The Gaffes of John Kerry - His most embarrassing quotes

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Quote: "What we need now is not just a regime change in Saddam Hussein and Iraq, but we need a regime change in the United States" (Boston Globe, April 3, 2003).
http://slate.msn.com/id/2089125/

I love it -- and this is considered a gaffe!

[JI7]

1. hahahha, they WISH it was a gaffe

no gaffe, it's something we want and NEED.

[JI7]

2. OH, the bush/quayle joke ?

"Quote: "Somebody told me the other day that the Secret Service has orders that if George Bush is shot, they're to shoot Quayle. … There isn't any press here, is there?" (Associated Press, Nov. 16, 1988).

Charge: Kerry delivered this joke at a business breakfast shortly after the election of President George H.W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle. The co-chairman of the Bush-Quayle campaign in Massachusetts called it "an extraordinarily reckless comment" that was "very clearly in bad taste.""

have to admit i laughed as i read this.

[w13rd0]

3. Well, in all fairness...

...he meant QUAIL, as in the foul...not Quayle, as in that one guy who claimed to be VP...

Yeah, I for one don't buy these "Kerry gaffes", the man most certainly measures his every word. I will say that for him...

[TheDonkey]

4. sheesh

I'd at least wait for him to become president (if he does) to start making a list of Kerryisms.

Now it just looks like desperate and immature bashing.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. Slate is doing this for all the candidates

Besides Kerry so far they've done Kucinich, Graham and Gephardt.

[sandnsea]

7. It's a Slate series

No biggie. Take a peek.

http://slate.msn.com/id/2085967/

[w4rma]

6. I remember that when he gave that regime change quote everyone on DU

was hooting and hollering, thinking that maybe someone was going to stand up to Bush*, including myself. Then he started to back off from it... :(

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. Four responses.

Kerry issued four responses to his critics: 1) "It is possible that the word 'regime change' is too harsh. Perhaps it is." 2) It was just a "quip." 3) "That's what a presidential race is about. It's about changing the administration." 4) "I'm not going to let the likes of Tom DeLay question my patriotism, which I fought for and bled for in order to have the right to speak out."
http://slate.msn.com/id/2089125

The only thing close to 'backing off' would be the 'perhaps' comment. Which doesn't really sound much like backing off anyway.

[JI7]

9. comments on tom delay are good

tom delay doesn't seem to give up . he has gone after kerry and kennedy many times on the issue of patriotism. he even attacked kerry on the vietnam war issue. imagine that ? but kerry knows what a piece of shit delay is and probably laughs at the shits attacks on him and kennedy.

[Mairead]

11. Pity he didn't say

"It's laughable whenever a guy like Delay, who chose to avoid military service and whose closest approach to danger was spraying bugs, tries to question the patriotism of any Vietnam-era veteran."

[Pez]

10. isn't running for president...

...an indication that one is interested in removing the pResident from office? if he leaves the race *snort*chuckle* maybe you can charge him with "backing off"... but for the time being it seems he is indeed sticking to his guns on the whole regime change business.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

12. touche. nt

[DrFunkenstein]

13. The GOP Has Every Intention of Running With That Quote

These guys are brutal! Really, whatever they pay these researchers, it's not enough.

KERRY’S “GORE PROBLEM”
Will He Say Anything To Get Elected?
_____________________________________________________________

KERRY FIRST PAC-FREE SENATOR?

On Campaign Website, Kerry Claims To Have Run “The Nation’s First Successful PAC-Free Senate Race” In 1984. (John Kerry For President Website, www.johnkerry.com, Accessed 6/12/03)

Well, Not Exactly . . . In 1978, David L. Boren (D-OK) was elected to the U.S. Senate without PAC money, and in 1980, Warren Rudman (R-NH) also was elected to the Senate without taking PAC money. (Glen Johnson, “Doubt Cast On Kerry’s ‘PAC-Free’ Claim,” The Boston Globe, 6/12/2003)

KERRY’S FIRST SPEECH ON SENATE FLOOR WAS ON ROE V. WADE?

Kerry Claimed First Speech On Senate Floor Was About Abortion. “As I said 18 years ago in my maiden speech in the U.S. Senate: ‘the right to choose is a fundamental right … neither the Government nor any person has the right to infringe on that freedom.’” (Senator John Kerry, Remarks At NARAL 30th Anniversary Dinner, 1/21/03)

Well, Not Exactly . . . “he Congressional Record shows that Kerry’s first speech in the Senate, on March 19, 1985, was made in opposition to President Reagan’s push to build 21 MX missiles.” (Glen Johnson, “Kerry Admits To An Error In Boast About 1st Speech,” The Boston Globe, 5/1/03)

KERRY’S BEEN CLEAR HE’S NOT IRISH?

Kerry Says He’s Been “Clear As A Bell” Regarding Irish Heritage. “Kerry acknowledged that some voters in Massachusetts, the nation’s most Irish-American state, may have had the impression that he had Irish roots. … ‘I’m sure some people see the name and say, “Hey, I think it’s this or that,” but I’ve been clear as a bell,’ Kerry said. ‘I’ve always been absolutely straight up front about it.’” (Michael Kranish, “Search For Kerry’s Roots Finds Surprising History,” The Boston Globe, 2/2/03)

Well, Not Exactly . . . In 1986, Kerry introduced a statement referring to his Irish roots into the Congressioanl Record : “Mr. President, while St. Patrick’s Day holds special meaning for those Americans of Irish descent ... For those of us who are fortunate to share an Irish ancestry …” (Senator John Kerry, Congressional Record, 3/18/86)

Note: written by an aide for a speech he didn't give. Nice try, though.

KERRY INTRODUCED FIRST FEDERAL GAY CIVIL RIGHTS BILL?

On His Senate Website, Kerry Claimed He Introduced First Federal Gay Civil Rights Bill. “In 1985, he introduced what his Senate Web site now calls the first federal gay civil rights bill …” (David Nather, “Kerry’s Complex Record And His Pursuit Of The Presidency,” CQ Weekly, 4/24/03)

Well, Not Exactly . . . “It is not actually the first such bill in Congress — Rep. Bella Abzug (1971-77) introduced a version in 1975 …” (David Nather, “Kerry’s Complex Record And His Pursuit Of The Presidency,” CQ Weekly, 4/24/03)

KERRY SUFFERS FROM ASTHMA?

Kerry Implied He Started Using Inhaler As Result Of Asthma. “Many of the parents and some of the children in the group complained of asthma. ‘Until I went to Washington, I had never had asthma in my life,’ Kerry said in response. He said pollution in the city has prompted him to use an inhaler like those used by some of Roxbury residents.” (Glen Johnson, “Kerry May Make GOP Wealth A Campaign Issue,” The Boston Globe, 4/23/03)

Well, Not Exactly . . . “In an interview afterward, Kerry clarified his remark by explaining that he used an Albuterol inhaler for common springtime allergies, but his condition is not serious enough to limit his physical activity. ‘I rarely use it; I haven’t used it in months,’ he said.” (Glen Johnson, “Kerry May Make GOP Wealth A Campaign Issue,” The Boston Globe, 4/23/03)

Ouch!

[JohnKleeb]

14. The Irish thing is trival Doc

Trust me I am part Irish and I doubt the Irish in MA care, they seem to like him. Now I once thought I was Czech not Slovak and Serbian not Slovenian. Really kind of funny I thought that. Now if you want an Irish candiate lol I think people are gonna be shocked at this but Dennis Kucinich is more Irish than me!, of course DK would be more like to Slavic peoples like JFK is to Kennedy but if you listen to DK sing you may detect a bit of Irish :)! I am serious.

[DrFunkenstein]

15. When I Think of Irish Singing

I always think of James Joyce's short story, "The Dead." There's a big debate over Irish-style singing. If you watch the movie version - quite excellent in its own right - you can see a beautiful example of it in action.

People tend to love Joyce's later, wilder style, but I was always a fan of the clean, lyrical style of his early works like Dubliners. The movie ends with Gabriel Byrne reading the final words of "The Dead," and he really just nails it. Joyce has that style that begs to be read aloud by an Irishman.

[JohnKleeb]

16. I havent read Joyce

I would like to though.

[DrFunkenstein]

17. Pick Up Dubliners At The Library If You're Going To

The short stories are much easier to sink your teeth into. It helps to follow Joyce chronologically, because it is very easy to get lost with his later stuff if you don't know where he's coming from. Ulysses is supposed to be his masterpiece (although people will argue with you), but I can't imagine anyone trying to read that cold.

My suggestion is check out Dubliners, especially "The Dead," but also "Araby" and "The Sisters." Those are probably the best stories in there, and will give a nice sense of his writing.

This is the end of "The Dead." No, I'm not giving away the plot twist...it's not that kind of story.

"A few light taps upon the pane made him turn to the window. It had begun to snow again. He watched sleepily the flakes, silver and dark, falling obliquely against the lamplight. The time had come for him to set out on his journey westward. Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland.

It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried.

It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead."

[JohnKleeb]

18. Sure thanks

[DrFunkenstein]

22. His First Speech Was Against MX Missiles? 3rd To Run PAC Free?

2nd gay civil rights bill (first major)?

The GOP is too brutal for me! When will Kerry's lies stop!?! This guy'll say anything to get elected! Just like Gore! If you can't be honest about the specifics of your asthma condition, why should we care that you never accepted a PAC contribution?

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KERRY CATCHES GOREITIS
...AGAIN

Waning Candidate Tells Whopper On Taxes For “Average American”

______________________

KERRY SAYS “AVERAGE AMERICAN” PAYING MORE TAXES UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH

“The average American is actually paying more taxes than they were before George Bush.” (Sen. John Kerry, NBC’s “Today,” 9/2/03)

BUT THE “AVERAGE AMERICAN” IS PAYING LESS IN TAXES UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH

Under The Jobs And Growth Act Of 2003, Married Couple With Two Children And Income Of $40,000 Will See Taxes Decline By $1,133-From $1,178 To $45 In 2003, Decline Of 96 Percent. (Mike Allen, “Bush Cites The Cost of Tax-Cut Repeal,” The Washington Post, 6/23/03)

Women, Small Business Owners, Elderly Taxpayers All Benefit From President Bush’s 2003 Jobs And Growth Package.

Under the President’s most-recent tax cut: 68 million women will see their taxes decline, on average, by $1,338; 6 million single women with children will receive an average tax cut of $558; 12 million elderly will receive an average cut of $1,401 and 23 million small business owners will receive a cut averaging $2,209. (The White House Website, www.whitehouse.gov, Accessed 8/26/03)

11 Million Single Mothers With Children Will Receive, On Average, $780 In Tax Relief, Thanks To Economic Growth And Tax Relief Reconciliation Act Of 2001.

(The White House Website, www.whitehouse.gov, Accessed 9/4/03; See Also Theresa Howard, “Retailers See Results From Child Tax Credit Checks,” USA Today, 8/8/03)

Economic Growth And Tax Relief Reconciliation Act Of 2001 Took 3.9 Million Individuals And Families Off Tax Rolls. (Tax Foundation, Press Release, 6/5/03)

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[Loyal]

19. That was his best quote!

I loved it, and fuck Tom DeLay for getting so mad about it. Who gives a shit what he thinks, anyway? :)

[Monte Carlo]

20. Weak, weak, weak.

If this is the best the GOP has to smear Kerry, they're gonna have to try a lot harder? Regime change in the United States? I think that becomes more and more an assest with every screw-up and abomination the Bush regime makes.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

21. Embarrassing?

That's my favorite quote from Kerry ever, I stood up and cheered when he said it. The fact that he came out and said it is what made him my #2 choice (among other things, of course).