Kerry's Marine Misfire

The Kerry entourage on a post-convention 22 state buses tour, stopped at a Wendy's in Newburgh, New York to celebrate the Edwards' anniversary.

There was a table of U.S. Marines trying to eat a meal at the "bunny suit" photo op:

Edwards happily approached a table of Marines, who didn't look like they wanted to be distracted from their combos. Kerry, who always gravitates toward men and women in uniform, came over and asked the men, "Where are you guys serving?"

Their answers were clipped. Later, the Marines -- none of whom would give his name -- said they were Bush supporters. "He imposed on us and I disagree with him coming over here shaking our hands," one said. "I'm 100 percent against" Kerry, he said. "We support our commander in chief 100 percent."

Ouch!

The New York Post version of the encounter makes it seem even more uncomfortable for the Marines:

The Marines — two in uniform and two off-duty — were polite but curt while chatting with Kerry, answering most of his questions with a "yes, sir" or "no, sir."

But they turned downright nasty after the Massachusetts senator thanked them "for their service" and left.

"He imposed on us and I disagree with him coming over here shaking our hands," one Marine said, adding, "I'm 100 percent against [him]."

A sergeant with 10 years of service under his belt said, "I speak for all of us. We think that we are doing the right thing in Iraq," before saying he is to be deployed there in a few weeks and is "eager" to go and serve.

I was taught that it is impolite to point. Maybe Kerry should have tried saluting the Marines instead of pointing his finger at them.

The Wendy's stop wasn't good for Kerry's ego. Besides the encounter with the Marines, the Washington Post reported that the local media and excited young ladies "swarmed like ants to a gumdrop" around Ben Affleck.

Comments

[mehhhh]

officers don't salute enlisted. enlisted salutes officer and officer returns. junior officers salute senior officers.

[Bloated_gov't]

Perhaps our military is adept at sensing flip-flopping vote-leeches.
Maybe they don't appreciate those who side with communists in '73.
Maybe they don't appreciate those who vote against life saving armor & bullets in 2003.
Gee...how can Kerry even look at a military guy straight in the face? Outside of his initial service, everything since has been downhill.