Responding to Republican challenger Jeff Beatty's claims that U.S. Sen. John Kerry has politicized veterans, the senator's camp struck back quickly and strongly by saying that Beatty's remarks are insulting to veterans.

"This right winger must have studied the Karl Rove playbook long and hard if he thinks it's acceptable to insult Private First Class Sean Bannon," Brigid O'Rourke, a spokeswoman for Kerry (D-Boston), said in an email.

Bannon was featured in Kerry's television ad that Beatty (Harwich) criticized. Beatty said earlier Wednesday that there has been a "pattern" of using veterans for political gain through Kerry's career.

"No Senator cares more personally, or has done more, for veterans than John Kerry," O'Rourke said. "Whether it's better health care for vets, pay increases passed over George Bush's objections, body armor or improved benefits for our military, John Kerry has walked the walk."

O'Rourke also criticized Beatty for suggesting that Bannon should not be allowed to participate in political ads. Beatty said veterans shouldn't placed in political advertisements. "It's a paid political advertisement," Beatty said. "If that's not exploitation, I don't know what is."

"Jeff Beatty," O'Rourke said, "owes our veterans an apology if he believes they don't have a right to speak their mind."