Hay Jon Carey, you done messed up.

Last Wednesday, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., told a group of California college students that they need to take their studies seriously or they would end up "stuck in Iraq."

At a time when Democrats are confident in big changes in Congress, Kerry's comment could not have come at a worse time for the party. Quick-thinking party officials asked him to immediately lower his public appearances, including one in Philadelphia.

Although Kerry did later apologize for his comments, he did so half-heartedly.

His written speech was actually supposed to be an attack on President Bush, he said, one which he accidentally "botched."

First of all, the topics of Iraq and our soldiers' roles there are sensitive ones and are not necessarily one to be joking about a week before the election.

Despite how any politician feels about Iraq, his or her views should not portray the soldiers themselves negatively because of it.

Also, any elementary school student with a bad test grade could tell Kerry that it does not matter what he meant to say, it only matters that he did not say it.

The week before an election is the final stretch for all politicians because they are either running or helping to campaign. A slip by any one of them can drastically hinder a fellow party member's election.

A former presidential candidate should have at least enough tact to censor his own speech on the verge of a midterm Election Day.

Because of Kerry's remarks, many Democratic notables have begun to loosen their ties with him. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, defined Kerry's words as "inappropriate" and said she did not want a slip by Kerry to reward Republicans with an election victory.

Honestly, who can blame her?

If the Democrats end up with a less-than-desirable outcome Tuesday evening, it is likely that all eyes will be on Kerry.

Meanwhile, soldiers in Iraq have been criticizing Kerry, posing for photographs with banners reading, "Halp us Jon Carry -- We R stuck hear N Irak."

Hopefully, Kerry can see that those fighting for us are intelligent enough to engage in political satire.