Cornyn Statement On Kerry Troop Remarks
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
AUSTIN, TX—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, made the following statement regarding Senator John Kerry’s recent remarks disparaging members of the U.S. military.
“The members of the United States armed forces are the best trained, best equipped and best educated fighting force in the world, and it is shameful that a senior Democrat Senator would make them the butt of an apparent joke at a political rally. Sadly, this is not the first time Senator Kerry has disparaged the men and women in our military. Less than two years ago, he accused our troops of ‘terrorizing’ Iraqi children – remarks not dissimilar to his Vietnam-era testimony before the Senate in 1971. No one is lying about or distorting Senator’s Kerry’s remarks as he would have us believe. Senator Kerry’s remarks yesterday were clear and they were shameful. He owes the brave men and women in our military a very sincere apology.”
John Kerry in 2005
“And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the--of--the historical customs, religious customs. Whether you like it or not-- Iraqis should be doing that.” (Face the Nation interview, December 4, 2005)
John Kerry Today
“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. And if you don’t you get stuck in Iraq.” (Statement by Sen. Kerry on October 30, 2006)
Background on Education Levels in the United States Military vs. the General U.S. Population
Percentage of Servicemembers and Employed Civilians in Educational Categories Highest educational attainment for servicemembers
Highest educational attainment for employed U.S. population 18 years of age and Older
Sources: GAO analysis of DOD-provided data reflecting servicemember education as of December 31, 2004. Data for employed U.S. population 18 years of age and older from Table 5a, Educational Attainment of Civilians 16 Years and Over by Labor Force Status, Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin: 2004, Current Population Survey, U.S. Census Bureau, http://census.gov, downloaded July 26, 2005.
“The members of the United States armed forces are the best trained, best equipped and best educated fighting force in the world, and it is shameful that a senior Democrat Senator would make them the butt of an apparent joke at a political rally. Sadly, this is not the first time Senator Kerry has disparaged the men and women in our military. Less than two years ago, he accused our troops of ‘terrorizing’ Iraqi children – remarks not dissimilar to his Vietnam-era testimony before the Senate in 1971. No one is lying about or distorting Senator’s Kerry’s remarks as he would have us believe. Senator Kerry’s remarks yesterday were clear and they were shameful. He owes the brave men and women in our military a very sincere apology.”
John Kerry in 2005
“And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the--of--the historical customs, religious customs. Whether you like it or not-- Iraqis should be doing that.” (Face the Nation interview, December 4, 2005)
John Kerry Today
“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. And if you don’t you get stuck in Iraq.” (Statement by Sen. Kerry on October 30, 2006)
Background on Education Levels in the United States Military vs. the General U.S. Population
Percentage of Servicemembers and Employed Civilians in Educational Categories Highest educational attainment for servicemembers
| Active | Reserves | |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 3 | 3 |
| Less than high school | 1 | 4 |
| High school equivalency | 4 | 4 |
| High school diploma | 68 | 51 |
| Some college | 7 | 16 |
| Baccalaureate degree | 11 | 15 |
| Graduate degree | 6 | 7 |
| Total servicemembers | 100 | 100 |
Highest educational attainment for employed U.S. population 18 years of age and Older
| Less than high school | 10 |
| High school diploma or equivalency | 30 | Some college | 29 |
| Baccalaureate degree | 20 |
| Graduate degree | 10 |
| Total employed U.S. population 18 years of age and older | 99 |
Sources: GAO analysis of DOD-provided data reflecting servicemember education as of December 31, 2004. Data for employed U.S. population 18 years of age and older from Table 5a, Educational Attainment of Civilians 16 Years and Over by Labor Force Status, Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin: 2004, Current Population Survey, U.S. Census Bureau, http://census.gov, downloaded July 26, 2005.
