by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Nov. 1, 2006
All Rights Reserved.

peaking to students at Pasadena College with long-shot Calif. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides, Sen. John Kerry stepped on his shoelaces, telling the audience to do good in school or “get stuck in Iraq,” seemingly fingering the volunteer military as too dumb for civilian life. Kerry's faux pas was red meat to the GOP, a kind of strange déjà vu of the 2004 campaign where Kerry was ridiculed for saying he voted to authorize $85 billion for the Iraq war before he voted against it, painting himself as a flip-flopper. Kerry initially refused to apologize, dismissing his comments as a “botched joke.” Six days before the election, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), both heading the Senate and House reelection campaigns, pressured Kerry to apologize, causing unwanted embarrassment before the Nov. 7 election.

      Kerry tried to discount his remarks as a “botched joke,” putting the onus back on President Bush for a failed policy. Bush keeps talking about “victory” when U.S. troops and Iraqis are dying in record numbers. Kerry's blooper handed the GOP extra ammunition before the election. “Anybody who is in a position to serve this country ought to understand the consequences of words. We've got incredible people in our military, and they deserve full praise and full support of this government,” said Bush during a hastily called interview on the Rush Limbaugh Show, the nation's most popular conservative radio program. Bush's appearance on Rush's show marks the panic Republicans face holding onto the House and Senate. While Bush touts great progress in Iraq, Nov. 7 has turned into a national referendum on the war and a report card on his presidency.

      Most national polls show Democrats poised to retake the House and possibly the Senate. Under mounting pressure, Kerry apologized to “any service member, family member or American” offended by his remarks, saying he regretted his words were “misinterpreted to imply anything negative about those in uniform.” Many Democrats locked in tight races in the House and Senate repudiated Kerry's remarks, expressing disdain before the election. “It was a real dumb thing to say. He should say he's sorry,” said Claire McCaskill, a Democrat running against GOP incumbent Sen. Jim Talent for the U.S. senate in Missouri. Before Kerry's remarks, Democrats had momentum heading into next Tuesday. Kerry's remarks, while annoying, aren't likely to reverse growing doubts about the Iraq war. Voters have decided to use Election Day to express discontent with the White House.

      Kerry's remarks aren't likely to affect Nov. 7 but have implications for his expected second run for president. “No one wants to have the 2004 election replay,” said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), a likely presidential contender next year. Democrats ran for cover after Kerry's remarks dredged up bad memories from the '04 campaign. Democrats walk a fine line blasting Kerry without taking a decisive position on Iraq. Kerry, like former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, now head of the Democratic National Committee, when he ran for president in ‘04, gained national attention opposing the Iraq war. Three years later, Kerry picked up the antiwar baton now that it's more obvious to voters that the war is a lost cause. Bush's stubborn insistence on increasing troops and pursuing “victory” in the face of utter failure reminds voters why it's necessary to clean house and change directions.

      Kerry's blooper rocks a more steady boat heading into Nov. 7. After the election, there's going to be plenty of time for Democrats to debate a more coherent position on Iraq. With Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) possibly entering the race, Kerry's antiwar camp is going to gain added clout, despite Hillary's fence-sitting. Kerry tried but failed to point out that the Iraq war endangers U.S. troops and spreads the military too thin. Growing numbers believe supporting the troops involves redeploying out of harm's way. Iraq's deteriorating violence indicates that neither Iraq's new military nor the U.S. military can contain spiraling violence. Apart from refusing to concede defeat before the election, voters have grown tired of redundant White House rhetoric promising to restore order and move toward “victory.” Pouncing on Kerry gives the White House a last ditch try to influence the election.

      Kerry's “botched joke” backfired on Democrats facing a tough battle heading into the midyear election. Momentum swings to-and-fro in the waning days before a pivotal event. Democrats don't need unwanted distractions as they wage a competitive battle for control of the House and Senate. Instead of denouncing Kerry, Democrats should help voters focus on the unavoidable truth about Iraq: That it's a lost cause requiring an urgent exit strategy. Blasting Kerry gives the GOP only faint hope that they can reverse deeply entrenched opinions and get out the base before the election. Appearing on the Rush Limbaugh Show, Bush mirrored GOP panic that this election won't be kind to Republicans. No matter how you spin it, Bush's abysmal approval ratings don't bode well for his Party. Picking on Kerry harks back to better days when Karl Rove & Co. got Bush reelected.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColuumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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