Reply #64: Surely you have figured out how the Rowe machine works by now [View All]

[Tom Rinaldo]

They don't wait until the General Election to deal with threats to their power. Clark was a threat because he had/has the credibility to uncover and confront their imperialistic military mind set. Clark was a Viet Nam Hero who did NOT become a protester. They went after Clark with all guns blazing as soon as he announced. They knew it was easier to make Center Left Primary Season Democrats suspicious of a relatively little known General than it would be the public at large in a General Election. They wanted Clark completely discredited and made into a caricature of a loony sooner rather than later so the public would tune him out immediately rather than take him seriously. They got in enough blows to hurt Clark in the Primaries, but he came out standing and subsequently gained respect, not lost it, with Democrats and the public.

Clark was one of a handful of major surrogates for Kerry during the campaign. He was on all of the top shows speaking for Kerry. If the Republicans had been able to sink him they would have, it's that simple. Yes they would try again in 2008. They never give up. But they will with any Democrat, inventing lies if need be. Clark is solid. Better than that, they can't drag up 'Liberal" voting records to use against him by taking out of context every vote he's made over 30 years the way they will with any Democrat who has held office.