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McCain calls for apology from Kerry
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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Sen. John McCain called on fellow Vietnam veteran Sen. John Kerry to apologize Tuesday for suggesting that U.S. soldiers in Iraq are uneducated.
“Sen. Kerry owes an apology to the many thousands of Americans serving in Iraq, who answered their country’s call because they are patriots and not because of any deficiencies in their education,” McCain said.
The Arizona Republican was responding to remarks that Kerry made Monday at a rally in California for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides.
“You know, education — if you make the most of it, and you study hard, and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well,” the Massachusetts Democrat said. “If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”
Kerry’s remarks were called “insensitive, ill-considered and uninformed” by McCain, who previously has defended Kerry against attacks by Republicans on military matters. Both Kerry, who ran for president in 2004, and McCain, who ran in 2000, are expected to run again in 2008.
“The suggestion that only the least-educated Americans would agree to serve in the military and fight in Iraq is an insult to every soldier serving in combat,” McCain said.
It was the second time in less than a year that Kerry has been accused of insulting U.S. troops in Iraq. Last December, he told CBS’s Bob Schieffer: “There is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, women.”
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said Tuesday that Kerry “not only owes an apology to those who are serving, but also to the families of those who’ve given their lives in this. This is an absolute insult.”
Kerry refused to apologize and fired back at Snow and other conservatives, including radio talk show hosts, with an unusually harsh statement.
“I’m not going to be lectured by a stuffed suit White House mouthpiece standing behind a podium, or doughy Rush Limbaugh,” he said. “It disgusts me that these Republican hacks, who have never worn the uniform of our country, lie and distort so blatantly and carelessly about those who have.
“The people who owe our troops an apology are George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, who misled America into war,” Kerry added. “These Republicans want to debate straw men because they’re afraid to debate real men.”
bsammon@dcexaminer.com
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Examiner Reader said:
So once again we are being lied to AMNESTY, hell no. these bastard politians have sold out our country. I personally feel that they are traitors. Who the hell are they to be getting amnesty, everyone else came here the right way. WE DO NOT NEED THE ILLEGALS.
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Examiner Reader said:
you wrote, "On May 1, 2003, the term “Navy One” was employed for the first time when Bush helped pilot a Navy plane onto an aircraft carrier for a victory speech about Iraq. Democrats later accused him of prematurely declaring an end to major combat operations." In fact, Bush HIMSELF said, "major combat operations in Iraq have ended."
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