A reader forwarded a graphic demonstration of how far John F. Kerry’s “prepared remarks” (as shilled by the NYT) are from what he really said:

The actual statement:

You know, education, if you make the most of it, and you study hard, and 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.

The New York Times version: Flubbed Joke Makes Kerry a Political Punching Bag, Again.

Mr. Kerry’s prepared remarks to California students on Monday called for him to say, “Do you know where you end up if you don’t study, if you aren’t smart, if you’re intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush.” In his delivery, he dropped the word “us.”

The necessary edits to get from one to the other:

Note that the Times doesn’t even print Kerry’s actual remarks.

UPDATE at 11/2/06 9:52:37 am:

ABC News apparently thinks Kerry may be right: ABC News Agrees With Kerry- Troops Are Dumb.