Democratic congressional candidate Bruce Braley canceled an appearance this week with his party’s 2004 presidential nominee. Braley was to appear with John Kerry in Davenport on Thursday. But Braley has now asked Kerry not to come because of something Kerry said Monday at a campaign rally in California.
Here’s what Kerry said: “You know, education, if you make the most of it and you study hard and you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can well. If you don’t you get stuck in Iraq.” On Tuesday, Kerry said that was his attempt to make a joke about President Bush. Kerry said as a veteran he would never criticize the troops. Braley, who faces Republican Mike Whalen in one of the country’s most-closely-watched congressional races, has called Kerry’s remark “inappropriate.”
President Bush and other Republicans have demanded that Kerry apologize. Kerry has now canceled all his campaign appearances between now and election day.