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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Embattled Kerry seeks low profile | Embattled Kerry seeks low profile |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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. | 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 Monday he warned a group of students that if they neglected their education they might "get stuck in Iraq". | On Monday he warned a group of students that if they neglected their education they might "get stuck in Iraq". |
| The comment drew criticism from the White House, which demanded an apology. | The comment drew criticism from the White House, which demanded an apology. |
| Mr Kerry said on Wednesday he was sorry for a "botched joke" aimed at Mr Bush not US troops, and accused the administration of twisting his words. | |
| The Massachusetts senator's office said he had scrapped two campaign appearances so as not to become a distraction to Democratic candidates. | |
| The statement added that Mr Kerry did not want to "allow the Republican hate machine to use Democratic candidates as their proxies in their distorted spin war". | |
| 'Gasoline' | 'Gasoline' |
| White House spokesman Tony Snow said Mr Kerry's apology was not sufficient. | |
| "He's insisting on pointing fingers at the president," Mr Snow told reporters. | |
| Of course I'm sorry about a botched joke - you think I love botched jokes? John Kerry US mid-terms blog: Kerry row New media, new war | |
| "Just say you're sorry. It's not hard." | |
| 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." |
| 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 on Tuesday, President George W Bush described the comments as "insulting and shameful". | 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. |