Were Kerry's comments aimed at Bush or the Troops in Iraq?
956893
Kerry spoke in clear plain English and said exactly what he meant to say.  It was a direct jab at the military.  I've seen the speech and nothing he said leading up to that comment included Bush or the White House.  I suggest before people defend him, they read or view exactly what he said and in what context.  Kerry was a fake when he was in the military.  He submitted himself for his Purple Hearts and it's been widely publicized that he didn't deserve them and spent the shortest time of any troops in Vietnam.  After, he became an active protester and threw his awards away.  To say he supports our troops now is bogus b*ullsh*t.  Kerry is out for himself.  However, this time, Kerry put his silver foot in his mouth.  In fact, his own party wants nothing to do with him now.  Most of his speeches leading up to the election have been canceled.  That should tell the American public something.  The military sure as heck doesn't back him.  I love the photo going around about the troops in Iraq and their reply to what Kerry said.  Now let's just hope that America listens!!
20221
The trap that Kerry got into was based on semantics. He voted to authorize the US to go to war with Iraq if we could not otherwise use diplomacy and the use of sanctions to make Saddam Hussein allow inspectors back in Iraq.\n  When it came to voting for the $87 billion to fund the war initially he voted against one form of the bill and for another form of the bill. He was explaining a complex process in a short sound byte that was taken out of context by his opponents. He was in no way wishy washy about his vote. Both his vote for the authorization to go to war and his vote against the first bill to authorize $87 billion dollars were clear.\n   The intelligence and assumptions he was working with for his first vote for the war was not only flawed but totally baseless. The President didn't try to verify the sources and instead hyped up whatever would persuade the American people and Congress to allow him to go to war. \n    There are two ways to make an argument:\n    1. Get the facts and support your case with them.\n     2. Make a case and get the facts to support your case, which is what a college debater does. But a college debater is not dealing in life and death issues that will cause 32,000 Iraqi and American deaths. \n     The next time a President asks us to send our men and women to war for his policies will be very difficult because the American people have lost trust in their Commander-In-Chief and do not want to volunteer their sons and daughters to die for something that is not founded on strong evidence.\n      We will probably need to go back to the draft in the future to supply the troop levels we will need to fight Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and Syria. \n      That is unless we get back into the world community and use diplomacy to isolate these countries. We were doing fine in Iraq using sanctions until Mr. Bush and the Neocons decided to upset the apple cart and create a phony war.
924222
He's a politician. Which means his only real ability is to stick his nose into other people's business and tell people what he thinks they want to hear. But, as we have seen from past attempts, he is not very good at either. \n\nAs far as his comment, some have tried to argue that he was attempting a slur at Bush, and failed. Which means either he is stupid enough to think insulting the troops will score him points with anyone, or he has simply reaffirmed that public speaking is (also) not his strong suit.\n\nThe only thing he really has going for him is name recognition, and sadly many Democrats don't realize that hitching their campaigns to his wagon are likely to cause as much harm as good.\n\nPoliticians -- can't live with them, haven't found a legal way to shoot them.
907965
It is interesting how some of the people who responded are going to try to blame President Bush for the fact that the troops feel that they have been stabbed in the back by the media and the Democratic party.\n\nMaybe the Democratic party needs to admit that the troops do not trust them and come up with a way to rebuild their credibility?\n\nIMO the most telling comment about the election is the fact that Al Queda sees a Democrat victory as good for their goals.
890322
I heard it too. The Vietnamese must have taken that as an insult. \nBush avoided going to Vietnam when that war was going on, he has no idea of any lessons learned from Vietnam. How could he, he wasn't there. \nBush wanted instant success, that's why he pushed to invade Iraq on false pretenses. He also knows that his days are numbered once the war in Iraq ends, and war crimes investigations begin.
804390
One thing about Kerry I don't understand is this: He was a vietnam veteran, and proudly served his country! Seems to me like he would want to support our troops sense he was once a soldier himself!
330567
Yea and people made remarks about Kerry, At least he fought for America.Bush is a Woossssssss! He was born with the golden spoon in his mouth and I think he chocked on it , no that was a pretzel. Well, who knows where he was and all we know is he sure has us all in a mess. I wonder how many people would stick up for him if their oil stock suddenly dropped to $10.00 a barrel.! Ha That would be funny.
903366
one person that spit on them just said that the military was uneducated,,,, any guesses,,,, It was John Kerry, so to answer your question, liberal...
961952
In Vietnam, the Others knew he was not a one of them. Kerry was always only for himself.  \nJohn Kerry called the American Military Murderers, and worse! He betrayed the People in his Unit, His Country and himself, just to suck up to the Liberal Left of the Democrats. He only cares what is good for him. \nHe was stumping for himself, for the 2008 Presidential Election, when he made his Freudian slip, and called the American Military People in Iraq Stupid! There was no Joke. There was no slip, or they would have shown the {Us} in his script immediately! No, they came up with the added {Us} several days later. They lie, and lie, and lie! Where is Kerry now? Where is he Hiding? Why is he not out helping his Party Now? As usual, the Coward is in Hiding!
949392
If you look at statements sKerry has made over the years since he returned from Vietnam, his disdain for our troops is quite evident. \n\nI've known about how he's felt for some time. Good thing others are finally waking up to it. And remember, he's who the left nominated for president... he speaks for them. So think about that if you do really support the troops when you vote on Tuesday.
811424
I'm in the army right now, and I'll tell you this Army isn't the 'perfect' army.  He wasn't even close to calling Army soldiers 'uneducated' and 'lazy'.  He was more than likely refering to the equipment we fight with.  I think Kerrys statement was a mistake on his part, but I do think he holds us in very low regard.  And if it was supposed to be a joke about how Bush scored in college, he has no room to talk.  His scores were WORSE than Bush's!  What a hypocritical, pompous a**!\n\nFirst off, let me thank you for serving in 'Nam, because I think the way America treated our veterens after that war was absolutely horrendous.  However, I hate Kerry more for his comments about his FELLOW VETERENS, which I find inexcusable.  He lied about them blatantly, and he deserves to be branded a traitor.  And Vietnam was much different from the current war we are fighting, so you can't really compare the two.  A lot has changed since you were in, my wife and I are both military, and we have no problem with compensation for medical expenses.  Also, many soldiers volunteer to go to Iraq (myself among them) because the extra pay is VERY gratifying.  I understand that it's different for National Guard families, but they signed up and should have known what they were getting into (although recruiters do tend to lie :).  They aren't drafted, it's their choice.
823721
He has been saying this sort of thing since 1973, his contempt for the military is nothing new.\n\nGo to the Drudge Report, there is a great picture of the soldiers response to Kerry's comment.
957698
He said something about if you study hard you do good but if you don't you get stuck in Iraq. What he was supposed to say is if you study hard you do good but if you don't you get us stuck in a war in Iraq. That's not the exact words but that's what he said.\nIt was supposed to be a joke on Bush. He later apologized to the troops, not to Bush I don't think. I hate it that Kerry stuck his foot in his mouth (but it happens); I like him.
740114
Kerry blames Bush for his own failures.  What a coward.  Every war, he insults our military, then insults American public again by spinning, churning out his lies, not taking responsibility for his remarks.\n\nWhy do liberals accept his insults to their intelligence?  Who does he think he's smoking?  Kerry really thinks he speaks to dunces.  That includes his own party who absorb and reiterate his idiocy.  \n\nLiberals, how much more pathetic can you be?  Have some self respect.\n\nRepublicans think for themselves.  We would never follow stupidity like that.  That's why Foley and Trent Lot quit.  We withdrew support of them, even though Dems have done far worse.  Why aren't you thinking, Liberals?  He smoked you, and you love it.\n\nHow?\n\nWhy do you cling?
798695
Of course he spoke the truth; did he say stupid people are in Iraq?  NO!  That's why the Bush people ae so upset.  The truth hurts.
715190
Yes, many military men and women were offended.  It was one of the most inappropriate and stupid things that Kerry could have said.  However, being the proud military personnel that we are, I'd say it was handled great.  The picture is a great and fun jab back at Kerry.  It was a true eye opener for many as to how Kerry truly feels about the troops.  Kerry and the Dems will feel repercussions from this for awhile.  It's really not shocking that he said it.  He's never liked or supported the military.  Anyone that knows anything about him knows that his military career was a farce.  He's proved his ignorance once again.\n\nKudos and thumbs-up for our troops in Iraq.  I love the reply from them to Kerry!!
745940
I think John Kerry's remarks are a reflection of his pampered lifestyle. Not everyone has an opportunity to go to college, and that does not mean they are less effective in the war. I agree the war needs to come to an end, but is this really the message we want to send to the young men and women fighting for their lives in Iraq. Kerry need a dose the reality us "common people" live with everyday!!!