The tragedy here is that as the Kerry caricature grows to ridiculously laughable proportions (deservedly so) the fact that this was a rare political moment when a politician said what he really thinks is lost.

“During a Vietnam-era run for Congress three decades ago John Kerry said he opposed a volunteer Army because it would be dominated by the underprivileged, be less accountable and be more prone to ‘the perpetuation of war crimes’” writes the Associated Press in a report this week. “Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran who turned against the war, made the observations in answers to a 1972 candidate questionnaire from a Massachusetts peace group.”

So whether Kerry did indeed “botch a joke” as he claims or he accidentally let his true colors show is a matter that is up for debate. But it is entirely reasonable for observers to take his words at face value, especially given the fact this is not the first time he has expressed these kinds of views about the military. But someone should inform the junior Senator from Massachusetts that not only are those views insulting and demeaning to those who serve in the military, they are wrong.

The Heritage Foundation’s Tim Kane recently conducted a study in which he concludes, “With regard to income, education, race, and regional background, the all-volunteer force is repre¬sentative of our nation and meets standards set by Congress and the Department of Defense. In con¬trast to the patronizing slanders of antiwar critics, recruit quality is increasing as the war in Iraq contin¬ues.”

Perpetuating a tired old 1970s peacenik myth is insulting. And no, it is not funny, and it certainly is no joke.