USA today does a puff interview with Teresa Heinz Kerry. The final question:

Q: You’d be different from Laura Bush?

A: Well, you know, I don’t know Laura Bush. But she seems to be calm, and she has a sparkle in her eye, which is good. But I don’t know that she’s ever had a real job — I mean, since she’s been grown up.

What THK doesn’t know is easily discovered:

Inspired by her second grade teacher, [Laura Bush] earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Southern Methodist University in 1968. She then taught in public schools in Dallas and Houston. In 1973 she earned a master of library science degree from the University of Texas at Austin and worked as a public school librarian in Austin.

Schoolteacher and librarian — sounds pretty real to me. What “real job” have you had, Tuhraaayza?

Update: Teresa apologizes:

In a statement issued Wednesday, Heinz Kerry said: “I had forgotten that Mrs. Bush had worked as a school teacher and librarian, and there couldn’t be a more important job than teaching our children. As someone who has been both a full-time mom and full-time in work force, I know we all have valuable experiences that shape who we are. I appreciate and honor Mrs. Bush’s service to the country as first lady and am sincerely sorry I had not remembered her important work in the past.”

Wonder who wrote that for her? If they can keep her on script maybe she won’t blow her husband’s chances.

Update: The answer of who wrote it:

The Kerry campaign was concerned enough to issue an apology from Mrs. Kerry — who didn’t apologize for past controversial remarks like saying four more Bush years would be “four more years of hell” or telling a reporter, “Shove it!”

But the real story isn’t the insult to teachers, it the insult to the millions of work-at-home moms:

But John Kerry’s ketchup-heiress wife didn’t apologize in her statement to full-time moms who might see her remarks as insulting and demeaning — and some Republicans predicted she’ll pay a price for that.

“She showed snide disrespect that’s sure to alienate some of the millions of women who either have made the choice to stay at home to raise their children or respect those who do,” said Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway, the mother of newborn twins.

Mrs. Kerry’s gaffe came at a key point, as voters make their final choices and both campaigns are targeting women, who tend to make up their minds later. Kerry needs strong female support to counter President Bush’s big lead among men.

Even before the flap, polls showed that if there was a separate election for first lady, Mrs. Bush would win by a landslide.