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Kerry under fire for Iraq 'joke' Embattled Kerry seeks low profile
(about 8 hours later)
Former Democratic US presidential candidate John Kerry is facing angry criticism for comments made to students about the war in Iraq. Former US presidential candidate John Kerry has cancelled plans to help other Democrats ahead of key polls next week, amid a row over remarks about troops.
On Tuesday the White House demanded he apologise for saying failed students could get "stuck in Iraq" as soldiers. On Monday he warned a group of students that if they neglected their education they might "get stuck in Iraq".
But Mr Kerry refused, saying the target of his "botched joke" was Mr Bush's "broken policy" and not US troops. The comment drew criticism from the White House, which demanded an apology.
Mr Kerry, who claimed it had been a joke aimed at Mr Bush, not troops, said he had scrapped campaign appearances so as not to become a distraction.
A statement released by his office said the two cancellations had been agreed by mutual decision with the candidates concerned.
The statement said Mr Kerry did not want to "allow the Republican hate machine to use Democratic candidates as their proxies in their distorted spin war".
'Gasoline'
The administration on Wednesday maintained its call for an apology from the Massachusetts senator.
White House press secretary Tony Snow said Mr Kerry had "put gasoline on the fire" in a bitter election battle.
It disgusts me that a bunch of these Republican hacks who've never worn the uniform of our country are willing to lie about those who did John Kerry US mid-terms blog: Kerry row New media, new war
The war of words comes just days ahead of US mid-term elections, which could hinge on the issue of the war in Iraq.The war of words comes just days ahead of US mid-term elections, which could hinge on the issue of the war in Iraq.
Mr Kerry, speaking to a group of California university students on Monday, said: "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well."Mr Kerry, speaking to a group of California university students on Monday, said: "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well."
It disgusts me that a bunch of these Republican hacks who've never worn the uniform of our country are willing to lie about those who did John Kerry US mid-terms blog: Kerry row New media, new war
He added: "If you don't you get stuck in Iraq."He added: "If you don't you get stuck in Iraq."
The BBC's James Coomarasamy, in Washington, says the White House seized on the comments to attack the decorated Vietnam War veteran and by extension his party.The BBC's James Coomarasamy, in Washington, says the White House seized on the comments to attack the decorated Vietnam War veteran and by extension his party.
On the campaign trail in Georgia, President George W Bush described the comments as "insulting and shameful" and called on his former rival to apologise to servicemen and women. On the campaign trail in Georgia on Tuesday, President George W Bush described the comments as "insulting and shameful".
"The members of the United States military are plenty smart and they are plenty brave and the senator from Massachusetts owes them an apology," Mr Bush said."The members of the United States military are plenty smart and they are plenty brave and the senator from Massachusetts owes them an apology," Mr Bush said.
Mr Kerry refused, saying that the comments were merely a badly delivered joke intended to be a criticism of Mr Bush's "botched war". Mr Kerry said the comments were merely a badly delivered joke intended to be a criticism of Mr Bush's "botched war".
He said Republicans were refusing to debate real issues of foreign policy.He said Republicans were refusing to debate real issues of foreign policy.
"It disgusts me that a bunch of these Republican hacks who've never worn the uniform of our country are willing to lie about those who did," he said."It disgusts me that a bunch of these Republican hacks who've never worn the uniform of our country are willing to lie about those who did," he said.