Where do Wesley Clark and nearly 50 million Americans part ways?

[sfecap]

Where do Wesley Clark and nearly 50 million Americans part ways?

By Michael Paranzino, October 4, 2003


Let’s see here. Until moments ago, Wesley Clark was a registered lobbyist. Not exactly what primary-voting Democrats profess to like. He was praising one President named Ronald Reagan and two named George Bush, and was raising money for the GOP. Strike two. And he is a soldier. Oops. That’s the ultimate crime on the Left.

Clark seems to think that being a dove now forgives him for wearing the uniform all those years. But why would Democrats vote for a newly-converted dove when Howard Dean offers them the real thing?

But Wesley Clark has a fourth problem, and given the headlines of the last two weeks, this could actually dwarf the other three.

Remember those 51 million phone numbers on the national do not call list? (I’m not sure how many Americans are represented by that number, since some will have registered multiple phone lines—that’s why I call it “nearly 50 million” Americans.) Those folks apparently value their privacy.

The political power of this group was made abundantly clear by the lightning quick speed with which Congress acted to back the federal do not call list.

While all this was going on, Wesley Clark was just getting around to ending his federal lobbying contract for a company called Acxiom. (He’s still on the Board of Directors, along with, among others, the former Postmaster General of the U.S. Postal Service and Clinton/Kissinger-pal Thomas F. “Mack” McLarty III.)

You may not have heard of Acxiom, but Acxiom has heard of you. If you are like 95% of Americans, Acxiom knows your name, Social Security number, income level, martial status, number of children, vehicles owned, and probably that furious bout you had with hemorrhoids a few years back (next time, pay in cash and don’t use your supermarket Bonus Card when you buy that Preparation H!). And they don’t just know it, they share it with anyone who will pay.

(More...)

http://www.rightpolicy.com/clark.htm

[Kahuna]

1. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

:boring:


:evilgrin:

[sfecap]

2. Keep sleeping...

..and enjoy CAPPS.

Hope nobody hacks your records...

[maha]

13. I am disgusted

with people who think any apology for wearing our nation's uniform is necessary. There is not.

Also, how is it that people bright enough to tie their shoes cannot understand the distinction between being a pacifist and being opposed to a particular war?

In other words, your argument that Wesley Clark falsely claims to be a "dove" is a straw man.

[Ardee]

18. I hope I understand

that you are defending the left from that silly charge,"And he is a soldier. Oops. That’s the ultimate crime on the Left."

That calumny is just another would be meme that the far right would like to instill in the minds of the american people......it never fails to amaze me how gullible are many folks to believe the lies and slanders of those who would continue to keep them jobless, without access to affordable health care and their children under educated.

In fact it is the left that is the working persons best friend.......and , as one lefty who considered Ike a pretty darn good president (though not without a flaw or two, as most of us have), I speak out against this silliness.......

[vi5]

3. "forgives him for wearing the uniform"?!?!?!

How sad a statement is that.

[HawkerHurricane]

5. I crave forgiveness also

For wearing my nation's uniform for almost 20 years...

(ahem)
"Making mock of the uniforms
That gaurd you while you sleep
Is cheaper than these uniforms
And they're starvation cheap!" R. Kipling, 'Tommy'.

[boxster]

4. About being "a soldier" being "the ultimate crime"....

I guess that means Kerry's out, too. Oh, and I guess we better stop supporting every, single one of our state and local Senators and Representatives who had the gall to serve in the Armed Forces. Let's kick out anyone with experience in the Reserves, too.

Yeah, let's just kiss those votes away and look forward to 4 more years of George Bush. We might as well hand all of the state and local governments over to the Republicans while we're at it.

Bright idea there.

Edit: Sorry, I missed Gephardt, too. He's out - he served in the Missouri Air National Guard (1965-71).

[cprise]

6. I think it's a crime to (R)s, a sure sign you're not a leader

...just cannon fodder for Republican wars.

Just look at how many ex-service pols the Dems have over the Pubs.

Incredible.

[boxster]

8. Good point. I guess the Repubs can either

buy their way out or influence the right people.

Yeah, it's funny - an officer in the military isn't a leader, according to the Repubs, but W is the "ideal" Commander-in-Chief.

Hmm....

[Rowdyboy]

7. Here's a bio of your article's author...

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/article/4197-7723.html

Michael Paranzino, former press secretary for Elizabeth Dole for her presidential exploratory committee in 1999...

Why do you post this Republican garbage? I don't give a damn if you hate Wes Clark, don't use the rights trash to slime him. Pathetic.

[sfecap]

9. Is Clark's association with the company untrue?

Privacy issues are a very big concern for me.

The CAPPS program will be the most intrusive invasion of our privacy imaginable.

Be concerned. Be very concerned.

This company's databases have already been hacked. Perhaps you like your most private records and data to become public knowledge, I don't.

[catforclark2004]

10. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[SWPAdem]

11. From the homepage of this website

"Fresh analysis each Monday of a leading issue in foreign policy, media bias, politics or whatever else strikes the fancy. And if it's a slow week, then expect name-calling. * If you are looking for endless discussion of the 2004 Democratic presidential contenders, this is not your site. Bush will be re-elected. The big debate here is whom Hillary Clinton will pick as her running-mate in 2008 and whether they can beat the Jeb-Condi ticket. * See you on Monday."

Thank you, once again, for doing Rove's work.

[maha]

12. Should I forgive Paranzino for being an idiot?

Nah... don't wanna.

[many a good man]

14. ...the ultimate crime on the Left.

The US military is overwhelmingly comprised of working class people. Its simply not true that leftists blindly consider them all "criminals." We protest using them to advance political or pro-corporate goals that do great damage our security or principles. That's an enormous distinction.

I work with databases similar to Axciom's every day and we take great diligence in making sure the information isn't misused. Privacy rights concern all Americans regardless of politics and we should actively seek guarantees encoded in law.

People want more privacy, corporations don't. We want a government that places our rights over that of big business. It doesn't look like the right is in a position to do that; hopefully the left can.

[MasonJar]

15. Clark and the column

Please stop posting Repug writers and/or thinkers of DU. I do Not want to know they think about Clark or any other Democrat. This is playing the fool for them. There is going to be a lot of Repug muckraking. Let's attack the pugs not our own candidates.

[WillyBrandt]

16. "Bush will be re-elected"

Or so sayeth the author of this right-wing crap.

Thanks for posting GOP garbage on DU.

[maha]

17. Clark is on the board of directors

According to their web site, http://www.acxiom.com/ , Acxiom doesn't do telemarketing itself, but does put together targeted lists of prospective customers using information in the public domain, such as people who've recently moved to a new residence or people who've applied for loans. Then the lists are sold to other companies who use the names in telemarketing mail, or email campaigns.

I'm one of the 50 million who signed up for the do-not-call list, but I don't mind the supermarket card. I hate spam but I don't mind getting product offer emails that relate to who I really am or what I actually do.

In other words, I think you are off the wall.

[Rowdyboy]

19. Thois article should saved as an example

of everything bad on DU. It is offensive on so many levels, its hard to describe. If I were a veteran, I'd probably explode! Someone who posts Republican garbage to trash a Democrat is simply not acceptable on Du.

There are legitimate reasons to criticize Wes Clark. His supporters welcome an opportunity to counter your criticisms. But, please, use sources we respect. Elizabeth Dole's press secretary is not who I would turn to in order to make my choice for a candidate in 2004.

This is what we face, people. Clark haters will drag up every piece of lying garbage they can find and swear it's fact. And, should he win the nomination, it will only get worse. Check sources. Clark haters love to cite articles written by Rethugs. Just google the name of the author and see if he is a credible. If it's a columnist, read some of that persons other columns. Many total idiots have newspaper columns. Then, post what you have found. It shuts them down in a hurry. Like roaches, they scamper from the light.

Make sure we don't let them trash us this way.