How gaffes are, and aren't analysed

[pecunium]

George Bush just said the troops aren't Americans.

Now, I don't think he meant that, any more than Kerry meant they were stupid, but he said it more clearly than Kerry did.

He's giving a press conference and he said that the first audience (for statements about the war, from the Oval Office, and from Capitol Hill) was the American People, and the second audience was the troops, and their families.

I think I can say no one is going to treat him to the same sort of roasting that Kerry got, or to that Biden got, or that any Democrat gets, when such clumsy locutions get used.

That's probably because we have a liberal media that won't cut the Republicans, esp. the president, any slack.

Comments

[don-fitch.livejournal.com]

Yes, you would say "at best, ambiguous", of course. And I would say: " At worst, ambiguous." -- though that would be a stretch. I don't think Kerry would've made a Great President, but I'm sure he has enough political savvy to not insult people, such as the military & their families, who might possibly vote for him. Unpopular politicians of the opposing party, yes, but not potential votes. (to put it in crassly political terms).

Your suggestion that "it was a barb aimed at those too stupid to avoid being dragged along with [Bush]" is ... interesting, but Kerry is ex-Mil himself, proud of his service, fully aware that the Military are no more stupid than college undergraduates (the audience he was addressing), and understands that the Military serve -- laying down their lives, if need be -- wherever they're sent. I much doubt that Kerry sees, any more than I do, any "stupid" in there, at all. Perhaps someone who sees anything but pure self-interest to be stupid might, but Kerry doesn't strike me as being that kind of person. Your mileage obviously varies.