Nothing strange about it. That was soon after his famous remark last year:
"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. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.
First Kerry said there was nothing to apologize for, then a day later he sort of apologized anyway under pressure from other Democrats, then he tried to take back his semi-apology. He tried to claim the quote was a joke about Bush and not a slur against the troops, and played the victim card by saying he was being "swift-boated" again.
Finally Kerry was humiliated when National Guard troops created a sign saying "Halp us Jon Carry — We R stuck hear n Irak." and the photo spread wildly throughout the Internet.
At that point it became obvious that any comeback attempt by Kerry was DOA, and he began disclaiming interest in 2008 so as to avoid further embarrassment.
Kerry quote: “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. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”
Thanks for the reminder of that gem, Yet, in spite it, given the other gaffes he made during his 2004 campaign, I sensed something else was work. Regardless, thank heavens he is not in pursuit of the Presidency, albeit, he probably would be easier to beat than the Clinton machine.