Clark wins endorsement from McGovern

[bicentennial_baby]

"Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark was endorsed Sunday by former Sen. George McGovern, the party's 1972 nominee. He called Clark the "best of the lot" of candidates in the race.

"We're not going to lose this time," McGovern said at a pancake breakfast for Clark, recalling his landslide defeat by President Nixon.

The former South Dakota lawmaker compared his opposition to the Vietnam War to Clark's criticism of President Bush's decision to wage war in Iraq. He said Clark is the only candidate with a "success strategy to get us out of the war in Iraq, and get our servicemen and women home safely."

Clark, a retired four-star general, has made criticism of Bush's Iraq policy a central theme of his campaign. On Sunday, he repeated his assertion that going to war without broader international backing was "reckless and wrong."


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/01/18/politics1444EST0516.DTL

[lancdem]

1. I have a tremendous amount of respect for McGovern

It wasn't until recently that I knew he served in World War II, something he rarely, if ever, brought up during the 1972 election.

[Rowdyboy]

6. Not only did he serve but he flew 35 bomber missions during WWII

the maximum allowed

[Leilani]

2. Wonderful Endorsement!

Go Wes!

[robbedvoter]

3. McGovern's remarks:

Senator George McGovern Remarks For Endorsement
http://clark04.com/press/release/193/
Manchester, NH
January 18, 2004

Thank you, Dudley for that kind introduction. We've been friends for a long time, and it's heartening to see that some thirty years later, you're still willing to come out in the cold for me.

Thirty-two years ago, thanks to the support of Democratic and Independent Voters right here in New Hampshire, I proudly stood as the presidential candidate of our party -- the Democratic Party.

Today, I am proud to stand here this morning and announce my support for a true progressive, a true Democrat, and the next president of the United States.

A man whose progressive policies on education, taxation, health care are in the finest tradition of the Democratic Party.

A man whose ideals, decency, and compassion are in the great tradition of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton.

A man whose life's work and devotion to America will serve as a beacon to our young and give pride to us all.

That man is Wes Clark - and he will lead our party to victory in November.

Like Wes Clark, I'm a veteran. I was an airman in World War II. And I believe there is nothing more patriotic than serving your country.

I also believe there is nothing more patriotic than speaking out - and standing up for what you believe in. That was one of the reasons I ran for president in 1972 - because I believed that Vietnam was a not a war America should be fighting. Back then, Wes Clark was an officer in the United States Army. And in the election of '72, he voted for the other candidate. Let's call it youthful indiscretion. The good news is that this time we both agree.

Today, we are fighting the wrong war in Iraq. And that's one of the reasons I'm standing here today. Because there is only one man in this race with four stars on his shoulders and thirty-four years of military experience. There is only one man in this race who stopped genocide and saved 1.5 million Kosovar Albanians from ethnic cleansing. There is only one man in this race who has a success strategy to get us out of the war in Iraq - and get our servicemen and women home safely. And that man is Wes Clark.

Wes Clark is also a champion of America's working families, because he knows that you can't be strong abroad unless you're strong at home. Wes Clark understands the problems facing ordinary Americans, especially the three million Americans who've lost their job since George W. Bush arrived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And the 44 million Americans don't have health care, and the thousands who can't afford the sky-rocketing costs of education.

Wes Clark is the only man who can get our country back on track. He's got a jobs program to get our economy going ... a real tax reform to help our working and hard-pressed families ... and a health care plan to make health care affordable for all Americans and universal for all our children. He wants to fight for all Americans, from all walks of life. These are not just Democratic values. These are American values.

Running for president is no easy task. And I have the battle scars to show it. I, too, was the subject of a few dirty tricks during my day. But I'll tell you, there is no better man to withstand the Republican attacks then Wes Clark. And the Republicans know that - they're running scared. The last thing they want is a four star general on their hands. So to my Republican friends out there: get ready, here we come.

Finally, let me say this: There are a lot of good Democrats in this race. But Wes Clark is the best Democrat. He is a true progressive. He's the Democrat's Democrat. I've been around the political block - and I can tell you, I know a true progressive when I see one. And that's why he has my vote.

Wes Clark will bring a higher standard of leadership back to Washington. He'll fight for America's interests, not the special interests. He'll bring honesty, openness, and accountability to the White House. He is a born leader.

That is why I am standing here today: because there's one man in this race with a success strategy in Iraq... there's one man who can really stand up for working American families ... there's one man who can beat George W. Bush - and take back the White House in 2004.

And that man is my friend, our leader, a true progressive, and the next Democratic president of the United States, Wes Clark.

Thank you.

[robbedvoter]

4. Flipping pancakes together (pics)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040118/480/cdh10101181828

[librechik]

5. wow n/t

[tabasco]

7. McGovern is a great American patriot.

Not because of this endorsement but because of his lifelong service to the country. What a better place this country would be if he had been elected. The ruthless republicans must be defeated!

[UTUSN]

12. Yeah, McG IS a great Am Patriot, Unfortunately

He didn't BEAT NIXON, ran a short-sighted campaign focused on his own narrow-minded "pure" supporters, thought it was more NOBLE to be "pure" than to WIN.

What I notice is that the McG idolatry is focused on and by those who WEREN'T BORN and ALIVE at the time. What we others wanted was to -----------RUN NIXON OUT OF ETERNITY. McG didn't do it.

Here's a snippet you won't find anywhere else. At the time, a reporter reported he went into the men's room and witnessed McG at the urinal. McG was pissing, holding his peter with fingertips, staring at the ceiling. This was in the '70s when everybody was supposed to be in-touch with your body. Iow, you were supposed to be COMFORTABLE with yourself and McG WASN'T. The image was like Poppy (later) being OUT OF TOUCH. He should have PANDERED about his military heroism and EVERYTHING. Didn't know how what to do except to glory in his young idolaters.

O.K., flame me way.

[kainah]

8. Will this slow down the press equation of Dean = McGovern?

No, of course not. That equation fits their needs at the moment so they will almost certainly never pay any attention to this endorsement since it would create cognitive dissonance for them.

Meantime, Michael Moore & George McGovern... pretty good liberal coverage!

[Guaranteed]

9. LOL

That's funny in so many ways.

[kiahzero]

10. This is awesome

Go Clark!

[UTUSN]

11. Well,

THAT's the kiss o'death. AND before I get the death threats, take into consideration that:

1) I voted for McG.

2) McG was a war hero who NEVER TOLD US he was a VETERAN while he was crusading as an anti-war dude. He could have GAINED VOTES if he had told the country he was a legitmate war hero who was against that war.

3) I sent him a letter saying, I KNOW you're noble and all that, but what we want to do is to BEAT NIXON, so PLEASE let somebody ELSE run who CAN do it. Wish I had the reply, but the letter said, "I think I UNDERSTAND what's at stake AND that I can WIN." Yeah, right.

Uh, *I* knew he wasn't going to win. Why didn't HE?

[fabius]

13. Sorta shoots the "Clark is a Republican" thing...

Hey I voted for McGovern. (first time, I was 18. And I'm proud of it. Nixon was just a lying sack of s**t just like Bush*.

Still I'd trade Bush for Nixon even in his decomposed state. Nixon dead is smarter than Chimpy alive.

Clark is pretty impressive. I'm interested to see how he does. I'm still for Dean, but my Mom likes Clark so I'm Ok with him. Mom's pretty smart, gotta respect her opinion.

[Larkspur]

14. Thank you McGovern for endorsing Clark

I learned today that Karma can be whimsical as well as b**chy.

The next time the press, the DLC, or one of Dean's rivals says that Dean's Campaign resembles McGovern's, all Dean has to do is say, "McGovern identifies more with Clark than me."

I find McGovern's endorsement amusing considering that Clark voted for Nixon over McGovern and the general still believes to this day that our involvement in Vietnam was justified.

And calling Clark a true Democrat? At least the Keene (NH) Sentinel was paying attention to what the general was doing the last few years. Clark must have been getting desperate trying to find someone to beef up his paper thin Democratic credentials.

[GinaMaria]

15. McGovern Quotes

It doesn't require any particular bravery to stand on the floor of the Senate and urge our boys in Vietnam to fight harder, and if this war mushrooms into a major conflict and a hundred thousand young Americans are killed, it won't be U. S. Senators who die. It will be American soldiers who are too young to qualify for the senate.

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/georgemcgo127680.html