John Kerry made a comment to California students that those unable to navigate the country's education system "get stuck in Iraq." The Pentagon, the Whitehouse and various other politicians all responded. “Senator 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," White House press secretary Tony Snow said. "This is an absolute insult."

Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran and President George W. Bush's rival in 2004, fired back, saying the president and his administration are the ones who owe U.S. troops an apology because they "misled America into war and have given us a Katrina foreign policy that has betrayed our ideals, killed and maimed our soldiers, and widened the terrorist threat instead of defeating it."

Bush, campaigning later in Georgia, said Kerry's statement was "insulting and it is shameful." Kerry, who is considering another run for the White House in 2008, angrily fired back: "I apologize to no one for my criticism of the president and of his broken policy." However, just days later his tone changed and he issued an apology to "any service member, family member or American who was offended" by his remarks about troops in Iraq. Kerry says he sincerely regrets that his words were "misinterpreted to imply anything negative about those in uniform." However, many are wondering if the comments have come too late for the Democratic party as the remarks have already traveled far and wide and perhaps hindered the Democrats chances for dominating next Tuesday’s national election scene.

Locally, the comments have triggered a great deal of criticism of Kerry by influential members as well as veterans of our community. When asked what Al Lennox, Executive director of American Legion Ambulance and vocal veterans rights advocate, response to Kerry’s comments was simply “reprehensible.” He continued later by saying,{quotes align=right} “John Kerry has a history of making inappropriate remarks regarding veterans. He did this during the Vietnam era and it continues to show his lack of understanding of the role of the modern soldier in today’s world. His comments were totally reprehensible.”{/quotes}

In regards to Kerry’s apology, Lennox was not impressed. “His apology was less than honest. In my opinion it shows a complete lack of character in the man. …if he showed up at Amador post 108 the American Legion he would not be allowed admission to our Post based upon his comments.” 

 Floyd Martin, Amador County Veterans Affair Officer and member of the American Legion Post 108, was also very concerned with Kerry’s comments. “Personally I don’t think it was a joking matter. What our troops are doing is not a joking matter. It goes all the way back to what he called us Vietnam vets. His comments about soldiers and our veterans in the past, are just unbelievable. There is no place in this world for it.” Martin, as Lennox did not find Kerry’s apology even close to sufficient for the harmful comments he had made. “His apology means nothing because it isn’t the first time he has done something like this. It means absolutely nothing because he has done this in the past and I think he will do it in the future. His job is politics not protecting our soldiers.”