Wesley Clark Endorses Hillary Clinton

[Herman Munster]

Source: Washington Post

NEW YORK -- Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton was endorsed Saturday by Wesley Clark, the retired four-star general whose early criticism of the Iraq war fueled a high-profile but short-lived run for the party's nomination in 2004.

"Senator Clinton has the experience, good judgment and the battle tested character to face the challenges ahead," Clark told The Associated Press.

Clark, who joined the Democratic field four years ago largely due to an active online draft movement, planned to discuss his endorsement on a conference call with bloggers later Saturday.

A decorated career Army officer who graduated first in his class at West Point, Clark served as NATO's supreme allied commander and led the Operation Allied Force in the Kosovo war under President Clinton.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/15/AR2007091500788.html

[WorseBeforeBetter]

1. Clinton/Clark? (n/t)

[LeFleur1]

3. If

If she gets the nomination, I hope she chooses Clark to run with her. I've thought that might be a plan from the beginning. He would strengthen her ticket immensely.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

13. Definitely strengthens, but I wonder if Def Sec is what's in the works? (n/t)

[Ilsa]

17. Will he have been out of the army long enough? I think it has to 10 yrs. nt

[WorseBeforeBetter]

23. I didn't read the entire code...

but you appear to be correct.

"A person may not be appointed as Secretary of Defense within 10 years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force."

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode10/usc_sec_10_00000113----000-.html

According to Wiki, Clark served until 2000, so I guess that rules him out.

[earthlover]

57. It is frustrating hearing the Secretary of Defense meme....

For one thing, Clark is legally ineligible to be Sec of Defense because the Secretary must have been a civilian for 10 years.

More importantly, Clark has so much more to offer the country than his military leadership, although that was dynamic. He is intelligent, courageous, he has humble roots and is far from aristocratic, he proposed the most liberal revision of the income tax code in decades, was endorsed by the likes of Michael Moore and George McGovern (who called Clark a "Democrat's Democrat", spoke to Congress in opposition to the IWR, earned environmental honors, is presently fighting to prevent a war in Iran, is one of the more progressive candidates that has run in the last two presidential election cycles yet has a presence that appeals to moderates and potential cross-over Republicans. I could go on. But to relegate Clark to Secretary of Defense is to ignore a lot of his potential, and falls victim a mind-set of associating a general with the military, as if a man who proposed a health care plan four years ago that goes beyond what most present candidates today talk about shouldn't be taken seriously because he was a four star general.

Clark rocks. He would be the perfect VP for Clinton if she were to be the nominee. He compliments her in many ways and he props her up in her perceived weaknesses. His national security strength will help immensely, especially if the Reps go back to their old tricks of trying to Swift Boat Hillary. Clark will not take shit from nobody. And he has the presence that few possess that can call out bull shit and tell it like it is. He is a fatherly figure that compliments Hillary's female-ness. He is much more liberal than Hillary, but the funny thing is that Hillary is going to be perceived the liberal and Clark will be perceived as a conservative because of his military background...to the funny thing is that Clark, being more liberal, will balance Hillary's perceived liberalism. Clark can help in key battleground states such as Ohio, Florida, Virginia (remember Clark was influential in electing Webb), Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky. So, although Clark would excel in any job he is given to do, he has tremendous political attractivenes as VP---not just for Hillary, for that matter. National Security is still going to be an issue in 08. It is the Reps' last hope. Clark on the ticket will defuse this as a Republican issue, and perhaps turn it around to favor the Dems!

So, another weakness of relegating Clark to Sec of Defense is the basic problem is that in order for him to be in the cabinet, the Democratic Nominee has to win! Clark as VP will ensure this more than anyone else in the mix.

[avrdream]

66. I'm with you on this.

I think Clark would make an excellent VP, regardless of who the President (Democrat, that is) is. I am certainly pleased that he endorsed my candidate, though.

[calteacherguy]

25. You are not alone in your thoughts. nt

[rodeodance]

51. it is a probable possibility

[Eurobabe]

2. Clark/Clinton, no surprise there...

[Totally Committed]

8. How do you feel about that, 48?

I'm disappointed beyond words. Not totally shocked, but enormously disappointed.

How do you feel? (PM me if you don't want to answer here.)

TC

[Herman Munster]

10. have you ever met hillary clinton or spent significant time with her?

If you respect Clark, you should respect that he may have more knowledge than you about Hillary's character and qualifications for President.

[still_one]

18. People should make there own mind up, not through someone elses endorsement

whether that person is respected or not

Funny, but that logic was the same logic people used with Colin Powell when he went before the united nations

Both Clark and Hillary have a position about keeping troops in Iraq for an indefinite amount of time, and I have a problem with that

Yes, I have a problem that she voted for the IWR, the Patriot Act, and the bankrupcy bill.

If she wins the nomination, she will get my vote in 2008, but I don't respect her. Respect has to be earned, and that remains to be seen.

[Doremus]

54. She didn't vote for the bankruptcy bill.

She didn't vote, period.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00044

[still_one]

68. That isn't what common dreams indicated:

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/0316-03.htm

[Totally Committed]

38. I've met her, yes... and Bill, too.

But, are we "buds"? No.

I can't understand what Wes is thinking. I'm tremendously disappointed.

TC

[CTyankee]

34. Hi, TC. I was a Clarkie early in 04 and disappointed that he didn't

run this time. I'm disappointed again that Edwards has not gained more momentum. This news seems to consume lots of oxygen in the pre primary season. I was hopeful for another outcome.

However, I just had a very funny image pop in my mind: Gert and Bill as spouses of running mates on the campaign trail!

[TacticalPeek]

4. Makes good sense.

:patriot:

[durrrty libby]

5. Very nice....(take cover as some heads explode)

[billyoc]

6. They'd be an unstoppable ticket,

unfortunately. :hi:

[Toots]

7. I would suggest him to be our (Clinton's) next Secretary of Defense

:shrug: Unless something really unusual turns up she will become our next President. Clark is no dummy, he goes with a proven winner.

[tammywammy]

24. Clark can't be Sec of Defense yet

He has to be out of the military 10 years before he can be.

[Honeycombe8]

9. Wow. That's quite an endorsement she picked up there.

That's gonna hurt Obama and Edwards, among Democrats.

In a way, I hate to hear this because I was a Clark supporter for '04, but am leaning toward Obama now.

[Catchawave]

11. No surprise there :) Oh wait,

he's not running then?

Good luck to all the Clinton and Clark supporters :toast:

[shireen]

12. i have deep trust in his judgment

If Wes thinks Hillary is good for the country, perhaps she's our girl. But I still feel ambivalent about her candidacy. Perhaps what I really need is some reassurance that she's no Bill Clinton.

I am very disappointed that Wes isn't running. But I'm also very proud of the work he's done, particularly for VoteVets.

[jcrew2001]

41. Do you mean she's our woman instead of our girl?

I think most people, at least 50% of the country like Bill and prefer him over Hillary. That's why I think she will likely do worse than Bill in the general election.

I hate to say that I told you so to all the Clarkies, but Clark is a tool of the Clinton machine. He's gunning for VP or Secretary of State. And, though he wanted to run in 2008, he never would have because Hillary is in the race. He just didn't have the fortitude to fight against Hillary, which is a shame imo. But I guess their friendship or the Clinton power scared him enough from running.

[Honeycombe8]

46. Actually, if Hillary wins & becomes President, we'll be getting two Presidents.

That's what her run is all about....and the Republicans are all too aware of that. They'll use that as a scare tactic during the GE, I'm sure. But ironically, that'll be the reassurance that many people will need.

If Hillary is Prez...it'll really be Hillary AND Bill.

Disclaimer: I am not a Hillary supporter. I just state the facts, ma'am.

[llmart]

73. That's exactly how I see it too......

and I think the voting public will see it that way too. Two fer one Presidency. After 8 friggen' years of dumbo the jackass in office, we need a lot of help and the Clintons can do it.

[aquart]

55. "Clarkies." "Tool." "Scared." "Didn't have the fortitude."

My, what high regard you hold this man in. You wanted him for president? Really. Your esteem is overwhelming.

[earthlover]

59. Scared is a poor word to describe a war hero (and someone who stood up to Bush before it was cool)

[ShortnFiery]

14. Clark is a man with integrety, but I never went "ga ga" for him.

:shrug: HRC will not win the GE, but some of you folks will maintain this delusion until the republican party hands us our butts come 2008. Negative coattails no matter who is her VP. :(

[onehandle]

15. Wow. I was sure he would eventually, but not this soon.

If she's the nominee, he better serve in her administration or as running mate.

[MilesColtrane]

16. I think Wes is backing a candidate who can't win.

Hillary may have the experience to run the country, but as far as good judgment and character....? ...Not to mention her actual campaigning skills and persona.

Seems to me that Hillary is aiming at the center in hopes of winning over voters who would never consider her at the expense of the liberal base of the Democratic party.

[AwareOne]

19. You are correct , Hillary will not win a general election

and I know a lot of people hate to hear that but it's the truth. A recent Gallup poll, published in the Christian Science Monitor shows that 11% of Americans will not vote for a woman for president. Now I'm not a million dollar campaign consultant but I think if we don't nominate a candidate who comes from the same demographic as EVERY SINGLE PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY, white and male, then we better get use to saying President Romney for the next eight years.

[still_one]

22. I don't agree with that assessement. Romney doesn't stand a chance

the biggest problem we will have is if they nominate Guilinani.

Hillary has got the money, and the power behind her.

I can see that ads against her now, from her own record and words. When she talks against the Iraq war, they will bring up how she voted for the IWR. They will show exerpts from the debate when she said progress is getting made in Iraq.

The biggest problem that she will have to contend with though is what the media will focus on, and that is not her ideas, but marc rich, monica lewinsky, NAFTA, and every other piece of garbage that has nothing to do with her positions. That will be the biggest problem, and she cannot delay a response to her critics, but must not only answer each one, but throw it right back

Guilianai is already trying to attack her for attack general betry_us, and infer that she is unpatriotic. She cannot let those baseless charges stand. It is the job of Congress TO QUESTION THIS WAR, NOT BLINDLY FOLLOW

[zonkers]

33. You need not be a milion dollar campaign manager to know enough to bank on the narrowmindedness

and prejudicial tendencies of many voters. The only upside to Hillary losing in 08 is it sets us up for 2012, that is if our country is still around.

[earthlover]

60. Bullshit! I thought the Democratic Party was more Progressive than the Sexists!

As to the 11%....I highly doubt that neanderthals like that would vote for a male Democrat either. So let them wield their clubs and eat Mastodon on their campfires.

[still_one]

21. It all depends who she runs against. I think if guiliani is their nominee, it will be close

as far as your other comments regarding good judgement and character, I couldn't agree with you more

However, unless Obama and Edwards combine their votes, she will be the nominee, and I will vote for her in the general election

Not the primaries...

[jcrew2001]

42. Its funny how Hillary is running to the center in the primaries

but in the general election, she'll be viewed as an Extreme northeast liberal by the Right and the independents.

Maybe she should try to reverse that strategy.

However, Obama and Edwards will likely be viewed more favorably and as more centrist in the General Election. But that may also have to do with less media history than Hillary.

[earthlover]

61. Clark as VP would counter this (even though he is actually more liberal)

Clark is the stealth liberal...he is perceived as strong on security, and moderate even though he is way, way, way more liberal than Hillary.

It is a HILLARIous irony.

[L0oniX]

20. Sad

[Freddie Stubbs]

48. Not for Hillary and her many supporters it isn't

[MasonJar]

26. It will be so wonderful if Hill chooses Wesley as her running mate.

If that does not happen, I believe he will be Sec. of State.

[calteacherguy]

27. Agreed. nt

[MasonJar]

28. I may have told y'all before that a good friend of mine knows a former

CIA member who was chosen to escort (I guess as in drive) Bill Clinton when he was president, during a visit to Louisville. The agent did not like Bill. However, before Clinton left town, the agent was totally sold on him. Sometime later he had a similar experience with Hillary; by the time she left he loved her. Just something to consider. We mainly know Hill from the right-wing perspective, because it has been so loud for so long. She is definitely more liberal than Bill.

[dmosh42]

30. I had felt that she offered him something for an endorsement...

a long time ago. This is the reason he didn't commit to another run for the nomination. Probably a top cabinet job is promised, plus he carries great military credentials and respect, so will eventually be showcased to close the deal. I was a Clark backer, but being that he didn't announce, I have been backing Edwards. This may be too much for these other candidates to overcome. Only Hillary can lose this now. (Or Bill doing his thing!)

[jcrew2001]

43. The Clark endorsement means nothing to Clarkies

who never liked Hillary to begin with. And I don't think there are others out there who weren't Clarkies who would care about the endorsement. It might give her a momentary boost, but Hillary is well-known enough that an endorsement by Clark won't effect the primary.

I had thought Clark would lean towards Obama since he gave him some foreign policy advice earlier. Most Clarkies seem to have gravitated towards Obama.

Obama is really the only person who can stop Hillary in the primaries. But Edwards is the one with the best chance in the general election.

[RaRa]

53. Different take from my brother

who was chatting with an Ohio attorney friend (and fellow Dem)who was involved in a Hilliary visit to the NE/Youngstown area this year. I don't recall the specifics except that she was running late and was extremely foul-mouthed to the police/security folks. After they dared question her about the schedule she said something to the effect of "We'll fucking start when I fucking say we're fucking starting". (Not verbatim, except the number of "fuck"s in her comment.)

[smoogatz]

29. I find this intriguing.

Interesting to see how it shakes out, if she wins the nom.

[maryallen]

31. What a disappointment ....

And I thought you were your "own man."

[rep the dems]

32. No offense to Clinton supporters, but I am extremely surprised by

this and I'm very disappointed in General Clark. This is a man who opposed this war and knew the problems it would likely cause, and now he's saying that someone who went right along with the Administration for years has the good judgement to be President. I really don't know what he's thinking.

[ginchinchili]

37. Clark is an old friend of the Clintons

That's the only reason I can think of besides some hope that Hillary would make him SOS or Defense Sec. I fought hard for Gen. Clark in 2004, but I'm disappointed in this endorsement. Hillary can't win the general election. As far as your unwillingness to support someone who voted to give Bush authority to invade Iraq, that was how I felt before the primary process began, but if we want to take the White House from the Republicans, we have to nominate someone who made the mistake of believing this phony president. That's just the reality of the situation, and it's reality we have to deal with.

[rep the dems]

44. Well I'm not saying I won't vote for Hillary against a Republican.

I just don't understand why anti war Democrats see Hillary as the ideal candidate with good judgement. I disagree with Clark on this, but if his reasoning actually is what you suggested, then I'll lose a lot of respect for him. That tells me that he cares more about himself than about the country's need for a strong President who will make the right decisions.

[knight_of_the_star]

39. I'm with you on this

I supported the guy back towards the end of the draft movement for '04, guess this proves he is not only not running but I'll have to disagree with him on this. I do not think HRC is fit to be President or has a good shot at winning this election.

[XemaSab]

35. Dis.

n/t

[ginchinchili]

36. I'm a big Clark fan, but this was a major mistake for the Dems

Major mistake because Wes Clark wields a lot of influence with a big block of Democrats and Hillary can't win the general election. I'm as certain of that as I was certain an invasion of Iraq would end up being a foreign policy catastrophe before the first soldier set foot in Iraq for this sad and desperate campaign of Bush's. I just got through reading an article about people's opinions on the war. The last line in the 3rd paragraph sums up why Hillary will lead the Republicans to victory. This is a very typical attitude among independents, the constituency that will determine the outcome of this presidential election:

Bush said it was possible for about 5,700 U.S. troops to come home by Christmas, and by late Friday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates had raised the possibility that the U.S. force could drop to 100,000 by the end of 2008.

That would mean a significant withdrawal from the roughly 168,000 U.S. troops in Iraq now but would guarantee a large American presence there when Bush hands the presidency to his successor in 16 months.

That sits just fine with Lee Daugherty, a salesman at The Gun Shop in Savannah, Ga., who considers himself a conservative-leaning independent and who keeps a crossed-through picture of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton in the store.


Point being, nominating Hillary would finally give the Republicans something to energize them. It would be the equivalent of a Democratic nominee saying that we should allow any immigrant who wants to come to America should be welcome and given a safe and supportive haven. Please, don't do this, my fellow Democrats. Our nation can't afford 4 or 8 more years of Republican rule.

[eagler]

62. I couldn't agree more. This is exactly what some Republicans have said they want.

[MannyGoldstein]

40. Tells Us A Lot About Clark

I guess he likes war and "free" trade.

[Baby Snooks]

45. Why does this surprise you?

The media has already declared Hillary to be the candidate. Along with Rudy Giuliani as her opponent. And the media is already running their "Guiliani versus Clinton" pieces. It really doesn't matter who endorses who. The media has already decided.

[Snarkturian Clone]

47. This thread has many dupes

so I'll keep making the same joke thread after thread

Bad choice, Wesley!


Wesley Clark

[high density]

49. What a turd of an announcement

I love Wes Clark, heck he brought me to the Democratic party in 2003, but I can't support Hillary Clinton. She is the last person I want up on our ticket to fight against the Republicans.

[robcon]

50. Probably a deal for a cabinet position.

There's little other reason for Clark to announce his preference before the primaries.

[Crunchy Frog]

52. Sorry Wes, I can't follow you there.

I'll be behind Hillary 100% if she gets the nomination, but I can't support her in the primaries. Looks like it's probably going to be Kucinich for me again.

[MilesColtrane]

56. I don't really think this will sway most Clark fans to vote Hillary in the primary.

I know it won't change my preference for either Obama or Edwards.

If Clark is on the tickeet it will certainly take the sting out of voting for her if, by some improbablity, she wins the primaries and ends up the nominee.

[JMDEM]

58. How Cozy

If Hillary's elected, she can pardon all the criminals in 43's White House, the same way Bill pardoned all the criminals in 41's White House. "For the healing of the nation". Hillary can then fatten us up enough for Jeb to come pick the bones clean again in 2016 with the whole neocon crew back in action.

Who says it never snows in Arkansas?

[Neshanic]

63. Well, there you have it. Clinton/Clark

Not a bad move. If he runs with her, I will not have to hold my nose so hard.

[davidinalameda]

64. this cinches it for me

I was really trying to find a reason not to support Hillary but with the General endorsing her, I will support her

Clark will be Secretary of State in the Clinton administration-he's our version of Colin Powell, but with the scruples that Powell put into a blind trust when he went to work for Bush

I'm so sick and tired of Democrats and progressives especially who say she can't be elected

she's had to deal with the mud thrown by Repugs for the past fifteen years or so, and also the mud thrown by those holier-than-thou lefties who didn't like Bill because he wasn't ideologically pure

Go Hillary Go!

[JMDEM]

65. Yea, but her voting record is her voting record

That is there for anyone to see -- and her support of various Bush appointees and failure to take a stand on Iraq ... to overlook that is to be guilty of the exact same thing we accuse the Kool Aid drinkers of doing.

As far as I'm concerned, every single candidate except Kucinich and Gravel are bought and paid for by the same people that brought us BushCo. Well, I'm not sure about Edwards anymore due to recent statements -- but I don't fully trust him yet.

But maybe I'm just a holier-than-thou Liberal and should say "yea, I want my life run by General Electric and General Dynamics and Haliburton and Exxon..."

The only two candidates I trusted (who have a chance) were non-candidates -- Gore and Clark. Now I'm shaking my head muttering to myself...

[Kolesar]

67. Wes Clark was the Clintons' "stalking horse" to push Dean out of the way in 2004

Clark entered the race to put the "military" message up front in the election when it looked like upstart Howard Dean was going to prevail over veteran John Kerry.

Well, that's the analysis I heard on NPR many years ago during an analysis of the 2004 primaries. I think the quote was E. J. Dionne.

[NashVegas]

71. Yes, And This Just Confirms It, IMO

..

[high density]

72. Yeah the whole "Draft Clark" thing was just a bunch of Clinton operatives

:eyes:

[mvd]

69. Well, maybe he thinks she will win

She has some things going for her: a good response team, money, resolve, experience in beating Republicans (with Clinton.)

I still think Edwards is our best chance. But I would get behind Hillary, especially after the attacks start flying.

[NashVegas]

70. Oh, Goodness, Quelle Surprise!

:sarcasm: