Hey, John Kerry! Please SHUT UP!

For an educated man, John Kerry can say some dumb things. At the wrong time. To the wrong people. And compounds his errors with his "explanations."

A classic is the oft quoted, "I voted against it, before I voted for it." Now we have a new one:

''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."

Mr. Kerry was speaking at Pasadena City College to a group of students (who are clearly visible standing near him at the podium). And there is no reference to President Bush or anyone else in the Bush Administration to link them to the so-called joke. Kerry's reference is to the students about studying hard so that they can avoid having to enlist in the military because their other life options are limited.

Like so many of the students in Kerry's audience. these soldiers, marines, seamen, and airmen are young men and women, who are serving in this war to earn money for college, to put food on the table for their young families back home, to learn new skills and find new directions for their lives. Some of these young people don't come from families with the means to send their kids off to college -- even one as affordable as PCC. (Tuition and fees there range from $8400 to $13,ooo for nine months. Serving two or four year enlistments in the Army would cover part if not all of those expenses.)

Hispanics, African-Americans and other minorities know that service in the military can provide a leg up in the civilian world. The military was desegregated long before much of mainstream business in the north and south. But let us not paint too rosy a picture here, without reminding ourselves -- and Mr. Kerry especially -- that the military draft grabs far more young minorities who cannot apply for deferments, extensions, or other favors to avoid service. And in wartime, he who cannot pay for someone else to take his place at the front line finds himself facing insurgents, IEDs, snipers, kidnappers, suicide bombers and other potentially life threatening agents.

Mr. Kerry would like for people to think he meant Mr. Bush is dumb and his dumb policies are what got us stuck in Iraq. However Mr. Kerry lacks the ability to speak straight-forwardly. And his "smart mouth" gets him in trouble time after time. Further, instead of just saying, "Boy did I just say something really stupid and insensitive. I'm very. very sorry," he compounds the gaffe by trying to dance around it and spin it into something else.

Mr. Kerry, I'm a Liberal Democrat and I am asking you -- no, begging you -- to please shut up. You are not helping. Don't try to explain this anymore. Don't campaign for any Democrats, no matter how dire their races are. Go home, close the door behind you, draw the blinds, pull the shades and hide under your bed until November 8. I'll apologize for you:

Senator John F. Kerry, (D-MA) would like to apologize for the callous and insensitive remarks he made on Monday while speaking at Pasadena City College in California. Mr. Kerry erroneously suggested that students who don't study hard and achieve in school end up in (the military) in Iraq. That was simply a wrong characterization of the makeup of the US armed forces. He is extremely sorry for the remarks. What he meant to say was... um, well nobody really cares what he meant to say. Mr. Kerry has been sent home by the DNC where he is to remain until well after the election. Mr. Kerry is no longer allowed to speak to anyone except for his immediate family within the confines of his home. Again, the Democratic Party and loyal Democrats everywhere extend their apologies and unabashed support to the fine men and women of the US military. Thank you.