Clark's "New American Patriotism"

[sfecap]

(snip)


The Clark people were nice and well-meaning enough, I suppose. But it was hard not to notice that the fastest way to bum them out was to ask a question about the candidate's platform. At one point, when Yoken was talking to the "media committee" (I had joined a group whose job involved writing letters to the editor of various newspapers) about Clark's "New American Patriotism," I interrupted him.

"What does that mean, exactly, 'New American Patriotism'?" I said. "Is that as opposed to the old foreign patriotism?"

"No," Yoken said. "The New American Patriotism sees patriotism as something where dissent and civil liberties are encouraged."

"I thought that was the old patriotism," I said.

The committee fell silent for a moment. "Well, whatever," Yoken said.

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20031215&s=taibbi

OK...I'm confused here...the New American Patriotism is the same as the "old" American Patriotism? Great campaign slogan. You go, Wesley!

[moz4prez]

1. you are only hurting your candidate!!!1111

GAHH. I'll show you, I'll vote against Dean in the primaries, I'll sit out the general election or (worse yet) vote for the heartless Libertarian sacrificial lamb AND ULTIMATELY MY PLEAS FOR CLEMENCY FOR THE CANDIDATE OF MY CHOICE WILL BE OF NO CONSEQUENCE WHATSOEVER

This is a really old article, btw. We want fresh meat!

[CJCRANE]

2. I think what they're

trying to contrast is the difference between Real American Patriotism and the Fake American Patriotism practised by the current admin.

Changing the tagline to say *Real* American Patriotism instead of *New* American Patriotism would make this point easier to get across.

[Hawkeye-X]

3. So you are trying to compare 9/11 Patriotism to New American Patriotism?

If it walks like a duck, quacks a duck... Its probably the same damn duck..

[moz4prez]

4. Everything is so simple when you're a literalist

[w13rd0]

5. When Bush came to Saint Louis...

...he spoke in front of a fabricated backdrop of cardboard boxes saying "Made in the USA" at JSLogistics. We like catchy little phrases and soundbites that can go on backdrops. Every candidate has them. Some actually have a kernel of meaning, some are Madison avenue empty calories, fortune cookie politics.

[imhotep]

6. Clark's neo-nationalism

may work with conservatives, but he won't win the nomination with that sickening philosphy.

[Racenut20]

7. Looks a lot like a Dean supporter Clark BASH to me.

[maddezmom]

10. yep, but just a small vocal minority

most of them are pretty cool.B-)

[Turkw]

16. patriotism = bad, there's a real winner for the general election.

see post #15

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. Taibbi's at it again, eh?

His love of Wes Clark is overwhelming. :eyes:

"If your not with us, you're against us." = OLD BUSH PATRIOTISM. Clark is saying that is BULLSHIT.

"If you don't support the war you don't support the troops." = OLD BUSH PATRIOTISM. Clark is saying that is BULLSHIT.

Flags as a republican backdrop. Republicans wrapped themselves in the flag. = OLD BUSH PATRIOTISM. Clark has taken OUR flag back....even for the DEAN supporters.

WHY would a Dean supporter question Clark for his slogan when Dean supporters are beneficiaries? tsk, tsk, tsk......very telling.

[janx]

14. This is new? Criticism of the sickening nationalism is

something New?

Hardly.

[wyldwolf]

9. LIke I keep saying, because Dean keeps sticking his foot in his mouth...

...and keeps getting busted for doing the same things he and some of his supporters accuse Bush of, all Dean supporters can do is pull out old (sometimes really old) pieces on Clark that have already been posted on DU and discussed over and over.

Desperate.
Sad.

Really kind of embarassing for other Dean supporters.



Howard Dean suffers from the mysterious affliction
of foot in mouth disease...

[JNelson6563]

24. no news is good news

for some campaigns. ;-) Not for Dean's.

:toast:

Julie

[jpgpenn]

11. More "OLD" rehashed garbage from the same...

cast of characters. Ignore them and they in turn will be ignored.

[wndycty]

12. Very true. . .

[Jerseycoa]

13. You're posting this?

AGAIN???

November 26, 2003


I'm getting less and less confused and less and less likely to vote for Dean in 04 every time I see his supporters pull this cheap shirt out of the box. One more time, go ahead.

[Turkw]

15. Bush used patriotism like a weapon, Clark stood up to this tactic,

He also thinks that patriotism is more than rights it is responsibilities and giving back. If you don't like this idea, fine, I do. But then again I did serve this country in uniform for a while and think it is a noble thing to do. He also state that serving your country is not ONLY defined by military service, that many, many very patriotic people do sever without ever putting on a uniform. And finally Bush's only call for Americans to help in the cause was to go out and shop. Clark recognized that Americans are compassionate and energetic people, who want to be involved. He called for a new way for people to be involved, to be able to help here at home and abroad in humanitarian ways.

Serving by giving back to America, pitching in, helping here at home and abroad, promoting descent. OOHHH what a sinister neocon platform this is.

Nice link to a Milosevic apologizer hit piece on Clark. Tabbi is scum.

[Toucano]

17. I'm sure we can find supporters of every candidate

who are less articulate than the candidate him or herself.

Excerpt from New American Patriotism, available here: http://clark04.com/downloads/pdf/Clark04_Patriotism.pdf

This New American Patriotism is not just about waving the flag and guarding our borders. It’s about guarding what makes us distinctive as Americans: our personal liberties, our right to debate and dissent. We are not a country that manipulates facts, ignores debate, and stifles dissent. We are not a country that retaliates against people who criticize the government.
We are not a country that disdains our friends and allies. We are not a country that sheds blood before every other option has been exhausted. And we can’t have a government that stands for any of these things.
And that’s why I’m running for President – to return America to the core ideals of our democracy: personal liberty, service to country, respect for others, the right to criticize and correct the government - in time of war, especially. Debate, dialogue, discussion, disagreement, dissent—that’s not wrong, that’s not unpatriotic, that’s one of the highest forms of patriotism and love of country, and we need to say it.

Maybe you'll recall the Old American Patriotism which involved strapping a flag to your SUV, beating up a Muslim, and shouting "Treason" at everyone who challenges you. Or the BFEE's historic idea of patriotism which includes war profiteering, selling arms to terrorists, and denying citizens the right to vote.

[Tom Rinaldo]

18. Recycling eh? Me too: "The Emperors New Flight Suit"

I wrote this one in November.

The Emperors New Flight Suit

I had been looking for a Democratic candidate who would finally be able to reframe the dynamics of all of the public debates that the Republicans have managed to ever so finely script in their favor over the years since Reagan came to power. The Republicans have in essence taken out patent pending notices on most of the key American buzz words, and images, in our idealized collective consciousness, much as corporations have in recent year laid legal claim on everyday expressions (like "Fair and Balanced"!) Suddenly Republicans seemed to "own" them, and the rest of us were only "Renters".

Either Democrats had to find a narrow and shrill vocabulary from the fringes of public discourse to lay claim to for their own, or they had to "borrow" Republican identified terminology. Republicans had seized the middle ground, the high ground always sought after in military campaigns, the strategic vantage point over America's identity. You know, I still remember how it felt when I lost my share of ownership in the American Flag during the protests against the Viet Nam War. It wasn't immediate, but the more those I opposed clung to it, the less I could relate to that flag, and before I realized it I had for all practical purposes surrendered it. I have felt awkward and conflicted around our flag ever since then, and somewhat distrustful of those who didn't feel as conflicted as I do.

Decency, values, patriotism, valor, strength, faith, families, all of these terms and concepts increasingly have taken on a Republican slant. Even the colors, Red, White, and Blue used in proximity to each other. One can almost see the copyright symbol next to each word; "Used with the expressed consent of the Republican National Committee". Democrats using those terms and symbols inevitably sounded "Republican Light". Sometimes of course they were, but other times they just looked like poor gringos trying to speak Spanish and butchering the language, how embarrassing.

Periodically I would half heartedly protest to my radical friends that this country has much to be ashamed of true, but much to be proud of also. I would cite our revolutionary history, I would point out our multi cultural traditions, and more than likely I would be reminded in turn of the betrayals of our Revolutionary traditions, and the failings of our multi cultural society. While all the while the Republicans banished all doubt: This is the greatest country on Earth. Love it or leave it.

Bill Clinton was a brilliant man, and a brilliant politician, with a warm outgoing personality. But I think he won because, yes the economy sucked at the time and that always helps the insurgents, but mostly because the Republicans let down their guard with Bush I. They were cocky after Dessert Storm. They indulged themselves in intra mural blood baths, and weren't pounding all the scripted notes in unison. They learned a lot from that loss and they went out and recruited the best front man money could buy them in Bush the Junior, the designated "compassionate conservative". Today's Republican Party (the predominate machine, leaving out a few decent mavericks from this overall characterization) have roots in 1984 the year, and 1984 the book. They have perfected New Speak. War is Peace. Division is Unity. Greed is Charity.

How can we win the public debate when the very language that must be used has been thoroughly rigged against us? I ultimately came to believe we might still win with Wes Clark. He is a Republican's worse
nightmare, the genuine item, the embodiment of their own rhetoric, and suddenly the King is shown to be a pretender. It is the story of the Emperors new flight suit.

All I needed to be convinced to back Wes Clark this year was a close look at him as a man, is he sincere or is he a sham, that's what I wanted to know. I admit it, specific policies were less important to me for this election than in any other I can remember. Yeah I still care about policies, I have some bottom line litmus test issues, and Clark passes easily. I've studied Clark, I've looked at his career. I've met Clark, and I personally like and respect Clark. But what it keeps coming back to for me, the image that keeps coming up is this. When Bush and Clark finally stand across from each other in those Debates prior to the 2004 election, the Emperor will be naked for the
world to see.

[gulliver]

19. This is an old, snide, POS article from Nov. 26.

Utter garbage.

As if. Whatever. Oh. Chyeahhh...

Superficial, mocking, childish, humorous on a lowbrow level... I could go on. What a shame that serious and important matters are given such shallow treatment.

[Clark4Prez]

20. Why are you so worried about Clark?

It seems that there are a few Dean supporters that are terrified of General Clark. In between all "Clark is not a Dem" posts are "Clark was for the war" posts, are "Clark is fading fast and doesn't have a chance" posts.

Which really makes no sense what so ever, if Clark is fading and "should run for dog catcher" as one Dean supporter put it, then why spend all the time, energy, and effort attacking someone who won't win anyway?

Perhaps they are well aware of what we Clark supporters have known. The General's campaign is just getting started, and he is second in fund raising in his first quarter. The polls mean nothing compared to that. When Clark unveils his new tax code tomorrow, watch as the giving soars (his numbers on the polls will go up too, but that won't mean as much as how many votes he gets that will SHOCK many on this board).

It's sad to see how people let fear motivate and blind them.

[democratreformed]

22. It does seem that way doesn't it?

At every turn, one of them seems to have to knock down any enthusiasm. It's like they are scared to death and think they can stop any momentum with hatred and ridicule.

[Bucky]

27. I hate you. I ridicule you... Well, have you been stopped?

Nope, I didn't think so. Won't stop Clark either.

[democratreformed]

29. Great, Bucky

Nope, it won't stop my support of the General. And it certainly won't stop the General himself.

Edit to add: Thankfully, I am getting to where I can take it better every day.

[webkev]

21. dumbass editorial

by an idiot..
who cares?

and Clarks motto is "A higher standard of leadership" - which we need at this time in history..

[Nashyra]

23. "Higher standard of Leadership

Pure and simple. Clark is right on when he says that the Repukes have tried to make the American Flag and Patriotism a Republican mainstay. Clark's message is loud and clear that the flag belongs to all Americans not just a select few. People in fact do respond to that message, it is a great message in the south.

[in_cog_ni_to]

25. "A higher standard of leadership"

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that new slogan. Absolutely perfect.

[Kahuna]

26. This is moot now. New slogan: A higher standard of...

leadership...

click the link to the website. See the new motto.

[kodi]

28. oh, geeze, its just a bad marketing slogan, merely change it to "re-newed"

its what all politicians invoke as to why their brand is better than the one represented as the "decaying husk" of opponents philosophies unfit for modern times.

Oddly, such proclamation of the failures of the opponents philosophies to face present circumstances are generally presented as being caused by "abandoning the best virtues of traditional culture."

so we have the absurdity that in a rapidly changing world where the only constent is change one is often found attacking an opponent because he/she did not "do it the old way"


whenever there is a perceived disruption with a culture, you see it being portrayed a result of straying from traditional values or their corruption.

there is no "new" patriotism. at least one which can be articulated as better than the old least one dismiss the values upon which the old patriotism was based.


and that's not patriotism, its revolution.

[robbedvoter]

30. Taibbi - racist admirer of genocide - a honorable source!

http://writers.forclark.com/story/2003/12/16/32318/644
Taibbi also wrote an analysis of the Kosovo campaign entitled "101 Reasons Why NATO's War Sucks
," for the eXile in April 1999. Reason 72: "The Serbs are one of the tallest, most beautiful European tribes.... Why are the most beautiful tribes being wiped out by the squat and ugly?" Taibbi's racism is beneath comment."


Yeah, Clark helped them squat and ugly Albanians - let's crucify him!
Now, is it a step forward from quoting right wingers? You decide!

[TexasSissy]

31. Great answer by Yoken. Go, Wes!!! Our next President.