How Much Play Should The Press Give The Kerry Gaffe?
(AP)
Kerry insists his comments weren't an insult – just a botched joke. (He says he left out the word "us" – as in "If you don't you get us stuck in Iraq.") He maintains that he was talking about the president and his administration, not the troops. And, he says, the White House knows as much and are exploiting the situation anyway. Kerry also had some criticism for the press. "This is Swift Boat stuff all over again," he said this morning on "Imus." "Somebody says something, and they get excited and they love and have fun, because oh boy, isn't this good, you've got a controversy. But look behind the controversy. The controversy is based on a lie."
Which raises the question – should it be getting the coverage it is? The story is dominating the 24 hour cable networks and the blogs. It led all three network newscasts last night, and all three morning shows today. The New York Daily News put "Kerry Kalamity" in its cover. All this over a missing "us?" That isn't to say that the press should be ignoring the controversy – thanks to the White House's reaction to Kerry's comments, this is a legitimate, if small, political story. But isn't that about it?
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See all 43 CommentsJohn Kerry is being bashed because he blew a
punch line.
When he made that joke, he was trying to make the
following point: Because George Bush failed to
do his homework, we are now stuck in Iraq. He
was not trying to insult the intelligence of our
troops.
Instead of bashing Kerry for a botched joke,
perhaps we should be asking the question: Did
George Bush do his homework?
Bush under estimated the terrorist threat in
Iraq, despite the fact that he went there to
fight terrorism. He under estimated the threat
of sectarian violence, despite the fact that Iraq
is composed of three ethnic groups who dislike
each other. And he under estimated the number of
troops needed in Iraq, ignoring the advice of a
number of his top military people. As a result,
there was no adequate plan to win the peace in
Iraq, and no adequate means to secure that peace.
Apparently, George Bush failed to do his homework.
Perhaps, George Bush should apologize to our
troops for that failure. They are paying a heavy
price because of it.
And so is our nation.
This issue boils down to the following: "botched
joke by John Kerry" versus "botched policy in
Iraq by George Bush".
And one last thought. If George Bush failed to
do his homework on Iraq, did he fail to do his
homework on how to combat the terrorist threat?
Our troops in Iraq are under heavy attack. They
are being attacked by Iraqi terrorists. And, they
are being attacked by American politicians
... politicians from both parties.
A top Democrat, John Kerry, makes a joke implying
that our troops are not very smart.
And, a top Republican, John Boehner, blames our
generals for our problems in Iraq, implying that
our generals are not very smart.
Kerry apologized for his joke, and explained that
he botched a joke aimed at George Bush.
Boehner has refused to apologize for his
accusation.
I feel sorry for our generals. The big boss
under estimated the terrorist threat in Iraq,
under estimated the threat of sectarian
violence in Iraq, and then failed to send them
enough help. And then they get the blame for the
inevitable problems caused by the big boss's
mistakes.
And, I feel sorry for our troops. They are
paying a heavy price for the big boss's mistakes.
The RNC will concentrate on Kerry and run racist ads rather than confront failed policies. No wonder that many Republican candidates are not mentioning Bush and not even acknowledging they are Republicans.
And we wonder how the Republican Party has become so divorced from reality. Clearly, it's because the followers are not empiricists, but cultists followers who will spout any nonsense for the cause -- and have a compliant media willing to do the heavy lifting.
That's a massive double standard. It's a good thing for Bush nobody expects him to sound fluent in English, and unfortunate for Kerry that everyone expects flawless delivery, despite him having always been regarded as an awkward campaigner.
If the press treated Republicans the way they treat Kerry and Al Gore, well... I don't know, it's too hard to imagine, because they would never do that.
Way to go, Mr. Nuance.
Is the new strategy in Iraq now going to be to go after Uday and Quasay again?
Mr. Kerry does not owe any soldier an apology for a missed delivered one liner in election season. Mr. Bush owes them (and their families) plenty for the countless reckless decisions that have landed our fighting men and women in the quagmire they're in in the first place.
The media might offer one as well for wasting time and discussion on this absurd purely politicaly manufactured non issue to begin with.
Is the new strategy in Iraq now going to be to go after Uday and Quasay again?
Mr. Kerry does not owe any soldier an apology for a missed delivered one liner in election season. Mr. Bush owes them (and their families) plenty for the countless reckless decisions that have landed our fighting men and women in the quagmire they're in in the first place.
The media might offer one as well for wasting time and discussion on this absurd purely politicaly manufactured non issue to begin with.
Is the new strategy in Iraq now going to be to go after Uday and Quasay again?
Mr. Kerry does not owe any soldier an apology for a missed delivered one liner in election season. Mr. Bush owes them (and their families) plenty for the countless reckless decisions that have landed our fighting men and women in the quagmire they're in in the first place.
The media might offer one as well for wasting time and discussion on this absurd purely politicaly manufactured non issue to begin with.
But I really pray by now the American people are aware that this White House omits facts, twists the truth and does everything possible to scare and confuse the public into voting for their party.
I would like to think voters can see through this and ignore Bush's comments. Kerry made a slip of the tongue, Bush knows what Kerry meant and is playing games to keep Iraq and REAL issues out of the news. Shame on the media too for playing into Bush's trick. REPORT IT. BE DONE WITH IT. OVE ON. GET BACK TO REPORTING REAL NEWS.
I think the American people are smart enough to see thru the desperate thin veil of anxious fear that the Republicans have about loosing power due to their OWN blunders, foibles and outright lies. The reason why they are so keen to jump on Kerry is because there are a couple of million potential votes from military personnel in this election. I don't think for a minute that military personnel are stupid enough to believe Kerry thinks they are stupid.
The real travesty is being ignored. Sending our troops into combat without even adequate body armor, underarmored vehicles, excessively long and repeated tours of duty - on top of the lies that got them in there in the first place - THAT, using the words of Pres. Bush, is 'insulting and shameful'.
For the media to seize upon the GOP spin so blindly, I am convinced there is no longer any integrity in the press.
US journalists are sheep and Karl Rove is the shepherd. Cover the real story for once.
He's over here with his freedom of speech, defended by the troups that he's belittled.
He's nothing but a liar and basically your no-good politician.
Enough said?
Whether the MSM covers his idiocy now or not, he will eventually do something equally stupid in the future to again make the headlines. He just can't help himself. He is the one who is the dim bulb!
But if you are responsible journalists, you'll move on to people and issues that are relevant to most Americans instead of focusing on a failed presidental contender and a failed presidency.
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