


*corrected Senators to Senate candidates.

[Crunchy Frog]

13. Keith Olbermann showed an extended clip last night

It seemed pretty clear to me as well as to KO, whose powers of discernment I respect more than those of most in the MSM.

I think it's very unfortunate that Democrats are being seen going after other Democrats on the eve of this critical of an election. Dems need to stop being so eager to take the bait from the other side. That's what makes us look bad as a party.

[BootinUp]

14. The problem is

there was enough doubt about the thing that Kerry neede to do more than make a joke excuse. He could have issued a non apology apology like: I apologize if people misunderstood my comment and were offended, heres what I meant, and I praise all the troops for their patriotic service bla bla bla.

And it was damn near the worst written / spoken joke of all time if thats what it was.

The misunderstanding plays into the negative image Dems have in the rural population. Thats why the pukes latched onto it with such fierceness, it resonates in a bad way for us.

[democrat_patriot]

10. Kerry needs to schedule a press conference. Let it build all day

people talking about how "he's going to apologize". And than when he has the spotlight - hit 'em with both barrels.

"I apologize if my comments about the Republican failed Iraq policy were misinterpreted. Being a former military member, I would NEVER disparage our troops. I apologize that I haven't been able to bring the troops home sooner. I apologize for failing to overcome the Republican obstructionism that has blocked my attempts to end this conflict.

I however will NOT apologize for the Republicans mistakes. I will NOT apologize for Republicans refusing to send body armor and proper equipment to our sons and daughters fighting in Iraq. I will NOT apologize for the president laughing and actually giggling about how he didn't find WMD's. I will NOT apologize for the Republicans not holding anyone accountable for the mess they have made.

What I will do is continue to fight every day to make sure our troops are properly equipped. That they have proper medical care when they return. But I need America's help. The current Republican controlled government thinks everything is perfect in Iraq, we need them voted out. We need to keep our troops out of harms way."