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General discussion

John "Potty Mouth" Kerry

Dec 8, 2003 5:11AM PST
CURSING KERRY UNLEASHES
FOULMOUTHED ATTACK ON BUSH


Struggling 2004 Democratic wannabe John Kerry fires an X-rated attack at President Bush over Iraq and uses the f-word - highly unusual language for a presidential contender - in a stunning new interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

Sen. Kerry (Mass.) used the undeleted expletive to express his frustration and anger over how the Iraq issue has hurt him because he voted for the war resolution while Democratic front-runner Howard Dean has soared by opposing it.

"I voted for what I thought was best for the country. Did I expect Howard Dean to go off to the left and say, 'I'm against everything'? Sure. Did I expect George Bush to f - - - it up as badly as he did? I don't think anybody did," Kerry told the youth-oriented magazine.


You'ld think when he reconsidered Kerry might see fit to backtrack or at least apologize for the language, but apparently not as Spinmeister Defends Kerry for Using Profanity


A spokeswoman for lagging Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry said Sunday that it was appropriate for her boss to use the "F"-word in reference to President Bush's handling of the Iraq war, because he'd served in Vietnam and Bush hadn't.

"John Kerry saw combat up close, and he doesn't mince words when it comes to politicians who put ideological recklessness ahead of American troops," Kerry press aide Stephanie Cutter told The Associated Press.

... But Kerry spokeswoman Cutter told the AP that her boss had nothing to regret. "I think the American people would rather Card and the rest of the White House staff spend more time on fixing Bush's flawed policy in Iraq than on Sen. Kerry's language."


Evie Happy

Discussion is locked

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Re:John
Dec 8, 2003 11:56AM PST

Hi, Evie.

Regardless of the language, the sentiment is right on -- and shared by just about the entire world, outside of the true believers in this country.
-- Dave K.
Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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Regardless of whether or not you agree with the sentiment ...
Dec 8, 2003 7:46PM PST

... do you really think it's statesmanlike conduct to use profanity and then try to rationalize it?

Evie Happy

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Re: I think many are not as concerned anymore the the political
Dec 8, 2003 9:55PM PST

correctness or languiage but the content and context. Not that I approve of his language, I do understand he lost his cool. Is that not Politically Correct?

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I can see his ...
Dec 10, 2003 11:43PM PST

... losing his cool or having a slip of the tongue. But this has nothing to do with political correctness. I realize that Bill Clinton dragged down the standards of personal behavior, but do we really want a President that curses in a formal interview and then justifies it? I could accept him saying something like "the word popped out in the heat of the moment but it was inappropriate". My personal opinion of Kerry has gone down not because of his use of the word, but his defense of it.

Evie Happy

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Re:Re:John
Dec 8, 2003 10:39PM PST

George W. Bush got caught on tape referring to a reporter as an "a**hole" during the 2000 campaign. And of course there are all those now-legendary "expletive deleteds" from the Watergate tapes.

Politicians are human beings. OK, this particular incident occurred during an interview and the others didn't, but I can't argue with the sentiment either.

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Re:John
Dec 9, 2003 1:20AM PST

If he'd said 'messed' we wouldn't be talking about it now. Freudian slip or calculated risk?

Dan