This Guy (Howard Dean) Can Rock the White House

[Larkspur]

By Elaine Kamarck
Jan. 15, 2004
Newsday
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vpkam153626813jan15,0,1291105.story?coll=ny-viewpoints-headlines

<SNIP>
...I vote for Dean over Clark to be the Democratic Idol because I think Dean has the best chance of any of the candidates in this race to beat George W. Bush. Clark, appealing as he is, is one-dimensional. His campaign is nothing more and nothing less than his biography. His military career is impressive but Kosovo was not exactly the Normandy invasion, and Clark cannot expect the outpouring of American gratitude that took Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower to the White House.

Furthermore, Clark's military service is not without controversy. Fairly or unfairly, a number of his former colleagues are more than happy to say bad things about him. And this is before the Bush team, adept at character assassination, has gotten serious about him. In 2000 the Bush campaign turned Al Gore, a politician known for nothing as much as the fact that he was a straight arrow, into a chronic liar in the minds of many. By the time Bush and company get done with Gen. Clark, his military experience could be a nightmare and the general could wish he'd gone AWOL from West Point.

Once Clark's military career is destroyed, the Bush team would exploit his inconsistencies on the Iraq war and his past admiration for Republicans. That would turn the general into just another political opportunist. Robbed of his biography, Clark has nothing - no record on health care, no experience balancing budgets, no background in creating jobs. It is very difficult to challenge the commander in chief - generals are in the chain of command, not on top of it. In spite of his impressive learning curve and great performances, Clark is just too new at this game to head the ticket. (Which doesn't mean he couldn't be the No. 2 - but that's a subject for another day.)

Howard Dean, on the other hand, is the strongest candidate against Bush that the Democrats have. The complaints against him are overdrawn and easily outweighed by his strengths.
<SNIP>

Dean rocked me with his March 15, 2003 speech to the California State Democrats and he and his campaign since then have only made me ferociously loyal.

[eileen from OH]

1. Great article, thanks!

n/t

eileen from OH

[Melodybe]

2. Nice article, I like Clark very much but unfortunately I agree.