Clark suggests questions remain unanswered about Bush's military service

[wyldwolf]

Wesley Clark suggested Saturday that questions remain about President Bush's Vietnam-era service in the Texas Air National Guard, but the retired general stopped short of endorsing a comment by actor-director Michael Moore that Bush was "a deserter."

Moore, a Clark supporter, introduced the Democratic presidential nominee at a campaign rally here by saying he looked forward to debates between Clark, if he wins the Democratic nomination, and Bush.

"I want to see that debate: the general versus the deserter," Moore said to enthusiastic applause at a packed rally in a high-school gymnasium, reiterating a line he uses frequently.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/01/17/politics1939EST0605.DTL

[Mattforclark]

1. I was just gonna post that

yay

[jpgpenn]

2. That will be a great day for sure

:kick:

[NV1962]

3. Actually, Clark implicitly suggests PROSECUTION of Bush!

Whoa... Go Wes!

From that article:

• "I've heard those charges. I don't know whether they're established or not. He was never prosecuted for it. The question in this election is can we bring a higher standard of leadership to America."

[rolodomo]

4. The Second Reading Rip

Somewhere along the line he's developed the ability to rip people a new one on the second reading. Amazing.

[Jerseycoa]

5. That's it exactly!

"The Second Reading Rip" :o

[pscot]

8. He's low key

But dangerous to fuck with.

[newyawker99]

19. Hi rolodomo!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Kahuna]

10. Yes indeed. If Clark wins it's Camp Gitmo for the bushistas and

they know it.

[Auntie Bush]

14. That's why they are so afraid of him

He knows their secrets. Remember he personally knew Dicky & Rummy et al. He'll screw em.

[madrchsod]

6. YES!!!!

finally someone is speaking up about this- this may be the perfect storm!!!

[Killarney]

7. Fantastic!

Go Clark!
:toast:

[cryofan]

9. hold yer horses!

As another DUer already posted a couple of weeks ago, Bush was not under the UCMJ in Natl Guard when he served. Therefore, the terms "desertion" and "AWOL" did not apply to him at the time, as those terms are meaningful only under the UCMJ. So, I do not know exactly what Clark could accuse him of.

[mikehiggins]

11. I don't notice Clark accusing the Invisible Airman of anything in

regard to his alleged time spent in the Guard.

On the other hand, after this election there might be some criminal charges brought under the RICO statutes in regard to conspiracy to defraud the United States and malfeasance/misfeasance in office.

To start.

[gulliver]

12. It's AWOL time again baby!

Wait til people see the real Bush. Republicans are going to start wondering what they've woken up next to.

[TacticalPeek]

18. "wondering what they've woken up next to" - LOL!

If they wake up, you have described their feeling. Get they toothbrush in they hand and hit the road.

[arewethereyet]

13. I'd say that mattered 4 years ago

CIC for 4 years probably makes up for it to the average Joe.

If you want to beat Bush you had better concentrate on the last 4 years "accomplishments".

[gulliver]

15. Nah. It's evergreen.

It's something Bush should have to answer in debate. Then let "average Joe" decide if he likes the answer.

[arewethereyet]

24. OK but be aware that it can backfire

and I expect that it will get covered very well before any debates, well enough that Clark's handlers will have to resist that urge.

Assuming, of course, that the general gets that far.

[beaconess]

16. I'm an Edwards supporter, but this is one of the things I like about Clark

He's the ONLY Dem who can bring this up and make this stick.

Go Clark!

[Th1onein]

17. You got that right!

[wyldwolf]

20. As Spanky use to say, yer darn tootin'!

[Hoppin_Mad]

21. I applaud General Clark for this - It's odd

That this important topic generated much less discussion that his sweater being on ebay.

[MoonRiver]

22. I cannot wait to hear Gen. Clark issue a challenge to *

that they BOTH reveal their military histories!!!!

[Clark4VotingRights]

23. That's what I'm talkin' about!

I'll buy a VCR just for that.

[andym]

25. This illustrates the approach that all of our candidates should take

This illustrates the approach that all of our candidates should take:

"I've heard those charges. I don't know whether they're established or not. He was never prosecuted for it."

It raises serious questions without sounding like a partisan attack.
That's the key to fighting someone like Bush with an established identity of "honesty" in the public's mind.