EDITORIAL - I do not necessarily believe that John Kerry intentionally insulted the intelligence of the United States military. Doing so at a public event would result in the death of what actually remains of Kerry's political career.

Kerry suggested that unless students study hard and make an effort to “be smart”, they will end up in Iraq. He made a mistake. Apparently, he intended what he said to be a criticism of President Bush and what he sees as a “broken policy”, but instead his words sounded like a direct attack on our men and women in uniform.

So apologize and move on.

Why is Kerry so resistant to apologizing? He already admitted his mistake. It evidently was a "botched joke". So if it was, apologize to the military and go on about your life.

Instead, Kerry is standing firm as a giant, hard-headed politician so submerged in his own little reality that he fails to understand the effect that he has on people, and how his words are perceived. Does he believe he is too good to apologize for his mistake? I can't imagine that.

Republicans and Democrats alike are hitting hard on this issue. Democratic candidates are distancing themselves from Kerry, forcing him to cancel some campaign stops originally scheduled for the near future. Kerry needs to realize that not only is he hurting himself, but he's putting his own party at a direct disadvantage as the elections near.

Ironically, Kerry fought back at a news conference in Seattle, arguing that he is sick and tired of Republicans “who won't take responsibility for their own mistakes”. But Senator Kerry, it does not sound like you are prepared to take responsibility for your mistakes. You admitted that you made a bad joke, but you simply refuse to apologize to our military for it.

You screwed up, Senator Kerry. You read your speech wrong. We all make mistakes. So apologize for your "botched joke" and move on with your life.

You did not really mean to criticize our military, right?