Rivals aim to make issue of Clark's GOP votes

[robbedvoter]

Rivals aim to make issue of Clark's GOP votes
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2001836936_clark15.html
By Knight Ridder Newspapers and The Associated Press

MANCHESTER, N.H. — When retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark arrived outside a child health clinic in Manchester on Tuesday, a volunteer from Joe Lieberman's campaign was there wearing a plastic Ronald Reagan mask and handing out fliers that blasted Clark for voting for President Reagan, who regularly pinched funding for the poor.

Polls show Clark emerging as former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's main challenger in the Granite State. So his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination are sharpening their swords, mainly by spotlighting the fact that Clark routinely voted for Republicans in the past including presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Last week, the Dean campaign distributed fliers that said, "Wesley Clark: Real Democrat?"

snip

Asked about Dean's comments, Clark said, "It's old time politics."

snip

Clark has gained support from independents and Republicans who say they regret voting for President George W. Bush. But some hard-core Democrats doubt Clark's recent commitment to their party is genuine.

snip.

"I've voted for Republicans in the past. I may as well admit it here, because if you haven't seen it, you'll see it on the sheets that Howard Dean's been handing out," he said at an event later that night. "I voted for Bill Clinton, and I'm proud I did. And I voted for Al Gore, and he won the election. But I had never been a member of a political party. I'd never seen a presidential candidate until I've been one."

Clark said that it was common for members of the military to vote for candidates who were strong on national security but that he began voting for Democratic candidates when the Cold War ended. He voted for Clinton in 1992 and 1996, and for Gore in 2000.

"I'm pro-choice, pro-affirmative action, pro-environment, pro-health care, pro-education, pro-labor," Clark said in an interview last month. "I was either going to be the loneliest Republican in America or a proud Democrat. Republicans don't believe in those things."

more

[returnable]

1. Are they sure it was a Lieberman supporter...

...and not Holy Joe himself? :hi:

[Kahuna]

2. LOL! Good one!

nt

[thedudeingeorgia]

3. Clark's vote for Republicans

I don't think it makes any difference that Clark voted for a Republican in previous elections. I believe he is most moderate Democrat running, and to get the vote of independents and disgruntled Republicans, I feel he is the best choice for the nomination.

As he said, the military typically votes for candidates who are strong on national security. I don't blame him for voting for Reagan in '84 or Bush in '88. Who in their right mind would vote for Mondale or Dukakis?

People need to realize that they need to vote for the man, not his 'stripes'.....I am sure that all Democrats, if given the choice of Clark or Bush, would much rather vote for Clark.

[Voltaire99]

15. Wait a second

"Who in their right mind would vote for Mondale or Dukakis?"

Um, you're talking about 9 out of 10 people here.

[mobuto]

4. Something I don't understand about American voters

American voters don't seem to be able to understand that politicians are humans and can change their minds. Whenever a politician says "I was wrong," he or she is immediatly attacked. Not only do I think evolving views should be tolerated, I think they should be encouraged. We all learn things as we live our lives, even the smartest of us make mistakes, and I think it is very possible for even former Republicans - as Wes Clark most definitely was not - to have a change of heart. We seem to place a higher premium on consistancy than on honesty.

[PassingFair]

6. I believe people can change their minds...

...but a month before Iowa caucus? Come on. He shouldn't consider himself a lonely Republican, he should get with the other dissatisfied, left of Bush republicans and vote for the populist offering for POTUS, Howard Dean.

[shanti]

8. exactly, it was the timing

it makes him look very suspect.

[formernaderite]

11. Republican-lite is a vote for a real Republican

This tactic has never worked...voting for a repuke-lite, means the public has not been educated as to the differences between the candidates...they will choose the real republican every time. Lieberman and his DLC diluted Gore's supposed populist message.
As a side note, I did vote for Nader in 2000...but I also live in a state that is overwhelmingly democratic.
To avoid the costly mistakes of 2000, the democratic party needs to elect a candidate who is truly a member of the democratic party. For me, that's the Dr. or Dennis.

[tnlefty]

5. A Kerry supporter loudly mentioned this at a local function Tues. night

Local democratic women had a forum in which representatives from interested candidate's campaigns tried their best to explain their chosen candidates' positions and answer questions, etc.

A Kerry supporter blasted the Clark representative with this and I don't think that it went over very well. Actually pissed me and others in our "Dean" group off.

The rep. for Clark remained composed although not happy and did a good job of addressing it.

[Larkspur]

7. I'm glad that Clark's Dem credentials are being targeted

He has no business running for the Dem nomination slot. He has no verifiable history with the Democratic party nor does he have a record as a Democratic political leader in the civilian realm.

Dean, whose parents were Republicans, had the humility to rise through the Democratic Party infrastrucutre from the bottom up. Unlike Clark, Dean proved his Democratic credentials.

Clark is a political mercenary who thinks the Dem Party is a bimbo he can use for his grand delusions.

[copithorne]

9. An answer to a prayer

The fact that Wesley Clark used to vote for Republicans is the answer to a prayer.

We have so many wingnuts who have stranded themselves on an incoherent ideology. Their beliefs make no sense. But they have their pride and they aren't going to give them up without some dignified way of doing so.

The story of Wesley Clark voting for Republicans in the past provides them that story. Ronald Reagan used to vote for Democrats. His conversion to the Republican party provided millions of Democrats the alibi for abdicating the political loyalties of their New Deal parents. Wesley Clark will provide an alibi for millions of Republicans to come back to voting for Democrats.

Wesley Clark is running as one of the most liberal candidates in the race. If there is any position on the issues in which Howard Dean or other candidates besided Kucinich are running to the left of Wesley Clark, I'd be interested in hearing it.

The problem with Wesley Clark voting Republican is is only conceivably a problem if you don't trust Wesley Clark to be representing himself accurately. And if you don't trust him there is one remedy for that. Listen to the man. If you listen to him and you have any ability to judge a man's character you'll see at once that Wesley Clark is a man of profound integrity.

I hope that the Democratic party can take advantage of the fact that Wesley Clark used to vote for Republicans. We need millions of voters who voted for Republicans to vote for Democrats now. Millions of Republicans will vote for Wesley Clark.

[Snivi Yllom]

10. more last minute media whorism

the smears are becoming bigger than the candidates thanks to the media whores.

[stickdog]

12. Voting for Republicans is the least of Clarks sins.

What Clark has been up to since he retired from the military -- lobbying for military-industrial-banking-Big Brother-Homeland Security outfits to the tune of millions a year -- is what proves beyond a doubt that he's part of the problem masquerading as the final solution.

[mandyky]

13. It is an issue to me

My gut feeling is not to trust Clark and that is one reason why. He could have at least made sure he was a registered Dem before he announced. His past voting record does not help alleviate my gut feeling. And I am not sure I believe that he voted for Gore, or Clinton.

[jonnyblitz]

16. I thought that was rather "curious" myself.

Even though it might be "poo pooed" as a formality and considered not big deal by his supporters you would think Clark's handlers at the least would have made sure he was a registered DEM before he announced in light of how some question his true leanings.

[Voltaire99]

17. For me, too

I don't trust him, either, for these reasons:

1) Criminal conduct of the Kosovo bombing
2) Votes for Republicans and disingenuous claims about party affiliation
3) Cheerleading in April 2003 London Times for Iraq invasion
4) Support for foolish flag-burning amendment

and most of all,

5) Status quo support for US hegemony around the globe; he's an Empire man who dresses up his positions in ersatz multilateralism.

[loudnclear]

14. That's fair game in my book.

Kucinich is the one true Dem besides Sharpton.

[Nashyra]

18. Oh well

My Dr. who is a moderate Repuke and would not think of voting for any Dem just said that it has made him decide to look at Clark. He is ex military and doesn't like * but would find it hard to vote for a Dem. He said the fact that Clark appears to be moderate makes him appealing to him and also alot of others in the office. Clark can win the GE and he is a liberal but he also has a fiscal conservative message that resonates with swing and moderate voters. Lieberman can go to hell. He is one candidate that I would not waste a dime on nor a moment of my time campaigning for though I would vote for him because first and foremost I am ABB. Thank God I won't have to worry about it.