Gawd, this just won’t die. 

OK, I want to address the Seattle Post Intelligencer’s defense of Sen John Kerry and the representation they, and now he, are making about the military.

First a recap to the folks asleep the last week.  This stemmed from what Kerry claims was a botched joke. 

Education…if you make the most of it and you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.

He says he meant to say "get us stuck in Iraq", an obvious jab at Bush.  Others disagree, and accuse him of making a deliberate slam on the military.

The Seattle PI said in an editorial Thursday that both are correct:

Was Kerry making fun of the president, or warning students against the pitfalls awaiting the undereducated in general?

It doesn’t matter. Kerry was right either way.

Kerry wasn’t saying — regardless of the Republican spin — that our troops are stupid.

Well, sadly, yes that is exactly what he said if you read his statement literally.

Break it down. The elements are:

Do that and you can do well.

But if you don’t make the most of it, study hard, do your homework and make an effort to be smart, well then you are stuck in Iraq.

A literal read clearly implies that those in Iraq did not make the most of their education, did not study hard, did not do their homework and made NO effort to be smart and therefore ended up in the military, stuck in Iraq.

Regardless of whether he intended that meaning or not, that is how it came out, which is why the military people got mad, and took offense.  They had every right to be.

And the PI clearly thinks the military is a place for undereducated people.  How condescending.

The PI continues:

Although there are plenty of well-educated people in our armed forces — Kerry was one of them — military service has long been an opportunity employer for those with less education and fewer skills than they need to work in the private sector. Indeed, the military sells itself as a place to garner skills and to help pay for higher education.

Now stay with me, because here is a shocker:  They are fundamentally correct. 

The military is a great place for people to learn advanced skills from an entry level position.  The military prides itself on that in some respects, as it takes people, helps them realize their potential and trains them to become skilled professionals.  But make no mistake, the military is no longer the dumping ground for the socially inept and educationally challenged.  That may have been true in 1971, but no longer.

Entrance qualifications are higher then historically, and the military is often a first choice for people, not a last, because they can not only learn useful skills, but they can get a good education while they are at it, as well as the education benefits after their service is complete.  The military is not filled with rejects, it is an all volunteer force.  The modern military is filled with some of the most intelligent and skilled technicians in the world.  Yes there are still infantry and other ground assault soldiers, but even they use advanced technology.  This is not the M1 rifle and bayonet military from World War 2

But this is all beside the point, because that is not what Kerry said.  He said specifically that people who pissed away their education end up stuck in the military.

So Kerry’s statement is patently false in regards to the military, and this just proves that not only does he not understand our modern military, neither does the PI who still sees it as a last chance career for the losers in society.

The PI closes with:

Apologies? Sure, from the cut-and-run Democratic candidates who’ve cancelled [sic] appearances with Kerry.

No.  The democrats who canceled appearances did so because Kerry was an embarrassment, much as the PI is.

This is another area where the PI is lacking in understanding.  They have no concept of honor and social graces. 

You see, if I say something and because of a misstatement I offend someone, I, as an adult, have a responsibility to make amends for my mistake.  And Kerry, being the combat veteran he so frequently tells everyone he is, should understand more then anyone how his own honor is sacrificed when he hides behind excuses after offending his military brothers.   Not only that, but as a US Senator, he has even more reason to clear offenses that are directed at the citizens he was elected to serve.

Whether his statement was intentional or not, does not matter.  Offense was given, and an apology was required.

Kerry eventually did apologize, but not for several days, during which he attacked those who criticized him and further insulted the military by his refusal to act with honor.  But in the end, he eventually made the right choice and did something about the offense. 

His apology when it came was admittedly somewhat qualified, but it was better then nothing.  Because it was kinda snarky and insincere, I cannot, however, blame some military people who have refused to accept it.  Never forget that his own extensive history of speaking about the military in unflattering terms was the reason so many people claim that his joke was either intended or a subconscious slip.  Had he immediately apologized, this would be a dead issue.

So in my assessment, the PI’s knee jerk liberal defense of Kerry is meaningless, because they are clueless about the realities of military service, they have no respect for those who do serve, and they have no conception of honor, responsibility and social grace. 

The PI continues to advance the cause of Liberalism, one offense at a time.  This why I canceled my subscription and likely why their circulation is in the dumper.

I still am not willing to jump on the band wagon with all those who think Kerry meant every word, but I admit I am getting a little more disappointed with him, particularly since he has proudly posted this PI editorial on his website.

Previously here at LSU

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