Kerry issues full apology for anyone offended, and that he misspoke

Thorgrim · 11-01-2006, 05:26 PM

"I personally apologize to any service member, family member, or American who was offended"
"I sincerely regret my words were misinterpreted"
Sen. Kerry

GOP #2, Majority Leader John Boehner: This story is over

When the GOP leader says its over, signaling the GOP attack machine is going to stop, and he's basically apologized and explained as much as humanely possible, you have to conclude this story is over unless the media has it out for Democrats

/story

JaJae · 11-01-2006, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

"I personally apologize to any service member, family member, or American who was offended"
"I sincerely regret my words were misinterpreted"
Sen. Kerry

GOP #2, Majority Leader John Boehner: This story is over

When the GOP leader says its over, signaling the GOP attack machine is going to stop, and he's basically apologized and explained as much as humanely possible, you have to conclude this story is over unless the media has it out for Democrats

/story

The attack machine? It's hard to say the attack machine is going after him when he's calling press conferences attacking the GOP and calling up radio stations to bash Bush and the GOP.

And it's about time he apologized. It only took the entire nation yelling at him for a full day.

JaJae · 11-01-2006, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by John Kerry

As a combat veteran, I want to make it clear to anyone in uniform and to their loved ones: my poorly stated joke at a rally was not about, and never intended to refer to any troop.

I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform, and I personally apologize to any service member, family member, or American who was offended.

It is clear the Republican Party would rather talk about anything but their failed security policy. I don’t want my verbal slip to be a diversion from the real issues. I will continue to fight for a change of course to provide real security for our country, and a winning strategy for our troops.

It's about time this lying jackass apologized.

Thorgrim · 11-01-2006, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

The attack machine? It's hard to say the attack machine is going after him when he's calling press conferences attacking the GOP and calling up radio stations to bash Bush and the GOP.

And it's about time he apologized. It only took the entire nation yelling at him for a full day.

It's called RESPONDING, how can you seriously deny that there is a GOP attack machine (like there is a Dem attack machine) and that they focused on Kerry?

As soon as he goes on the radio every GOP talking point disappears?

Just stick to your comment about how you hate the guy but you're glad he finally apologized

JaJae · 11-01-2006, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

It's called RESPONDING, how can you seriously deny that there is a GOP attack machine (like there is a Dem attack machine) and that they focused on Kerry?

As soon as he goes on the radio every GOP talking point disappears?

Just stick to your comment about how you hate the guy but you're glad he finally apologized

I'm not denying that there isn't a GOP attack machine. But you're making it sound like the GOP attack machine was dragging this on with no help or fault of Kerry. Kerry kept coming out making angry statements attacking the GOP and saying he wouldn't apologize. And much of the GOP attack machine was in response to Kerry acting like Howard Dean. He made this into the spectacle it became with his childish behavior.

That's what dragged it on.

Thorgrim · 11-01-2006, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

But you're making it sound like the GOP attack machine was dragging this on with no help or fault of Kerry.

No, he foolishly chose to make a stand on this

like I said

end of story

JaJae · 11-01-2006, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

No, he foolishly chose to make a stand on this

like I said

end of story

Unfortunately it's not end of story. Because of the way he conducted himself people are going to be questioning his intentions of the apology. Is he really sorry? Was it really a botched joke? Or is he simply trying to get the media off him since apparently lashing out at the GOP and acting like Howard Dean failed for him.

Lashing out at Bush and carrying on like he did during the elections with his elitist attitude isn't going to work anymore. He's no longer the poster boy the Democrats are willing to give a free pass to because he's standing up against Bush. Much of the backlash from this wasn't from the GOP machine. It was from the Democrats as well. And it'll be interesting to see people's reactions to him because of this.

This isn't something that simply goes away immediately just because he apologized. It just makes it a lot better on his part, but there are lasting effects to being in his position and saying the things he said and reacting to the way he did. Just like Howard Dean will never be able to be president. This is going to follow Kerry through his political career.

ballz2wallz · 11-01-2006, 05:46 PM

I would prefer he stop knitpicking at what he's apologizing for and just say 'I'm sorry for what I said; it was wrong and I was wrong to say it'

Scrum · 11-01-2006, 05:46 PM

Somehow I doubt this will matter to the very people calling for this apology.

ballz2wallz · 11-01-2006, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Somehow I doubt this will matter to the very people calling for this apology.

Apologies like 'I'm sorry you were offended' or 'I'm sorry you misinterpreted my words' are not real apologies. They continue to place the blame on anybody but himself. It implies that it's the soldier's (and families of soldier's) fault for being offended, or the fault of anybody who misinterpreted what he said. That's BS.

JaJae · 11-01-2006, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

I would prefer he stop knitpicking at what he's apologizing for and just say 'I'm sorry for what I said; it was wrong and I was wrong to say it'

Well he can't come out and say he meant it as was said. That would be career suicide beyond the lengths of actually saying it. Apologizing to the people he offended and for "misinterpretation" of what he said is the best we're gonna get. And I understand that. It sucks that he has to close with with more political bashing.

It's like look Kerry. You can't call numerous press conferences and numerous radio shows and say "Let's get back to focus" on issues as if it's everyone else's fault this got so much attention. That's just dumb.

JaJae · 11-01-2006, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Apologies like 'I'm sorry you were offended' or 'I'm sorry you misinterpreted my words' are not real apologies. They continue to place the blame on anybody but himself. It implies that it's the soldier's (and families of soldier's) fault for being offended, or the fault of anybody who misinterpreted what he said. That's BS.

well he said:

I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform, and I personally apologize to any service member, family member, or American who was offended.

I really don't think he could get much more direct than that without admitting what he said was wrong. Which he's not ever going to do. And I understand that.. he's a politician.

ballz2wallz · 11-01-2006, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Well he can't come out and say he meant it as was said. That would be career suicide beyond the lengths of actually saying it. Apologizing to the people he offended and for "misinterpretation" of what he said is the best we're gonna get. And I understand that. It sucks that he has to close with with more political bashing.

It's like look Kerry. You can't call numerous press conferences and numerous radio shows and say "Let's get back to focus" on issues as if it's everyone else's fault this got so much attention. That's just dumb.

He doesnt' have to say it, but the fact is, he said it how he said it. Apologizing because everyone else is stupid and misinterpreted what he said...when actually he 'misspoke his joke' or whatever...is stupid. He's still blaming everyone else for his mistake.

JaJae · 11-01-2006, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

He doesnt' have to say it, but the fact is, he said it how he said it. Apologizing because everyone else is stupid and misinterpreted what he said...when actually he 'misspoke his joke' or whatever...is stupid. He's still blaming everyone else for his mistake.

Yea I see what you're saying. He has admitted the joke was "botched." Which means the joke was flawed. He's essentially saying the joke got botched to where a reasonable person could misinterpret it (I think that's reasonable since he didn't say the alleged punch line which associates the joke with Bush). Then he goes on to say it's Bush and the GOP's fault that people misinterpreted it so I'm not going to apologize for it.

Then he finally apologizes and he apologizes for the GOP's misinterpretation of what he said and essentially saying he's sorry the GOP deceived them and they were offended by the GOP's misinterpretation.

Scrum · 11-01-2006, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Apologies like 'I'm sorry you were offended' or 'I'm sorry you misinterpreted my words' are not real apologies.

Like how Rush apologized to MJ Fox?

But that's not what he said.

and I personally apologize to any service member, family member, or American who was offended.

He didn't say he was sorry they were offended. He said he's sorry to anyone he offended.

Jesus, can't make anyone happy.

JaJae · 11-01-2006, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Like how Rush apologized to MJ Fox?

But that's not what he said.
He didn't say he was sorry they were offended. He said he's sorry to anyone he offended.

Jesus, can't make anyone happy.

Rush Limbaugh never had intentions of running for president, nor did he get elected into public office. He is a controversial radio talk show host personality. And he acted controversial.

If you're going to compare John Kerry to standards imposed on Rush Limbaugh the Democratic party is in serious trouble. Air America doesn't apologize for their crap and slander. At least Rush makes an attempt.

ballz2wallz · 11-01-2006, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Like how Rush apologized to MJ Fox?

Did Rush say anything wrong abou MJF? All I heard was that he was used by the Democratic political machine (obviously a point of opinion). Was he wrong, mean, or anything of the sort? What would he apologize for?

SoFlaJDM · 11-01-2006, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Air America doesn't apologize for their crap and slander. At least Rush makes an attempt.

link? and saying they are going bankrupt doesnt make it valid

edit: and rush slanders people on a DAILY basis

JaJae · 11-01-2006, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by SoFlaJDM

link? and saying they are going bankrupt doesnt make it valid

edit: and rush slanders people on a DAILY basis

There is no link to Air America apologizing.

Rush has apologized. You can look it up. His response to the allegations during the Kerry debacle is kinda funny though..

YELLIN: The president sat for an interview with Rush Limbaugh today, why hasn't he called on Rush Limbaugh to make that same kind of apology?

SNOW: Because again, Rush Limbaugh's made his comments, I love the diversion but there is a difference between the apology he gave. Rush has said, "If I got it wrong, I apologize." Saying if he got the statement of the facts wrong, he apologizes. My question is, why hasn't Senator Kerry just said, "I'm sorry?"

RUSH: Folks, I have to tell you, this is just surreal, to sit here and listen to this. The Drive-By Media has spent nine days distorting this. The last I saw, I had apologized. They're out there reporting I have apologized, and they got it wrong, by the way, but they said I had apologized for something I didn't apologize for, in a way to make me look like I was admitting guilt. I apologized after Mr. Fox said that he overmedicated that day he shot the ads. I said it looked like he was either acting or under-medicated because he'd admitted to under-medicating in his own book, which they still refuse to mention. But when he himself said he was overmedicated, that's when I made the point (it was last Thursday) to apologize. But here I am. I'm a little offended being equated with the Lurch. I'm smarter than he is, I'm better looking than he is, and I've accomplished more than he has. But Snow is right. I'm not a candidate, and I'm not a former presidential candidate. I'm not an elected anything. It's just surreal.

His actual apology:

"All right then, I stand corrected. . . . So I will bigly, hugely admit that I was wrong, and I will apologize to Michael J. Fox, if I am wrong in characterizing his behavior on this commercial as an act."