Did Clark insult the junior officers? by Mark Kleiman Weblog

[snyttri]

http://tinyurl.com/3cmvk

January 23, 2004

Did Clark insult the junior officers?

<snip>

“I’m only saying I stayed with the United States armed forces. I’m proud I did. Lots of us did,” said Clark, answering a question about his and Kerry’s military service.

A spokesman for the Kerry campaign tried to pretend that Clark somehow denigrated Kerry's heroism. “We didn’t expect General Clark would question John Kerry’s courage and commitment to country given his record under fire."

Well, I'm glad they didn't expect it, because it didn't happen. Clark said, without being prompted, that Kerry was a hero, and acknowledged his service in the Senate. (To be fair, it's entirely possible that the reporter, playing "Let's you and him fight," somewhat misquoted Clark in asking the Kerry people to comment.)

Note that the Union-Leader, like the Times, has a headline that implies that Clark went after Kerry, when the text of the article makes it clear that the "contrast" was set up entirely in the reporter's mind, and by the reporter's own question.

<snip>

[Mz Pip]

1. Now they're making up stuff

What a surprise. :crazy:

MzPip
:dem:

[Democrats unite]

2. Would you expect anything less?

eom

[xultar]

3. Geez Clark WAS a Junior officer. He and Kerry both were

Why would he insult himself? I suppose he shot himself in nam too.

[Jerseycoa]

4. Video Clips re Clark and Kerry

In the first clip below Clark is goaded by Bob Dole into saying Kerry was a lieutenant. In the second clip, Clark defends Kerry against negative remarks about Kerry made by a former-Dean supporter who was introducing Clark at an American Legion post.


The General appears on Larry King Live following the Iowa Caucus.
CNN (1/19/04) File Size: 11.1 MB

http://www.videos4clark.com/vidclips/CNN_LKL_011904.WMV


The General holds a "Conversations with Clark" town hall meeting with voters in Rochester, NH.
cspan (1/21/04)

rtsp://video.c-span.org/project/c04/c04012104_clark.rm?start=6:26.0


Both clips can be viewed from:

http://www.us4clark.com/mediaclips.html

[JI7]

5. how many times has this been posted ?

it really doesn't matter other than probably some hurt feelings on all sides.