Thats my senator! When they speak of an “October surprise,” usually they mean bringing out something that will damage your opponent’s campaign just before the election, not your own side.
Sen. John Kerry was campaigning in California for the Democrat candidate for governor, when he came out with the most bone-headed, ham-fisted comment. Fortunately, it’s also short and ripe for soundbiting so it will be repeated endlessly over the next week. Speaking to a crowd of college students, he encouraged them to stay in school because if they make the make most of it they “can do well; if you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.” Now everyone, including the mainstream media and apparently much of his audience, took that to be a slap in the face to our servicemen and women serving with distinction and honor in Iraq as dumb hicks too stupid to get real jobs.
Recriminations were fast and furious. Paul Morin, national commander of the American Legion, had perhaps the best response: “A generation ago, Sen. Kerry slandered his comrades in Vietnam by saying that they were rapists and murderers. It wasn’t true then and his warped view of today’s heroes isn’t true now.” His own party is even distancing itself from him, with several candidates canceling scheduled appearances with him this week before the election.
Kerry’s angry non-apology makes it worse
update: The troops respond to John Kerry. Now that’s a joke, Senator.
Technorati Tags:Iraq, Kerry, politics, uneducated troops
