Sen Kerry on Imus now n/t

[globalvillage]

[Mass]

1. Thanks, I guess he only agreed to keep low profile to a point.

[Island Blue]

2. Can you give us some details when you get a chance?

I don't get Imus.

[karynnj]

3. Summary - but the transcript will be needed

Kerry said it was a botched joke - that everyone makes botched jokes. (He agreed with Imus he had before.) He explained that the WH knew they were misiterpreting it - and that you can't even get into the voluntary millitary. He mentioned the President has mispoken at times.

Kerry spoke of all the things he has done for veterans and how he would never criticisize them as the RW was saying. He also said that he has told the truth - when he came home in 1971 and at every step on Iraq. He repeated some of the same things he said yesterday - Rumsfeld should apologize. He also spoke about Iraq. He was asked about McCain - who Kerry said knew what he meant.

He also said he is going back to DC- to avoid making himself the issue - and will work on this. He sounded tired, but came out strong at the end.

In the interview, Kerry that he obviously regrets botching the joke - essentially saying that you don't do that on purpose it looks dumb.

Imus and gang were still looking for an apology from Kerry for people being offended by their misperceptions.

[beachmom]

4. I heard part of it

Kerry is going back to Washington to fight this thing. He doesn't want to appear at any campaigns, because he would be a distraction. Imus "begged" him to apologize. Kerry said that he was sorry about the botched joke but that he's not going to allow the Bush WH to lie and smear. He talked about Iraq. Imus wasn't satisfied, saying he should apologize, all the way to the end of the interview.

[wisteria]

5. An apology looks like an admission of guilt. Kerry said nothing

against the troops, what should he apologize for? No way, he should apologize, the repubs would run with it. Look at those Dem's who have apologized for things, Kennedy, Durbin, Byrd,the RW stills uses this against them. Apologies mean nothing to these repubs.

[karynnj]

7. Also consider what they did to Teresa in 2004

She gave a beautiful answer to how she would be different than Laura. She praised Laura in almost poetic terms then said that a lot of her own identity came for her work - while Laura had not worked since she was young. The Republicans stormed in to point out Laura's excellent career of teacher and librarian, abandoned before she was 30. They insisted Teresa didn't think teaching and running libraries was important. Teresa apologized. Then was attacked again because she didn't give women credit for working as stay home moms. (though I would guess the Bushes had nannies)

If Kerry apologizes for saying something that was misperceived - he will satisfy no one not satisfied by his explanation. Apologizing for actually insulting the millitary would then cause many people to paint him quilty of doing that.

[MBS]

6. video link is now up

on johnkerry.com. Look under "recent video"

[ginnyinWI]

8. I hope a lot of people see this

He is perfectly calm and reasonable and explains it very well. Unfortunately the people who most need to see it think they don't need to.