Do you think John Kerry's statements about the military and those who join it are true?
827833
Yes and no.\n\nOr no and yes.\n\nWichever one is more likely keep the rabid dogs from going nuts!\n\nDefinately bad form from Kerry!
942497
I truly pity the fools that think they have to protect Kerry.  Kerry said what he meant to say in very clear and plain English.  I've seen the transcript of the speech and nothing was taken out of context.  He said what he meant.  And what he said is important because this man is in DC and helps set American policy and laws.  \n\nHowever, most who know about Kerry's military career, know it wasn't really an insult to himself.  He nominated himself for his Purple Hearts.  One of them, was for splinters in his butt.  He did less time than anyone else in Vietnam.  He used his metals to get out of the service time most troops did in country.  Once he returned home, he joined the protesters and tossed his awards away.  Even then, he showed what the thought of his fellow troops and America.\n\nHe's a disgrace.  In fact, he was set to attend many speeches between now and the election.  Many of those candidates have canceled his appearance.  That is a FACT.  So, for those who want to defend him, perhaps you can explain why his own party is turning their backs.  Maybe they're not blind to what was really said.
942882
Who, me?  With 180+ semester hours of undergrad credits.\nFormer member of Mensa (top 2% on IQ tests)\nRetired Army\n\nMost of the guys I knew in service are now retired, two are nuclear physists, one an electronic engineer, one an air traffic controller, one a university professor, two lawyers....and a few ordinary guys, but not many.\nI think that Kerry meant to say what he said and that his "failed joke" excuse is untrue.
974588
Kerry has a long standing record of disrespecting the armed forces.  Yes, he served in Vietnam.  He also couldn't wait to testify before congressional fact finding commissions about the "atrocities" committed by our servicemen.  For Kerry the whole exercise was a resume piece and a chance to walk on a high profile stage before congress.  The men he served with didn't like him and he returned the favor.\n\nSince ascending to the senate he hasn't used his position to help the military in any fashion.  Whenever faced with a choice between funding a social program or the armed services he has no qualms with shorting the troops and he is the first to entertain accusations of wrongdoing by our servicemen.\n\nKerry is a picture of elitism.  He went to an Ivy league college, obtained a law degree but never practiced (actually working for a paycheck is well beneath his station), speaks 2 languages and marries well whenever the upgrade provides opportunity.\n\nSo yes, I believe he committed a freudian slip and delivered a heart felt truth instead of the punch line to his joke.
731718
John Kerry is a monument to slick politicians. He managed to go to Vietnam for 3-months and collect three metals, two of which were for self inflicted wounds. Remember Swift Boat Veterans for truth? His own crew said he didn’t do what he claimed to have done. He then came home and threw his metals over a wall when it helped him politically.\n\nNow he is still disparaging our troops. How could the democrats believed this man was presidential material beats me. Did they truly believe he would be a Commander and Chief that our armed forces would respect? I think his remarks have made it very clear that he is unfit to lead he should resign his seat in the Senate.
498903
Apparently not, they actually supported him\n\nFACT: John Kerry has a 100% voting record with, and earned the endorsement of the Brady Campaign (Formerly Handgun Control, Inc.)—a group that says you have no right to own any gun. And, he repeatedly earns the support of PETA and the Humane Society of the United States—groups who openly want to ban all hunting in America.\n\nAND:\nAlthough he claims to be an avid hunter, Kerry has never joined the 315-member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. And extremist groups know his true feelings about hunting. John Kerry has a 100 percent "A" rating from radical animal "rights" groups like PETA and the Fund for Animals.
556078
Wrong. \nA lot of them do join the army to become naturalized afterwards.
882326
Since he has voted  against most defense bills like the B-1 bomber, Patriot Missile systems, etc where does it show he is for the military?  \n\nIs this another liberal dodge to get every ones minds off the elections on Tuesday? Who really cares about John Kerry? He is a non-issue!
706534
Kerry`s statements just prove the how the Democrats are uninformed and have true contempt for the Military.\n\n1.The Military is better educated than the general population. \n2.The Military is all volunteer. \n3. One can not join without a minimum of a high school degree.\n4. 73.3 percent of the Military have some college, 16.2 percent have an associate’s degree or equivalent semester hours, and 4.7 have a bachelor’s degree.\n5. Dropouts can not get in the Military.\n6. Bush out performed with better grades Kerry in the same school and Bush went further.\n7. There is no draft that takes kids out of school and sends them to war, that was the Vietnam war.\n8. Kerry was talking to students about education.\n\nSo Kerry`s joke doesn`t fit and he was stating what he believed. The "Joke" was damage control for the gullible.
762054
I do not believe it , i think he is just trying to cover up for the fact that he got caught telling his true feelings about our military. When Kerry returned from Vietnam he became a war protester and called our service people Baby killers, murderers, and even joined Jane Fonda in visiting communist countries. John Kerry hates our Military and our country, he will never Ketch-up with his wife or her money if he does not stop revealing his true hatred of America.
701029
What Kerry said was shocking.  He obviously has a low opinion of the intelligence of our troops, and an even lower opinion of the intelligence of the average American citizen if he think we're going to believe his spin that he was "criticizing the president".  How does it make sense to say that if you don't work hard in school, you'll end up as the President of the United States?\n\nAnd P.S. to Brian who answered before me:  Your comparison is ridiculous.  Bush's intentions in that statement you quoted were obvious.  He did botch his statement, but Kerry did not.  Kerry said exactly what he meant to say, and then backtracked when his words were met with a poor reception.  Ask yourself if Kerry's representation that he was referring to the president, not our troops, even makes sense.  If your I.Q. is higher than your age, you will be able to see that it doesn't.  He is lying about what he meant because he realized how badly he messed up.
734426
Did you see the way the Democratic Party is trying their damnest to get the military votes disqualified? It was all over the news again today, just like it was 2 years ago when Hanoi John Kerry tried to do the same thing. The Democrats are scared to death of the military vote.
1083301
Yes they are, they are not really that smart. John Kerry is the worst they have had.
515471
Yes.  He has served in the military through 2 foreign wars.  Then he went on to serve in Congress.  And while in Congress, he had the political courage to give his opinion, even though it was unpopular.  He has done more for America than most people ever will.
724502
From what I have heard, most definitely.\n\nKerry was not "joking." He was at a forum on education, discussing education, and advocating education.\n\nAccording to Kerry, if you LACK education, you get "stuck" in Iraq. \n\nSo I guess people in the military aren't much for schooling.\n\nDoesn't sound like a "JOKE" to me.\n\nDid the media give Rush Limbaugh the benefit of the doubt last week? Of course not. Didn't matter that he was just pointing out Fox's duplicity.
715853
I served for 20 years and retired in '92.  One of the things we noticed during the run-up to Desert Storm was the number of people all over Europe, I was assigned to CINCUSNAVEUR support in London, who were screaming "Wait! We didn't know we might have to go to WAR!"  That was from people with 8 or 10 years in.  All we career types could say was "You're in the military, what did you think we were here for?"  If there is a good thing about the Iraqi conflict, which I opposed from the start, it is that our young service men and women have a clear understanding of for what they are signing up.  The young people who put their lives on the line for the rest of us are truly the best of our best.  I just wish our National Leadership valued them as they deserve.
967188
Yes, they are right.  Kerry has exposed himself for what he is: a liar, fake, phoney.  What reason would these honorable Veterans have for maligning Kerry if he was truly one of their own.  The majority of our Troops have a real bond with each other.