New thread: what is the EXACT quote?

[beachmom]

I still haven't seen precisely what JK said. I apologize if that's posted somewhere, but other than the one sentence that Drudge posted, is there a video of the whole thing?? Or a transcript? This would be helpful.

[Mass]

1. Here - Note he does not mention the military once.

It may not be the best Bush joke in the world, but it seem pretty clear this is not about the military.

"You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, 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."

[wisteria]

3. You know, reading it, it doesn't even make sense.

If we had a draft, maybe, but you don't have to wind up in Iraq unless you enlist.

[Mass]

4. The point is that he was talking of Bush stuck in Iraq because he did not do

his homework.

I understood that immediately when I read it yesterday and groaned because it was another bad joke. I never imagined they would turn it this way.

Interesting that the RW are the ones who think this was meant for the troops. This shows how they respect them if they can imagine that it was aimed at them.

[wisteria]

6. Right, the Republicans are again using the troops to further their agenda. n/t

[babylonsister]

2. I'm really afraid he's never going to hear the end of this the

way it is being spun. I hope his press conference is aired on the msn and he makes it crystal clear what he thought and meant when saying what he did, to the point where McCain et al will be apologizing to him! x(

Edit to add:

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/10/post_101.html

October 31, 2006
Daily Troika: McCain Slams Kerry For Troops Comment

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) wants an apology from Sen. John Kerry for comments the '04 Dem nominee made yesterday in CA that appeared to suggest that U.S. troops were not hard-working and intelligent.

Kerry, on 10/30: "You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. And if you don't you get stuck in Iraq."

McCain, in Indianapolis today campaigning for Republicans, calls Kerry's remarks "insensitive, ill-considered" and "unfortunate." More, from McCain's statement: "The suggestion that only the least educated Americans would agree to serve in the military and fight in Iraq, is an insult to every soldier serving in combat, and should deeply offend any American with an ounce of appreciation for what they suffer and risk so that the rest of us can sleep more comfortably at night." More from McCain: "Senator Kerry owes an apology to the many thousands of Americans serving in Iraq, who answered their country's call because they are patriots and not because of any deficiencies in their education."

A Kerry adviser said that Kerry was referring to the general intellectual abilities of Pres. Bush and not U.S. troops. The quotation, the adviser admits, came out slightly "mangled."

more...

[wisteria]

5. I think he should express outrage over anyone

thinking he would be insensitive to our troops, say it his words are being misinterpreted and have no further comment. If he does to much explaining, it won't die.

I can't help believing this may have something to do with the piece in the Globe yesterday and the gains he has made with veterans.

[emulatorloo]

7. Kerry Press release , if it hasn;t been posted -- and A DAMN GOOD ONE

http://www.johnkerry.com/news/releases/release.html?id=33

October 31, 2006

Statement of John Kerry Responding to Republican Distortions, Pathetic Tony Snow Diversions and Distractions


Washington – Senator John Kerry issued the following statement in response to White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, assorted right wing nut-jobs, and right wing talk show hosts desperately distorting Kerry’s comments about President Bush to divert attention from their disastrous record:

“If anyone thinks a veteran would criticize the more than 140,000 heroes serving in Iraq and not the president who got us stuck there, they're crazy. This is the classic G.O.P. playbook. I’m sick and tired of these despicable Republican attacks that always seem to come from those who never can be found to serve in war, but love to attack those who did.

I’m not going to be lectured by a stuffed suit White House mouthpiece standing behind a podium, or doughy Rush Limbaugh, who no doubt today will take a break from belittling Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s disease to start lying about me just as they have lied about Iraq. It disgusts me that these Republican hacks, who have never worn the uniform of our country lie and distort so blatantly and carelessly about those who have.

The people who owe our troops an apology are George W. Bush and Dick Cheney who misled America into war and have given us a Katrina foreign policy that has betrayed our ideals, killed and maimed our soldiers, and widened the terrorist threat instead of defeating it. These Republicans are afraid to debate veterans who live and breathe the concerns of our troops, not the empty slogans of an Administration that sent our brave troops to war without body armor.

Bottom line, these Republicans want to debate straw men because they’re afraid to debate real men. And this time it won’t work because we’re going to stay in their face with the truth and deny them even a sliver of light for their distortions. No Democrat will be bullied by an administration that has a cut and run policy in Afghanistan and a stand still and lose strategy in Iraq.”