Choose any of these doors; they are the same -- the video clip of John Kerry's ill-fated statement about Iraq, delivered to a Pasadena college audience shortly before the election.

Here's the transcript:

"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."

Kerry claimed it was a botched joke -- that he was calling the president, not the troops, stupid. He says he meant to say that if you didn't study hard, you'd wind up getting this country stuck in Iraq.

Dozens of Republicans immediate took to the airwaves to denounce him, including White House spokesman Tony Snow, who said: "This is an absolute insult. Senator Kerry not only owes an apology to those who are serving, but also to the families of those who've given their lives in this." When Kerry finally sort of babbled out a truculent non-apology, the Washington Times headline read: "Kerry Apologizes for Insulting Troops."

1. What did Kerry mean?
a. He meant exactly what he said. He has elitist contempt for our troops.
b. It was obviously a botched joke.
c. It's just not clear. Could go either way.

2. When Republicans condemned him and called for an apology...
a. They genuinely believed he had insulted the troops.
b. They knew it was a mistake, but were practicing election-week politics.
c. They weren't sure but weren't about to give him the benefit of the doubt.

3. Political experts agree that this probably hurt Kerry's political future irreparably. Did he deserve it?
a. Yes. He exhibited incredible insensitivity.
b. Yes. Whatever he meant, you don't make that sort of mistake.
c. No