Wes Clark will not be anybody's VP

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

I like Wes Clark and was a Clark supporter in 2004, and I can say that anyone who put him on their ticket as VP would have to be nuts.

He was always a poor politician, and is, or has become, a seriously loose cannon.

He would be a gaffe machine like we've never seen. I like that about him--he's not a phony and tries to talk about serious things.

But anyone who saw him on Bill Maher a few months back talking about how muslim women like wearing bhurka knows what I mean.

Maybe he was right, and that muslim women really like the bhurka. Most people like their cultural traditions, so it wouldn't be at all shocking as a sociological finding.

But he was appearing on TV in support of Hillary Clinton and just went off about how much muslim women love the bhurka, and that's not somebody you put on a ticket as VP, a role defined as top campaign surrogate!

He's way too real.

[shayes51]

1. I saw that on Bill Maher and thought the same thing.

[maxsolomon]

2. some muslim women DO love the burkha

it keeps them from being beaten for not wearing a burkha.

clark would be a fine secdef.

bill richardson would be a good VP.

[lvx35]

3. Muslim women do like the bhurka

they look at western women, standing around half naked in jeans commercials, as being sexually objectified. Egypt is a good example of a place where women don't have to wear them but choose to. If Bush understood that muslims don't want to be liberated from their culture, we'd be in a much better place today.

[davidwparker]

4. not after endorsing Hillary

:spank:

[Jai4WKC08]

5. He didn't "go off about how much muslim women love the bhurka"

He went off on ignorant Americans who make fun of other cultures and their customs. Even when they're liberals. Maybe especially when they're liberals.

Wes Clark is an inspiring speaker, and no gaffe machine. He may have had a rough start in his early campaign, but by about Dec 03, he was HOT on the hustings. If he had competed in Iowa, I think it would have been a completely different ticket in 04. Candidates used to could get away with skipping Iowa, but no longer.

In any case, Clark has since proven himself to be a VERY successful as a surrogate, both attracting crowds and raising money, and helping to elect many many down-ticket Democrats, especially in red states and districts. Hillary and Barack could do no better than choosing him as VP. That said, I don't think either of them will.

Edit to add: Actually, I don't recall that he really "went off" on anyone. He was critical of Maher (which means he probably won't be invited back), but he never lost his temper or ranted about anything.

[Texas_Kat]

6. His point was "don't be a cultural bigot" and expect everyone in the ME

to think like American's do. Since I expect he's had more experience in the ME than you, perhaps you should take a moment to pause and reflect.

The entire world doesn't love Calvin Klein jeans.

[elixir]

7. Gosh, I don't know. I'll have to continue to support him.

[andym]

8. "Way too real"-- perhaps just what we need!

I agree with the OP that Clark is "real." But that is actually quite a positive.

Choosing someone who says what he means and actually has the intelligence to back it up would speak well of the candidate that chose him.

[Adelante]

9. I agree

It's one of many things I admire about him. He's a straight shooter.