Clark gives * a pass on NPR

[Hawkeye-X]

Clark interview

This is a 4 minute interview conducted by NPR with Clark yesterday. At the 02:50 (2 minutes, 50 seconds) mark, Clark-

*Foreswears any questioning about Bush's* service record.

*Disavows Michael Moore's AWOL comments.

*And refuses to address the issue in the future.

I'd LOVE to hear what the Clark supporters have to say about their hero giving Bush* a pass on his documented AWOL record.

[mikehiggins]

1. Is there something wrong with the link?

I followed the link but got nothing.

I'd be disappointed if Clark actually does "disavow" the issue but it isn't all that much of a problem for me.

My problem is George Bush and Clark remains the guy I think has the best shot at beating him.

That, Hawky, is all that matters.

[meti57b]

2. all-righty, I'll bite ....

In all likelihood, bush's absences were not technically AWOL in military terms.

As a retired military officer, Clark undoubtedly finds it inappropriate to comment, if the person in question (bush) was not officially designated AWOL.

Clark has more than shown his distaste for bush and the bush administration agenda. I firmly believe he has a good reason for not commenting on the AWOL.

[TexasSissy]

3. No problem. That's not an issue for a candidate to take up

in the general election. Kerry won't do it, Dean hasn't done it. It will be brought up by others and the media.

[Bread and Circus]

4. Hey hawkeye, call me when Dean takes this head on...

oh yeah, they are all too coward.

[returnable]

8. Bingo

[Monte Carlo]

5. Let's not shoot our wad prematurely, now.

And let's not nitpick the candidates about their campaign decisions at this point in time, okay? The victors choose their battles, and don't let their enemies choose for them.

[jmaier]

6. Not a deserter or AWOL technically

I'm doing some additional research on this with a judge advocate acquaintence but I don't think that members of the national guard are technically chargeable under the UCMJ unless they are called to active duty. So, while *'s record is unquestionably one of negligence, it isn't probably a UCMJ offense.

With regard to your sniping: how's your guy's record on holding * accountable for his ANG service or non-service?

Sheesh, HawkeyeX. Will you ever give it a rest.

[Qutzupalotl]

7. Clark doesn't have to go back 30 years to criticize Bush.

He can take him on using only what he's done in office. There's a wealth of material there.

[Torgo4]

11. C'Mon Civilians!

This could be a good reason:

Uniform Code of Military Justice
Section 802 Article 2 Persons Subject To This Charter

#4 Retired members of a regular component of the armed forces who are entitled to pay.

Section 888 Article 88 Contempt Toward Officials

Any COMMISSIONED officeer who uses contemptuous words against the PRESIDENT, the VICE-PRESIDENT, CONGRESS, the SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, the SECRETARY OF A MILITARY DEPARTMENT, the SECERTARY OF TRANSPORTATION, or the GOVERNOR or LEGISLATURE of any State, Territory, Commonwealth or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.


+++And don't think for one second this Bush Admin wouldn't be petty and vindictive enough to pull a stunt like this on Clark (or any , say...CIA Agent) that gets uppity!

[Qutzupalotl]

15. We're supposed to be better than that.

You're right, they'd do it to us, but that's all the more reason to send them packing.

Don't become the enemy to fight the enemy.

[drfemoe]

19. wow .. this has been my perspective all along

HOW can GENERAL Clark take on the Commander In Chief?

[Democrats unite]

9. As I sated earlier poor taste.

eom

[drfemoe]

10. I'd like to know what MM has to say about it ..

Clark:
"I have said I disavowed that."
"I can't agree with that."
"I wouldn't have taken that approach."
"It's not my issue."
"I'm not interested in it."

[TacticalPeek]

12. NPR gives Kerry, Dean, Edwards, Kucinich, Lieberman, Sharpton a pass

on * AWOL.


'Oblique' is the approach any candidate (lacking their own tv network) should take to the shameful conduct of the press and president. Clark has already done MORE than his share on this, which is why the whores have the long knives out. Perhaps some oblique support from the Silent Six would help this issue along. What's that? "Too risky to my campaign."?

[drfemoe]

18. Michael Moore Endorsed General Clark

and appeared at a public rally pushing this *sure fire* method to take *B* down. I don't know why anyone else is required to defend another candidate's campaign strategy or their endorsements. Remember DU after Gore (the last Democratic Presidential Nominee) endorsed Dean?

[magatte]

13. This thread is misleading to the most.

LISTEN to the LINK!!!!!

He didn't "foreswear", didn't "disavow" Michael Moore's comments, didn't "refuse" to address the issue in the future.
He said that those words (specifically 'deserter') weren't his but Moore's, which is what the interviewer was asking. He said that it the right of everyone to express their opinion's, but that at this moment his campaign was adressing more general issues. The interviewer came back to ask if he is going to focus his attack on Bush leadership through references to his service record. But the General said that he will attack Bush by referring to his current hold of foreign policy, the mess he created in Irak, his lack of preparation to 9/11, the state of economy etc, etc. He never 'foreswore', or 'refused', or betrayed Moore, or whatever this poster is trying to imply.
Once again someone is banking on the laziness and fear of people, assuming that one would just not care to listen to the interview by themselves. This is disgusting. What is also disgiuting is that interviewer from NPR. THe whore kept making insdiuous insunatinons and kept leading on with propanganda instead of asking straight, neutral questions. I am amazed at the system's fear of a good man.

[HootieMcBoob]

29. So, basically

he said the same thing he said to Peter Jennings when he was asked the question.

[elixir]

14. Please, can't you do better than this?

[Terwilliger]

16. I love this thread

* don't shoot your wad

* MM should shut up

* Bush WAS AWOL!

* technically, he wasn't AWOL

I mean...just about anything to defer responsibility from Clark :eyes:

[Monte Carlo]

17. What responsibilty would that be?

To tell you everything you want to hear? Maybe Clark was smart enough to not take the bait.

[Terwilliger]

22. Maybe Clark doesn't want to answer

for whatever reason...and it's not consistent

Is he a deserter or not? Clark's embrace of Moore while rejecting this one facet of Moore's outer persona, makes Clark a politician...

You know, it's been 5 days since the whole controversy came up...has Clark had time to look it up by now?

[Monte Carlo]

24. Because he's a politican now? Heaven forbid...

... that the man who is going after a very political job such as the Presidency of the United States begins to appreciate the touchy world of politics.

Clark knows. He's always known, but image is everything in entertainment and politics.

[Terwilliger]

26. that kinda undercuts his "outsider" thing, doesn't it?

[Renew Deal]

20. Did you bother to listen to the interview

and compare it with the original posters comments? :eyes:

[Terwilliger]

21. I was commenting on this thread

[LandOLincoln]

23. Yeah, just about anything to defer responsibility...

for Hawkeye's blatant misrepresentation of Clark's words, eh Terwilliger?

[Terwilliger]

27. I was commenting on responses to it

not on whatever might have been at the heart of the reactionary responses...because if Hawkeye was so wrong, why did we see so many different topics come up in defense?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

25. Listened to this

And I don't believe the interview supports the image portrayed in the original post. Basically Clark has concluded this issue is a nonstarter for his campaign and that he has plenty of ammo aside from this. He basically said it is a done issue for him. It is a tarbaby waiting to engulf him so that every question from reporters will be about this and the General's attack on our patriotic CINC.

One one level I wish he would attack Bush on this but after much thought I think his choice is probably a wise one, and if you listen to him he doesn't come off as cowardly at all but very smart and businesslike.

Of course if the media were biased against Bush the way they are against our candidates then this would be additional ammo against GWB. Better for Clark if Michael Moore and others keep the issue alive and he stays out of the fray. Clark is not responsible for the utterances of his supporters, and has no need to comment on this.

That having been said, the issue is also a potential tarbaby for Bush and I am sure they are just as happy for the record to not be examined. They will be careful to not make any reference to the military service of Clark or Kerry should they be the ticket. That would be an invitation for either one to basically say "I'm outraged that President Bush would even consider attacking my record of service to my country. I'm happy to compare my service records or scars with the President any time." Bring it on, indeed. If this issue comes up in the future, it would be appropriate to deflect the question back at the reporter like Clark's campaign manager did earlier when asked whether he had looked into the allegations (MM's), and asked the reporter, "No, have YOU?" or something to that effect.

[kiahzero]

28. Mmmm... propaganda

Did he "disavow" MM's comments in the same sense he's "disavowed" them in previous media interviews, which is to say, not at all?

:eyes:

[dfong63]

30. but, isn't this supposed to be Clark's "killer" issue?

not much good if the candidate disavows it and gives Bush a pass.

i don't want the dem nominee to give Bush a pass on any issue.

[returnable]

32. Actually, I thought it was supposed to be a DEM issue...

...not just a Clark issue.

But thanks to Clark's candidacy, and Moore's support, the issue is back out there.

I would think this would make DUers happy.

I haven't heard Kerry ever discuss it. Nor Dean, nor Edwards, nor Lieberman.

But instead of celebrating that the issue is finally being discussed in the mass media, DUers use it as an opportunity to dump on a candidate because he didn't 'attack' it the way they wanted.

Ah, well.

[LandOLincoln]

31. Please go to Michael Moore's website...

www.michaelmoore.com

and then please especially note this sentence:

"there were 15 million hits this weekend on my website"

And you guys thought Wes wimped out on the issue?

Bwahahahahahaaaaa!!!

It's called "strategy," folks...although some would probably call it "strategery."

:evilgrin: :toast: :bounce: