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'Stuck in Iraq' remark stings, protesters say

By CHANDRA BROADWATER
Published November 3, 2006

SPRING HILL - Two days after Sen. John Kerry made his "stuck in Iraq" remark, Dian Stokey found herself standing on the outdoor stage at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10209.

In front of supporters and media at the news conference she organized, the Masaryktown mother of three - all soldiers who have served, will serve or are serving in Iraq - spoke about how much his words hurt.

"I believe those kind of remarks from a person in that position is demoralizing to the men and women in the service," she said. "It's not only demoralizing to my children, but to myself as a parent and to the American family. My children had the opportunity to go to college. For parents who cannot do that, they support their children and their children work just as hard."

The 46-year-old first saw Kerry's "botched joke" about President Bush's Iraq policies on the Internet on Tuesday. Later that day, she watched the clip over and over again on TV.

Kerry said Wednesday that he did not mean to offend troops while giving a speech to students in California on Monday. There he said people who don't study hard and do their homework would likely "get stuck in Iraq."

Stokey's anger at the comment led to her call VFW Post 10209 Commander Ed Noll on Tuesday night. The post's Ladies Auxiliary member asked if she could use the building the next day.

"I understand how she feels," said Noll, 81, and a former member of the Navy. "Kerry said it was a joke, but when you've got kids over there, it's not a joke."

About 30 people showed up for the event, which lasted a little more than a half-hour. No politicians attended, but a staff member from U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite's office was present.

Among those who attended were Peggy Blanchard, grandmother of Marine Corps Sgt. Lea Mills. The 21-year-old from Hernando died in April when a roadside bomb went off next to his Humvee in the Al Anbar province of Iraq.

"I came to speak on behalf of all military families," said Blanchard, 79. "It's such an outrage for someone in elected office to make an asinine statement like that."

Blanchard was in town wrapping up a stay with her youngest grandson.

Parents Dee and Rob Mills were in California for a memorial service their son's fellow Marines held in California.

Blanchard brought her grandson's Purple Heart and American flag to the gathering and set them on a table in front of her as she and Stokey spoke.

Both said that their anger transcended politics.

"Sen. Kerry is a Democrat," Stokey said. "But if a Republican politician had said the things Kerry said, I would be just as outraged and would have done the same thing this morning. It's the people he insulted - the men and women in the military - who fight to keep the freedom to do that very thing."

Chandra Broadwater can be reached at cbroadwater@sptimes.com or 352 848-1432.

[Last modified November 3, 2006, 01:10:07]