Kerry Was Not Talking About The Troops

24

Comments

  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    69charger wrote:
    He also has a well documented history of demeaning members of the United States Military, so maybe we should just follow established Kerry precedent and believe him when he called our troops stupid.

    He's already called our troops terrorists, rapists, murderers, and baby killers.

    Please provide examples.

    69charger wrote:
    I just did. Did you only read 1/2 of my post?

    Your post provides no examples, just an unsupported statement. If you're referring to the words 'well documented' then why not provide this documentation?
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    You can't excuse it. It was a stupid thing to say and it shows a lot about what he thinks of the military.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • chopitdownchopitdown Posts: 2,222
    But quite honestly, and as an aside from what Kerry said, you're all kidding yourselves if you don't think recruiters target the more uneducated people in our society. And I'm not saying "stupid" people either. There's not a lot of Harvard educated people who upon graduation decide to go into the military. Recruiters tend to go into the lower income areas where college, because of low grades, poor educations or no funds, is not an option.

    i never once said they didn't target low income people. But let's be honest, you have to earn a college degree in this climate if you want to get ahead; in fact many places now view a bachelors as the new high school diploma, and if you're poor and not well educated (test scores wise and gpa wise) the options are limited. The army is a legitimate way to work your way up the educational ladder (and keep out of debt); which is why they target that population. It may not sound fair, but since when has life been fair?
    make sure the fortune that you seek...is the fortune that you need
  • AbuskedtiAbuskedti Posts: 1,917
    know1 wrote:
    You can't excuse it. It was a stupid thing to say and it shows a lot about what he thinks of the military.

    Excuse it? Why? In fact that is said once every 4 seconds each day by ordinary Americans. (statistics provide though Abuestimate)

    Let see... do some research - is the U.S. enlisted force disproportionately lower income? Is the gap between the wealthy and the not so wealthy growing?

    Did Bush assume he could take those "Stuck" in the military to fight and die to save the world from Iraq's Weapons of Mass destruction. Then take advantage of those "Stuck" and just leave them there to continue to die anyway - in spite of the fact there were no Weapons of Mass distruction. Is the cost of education rising faster than inflation - much faster - as the gap between the rich and poor grows - making the poor synonomous with undereducated?

    Does Bush bank on the Stuck and uneducated by forcing them to "Stay a Losing dealy productionless course" and figure they'd be ok with it if he makes of policy to not say it anymore.

    Does he hide without comment on the direction of the Nation - only to emerge and pounce on this comment to say it is an insult to the troops?

    Does he claim that any questioning of his actions aids the enemy - only to announce those that don't say anything don't have ideas..

    as we approach 3,000 dead Americans and ten times as many seriously injured and unable to continue life as they planned..... As the people of Iraq have suffered losses unimaginable by any American as more than 2 of every 100 citizens have already been killed... far more seriously injured and unable to continue their lives as they had planned - and all without loved ones and family memebers and without any dignity.

    The poor in America are stuck there because they made the error of trusting their country to treat them with the respect they deserve.

    Please Mr. Bush don't insult them further by using this comment to pretend you care about the troops - why don't you just take a moment to spit on their graves.
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    Abuskedti wrote:
    Excuse it? Why? In fact that is said once every 4 seconds each day by ordinary Americans. (statistics provide though Abuestimate)

    Let see... do some research - is the U.S. enlisted force disproportionately lower income? Is the gap between the wealthy and the not so wealthy growing?

    Did Bush assume he could take those "Stuck" in the military to fight and die to save the world from Iraq's Weapons of Mass destruction. Then take advantage of those "Stuck" and just leave them there to continue to die anyway - in spite of the fact there were no Weapons of Mass distruction. Is the cost of education rising faster than inflation - much faster - as the gap between the rich and poor grows - making the poor synonomous with undereducated?

    Does Bush bank on the Stuck and uneducated by forcing them to "Stay a Losing dealy productionless course" and figure they'd be ok with it if he makes of policy to not say it anymore.

    Does he hide without comment on the direction of the Nation - only to emerge and pounce on this comment to say it is an insult to the troops?

    Does he claim that any questioning of his actions aids the enemy - only to announce those that don't say anything don't have ideas..

    as we approach 3,000 dead Americans and ten times as many seriously injured and unable to continue life as they planned..... As the people of Iraq have suffered losses unimaginable by any American as more than 2 of every 100 citizens have already been killed... far more seriously injured and unable to continue their lives as they had planned - and all without loved ones and family memebers and without any dignity.

    The poor in America are stuck there because they made the error of trusting their country to treat them with the respect they deserve.

    Please Mr. Bush don't insult them further by using this comment to pretend you care about the troops - why don't you just take a moment to spit on their graves.

    As usual, your comments are drawing in a lot of things that weren't said or even implied.

    This is a paraphrase of his comments:

    "If you're stupid and lazy, you'll end up in the military". You can say what you want about that, but it really is close minded of him to think those are the only people who join the military.

    He said nothing about being poor. Furthermore, these folks aren't stuck. They volunteered for this and continue to do so.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • AbuskedtiAbuskedti Posts: 1,917
    know1 wrote:
    As usual, your comments are drawing in a lot of things that weren't said or even implied.

    This is a paraphrase of his comments:

    "If you're stupid and lazy, you'll end up in the military". You can say what you want about that, but it really is close minded of him to think those are the only people who join the military.

    He said nothing about being poor. Furthermore, these folks aren't stuck. They volunteered for this and continue to do so.

    Um they are not stuck.. they can leave - there is a word for that...

    Desertion

    It carries a maximum penalty of death.
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    Abuskedti wrote:
    Um they are not stuck.. they can leave - there is a word for that...

    Desertion

    It carries a maximum penalty of death.

    Again, my main point was about you discussing the financial demographics of the military in defense of Kerry, when he did not address that at all. He just called them stupid and lazy.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • AbuskedtiAbuskedti Posts: 1,917
    know1 wrote:
    Again, my main point was about you discussing the financial demographics of the military in defense of Kerry, when he did not address that at all. He just called them stupid and lazy.

    No,my friend - he never called a single troop stupid or lazy...

    Does this help you to make things like this up?
  • callencallen Posts: 6,388
    Abuskedti wrote:
    No,my friend - he never called a single troop stupid or lazy...

    Does this help you to make things like this up?

    just put yourself in a Republican/Bush supporter position..you've been slapped with your party's incompetence for couple years now.....so when something small like this comes along..you have to ride it...ride it hard. When you see people use this Kerry thing to support anything..just understand where they're coming from...its got to be tough.
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    Abuskedti wrote:
    No,my friend - he never called a single troop stupid or lazy...

    Does this help you to make things like this up?

    He didn't use those words, but that is indeed what he said. In any case, it was much closer to that than "poor" which is what you attributed.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • Kenny Olav wrote:
    A lot of you know I'm not a fan of Senator Kerry. I have never voted for him, though I had the opportunity to do so three times: twice for Senator and once for President.

    But despite what you may have heard, he DID NOT say the troops were uneducated and dumb, although that's what it may seem like from watching this short clip.

    The truth is, Kerry did not in any way say the troops had stupidly gotten themselves stuck in Iraq. What he meant was that the BUSH ADMINISTRATION had not educated themselves on the situation in the Middle East, which is how they got stuck in Iraq, as he puts it. Of course, they are not in Iraq - if they ever set foot in Iraq, they never travel beyond the safety of the Green Zone. Kerry says the troops are stuck in Iraq because of Bush's stupidity, not theirs. I think it goes beyond stupidity, but this is not about my opinion, it's about clarifying John Kerry's.

    Here is the video of John Kerry defending himself at a press conference:

    http://video.johnkerry.com/video/flash/103106_pressc_2.html

    I'd hate to think that Bush might continue to distort what Kerry said and possibly swing the pendulum away from the Democrats this election, however marginal the change the Dems might bring.
    LOL That's the biggest bunch of bullshit I ever read! Kerry hates the troops and he hates America, that's already been proven
    I’d thank my lucky stars,
    to be livin here today.
    ‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
    and they can’t take that away.

    And I’m proud to be an American,
    where at least I know I’m free.
    And I wont forget the men who died,
    who gave that right to me.
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    callen wrote:
    just put yourself in a Republican/Bush supporter position..you've been slapped with your party's incompetence for couple years now.....so when something small like this comes along..you have to ride it...ride it hard. When you see people use this Kerry thing to support anything..just understand where they're coming from...its got to be tough.

    I'm not a Republican and I'm anti-military. But you can't defend what he said.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • AbuskedtiAbuskedti Posts: 1,917
    know1 wrote:
    He didn't use those words, but that is indeed what he said. In any case, it was much closer to that than "poor" which is what you attributed.

    Why do you think you heard stupid and lazy - is that how you see those that don't go to or succeed in college?
  • know1 wrote:
    I'm not a Republican and I'm anti-military. But you can't defend what he said.
    Anti-military? Surely you mean something other than you hate the troops. What do you mean by anti-military?

    You couldn't have said something you didn't really mean but was just awkwardly stated, could you?
    "Things will just get better and better even though it
    doesn't feel that way right now. That's the hopeful
    idea . . . Hope didn't get much applause . . .
    Hope! Hope is the underdog!"

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  • Stupid and lazy?.....isnt that the conservative definition of poor people. Personal responsibility, yes sir!
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    Stupid and lazy?.....isnt that the conservative definition of poor people. Personal responsibility, yes sir!


    you keep me spinning right round round , round. like a record baby.


    the song goes something like that.
  • AbuskedtiAbuskedti Posts: 1,917
    jlew24asu wrote:
    you keep me spinning right round round , round. like a record baby.


    the song goes something like that.

    I haven't gotten an answer yet.. but why do you think many translate failure to graduate college as stupid and lazy?
  • jlew24asu wrote:
    you keep me spinning right round round , round. like a record baby.


    the song goes something like that.



    yeah, its a great song, i hope that you got the irony of my post.
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    yeah, its a great song, i hope that you got the irony of my post.


    I did.
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    Abuskedti wrote:
    I haven't gotten an answer yet.. but why do you think many translate failure to graduate college as stupid and lazy?


    well then you might get stuck in iraq.
  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    I wonder...of those upset about Kerry's comments, how many see the military as a great career and a wonderful opportunity...? and if you do, why don't you sign up...?
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    inmytree wrote:
    I wonder...of those upset about Kerry's comments, how many see the military as a great career and a wonderful opportunity...? and if you do, why don't you sign up...?


    what are you trying to say? I wouldnt want to put words in your mouth.
  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    jlew24asu wrote:
    what are you trying to say? I wouldnt want to put words in your mouth.

    how many see the military as a great career and a wonderful opportunity...? and if you do, why don't you sign up?
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    inmytree wrote:
    how many see the military as a great career and a wonderful opportunity...? and if you do, why don't you sign up?


    um many people do see it as a great career and wonderful opportunity. are you trying to ask people on this board if they do? and then give a childish response like, well if its so great, why dont you sign up.

    but many people do it for much more then a career. you probably dont understand that.
  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    jlew24asu wrote:
    um many people do see it as a great career and wonderful opportunity. are you trying to ask people on this board if they do? and then give a childish response like, well if its so great, why dont you sign up.

    but many people do it for much more then a career. you probably dont understand that.

    no need to get defensive...I was just curious...I see that right is upset over these comments, which I find odd, because I would think the "pull yourself up by your bootstap" thinkers would support Kerry's comments...

    and yes, I was curious if those who upset see the Military as a great opportunity...and if you do, then why was that great opportunity pursued...that's all...

    as for the understanding of Military Career choice...I'm curious, where to you get your understanding...?
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,446
    After reading Kerry's comments...I don;t reallyt care. I already have more than enough reasons to not like him, I don't need this one.

    Personally, I believe he was talking about Bush AND the troops. Bush being dumb got us in Iraq. And he was trying to spout off the old liberal goto statement about the poor, uneducated people being forced to go.

    But really, who gives a crap?

    Makes me wonder who will run for the Dems next election...they've run 2 robots in a row, will it be a trifecta?
    hippiemom = goodness
  • Kenny Olav wrote:
    It's certainly possible that Kerry meant what people thought he meant and then invented this new explanation to cover it up. However, Kerry does have a history of lame attempts to make jokes. We'll never know. We should give him the benefit of the doubt. I think its a reasonable explanation.

    the fact that it could be taken out of context so easily and applied to the troops fighting in the area is proof that he never should have said it. if the prepared text said what they're saying it says...is kerry now admitting that he can't read? the fact is that bush didn't do his homework...he didn't extend himself in the area of the iraq situation...and, now, the u.s. military and the coslition of the willing are stuck in a deadly quagmire
    I'll dig a tunnel
    from my window to yours
  • floyd1975floyd1975 Posts: 1,350
    inmytree wrote:
    no need to get defensive...I was just curious...I see that right is upset over these comments, which I find odd, because I would think the "pull yourself up by your bootstap" thinkers would support Kerry's comments...

    and yes, I was curious if those who upset see the Military as a great opportunity...and if you do, then why was that great opportunity pursued...that's all...

    as for the understanding of Military Career choice...I'm curious, where to you get your understanding...?

    I think becoming an engineer is a great career path too but I never pursued that. I wasn't really good at the things that were needed to pursue it.
  • Doesn't anyone remember the haughty comment by Kerry during the October '04 debate where he said words to the effect that looking around the room only three people here will get the >$200K tax cuts ? Probably not, but this is the first thing that came to my mind when he said that.

    It also makes his stated intentions for the remark yesterday hard to believe. Kerry's a snot, and looks down on Americans.

    Also, remember folks - there is no draft. So somewhere between the not doing well in school and ending up in Iraq for whatever reason, someone had to make a decision to join. So he poo-poos those Americans who decided to join.
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,446
    If Kerry was a conservative...he already would have been stripped of any of his power in teh Senate..ala Trent Lott.

    Comments taken out of context can kill a politicians career, and that is sad. Because I want politicians to be able to say EXACTLY what they tink at all times. Then I know where they stand instead of them being too PC and never showing their true thoughts.

    I'm fairly sure Kenny Olav wasn't out there defending Trent. ;)
    hippiemom = goodness
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