Clark Campaign Response to Senator Kerry's Fondness for James Baker

[robbedvoter]

Date: December 3, 2003
Clark Campaign Response to Senator Kerry's Fondness for James Baker
http://www.clark04.com/press/release/103/
Clark Campaign Communications Director Matt Bennett issued the following statement in response to Senator Kerry's comments today at the Council on Foreign Relations:

"Senator Kerry's suggestion that he might use Bush family consigliere James Baker as a special envoy to the Middle East is offensive. Baker, who was the driving force behind George W. Bush's theft of the 2000 election in the Florida recount, helped to disenfranchise thousands of voters.

We liked it better when Senator Kerry was calling Baker's Florida operation 'thuggism.' If Kerry wants a former Secretary of State who headed a recount effort in Florida, let's stay away from political thugs and go with Warren Christopher."

[Catch22Dem]

1. WOW!

I think having the Communications Director of your campaign calling the 2000 election "stolen" is HUGE. I love it!

[mobuto]

3. How about "consigliere?"

I guess its better than "Made Man" or "Capo."

[Cooley Hurd]

15. What a great term for him...

...kinda paints the whole BFEE "crime family" picture a bit clearer, doesn't it?

I agree - what was the Kerry camp thinking????

[frank frankly]

17. great term

first Clark vs. Kerry salvo I have detected...yes?

[Renew Deal]

50. That's pretty funny.

1 entry found for consigliere.
con·si·glie·re ( P ) Pronunciation Key (kns-lyr)
n. pl. con·si·glie·ri (-r)
An adviser or counselor, especially to a capo or leader of an organized crime syndicate.

[knowledgeispower]

57. My opinion of Clark just skyrocketed

and as for Kerry...WTF?! I guess this shoots to hell all the claims of Kerry's supporters that HE is the guy to go after the BFEE. He is courting their henchmen for Christ's sake!

[robbedvoter]

2. Does kerry know that Baker's firm represents Saudi Arabia vs 9.11 victims?

[pistoff democrat]

33. How could I have forgotten that?

I wrote to Kerry's campaign about Baker and, although first getting the standard automated response, just received one from an aide which was closer to my question.

In other words, he ducked my questions about Kerry & Clark and sent me links to lots of Kerry press releases on foreign relations.

So, before loggin on again here, I shot off a note to the Kerry aide stating:

1. Thank you for not responding to my questions;
2. I don't want a republican first wife in the WH;
3. Kerry is soooooooo over.

(mature, ain't I?)

:kick:

[Kahuna]

47. Contact Kerry! [e-mail]

This is an outrage!

[Vadem]

4. Warren Christopher is a wimp! That is not to negate Kerry's...

selection of James Baker..... Good Lord, the counted, recounted and recounted again, Prince! No way!!!! Kerry was in my range of candidates, but if he is for putting Baker in some capacity in his administration, he is no better than Holy Joe and I would never vote for him, if that is the case.

[leesa]

43. Let me guess. Warren Christopher is a wimp because he doesn't bomb

people unnecessarily and prefers to use DIPLOMACY first. Ever hear of that word?? You know, most people think that problems can be solved without murdering tens of thousands of people for nothing. Why is America incapable of this kind of mature thought?

[Vadem]

63. What I meant when I said Warren Christopher was a wimp...

was his behavior during the Selection 2000, not his skills as a diplomat. You are right, I should have clarified my statement further as to what I meant. I just couldn't believe that Kerry would even suggest Baker for any position in his administration, knowing what we know about Baker and what I am sure Kerry knows about him as well, from his investigations into Iran-Contra and the BCCI.

[Oilwellian]

5. Clark's people know their stuff

I'm truly impressed.

[Cocoa]

6. maybe they come here

why not, where better for all campaigns to find out what the hot buttons are?

Clark scored a few points here, maybe this will make up for the nice things he said about the Bushies, which I now consider to be a non-issue, just like this Baker thing is.

to all dems. :toast:

[madrchsod]

7. excellent choice of words

i can`t wait untill clark drops the awol bomb on bush. it will be done so gracefully that bush won`t know what hit him...

[Kahuna]

48. No doubt, Clark will save the service record for the debate.

Can't wait.

[CTLawGuy]

8. guys guys...

we should stop eating our own...

don't you forget that howard dean is the real target...

;-)

[Myra]

10. Nicely done darboy...

The three most important factors in comedy:
timing, timing, and timing.

You got all three down pat.

[CTLawGuy]

16. thank you!

i try :-)

[Cocoa]

11. feeling left out?

:-)

[Myra]

9. I'm just stunned that Kerry endorsed James Baker...outloud.

I had already ruled Kerry out because of the combination
of his Iraq attack vote and his Patriot Act vote
and his Skull and Crossbones allegiance.

But I didn't expect him to promote a Carlyle Group
operative so early and publicly.

What a classic boner.
Hah!
Thank you ladies and germs drive carefully...

Invoking The Godfather by calling Baker "consigliere"
is totally appropriate. Calling Baker a rich mob boss
is also appropriate.

[Kahuna]

49. Kerry was my number 2. Forget it now. He's in the basement.

:puke:

[salin]

64. wow...

below Dean ;-)

Frankly - Kerry has been up there among my top choices (not final in my mind)... I am stunned by this. Kerry is very in the know regarding how the more incidious members of the GOP center circle work - esp through his work and pushing of the whole BCCI issue back in the late eighties (early nineties?). I would think of all of the candidates he would have the bigger picture close at hand, including being wary of James Baker. Conceding Howard Baker some respect I might understand. But James Baker? How very disappointing.

[otohara]

12. What Was Kerry Thinking?

OMG - Baker scares the hell out of me

[Myra]

20. Maybe that's it otohara.

Maybe Kerry was *thinking* it and didn't realize
he'd said it outloud. Maybe he still doesn't realize it.

That's the best explanation I can come up with...

[BootinUp]

59. Thank You

For saying that. Baker is one of the smartest of the BFEE bunch. And he knows how to deal with (use) Americas mob mentality. I really can't believe this suggestion from Kerry.

[minkyboodle]

13. I was warming up to Kerry until this

Kudos to the Clark campaign to taking a strong stance against Baker. I still can't believe Kerry suggested him for the Middle East envoy for christ sake. I hope the Clark campaign stays vocal and strong with issues such as this. I am definitely listening.
Scott

[hlthe2b]

19. My God.... And here I was trying to figure out some way

to support Kerry. I mean, damn he is immensely qualified, a Vietnam War hero and has definitely payed his dues. But I've been leaning far more toward Clark/Dean-- Dean/Clark and I'm afraid this may have cinched it...

Good God.... what on earh is Kerry thinking?

[colorado_ufo]

24. Kerry is not an old man - there are other campaigns in his future.

I think it would be good to follow Kerry closely, perhaps with an eye to a future run for the presidency, but not now. This makes me more uneasy about him than ever.

We HAVE to remember that "Job One" is to win, and Clark probably has the best chance, with Dean an admirable second. Combine these two on one ticket, and *'s campaign team will have a mountain to climb.

[bpilgrim]

14. who is also now defending the saudis on 911

i can't BELIEVE kerry would pick this guy sheesh... makes you start wondering bout them skullatins in the closet :crazy:

peace

[Melinda]

18. Bravo General Clark, well said!

And ya get style points too. :)

[w13rd0]

21. Absolutely...

...I'd only heard about the "summarized" statement earlier today, but the entire statement, especially the nod about the stolen election. Hey, go with the zingers. If these guys get into a match trying to outdo one another with zinging these concepts into the public forum, I'll be cheering all the way to the convention.

[artvark]

22. Clark is sickening

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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

[colorado_ufo]

25. How about a little substance to go with the opinion?

Or are you also "all hat - no cattle" - like the head of our current administration?

[Forkboy]

29. yeah but

"something is gonna happen"!

[HoosierClarkie]

55. Can you elaborate?

[Hoppin_Mad]

26. There goes ANY support I had for Kerry

he now sinks almost to lieberman territort in my rankings.

[Cheswick2.0]

27. Is Kerry insane?

The man has clearly been hanging out in power circles too long.

[JFR919]

28. The General

It is about time to speak clearly, from the heart and w/o apology.

[robbedvoter]

30. Here's a little piece on Baker, Kerry - with fun poll attached :

"Robbedvoter hearts Clark - the Baker response
http://robbedvoter.forclark.com/story/2003/12/4/54431/1674
It really is not for DU-ers - mostly for people living in a cage for the past 3 years - a little who's who in the cast of characters

[Sideways]

31. "A Pandering He Will Go" A Little Song For Johnny

"A pandering he will go
A pandering he will go
Hi Ho the Kerry O
A pandering he will go."

Now what I want to know is why the fuck Kerry feels the need to pander to the BFEE and Carlyle.:wtf: Something is very wrong with this scenario. Now back to my jolly ditty.

"A pandering he will go
A panering he will go
Kerry is a fucking hoe
A pandering he will go."

[Julien Sorel]

32. Third issue I disagree with Clark on,

although he's modified his public stance on one of the others to the point where I'll call it 2 1/2. Warren Cristopher had his shot, and the Israelis walked on him like a floormat. There was a reason Clinton replaced him with Albright, who did a much better job. Christopher was a do-nothing Sec State, who owed one of his great 'successes,' as it were, Oslo, to the work of .... James Baker, his predecessor in the job.
.
I understand people being angry at Baker for his role in Florida, but people are dying around the world by the thousands because of the Middle East, and Baker has the goods to make a difference. Kerry has the right idea: use Baker like a sponge. The stakes are too high.

[Malva Zebrina]

34. that is a little skewed logically--Baker sure does have the goods

to make a difference--he advocates theft of a precious component of the political process--the right of the people to have their votes counted. If those are his "goods" then I say by all means, elect Kerry. I am, for one, just a little tired of sleazy persons slithering around the perimeters of this democracy. Do we have a democracy or not?

If Bush had not stolen the election, due to a great effort on the part of Baker, there might not have been thousands of people dying around the world. I am convinced that Gore would never have adopted the neo-con view of the PNAC, nor would he have used Baker as emissary to the ME.

This has made me look a little closer---perhaps there is something after all to Skull and Bones. I thought it an amusing story when I first heard of it and it's implications, but did not take it seriously

[roguevalley]

74. Baker will only go where the money is.

He said about us not going into Kosovo to keep millions
of people from being killed, "We don't have a dog in
that fight."

That was wretched evil.

If there isn't a dollar sign in sight, he could care less.
Millions of people die? So what.

That is who Kerry advocates for. I am staggered at this
decision. I am so flabbergasted.

Same on you, Kerry.

[ima_sinnic]

35. you do know Baker is BFEE, right??

as a Clark supporter, you should be cheering and doing handstands right now. It was a brilliant remark and Clark is spot-on. Kerry is just a bonafied hack. Expect more corporate global robbery with this PNAC-enabling, BFEE-butt kissing "Democratic" turn-coat in power. If the people go totally insane and nominate him for our candidate, I will abstain from voting.

[knowledgeispower]

58. Amen

Baker isn't quite the anti-Christ, but he definitely WORKS for the anti-Christ!

[robbedvoter]

38. Remember the "dueling secr of state" during the 2000 coup?

Baker for W - Warren for Gore. THAT's the significance of his name here - not a suggestion for envoy. Just to remind us how wrong Kerry was!

[Bread and Circus]

42. I gotta disagree w/ ya BB -- Baker is aweful....

There's no way I can get around that.

[bicentennial_baby]

46. Whatcha smokin Billy?

James Baker?! Give me a fucking break, man! :eyes:

[BootinUp]

60. I'm not sure on Warren but

I would much rather have Clinton working on the ME problem than Baker. Sure Baker is smart, but his solutions are not the kind we need. He doesn't strike me as the one to come up with long term solutions only short term, because he doesn't go after the root of the problem IMHO.

Clark will not bring in people that he has strong basic differences with. He's too principled, which is what I like about him in the first place.

Who was it that suggested Clinton for this role, Dean wasn't it?

[Julien Sorel]

61. A catch-all response.

Baker can get the job done there -- period. No one else can, with the probable exception of Carter (Clinton is owned by the Israelis, and the Arabs know this). Many right-wing Israelis, on the other hand, have never forgiven Carter for the Camp David agreements.

BFEE SMEE. I've been watching people suffer and die in the Middle East for a few decades now; I want it to end. It costs no one, here or elsewhere, a thing except to give up some of your partisan hatred to move closer to seeing that happen.

Dean has praised the foreign policy of the Bush I administration. So has Clark. So does just about everyone, in fact, academics as well as politicians. Who do you think was Secretary of State?

If the shoe were on the other foot, if Gore had been the one to use the courts to suppress the vote count and 'win,' I wonder how many of you would think Warren Christopher was the embodiment of evil?


Sure, I have lots of issues with Baker, and the reason I got re-interested in electoral politics was what happened in Florida. But I also have wanted to see something good happen in the ME for quite some time, and nothing has for many years now -- since right about the time Baker left the scene. If bringing him back in this limited role will accomplish that, then I'm all for it.

[salin]

65. Did you see James Baker's NYT letter to Bushjr in Sept 02?

It was couched as a caution against rush to war with Iraq... but it gave Bushjr (etal) the way to get it done. A recipe if you will. Very explicitly... said to get other countries to agree to a limit at which folks (other countries) will go to war... then set that limit at a level so impossible to meet that Iraq will publically fail to meet it ... thus forcing the other countries to go along as a 'multinational' force.

And - that is what the bushco tried to do.

At quick read he sounded cautious (several of poppies folks were urging caution - indeed there was speculation that the appearance of a number of communications through editorials in the Times (and maybe the WSJ) - was due to Cheney etal creating a situation where bushjr would not listen to Poppy or his cronies but would rely on the close cabal.

But a literal read shows that Baker was telling them how to create an inevitable war. He is shrewd. But he is as manipulative and contemptive of our system of government and international alliances as any of the neocons.

[drfemoe]

36. It gets better

http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/102003_beyond_bush_2.html
--snipped-- --my bold--
A key sign that Kerry might be the anointed one came for me when George W. Bush's chief counter-terrorism adviser Rand Beers resigned in a dramatic moment last June, in protest over Bush's handling of the war on terror and his headlong rush into Iraq. Beers immediately became Kerry's senior foreign policy advisor, as Kerry continued to state that he would improve on and expand the war on terror. Beers' protestations concealed what I considered to be a much more sinister objective, the placement of a key, hands-on operative to manage a smooth transition of power and a continuation of secret policy. Beers, who had served in national security roles for three Republican administrations, was the man who had replaced Lt. Col. Oliver North after North was fired in 1987 during the Iran-Contra scandal.

--snip--
One thing is certain, Rand Beers committed perjury right after 9/11 by testifying before Congress that Colombian and Ecuadorian rebels had links to Al Qaeda. He got caught and had to go back and amend his testimony and retract the statement. Sound familiar? Giordano caught that and actually published Beers' retraction under oath at

http://www.narconews.com/beersperjury1.html.

[ima_sinnic]

37. wow, that's right, I had forgotten about that reptile Rand Beers

. . . everybody thought it was so fantastic when Beers quit Bush's camp and came over to Kerry. The BFEE is slime personified--and Kerry is its complicit enabler. Run don't walk from this fake "Democrat" and "liberal" John Kerry.

[Catch22Dem]

39. You may not agree with Kerry all the time

But look at the man's entire career and voting record and TRY again to tell me he's a fake dem and fake lib. Your slam is simply nonsense. I mean, I think this is the dumbest thing his campaign could do, but it doesn't mean I start throwing "fake dem" around. Sheesh.

[sendero]

40. and folks are...

.... suspicious of Clark's multi-year conversion to our team. Beers does it in two days and we're supposed to buy it.

Stop crying in your teacup John, and get over it. The nomination will not be yours.

[roguevalley]

75. You know, odd stuff you would have blown off years ago you can't now.

The world is upside down and anything is possible. I hate it terribly.

[dusty64]

41. Glad to hear it.

Guess Clark's gloves are starting to come off and he has decided to go after some of the other candidates bad ideas. Hope the leading contenders start coming up with some GOOD plans that will appeal to the People though, although it will be hard to get them through the media filter.

[colorado_ufo]

51. Watch him grow.

Clark has no previous experience in politics and made a few early mistakes, but his keen intellect is making him one of the fastest learners in US political history. He also has the courage to meet the administration head on - no apologies - and to fight to secure the position of Democratic candidate. He backs it all up with photo appeal and considerable charisma.

One of *'s chief appeals to the public is the image of a "strong leader." Unfortunately, the public sometimes cannot tell "strong leader" from other, less desirable attributes - such as inflexibility and hardheadedness. The reason that Clark and Dean have shot to the top of the polls, besides having great qualifications, is their strength and fearlessness, and this is what we need to win.

[Kahuna]

44. Awesome. Kerry has dropped off my radar if he wants..

Baker to be any part of his administration. Hasta la vista Kerry. I think we should all contact Kerry's campaign and get him to issue a retraction and apology.

[ima_sinnic]

52. don't look for a "retraction & apology" any time soon from Kerry

--that would necessitate explaining that Baker is part of the Bush regime and evil empire and THEREFORE absolute anathema to intelligent, compassionate, caring, truth-seeking voters. You really think John Kerry would stab his BFEE friends in the back that way? As someone who pats himself on the back all the time for the wonderful work he did on exposing Iran-Contra, he apparently was not fazed by their criminality and sliminess. Duh, John, slow learner or what??

[Kahuna]

54. I would forgive him if he would recant. I received a response...

to my email:

"John Kerry is the Real Deal"
It's BRILLIANT! :wtf:

[drfemoe]

67. sounds like a burger king special

"real deal" . supersize it?

[Kahuna]

45. self delete (dupe)

nt

[Kahuna]

53. I received a response from the Kerry campaign...

"John Kerry is the Real Deal"

:wtf:
Methinks, Kerry himself is manning the emails. :evilgrin: Snarf!

[HoosierClarkie]

56. Whatever happens...

to Clarks run for the nomination, he has shown the people what he is made of. Clark kicks ass! (but with class)

[wiley]

62. The Velvet Hammer?

Sorry guys and gals but this Kerry thing for Baker is yet another sign of weirdness in his campaign. He keeps saying things to get traction, but it's just not working. That makes me sad, but he's a good Senator and he really should have stayed there until next round. He's acting as ludicrous as the man named Howard Brush Dean III, whose operatives are calling Wes Clark a spoiled rich brat. Don't most rich guys rebuild their own cars when they break down? Dean and Kerry operatives have been hacking up some pretty gnarly furballs recently. It's unnecessary and I'm angry at both of them. Clark has been exceptionally focused. He has someone much better than Baker in mind, whatever you think of Baker. This is not an election for a WWF Representative. Clark is our only hope at this point. Thank God that he's got the goods!.

[Nancy Waterman]

66. This is just ridiculous!!

Did any of you see the speech and the question and answer period afterwards? Kerry was utterly fantastic. He had amazing ideas about how to deal with a multitude of issues. He was the best I have ever seen him. Watching him last night was what finally made me decide to support him. Towards the very end, he was asked about the Middle East, and he said he would send an envoy to the ME. Then he suggested sending " someone of the stature of "Jimmy Carter or President Clinton. Then it seemed to me he threw in Baker as a third possiblity to satisfy the idea he was being bipartisan. It looked like an after thought. He mentioned Clinton and Carter twice, iirc. This was not a statement that he would definitely bring in Baker. He was saying he wanted someone of "stature". Personally, I can't stand Baker. I remember hating him utterly during the Coup period. But this was barely a mention in this speech and not a thought out idea to send Baker anywhere. This is a political manipulation by Clark's team to push the democratic base away from Kerry. The rest of the speech and the question and answer period were beyond anything I have heard from the other candidates. This kind of nitpicking is what is detestable in politics.

[sendero]

68. kinda like when...

.... Kerry and his minions insisted on interpreting the Confederate flag comment in a way that was suitable for bashing?

Hey, this is politics. It is not for the delicate. Kerry should have not even mentioned Baker, F*CK BIPARTISANSHIP, THERE ISN'T ANY EXCEPT ON THE DEM SIDE AND WE ARE SICK TO DEATH OF IT.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

69. I think it was the smartest thing kerry could have said

Forces Baker to say he would agree to it an offer his expertise to the country as a patriot or exposes him for the opportunist and manipulator he is.

Kerry isn't going to appoint Baker to jack shit.

[Carolina]

70. Yeah, Kerry isn't going to appoint Baker

to jack shit because Kerry ain't gonna amount to much more than shit in this presidential race. He's going nowhere fast.

Clark-Dean 2004

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

71. which is a shame given his well established record

[chromotone]

72. OK...OK...That's it! My vote now goes to Clark...

Dean...Clark...Dean...Clark...

I feel like I'm attending a tennis match.

[Bandit]

73. I love it when our candidates speak out like this

I just wish it was not against another Democrat even if it is deserved. Senator Kerry made another huge blunder here. It goes with his "Just Get Over It" statement a while back. I could almost forgive him his vote on IWR and Patriot Act but not this. If he is too much an insider to realize how much of an affront it is to choose Baker then he is quite clueless. I'm sorry because I was beginning to get a good feeling about him again. It is down to two for me now.