Leave it to John Kerry to waste an opportunity.
Instead of engaging with the Bush administration in a much-needed discussion about the opportunities available to young people in the United States, Senator John Kerry instead went on the defensive, apologized and withdrew a statement he made on Monday to a group of California students that warned them to do their homework lest they get "stuck in Iraq" - a statement which, in fact, had much truth to it.
The fact that Kerry apologized under political pressure further reinforces his inability to hold firm behind his statements and utilize the vast amount of political capital that he holds as a Democratic senator bickering with the unpopular Bush administration and faltering Republican Party.
Rather than "flip-flop" in a manner similar to his behavior in the '04 presidential campaign, Kerry could have shown an uncompromising commitment to his beliefs. Instead, he redisplayed his true nature as a politician that lacks the courage or political will to fight the tough fight. This is not a good sign for this '08 presidential hopeful - at least not when he stands next to another, more courageous presidential possibility in Barack Obama.
In the days leading up to the hugely important midterm elections, Kerry's shameful retreat from the contentious conversation about the nature of the situation in Iraq became quickly marred in the muck of politics.
This lousy distraction stirs up painful memories from just two short (or very long) years ago when Bush-Kerry quibbling led to a complete failure to discuss substantial issues; the American people instead were tortured as the politicians played the blame game regarding the War in Iraq.
Not surprisingly, the latest Bush-Kerry squabble was spun (and Kerry allowed it to be spun) by those media gurus who spin such things into a political jab at the Bush administration's policy in Iraq and as an insult to those troops serving there.
It would, instead, be more productive to examine Kerry's attempts at advice-giving in a controversial insight.
Kerry's comment to college students in California ("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. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq.") can be interpreted on a multitude of levels.
First, Kerry's remarks touch upon the government's lack of preparation for the War in Iraq, inadequate research regarding the presence of weapons of mass destruction, the nature of the sectarian conflict within Iraq, and the amount of resources that would be necessary to help rebuild and keep the peace following the initial invasion - in short, the administration's failure to do its "homework."
Kerry further addressed the strategic blunders that have been made - and continued to be made - in U.S. policy regarding Iraq. The administration's unwillingness to listen to the advice of "smart" people, including on-the-ground-military commanders, has further led the United States to get itself "stuck in Iraq."
Lastly, the most politically sensitive issue - and the one that may be most important,-especially if the United States is going to be in Iraq for many more years - is that the burden of this war is carried by economically disadvantaged members of society and their families.
The reality that a high school diploma no longer guarantees an adequate job, coupled with the skyrocketing prices of college in this country has led thousands of young people to enlist in the army as their best option for their futures.
While not as much an ethical conundrum in peacetime, the U.S. government cannot in good conscience continue to send the poor young people to "get stuck" in Iraq,-especially if they are not going to adequately provide body armor for them or restrategize a policy to combat the increasingly dangerous civil violence.
In this way, Kerry may have been hinting at governmental and societal failings that transcend political boundaries; the most disadvantaged in American society should not have to pay for the shortcomings of a military that is at a loss for human capital in war.
As the famous anti-war song "Fortunate Son" by J. C. Fogerty goes, "It ain't me, it ain't me/ I ain't no senator's son, son/ It ain't me, it ain't me/ I ain't no fortunate one, no."
What Kerry called, in his apology, "a poorly stated joke" was funny only for its truth.
The real joke is on Kerry and the whole Democratic Party if they cannot push towards a real conversation about a country that abandons its poor young people to "get stuck in Iraq" along with the rest their values.
