Kerry apologizes over Iraq comments

(Washington, D.C.-WABC, November 1, 2006) (WABC) -- It all began with what Senator John Kerry now calls a flubbed joke.

"You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well, and if you don't get you get stuck in Iraq," Kerry told a group of college students.

Republicans, including the president on the Rush Limbaugh show today, call Kerry's comment an insult to our troops in Iraq.

"Anybody who leads this country needs to understand the consequences of words," President Bush said.

Kerry is now apologizing for what he calls a botched joke about Iraq.

Political reporter Dave Evans has more.

Veterans like Vic Olney say they know Kerry simply made a mistake, but he is still angry.

"It hurt," Olney said of Kerry's comment. "All he had to do was say 'I make a mistake.'"

After refusing the apologize Tuesday, Kerry did backtrack on the radio Wednesday.

"Of course I'm sorry for a botched joke," Kerry said on the Don Imus show.

As Republicans make political hay of Kerry's comments, Democrats are worried of a replay of 2004.

"I think elections are about the future and I think no one wants to see the 2004 election replayed," Senator Hillary Clinton said. "That's about the past and what Senator Kerry said was inappropriate."

And Democrats are striking back, accusing Republicans of seizing on Kerry's mistake to divert attention from real problems in Iraq.

"I thought the president was equally wrong to take this flub and to work up our military as though someone really insulted them," Congressman Charles Rangel said.

With the election only six days away, and with Democrats poised to win big, the question is, did Kerry damage the party?

The answer? Yes. But probably not enough to change Tuesday's outcome.

"John Kerry clearly made a bad mistake yesterday," one political analyst said. "The phrasing is key to understand as an assault on the troops and that of course is a wonderful opportunity for Republicans and they've taken great advantage of it."

Service men and women in Iraq certainly already know about Kerry's comments. A photo from a Minnesota National Guard unit in Talil, where troops held a tongue-in-cheek, badly misspelled sign reading, "Help us John Kerry. We are stuck here in Iraq."

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