Mayor Daley Takes John Kerry's Comments Personally

The Chicago Tribune reports on Mayor Daley reaction to John Kerry's comments:

Mayor Richard Daley, whose son is a soldier, said today that Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) should say he is sorry for telling students that they will "get stuck in Iraq" if they don't make the most of their educational opportunities.

The remark was "uncalled for," Daley asserted. "I think he should apologize." Kerry suggested that "they are dumb and they are stupid and that is why they went into the military, and they are over in Iraq," the mayor said. "He owes them an apology (and) all their families."

If the comment was meant as a joke, it was "a sad joke," he said.

"This is all about politics," Daley asserted. "Why don't they just leave the men and women serving in the armed forces out of their politics? They can discuss the war, fine. But leave those men and women serving…out of it."

Daley was asked if he took it personally because his son, Patrick, is in the Army.

"I think everybody should take it personally," he said. "It doesn't matter if you have a son or daughter in the military."

Mayor Daley represents that city that hasn't had a Republican Mayor since 1931.