Given Senator John Kerry’s recent remarks that bordered on historic blundering, this word seemed terribly appropriate.

contretemps (con·tre·temps): / KON truh tahn /
noun

(1) an embarrassing or inopportune mishap or situation; an unfortunate occurrence
(2) an argument or dispute (uncommon)

[From French contre- (“against or counter”) + temps (“time”); literally meaning “against the time.”]

Usage: John Kerry’s recent speech in which he inadvertently insulted our armed forces is just the kind of Democrat contretemps the Republicans are looking for, as was made evident by Bush and McCain immediately seizing upon it as an example of the left’s dislike of the military.