(November 2, 2006)—Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, was on the bench Thursday as Democratic candidates and party officials waited for the controversy over his bungled joke to ebb.

But despite Kerry’s apology to troops and military families Wednesday, Republicans aren’t letting go.

Vice President Dick Cheney aimed a zinger at Kerry Wednesday while campaigning in Montana.

“Of course Senator Kerry says he was just making a joke, and he botched it up. I guess we didn't get the nuance. He was for the joke before he was against it,” Cheney said, in reference to Kerry’s explanation to his vote on the war in Iraq during his unsuccessful 2004 presidential campaign.

Meanwhile Thursday documents suggest Kerry's botched joke about Iraq this week bears similarities to remarks he made 34 years ago.

On Monday, Kerry told California students that those who don't study hard likely will "get stuck in Iraq."

Kerry says he was referring to President Bush.

During a 1972 Vietnam-era run for Congress, Kerry said he opposed a volunteer Army.

He said such an army would be dominated by the underprivileged, be less accountable and more prone to what he called the "perpetuation of war crimes."

Kerry is a decorated Vietnam veteran who turned against the war.

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