What Is a Wes Clark Democrat?

[NashVegas]

I've been seeing that quite a bit in the last 24 hours, and am wondering how WC Dems are different from other Dems.

Can someone fill me in?

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ronnykmarshall]

2. I don't think so

I'm a life long democrat.

[tameszu]

3. Ha

That is so funny, sort of.

[LuLu550]

9. Not only have I been a life-long Democrat,

I'm a LIBERAL democrat. I think Wes Clark embodies all the best in the Democratic party. If you read his position papers, he is actually MORE liberal than some of the other candidates.

[Adelante]

11. 38 years a Democrat

How about you?

[SWPAdem]

13. Gee, my mother would be really disappointed to hear that

We've been voting democratic for over 80 years.

[DemCam]

37. HeeHee........

Nope...wrong again. They are Democrats who don't give a rat's behind if one is PURE Democrat. However, they do care about intelligence, vision, experience, and the ability to think outside the box.

I voted Republican once and I'm married to one.

Believe me...Wes Clark nor his supporters are closet Republicans.!

LOL

[tishaLA]

38. I'm glad that message is removed

I wouldn't post here while it was there.

[Catholic Sensation]

42. methinks he had the same idea as me

but I'm not sure if he was joking as well when the idea came to him :D

[BootinUp]

4. We are a grassroots group that is

dedicated to keeping Wes Clarks name recognition high, fighting for the ideals he espoused during his campaign, and supporting any future efforts that he gets involved in. That of course includes supporting the democratic party. This is not some splinter faction :)


hows that?

[maddezmom]

7. excellent definition

:)

[gottaB]

15. That's a fine definition

I'm curious. I've thought of myself as a Jesse Jackson Democrat, because he was the first candidate I voted for. Not just voted for. His Rainbow/PUSH campaign was reaching out and recruiting people on campus, and it really energized me to get involved and care about politics.

So I'm wondering, are a lot of Wes Clark Democrats new to the Party, or renewed to the Party somehow?

[TexasPatriot]

21. i think renewed

there are a LOT of people disaffected by the political system (as evidenced by more than one campaign this year) - and I think the Clark Dems (speaking as one) have a strong pragmatism streak like our now ex-candidate. There's a gritty determination in this group of dems i've not seen in the dem party before - and i think the party is going to be a LOT better for it.

[Adelante]

22. Not necessarily

As I've said I've been a voting Democrat for 38 years and I am a liberal Democrat. I've worked on many, many Dem campaigns. This one was different. Wes brought out something I thought I had lost: true belief. While I have never fully lost belief in Dem principles, I have been at a loss to respect Democrats the past few years, because I feel Dem leaders have let us be walked all over. I believe that is about to change. Wes will demand it for us. That said, there are many new Democrats, former independents, Republicans, Greens, who have come over for the sake of Wes Clark and his vision.

[SW FL Dem]

31. Exactly!

I am also a life-long Dem. I cast my first vote for Jimmy Carter in 1976. When I was in college I was active in politics, but since then, I have done nothing but vote. Wes Clark inspired me to get take a chance and get involved again.

[BootinUp]

25. you could say "born again" i guess

I always voted dem, never fought in the trenches, or even contributed, and I am a middle aged dad. :shame:

The Bush administration has really scared the crap out of me, and especially the fear march into Iraq just kinda freeked me.

I never felt I could make much of a difference. I don't feel that way anymore and I owe that to Gen Clark and all his great supporters.

[BootinUp]

27. one more credit

I should also credit the this great community at DU, this is the coolest place on the net IMHO.

[democratreformed]

18. Gosh, yours is so much more to the point than mine.

It's very correct. That's the way I see it also.

[NashVegas]

19. Works for Me

thanks.

[Adelante]

24. Needle sharp

Very well done, Jim4. :)

[tameszu]

5. Could it be

a Democrat who supports Wes Clark and what he stands for? (Just using a bit of Occam's Razor there)

Or even better, someone who was an Independent or a Republican and then became a Democrat because of Wes Clark.

[BootinUp]

30. We welcome repentant Republicans :)

right on

[KittyWampus]

6. Wes Clark Has A Progressive Agenda But Moderate Image

His message, when perfected, advanced the importance of Family Values and Patriotism AS ADVANCED BY THE LIBERAL AGENDA.

He exposed the GOP's use of such terms as empty rhetoric.

He took on the MIC.

He was more concerned with Effective Leadership than Political Posturing.

[jmaier]

8. I can only speak for myself

I was a passive Democrat who complained about our electoral failure but other than voting, didn't take much action. Why not? I've been too disillusioned with politicians -- all sound bite and election year fury signifying nothing.

My original attraction to Clark was largely a knee-jerk reaction: I thought that he had the stuff to neutralize wingnut national security issues and bring the fight to Bush/Cheney/Rove.

After following his campaign -- even with the occasional gaffe or amateur misstep, Wes Clark re-energized me. His integrity, intelligence, humanity and earnest desire to simply do good reminded me that politics isn't for politicians but for any one of us who wants to stand up, take a risk and work hard to make a difference.

I hope Wes Clark remains a force for good in the Democratic Party and I'll be ready to support and work with him in the future. And that includes backing his efforts to support John Kerry and oust Bush in '04.

[BootinUp]

29. good answer!

We have so many good answers here.

[Adelante]

10. Wes Clark Democrats

Foster the social and political reform ideals of Wesley Clark. We organize to campaign for Democratic candidates either endorsed by Clark or who had endorsed him. For example, Ben Chandler in Kentucky, who supported Wes in his run for the nomination, or Charlie Rangel of New York. In addition, we work to strengthen his position and his ideas within the Democratic Party, as well as his public service efforts in our communities. It's all a matter of choice, however. I support John Kerry as a matter of choice, not simply because Clark has endorsed him. Others support Edwards, Dean, Kucinich, as they see fit. But whatever we do, we identify ourselves as Wes Clark Democrats.

[Adelante]

44. WHOOO WHOOO!!

Our first win!!

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2004/by_state/KY_Page...

U.S. House - District 6 - 524 of 594 precincts reporting

FEBRUARY 17, 19:24 ET


A.B. Ben Chandler III
Dem
74,935
55.7%


Alice Forgy Kerr
GOP
57,071
42.4%


Mark Gailey
Lib
2,620
1.9%

[sadiesworld]

12. A Wes Clark democrat believes in, inter alia:

True transparency and accountability in government; A smart, multilateral foreign policy; A vision that looks beyond the next election; And an inclusiveness that can't be compromised.

[Adelante]

14. Excellent point

"vision that looks beyond the next election" :thumbsup:

[democratreformed]

16. For me, Wes Clark Democrat means the same as to many others

I, too, was a passive Democrat - inactive, if you will. Many things happened to change me into an "active" Democrat. Wes Clark was one of those. I am proud to have been a part of his campaign. I think the vision he had was one that I would have like to have seen come to fruition. For me, being A Wes Clark Democrat means trying to keep that vision alive and continually working toward it.

Here is a list from the blog that some other supporters came up with:
As a "Clark Democrat", I will move forward in.....


1. .....Creating an America that is fair, honest, transparent, and beholden to no one.


2. .....Defending our constitutional rights & fundamental freedoms, which serves as the inspirational and functional platform to realize our individual potential, fairly and equally.


3. .... Advocating America as a leader of democratic values within the world community.


4. .... Restoring strength, confidence and integrity to American foreign policy, by removing the “culture of fear and misinformation”, as a doctrine of divine policy.


5. .... Calling on our government to invest efficient programs and enact effective policies to create jobs, insure security, and provide health care and education for every American.


6. .... Calling on our elected officials to a higher standard of leadership by holding them accountable for their actions and their statements.


7. .... Calling on Americans to honor a higher standard of ethical behavior and civility.


8. .... Promoting strong family values and universal human rights regardless of age, gender, race, disability, creed, religion or sexual orientation.


9. .... Advocating inclusiveness, to which peaceful dissent is acknowledged as a respectful and effective expression of freedom and patriotism.


10. ... Preserving and protecting human rights, animal rights, and environmental rights.


11. ... Your reasons?

[NV1962]

17. Damn proud of Wes Clark

And if you want to know why, read this.

[OKNancy]

20. Democrats that believe

We believe that we can do good and we should do good
We believe that public service is the highest form of service
We believe that being a patriot means we follow the Constitution
We believe that the Constitution was written by people of the Enlightenment.
We believe that following the Constitution ( and the Declaration of Independence) means that all people are created equal and that all people should abide by those thoughts.
We believe that there is a will and a push to do better and to do good and that it is not a bad thing, but a goal to which we all aspire.

[BootinUp]

28. You got it

thank you for that post. :)

[hope42mro]

51. Spot on. Very nice. I second this definition.

[LandOLincoln]

23. In my case, it means a life-long Democrat who was

inspired by Wesley Clark to get personally involved in politics for the first time in my life.

I haven't been this enthusiastic about a candidate since Bobby Kennedy. However, I didn't get out and work for Bobby because I didn't think he needed it, and since I was juggling school, marriage and a fulltime job I didn't have the time anyway.

Now, even though Clark is no longer officially a candidate, I'm going to work with other Clark supporters in every way possible to ensure that

a) the General plays a major role in any future Dem administration;

b) we Dems elect as many of our candidates to local, state and national offices as possible; and

c) the Repubs have as little chance to steal the 2004 and subsequent elections as humanly possible.

[Another Bill C.]

26. 45 years a Democrat

My first presidential vote was for John F. Kennedy.

Like a lot of old-time Democrats, I lament the dilution of the Democratic party principles we inherited from our parents. Wesley Clark is the first presidential candidate I really like since Hubert Humphrey.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ronnykmarshall]

33. Hell NO!

[Lefta Dissenter]

35. I'm sure you'll enjoy

reading more about Wesley Clark at www.Clark04.com

I think you'll be amazed at what you learn about being a Democrat!

[maddezmom]

36. never once in my 20+ years of voting

have a pulled the lever, punched a chad, x'd a box or sent in an absentee ballot for a repug.

[robbedvoter]

40. Vote GOP? Like our candidates supporting W's agenda?

Here's a cartoon for ya

[Lefta Dissenter]

34. WOW, all of the above!

<--- Hey, guys, like my new outfit? :)

I am so proud of all of you and your great replies - it makes me feel so honored to be a part of this group! So, I'm signing my name on to all of those great responses, because being a Wes Clark Democrat encourages plagiarism! :D NO, just kidding. What I really wanted to add was that a Wes Clark Democrat recognizes the value of DISSENT! :bounce:

the entire country is my free speech zone!!!

[robbedvoter]

39. One who gives then hell and never retreats

One who stand up for the highest principles in spite of attacks from left and right
One who at some point will restore the two party system in this country
One who will not fade away.
(plus what they said)

[Kat45]

41. I plan to become a Wes Clark Democrat soon.

I've been a Clark supporter, volunteering for his campaign. I've also always been an unenrolled (ie independent) voter. I've hated party politics, and a long time ago there used to actually be liberal republicans to vote for (particularly here in Mass.). But since the religious wrong hijacked that party, they've driven out any repubs who aren't as extreme as they are. Clark has brought my excitement about politics back again, and I plan on following his lead in joining the Democratic party.

[maddezmom]

43. hey that's great news

welcome aboard! :)

[incapsulated]

45. We're the kind with the cool avatars

and shit.

:)

[Crunchy Frog]

46. Hmmmm, I'm going to have

to give that one a good think, and then come back here with an essay.

I'll be back.:-)

[texasmom]

47. One thing that makes me a Wes Clark Dem

is his passion for reclaiming traditional Democratic values stolen and corrupted by the Republicans. Two examples of this are family values and free speech tied in with patriotism. I love hearing him address free speech--not only the right we have to free speech at all times, but, in particular, the right we have to free speech in times of war.
Gotta go, and I'm not sure I am doing Wes Clark justice with my explanation. No time to re-work it, though.

[roseba]

48. Just a test

where is my avatar?

[scheming daemons]

49. A Democrat who...

...was a Republican about, oh, 20 minutes ago.

(JUST KIDDING!) :-)

[mikehiggins]

50. Well, we're all extremely good looking, for one thing.

Charming, witty, personable to a fault.

Oh, and we think America has missed out on electing a great President.

There is more to being a Clark Democrat but we're still hammering out the shape of the negotiating table so it'll be awhile before we can give you a more definitive answer.

Be patient. The answer shall be revealed in due and proper form.