I like Clark. But what about Domestic issues?

[stpalm]

He can talk all he want about how progressive he is, but that is just "talking the talk". How do we know if he is REALLY progressive? Reassure me!

[DaveinMD]

1. his tax plan was extremely progressive

it would have substantially raised taxes on the wealthy, while eliminating most taxes on the poor and working class. That really shows that he gets it.

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. A start at reassuring you...

I really am swamped with work tonight. I don't have time for much fresh writing BUT...

I know this site only shows his positions on issues during his Presidential campaign, but it is a good starting point (it is an archived campaign site page): http://www.clark04.com/issues/

Check out this collection of quotes from General Clark compiled at the DU Clark Supporter Group here (note to all, Supporter Forums are NOT for unfettered debate, only generally sympathetic posts are allowed at any of the DU Candidate Support Groups):http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=235&topic_id=3434&mesg_id=3434

This is an explanation I wrote for why I supported Wes Clark, from November 2003. It speaks to some of those trust issue:

"Here is why I am backing Wesley Clark for President.
First because America can not afford a less than
brilliant leader, it is a very complex and
dangerous world right now and the stakes could not
be higher. We need the absolute best talent this
country can offer for President. Wes Clark has
mastered every endeavor he has tackled. Time and
time again, Clark rises to the occasion. Read about
his personal history if you have any doubts on
this. We can pretend we are voting for policy
positions and/or a platform, but the only thing we
will truly decide on is the person we will place in
office. For me it is more important to pick the best
person for the job, than the most finely reasoned or
original policy initiative. Sometimes the most
critical position is the one that will need to be
taken on an issue that hasn’t yet fully surfaced. 9/11
and the proper response to dealing with it
was not a campaign issue in the 2000 election.
Neither was job loss. Pick the best leader and fight
for the best program, that’s honestly how I see
it. Here is why I feel Wes Clark is the best leader
now for America.

We need someone who understands that it is always
the soldiers who win a war, not a privileged elite.
The welfare of our nation is dependent on the
welfare of our average citizens. Clark truly
understands that. The military functions with that
understanding more so than any other major institution
in America. Be all that you can be is an Army slogan,
but it is not just a cliché. Leave no one behind is
actually practiced on the fields of battle at high
risk and at great cost. Compare that to typical
corporate values. And it's personal for Clark, not
just a sound bite. He was awarded medals for his
courage in Viet Nam, and he risked his life
again, under combat conditions, in Yugoslavia trying
to save the lives of fellow Americans who died in a
crash on a mountain road. We need a President who asks
what he can do for his country, not what his country
can do for him. With his obvious
abilities and capacity for accomplishment, Clark
could have devoted his life to self enrichment;
instead he devoted it to defending his nation.

The institution Wesley Clark served in, the U.S.
Army, prides itself on discipline, following through
and following orders. These are the values and
priorities that conservatively oriented people
understand and respect. Yet Clark is the rare
exception, the one who takes what is best from inside
a box and then transcends the box. I have never heard
anyone more passionate in the defense of the First
Amendment than Wesley Clark. He doesn't semi
dismissively call dissent our right as Americans, he
calls it our obligation, essential to maintaining the
democratic life of our nation. And because of his
service to the nation in the military, many people
are open to listening to him say it who would never
listen otherwise. Other candidates, like Kerry, might
be able to partially neutralize the "patriotism"
advantage that Republicans tend to have when they
routinely monopolize the flag, but Clark goes much
further. He redefines patriotism in a fundamental way
so that suddenly it's those who stifle and distort
open and honest debate who are putting our country at
risk, not those who seek honest debate on important
questions.

Electing Clark is about much more than defeating
George Bush, (not that more is needed). It is about
restoring the basic contract between citizens and
their government to the ideals we were taught in
school. Government exists to serve the people, not
enrich the powerful. Citizens have the right to the
information they need to inform their decisions, not
government having the power to suppress information
that makes their governing more difficult. It is
precisely Clark's outsider status to the political
process, I feel, that has preserved his idealism
regarding it. We know he can negotiate complex
issues, we saw that in the Balkans, but Clark has
never comprised his core civic values. As a result I
think he would govern as one of the least
corruptible Presidents in American history. Wesley
Clark has served his country honorably and kept his
personal commitments. He truly believes in the
concept of personal accountability. I saw him speak
on this, it isn't a sound bite, that's who he is.

Then, after the above, you can move onto the fact
that Wesley Clark is already a known player on the
international stage, who respects international
institutions and the importance of having allies.
Very little if any on the job training will be needed.
After 3 years in office Bush is nowhere near as adept
at mastering the essential international
skills that Clark has already mastered. Domestically I
think it is ultimately an advantage to the American
people that Clark entered this race without a truck
load of finely detailed domestic policy initiatives. I
have learned enough about him to feel confident in his
overall social priorities. Clark is freest to seek the
best ideas available to confront the problems facing
the nation, and use the ones that fit best. He isn't
locked into unwieldy positions by virtue of prior
stands and unholy political alliances made. Having
said that I feel fine about almost all of the
positions Clark has taken. He is a progressive
Democrat who fought for affirmative action. He
strongly believes the tax burden should fall lightest
on those least able to bear it. He is firmly pro
choice. He calls the U.S. Constitution and the
environment the two most important legacies we can
leave behind for the generations that will succeed
us. You can find out more about his policy positions
at his official campaign web site, clark04.com so I
won’t use more space here.

You will notice that I will now only barely touch on
the supposed pragmatic reason why Wes Clark should be
nominated, his electability. Wes Clark can neutralize
Bush’s super patriotic fog machine, he can appeal to
independents and Republicans of integrity, and he can
be competitive in Southern states, forcing Bush to
allocate campaign resources, depriving his of a free
ride. Bush will be put on the defensive by Clark,
forced to fight for votes from even white male
southerners and Veterans. That’s all I That’s all I
will say about voting for Clark for pragmatic reasons,
because I don’t believe Clark is the
pragmatic choice, I think he’s the right choice.

I know some progressives within the Democratic Party
are simply uncomfortable about voting for a General
for President. To which I simply say, get over
it. It likely would have been among my proudest
moments as an American had our Armed Forces intervened
in Rwanda to stop the genocide that resulted in the
death of millions. General Clark strongly advocated
for U.S. military involvement in Rwanda at the time
but failed to win the support of the Pentagon for what
was an inherently humanitarian
mission. Kosovo was a just war, and Clark advocated
that it be fought in a manner that would lessen the
danger to civilians even if it put U.S. forces at
somewhat greater risk. Again he was over ruled on
that matter. In a world where we must have a
military, I would welcome Clark as its Commander in
Chief.

In short I trust Wes Clark to always realize that real
war is hell, to be avoided whenever rationally
possible, and that his working definition of the
special interest group he is beholden to is simply the
American public. I trust in his ability to understand
complex situations, and his willingness to work hard
to get things right. I trust in his sense of what
America is, and what it should be. I think Wesley
Clark has the right character, and the right
experience, to lead our country now. Others have
said this about him and I think it is absolutely true:
Wes Clark, All Patriot, No Act."

[RafterMan]

3. He filed and amicus brief in the Supreme Court case

about Michigan's affirmative action program.

This was after he retired and before he was thinking about running.

[melnjones]

4. Here's a good link

http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=378873712384259

He spoke at Depauw in Sept 2003, only like a week after he decided to run for president, I believe. This link has audio clips of what he said on several different subjects. I was there in person when he spoke. It was the first time I had ever even heard of the man, and this speaking engagement made me realize that there really WAS hope for our nation.

[Orangepeel]

5. Well, you can't ever really know for sure

But, why would he fake it? If all he wanted was to be in office, he could have done that as a republican.

I didn't support Clark in the primaries last time -- or even really consider him seriousy -- largely because I had the same concerns. I didn't like that somebody had come out of nowhere, with no political experience, to seek my party's nomination.

Like it seems to be with you, I'm still a little concerned, and I'd prefer him to hold a lower office first. However, I have to say that I have been VERY impressed with Clark since Kerry clinched the nomination and I am no longer nearly as concerned with his Democratic credentials. He stuck around when he didn't have to, he was a GREAT surrogate for Kerry and an articulate and effective spokesperson for the party.

[Clark2008]

6. Here's some more

Health care: http://clark04.com/issues/healthcare.pdf

Prescription medication reform: http://clark04.com/downloads/pdf/Clark04_Prescription.pdf

Jobs creation: http://clark04.com/downloads/pdf/Clark04_AmericanJobs.pdf

Combatting poverty: http://clark04.com/downloads/pdf/Clark04_ChildPoverty.pdf

Universal preschool: http://clark04.com/downloads/pdf/Clark04_Preschool.pdf

School equity: http://clark04.com/downloads/pdf/Clark04_SchoolEquity.pdf

Stem-cell research: http://clark04.com/downloads/pdf/Clark04_StemCell.pdf

If you want to read the whole kit and kaboodle, go here: http://clark04.com/issues/

[Leilani]

7. I don't know if you've ever been to or lived on a military base,

but the Commanding Officer is essentially the Governor of that base. He is in control & responsible for all those stationed at the base, including their families.

Bases include schools, day care centers, hospitals, stores, theaters, clubs, all sorts of recreation activities, & special services that help people with personal problems. For instance, there's spousal abuse in a family, or a baby is due & the family is too poor to afford what's needed. When troops are deployed, the families left behind depend on this network of help. And when the base is outside the U.S., things are even more complex.

And that's all in addition to the military requirements of the base.

Just imagine the domestic policy skills needed to oversee this sort of operation, affecting thousands & thousands of people. And Wes Clark was a Commanding Officer, meeting these needs.

Wes Clark commanded NATO, & was responsible for 19? countries & their militaries under his command.

If people were more familiar with a career spent in the military, & the multi-faceted talents it takes to rise to 4 stars, I think they would be more comfortable with Wes Clark as a politician.

Many Clarkies have important information regarding Clark's policy positions, on all topics, foreign & domestic. We also have a Wes Clark forum where any & all questions can be addressed.