Defeat from the jaws of Victory?

John Kerry said it was "a botched joke about the president and the president's people..." when he told a group of students at Pasadena City College....

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, uh, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

Reaction from the students was mixed with some laughter and gasps.

Reaction from the White House was swift (pun intended)....

President Bush called the comment, "insulting and shameful." and said the troops deserve an apology.

The President also said, "Our troops did not enlist because they did not study hard in school or do their homework, The men and women who serve in our all-volunteer armed forces are plenty smart and are serving because they are patriots."

Tony Snow, White House Bruce Secretary, said...the quote "fits a pattern" of negative remarks about U.S. soldiers from the decorated Vietnam veteran and suggested that whether Democratic candidates - particularly those running on their military service backgrounds - agree with their 2004 standard-bearer should be a campaign litmus test.

Bruce Braley, afraid it'll cost him votes in Iowa's 1st Congressional District, said Kerry's recent comments about the Iraq war were inappropriate.

He's also CUT & RUN from Kerry, canceling a campaign event later this week with the Senator.

A Democratic congressman told ABC News Tuesday, "I guess Kerry wasn't content blowing 2004, now he wants to blow 2006, too."

NOW THAT'S FUNNY!!!