2008 Woodie Awards
Howard Dean addresses Kerry's remarks
Issue date: 11/6/06 Section: News Briefs
Howard Dean said comments by Sen. John Kerry about soldiers and the Iraq war were wrong, but were being distorted by Republicans to "divert" voters days before the election.
"I disagree with Sen. Kerry's remarks, but Sen. Kerry isn't on the ballot," Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said Wednesday after a get-out-the-vote rally with DePaul University students in Chicago.
"Republicans are on the ballot for the House and the Senate, and we intend to win these races," he said. "I think it would be better if he hadn't said it, but he did."
Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, told a college audience Monday that young people might get "stuck in Iraq" if they don't study hard and do their homework. On Wednesday, Kerry canceled appearances at campaign events and apologized for what he said was a flubbed scripted joke.
Still, the GOP accused Kerry, the Democratic Party's 2004 presidential nominee, of troop-bashing and said his apology was too late.
"The fact remains that national Democrats, have a fundamentally flawed perspective about both the honor of our troops and the importance of their mission," said Ann Marie Hauser, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee.
Dean said he remains confident voterswill see past Republicans' "diversionary tactics" on Election Day.
"I think the Republicans are trying to divert attention from their wretched record," he said.
Speaking to reporters before Wednesday's rally, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said he thinks Kerry's comments could hurt Democrats on Tuesday if the story continues to thrive in the media.
He called Kerry's words "a chance offhand, maybe insulting comment."
"I hope that you'll understand that as bad as this comment was, as awful as it sounded, and it did sound awful, the fact is, this election is not whether John Kerry got it right in his written statement," Durbin said. "This election is about whether America is getting it right in Iraq."
"I disagree with Sen. Kerry's remarks, but Sen. Kerry isn't on the ballot," Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said Wednesday after a get-out-the-vote rally with DePaul University students in Chicago.
"Republicans are on the ballot for the House and the Senate, and we intend to win these races," he said. "I think it would be better if he hadn't said it, but he did."
Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, told a college audience Monday that young people might get "stuck in Iraq" if they don't study hard and do their homework. On Wednesday, Kerry canceled appearances at campaign events and apologized for what he said was a flubbed scripted joke.
Still, the GOP accused Kerry, the Democratic Party's 2004 presidential nominee, of troop-bashing and said his apology was too late.
"The fact remains that national Democrats, have a fundamentally flawed perspective about both the honor of our troops and the importance of their mission," said Ann Marie Hauser, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee.
Dean said he remains confident voterswill see past Republicans' "diversionary tactics" on Election Day.
"I think the Republicans are trying to divert attention from their wretched record," he said.
Speaking to reporters before Wednesday's rally, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said he thinks Kerry's comments could hurt Democrats on Tuesday if the story continues to thrive in the media.
He called Kerry's words "a chance offhand, maybe insulting comment."
"I hope that you'll understand that as bad as this comment was, as awful as it sounded, and it did sound awful, the fact is, this election is not whether John Kerry got it right in his written statement," Durbin said. "This election is about whether America is getting it right in Iraq."
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