2008 Woodie Awards
Talking heads misinterpret Kerry
Fiasco proves political smears trump practical solutions
Matt Williams
Issue date: 11/2/06 Section: Soap Box
University of Maine students: Go to class, study hard and work your tails off. Otherwise, you'll wind up working at Quizno's.
Now, before all the sandwich construction specialists out there open fire, understand that I'm poking fun at Sen. John Kerry's recent remarks about troops in Iraq. More importantly, I'm poking fun at the outrageous response from infuriated Republicans.
Kerry told students at Pasadena City College in California to stay in school and work hard in their studies, or they might get stuck in Iraq. Conservatives were on the warpath following the remarks, saying that Kerry had insulted all American troops by essentially calling them stupid.
I've been called a jingoist, an ignoramus and everything in between for some conservative views I've put in this space. So hopefully my friends on the right will allow me some wiggle room when I say the attacks on Kerry are nothing short of ridiculous.
The truth is, I learned of his comments while watching the afternoon talk shows on Tuesday. Based on the commentators' tones and lengthy leads, I was expecting some racial epithet or direct attack. Kerry's words were tame in comparison to their billing.
No one, Kerry and myself included, is saying that American troops are dumb. Many enlisted despite considerable talents and job opportunities in the private sector. Every person who wears a uniform is as brave a man or woman as any walking this earth and has my respect.
Pinning such a label on Kerry's chest is just the latest in a series of negative campaigns that have tarnished the 2006 election season on both sides of the aisle. Politicians have spent nearly 10 times as much money on negative ads as positive ones this fall, and the result is mud-slinging contests like the one we witnessed Tuesday afternoon.
Kerry's comment was regrettable and should've been better phrased to indicate an attack on Bush rather than the troops, that's true, and he apologized to offended troops. But why are Republicans pouncing on such a seemingly small faux pas? After all, it pales to their own congressman Mark Foley's scandal.
Now, before all the sandwich construction specialists out there open fire, understand that I'm poking fun at Sen. John Kerry's recent remarks about troops in Iraq. More importantly, I'm poking fun at the outrageous response from infuriated Republicans.
Kerry told students at Pasadena City College in California to stay in school and work hard in their studies, or they might get stuck in Iraq. Conservatives were on the warpath following the remarks, saying that Kerry had insulted all American troops by essentially calling them stupid.
I've been called a jingoist, an ignoramus and everything in between for some conservative views I've put in this space. So hopefully my friends on the right will allow me some wiggle room when I say the attacks on Kerry are nothing short of ridiculous.
The truth is, I learned of his comments while watching the afternoon talk shows on Tuesday. Based on the commentators' tones and lengthy leads, I was expecting some racial epithet or direct attack. Kerry's words were tame in comparison to their billing.
No one, Kerry and myself included, is saying that American troops are dumb. Many enlisted despite considerable talents and job opportunities in the private sector. Every person who wears a uniform is as brave a man or woman as any walking this earth and has my respect.
Pinning such a label on Kerry's chest is just the latest in a series of negative campaigns that have tarnished the 2006 election season on both sides of the aisle. Politicians have spent nearly 10 times as much money on negative ads as positive ones this fall, and the result is mud-slinging contests like the one we witnessed Tuesday afternoon.
Kerry's comment was regrettable and should've been better phrased to indicate an attack on Bush rather than the troops, that's true, and he apologized to offended troops. But why are Republicans pouncing on such a seemingly small faux pas? After all, it pales to their own congressman Mark Foley's scandal.
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