Iowa Governor Vilsak questions Clark's loyalty to party (DM Register)

[CMT]

Gov. Tom Vilsak of Iowa questioned Gen. Wesley Clark's allegience to the Democratic party during an interview on a national news program on Monday stepping up criticism that has plauged the retired General for the past week. "People in Iowa do not know much about him. I think they are concerned about his Democraticness...People want to know what a persons background is. They want to know how consistent they have been to Democratic principles."

http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4789004/22380465.html

For the record Vilsak has not endorsed any Democrat running for president but is looking at possibly making one in the future.

[diplomats]

1. Let's let the Democratic primary voters decide

That's what this campaign is all about.

[justinb3]

2. Vilsak's a traitor ;)

<sarcasm>

Vilsak is obviously one of those tinfoil hat wearing traitors that objects to newcomers in the party. Can't he understand that Clark *really truly honestly faithfully believes* the words he's saying, and that all that stuff he said last spring is just in your imagination?

</sarcasm>

[CJIowa]

4. I agree with JustinB3 on Vilsack

Governor Vilsack has West Wing dreams in his eyes. His quote does not surprise me at all. I have seen Gov. V sell out the Democrats and his base for his own momentary gain. He sold out on a huge tort reform bill that is currently in litigation. I consider Gov. V to be more alligned with the R's in the state than with his own party. I would expect that the House and Senate D's would agree. Gov. V has done nothing to further the Democratic Party in Iowa. His sole goal is to be a VP candidate, not Gov in three years. I am sure he sees that Clark would not appoint him for any reason, but there is still hope for him with Dean, Kerry, and Gephardt.

I wish Gov. V would step aside and let Lt. Gov. Pederson reside in Terrace Hill for the next two years so that she can be the incumbent in the next election cycle. Although, Sec. of State Culver is being groomed to follow Gov. V.

I am more and more ashamed of our Gov. as his term progresses (or regresses).

[CMT]

5. I guess I'm for one confused by Vilsak's statements

because a few weeks ago before the General got into the race someone ran a thread quoted Vilsak as saying that Iowans have not made up their minds and that there was room for another candidate like Gen. Clark--so this seems to be a bit of a switch that must have been prompted by all the stories about Clark's GOP past.

I'll agree on one thing I think it will matter more who Harkin may endorse than anything. That is if Harkin endorses anyone--I expect he will at some point.

[loyalsister]

6. If what you say is true

Governor Vilsack made a hypocritical statement.
I find it hard to believe, however that more people aren't concerned about the fundraising. I'm so bothered by who he voted for (IF he comes out strong for pro-choice judges, that is).
But, I am troubled by the fact that he was actually helping to raise money for Republicans in 2001. That is, in fact, helping get them re-elected, and offering a resounding endorsement.
The quick turn around asking us to finance a presidential run is going to take a whole lot more convincing for me!

[CMT]

7. that is what bothers me more too

because we have heard that he voted for Clinton in '92 and '96 and Gore in '00, but yet he was still fund raising for the GOP in June, 2001 and still praising Reagan and lauding the current Bush's foreign policy team.

[loyalsister]

10. Thanks

That kind of inconsistancy is something we should consider very carefully. He was TRYING to help get those Arkanasas Republicans elected in the 2002 election.

[returnable]

12. Actually...

Clark campaigned hard for some Dem candidates in the 2002 elections. If you want to bring up that 5/01 speech, you have to acknowledge that fact, too.

"He was TRYING to help get those Arkanasas Republicans elected in the 2002 election."

I have seen no record of Clark campaigning for Repubs in 2002. If you have some links, please share.

Cheers

[justinb3]

9. you probably don't, actually

Note that I wrapped my arguments in sarcasm markup ;)

(i.e. I'm one of those that *doesn't* believe the Clark believes what he's saying - it just doesn't add up).

-justinb

[RevolutionStartsNow]

3. "Democraticness"?

There's a new one.

[bicentennial_baby]

8. The Iowa Dem. Chariman disagrees

as does the S.C. chairman:

"But Democratic leaders in early balloting states welcomed Clark to the field and suggested in interviews late last week that other candidates should focus on a positive message and drop their criticisms about Clark's recent arrival to the party.

"The only way we are going to be able to succeed is by attracting Republicans and independents to the Democratic banner," said Gordon Fischer, the Iowa Democratic chairman.

Joe Erwin, chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, said attacks on Clark could be "potentially divisive." Most voters in the state's primary, he predicted, wouldn't mind Clark's Republican past.

"You don't have to be born into this party," Erwin said. "Voters will look at the person, judge his sincerity and his vision and decide if he's got what it takes to make that vision a reality."


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0309280530sep28,1,397726.story

[dfong63]

11. that's not right

"The only way we are going to be able to succeed is by attracting Republicans and independents to the Democratic banner," said Gordon Fischer, the Iowa Democratic chairman.

dems are already a majority. one way they can win is by solidifying their base. if they gain repubs and independents, but lose their base by selling out on the party's ideals, that's not a winning strategy. don't get me wrong, i have nothing against attracting repubs and independents, but "attracting" their votes doesn't mean they should be leading the party one month after joining.

[sungkathak]

13. A speculator

A speculator

I've said W. Clark is a tool used by insider group to weaken Howard Dean. He was pro-Bush's administration two years ago. Now, purposed to take over Dean's position, he steals Dean's idea to attack President Bush.

Quote, "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.''"

Read this you will understand the tactic insider group used to exclude their dislike:

Quote, "Majette, who raised more money than the incumbent largely from out-of-state pro-Israel donors, won 58 percent of the vote to McKinney's 42 percent.

McKinney, a vocal advocate of Arab causes who has been sharply critical of the Bush administration's war on terror, had strong backing from pro-Arab and Muslim organizations.

She blamed her loss on an influx of Republicans voters in the primary.

"We saw massive Republican crossover into the Democratic primary and it looks like the Republicans wanted to beat me more than the Democrats wanted to keep me," McKinney told her supporters after conceding defeat.

Reps. McKinney And Barr Defeated In Georgia

By Paul Simao
8-21-2"