Clark defends his Democratic Presidential campaign

[CMT]

Denying accusations that he joined the Democratic party out of political convienience, Wesley Clark says "everything has changed" in the two years since he praised the Bush administration at a GOP fund-raiser.

In a 2001 speech to Arkansas Republicans, unearthed by the GOP, Clark praised Former Presidents Reagan and Bush while calling the current Bush administration "a great team". He also seemed to criticize the Clinton administration foreign policy in its first term.

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLARK_GOP?SITE=IADES&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[molly]

1. Better a "new Dem" than not

Clark fired back, saying that when it came time to pick a political party, "I was going to be either a very, very lonely Republican or I was going to be a very happy Democrat. ... I'm a new Democrat, and you know what, I'm going to bring a lot of other new Democrats into the party."

Welcome to the Party, Wesley!!! Bring your friends!!!

[bowens43]

2. I welcome him too the party too

but,rather then starting at the top, I think he should have to work his way up like everyone else .

[Padraig18]

3. Why, exactly?

Eisenhower didn't, and as I recall, he served 2 terms. Does the thought of a 2-term democrat terrify you so much? :eyes:

[bowens43]

5. I didn't vote for Eisenhower either....

The thought of a '2-term republican pretending to be a democrat so that he can get the job' scares me. So far , other then a lot of rhetoric, I have seen nothing to convince me that Clark isn't a republican at heart.

[Padraig18]

6. Well now...

... I've found out that when people assume a priori that he IS a Republican, the chance of convincing them that he's NOT are about the same as the chances that purple monkeys will fly out of my butt.

[bowens43]

10. He voted for Nixon, he voted for Reagan

He said that he would be a republican if rove had returned his calls, he said that the current administration was a great team. He may be a republican at heart, he may not. The point is that we have no way of knowing. I actually liked the guy (despite the negative of a long military career) until the skeletons started coming out of the closet. I approached Clark's candidacy with an an open mind but the news of his past has been quite disturbing.

You don't become a four star general by being a progressive or a liberal.

[Rowdyboy]

13. How many

disproved accusations and innaccuracies can one get in a single post?

The Rove crack was a joke; he was speaking about Bush I not Bush II; if he's a Republican at heart, he'd be pretty lonely. Damn few of them support gay rights or abortion rights plus affirmitive action. And if your "top of your class at West Point" and a Rhodes scholar you just might make it in the military without being a shill.

Clark is the real deal.

[EagleEye]

4. I've said it before...Clark gives me the creeps sometimes.

SOmething about his eyes and smile. And now that Gen. Shelton questions his character AND integrity, I think we need more info on the guy.

[molly]

7. Give us some history of Gen. Shelton

his credtionals, his awards, etc. Tell us why he rivals Wes Clark.

[EagleEye]

8. In Washington Post today

The retired general also addressed criticism leveled at him earlier this week by the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Gen. Hugh Shelton, who said Clark had been called home early from his European command because of questions of "integrity and character."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7379-2003Sep26.html

[EagleEye]

9. Also in the Post today

Larry J. Sabato: I have enjoyed your well-written question. Wesley Clark is an enigma to all of us. I am very suspicious of candidates who seek their first elected office in the presidency. That takes even more ego than usual at this level of politics. Moreover, it is clear that Clark has many, many enemies among those who have worked closely with him in the military. Yes, some of this may be pure jealousy, but when one hears General Hugh Shelton, a mild-mannered individual who served Democratic Presidnt Clinton well, question Clark's basic character and integrity, it makes any thoughtful person sit up and take notice.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59903-2003Sep24.html

[DoveTurnedHawk]

11. Shelton Is a Thug Hack Who Had Major Personal Clashes With Clark

While they were working together in the military. The fact that Shelton doesn't like Clark is no surprise to anyone. The fact that one person in the military might not like a brilliant, ambitious, hard-charging general is no surprise to anyone.

(I hear Rush Limbaugh doesn't like Clark, either.)

DTH

On Edit: Absolutely no offense to you, Molly, I think I might've replied to the wrong post by accident.

[eileen_d]

12. Wait a minute... Limbaugh doesn't like Clark?

I hold Limbaugh's opinions in this highest regard... :puke:

Just kidding.