Clark Doesn't Declare His Affiliation because

[mot78]

it's part of his strategy. He wants to bring in more moderates. I'm sick of people on this board bashing him because he hasn't declared his party affiliation, which would immediately turn off many potential supporters, and affect how the media treats him.

Moderators: Is There any way you could keep this thread at the top so people stop asking about Clark's party affiliation?

[Kolesar]

1. Clark should to proclaim "I am a Democrat, and I am proud"

John Glenn did.

[poppabear36]

15. "I'm pro abortion rights"

Do you think someone who says that could run as a Republican, even if he wanted to?
Did you ever see Liberace on TV when he would smile and wink at the camera. Did he have to come right and say he was gay for God's sake?!
If some Grandma's wanted to believe he was straight despite all the evidence to the contrary that was their problem.
Same with Wesley Clark.
Joe Lieberman SAYS he's a Democrat but sometimes I wonder.

[newyawker99]

18. Hi poppabear36!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[robcon]

19. Pro-abortion rights is fairly common in Northern Repugs

Tom Ridge, George Pataki and Rudy Giuliani come to mind.

[Kahuna]

27. Is Arkansas in the north????????? When did that happen?

:shrug: :wtf: :eyes:

[dfong63]

31. Clark's "strategy" is a cowardly one

Do you think someone who says that could run as a Republican, even if he wanted to?

sure.

Did you ever see Liberace on TV when he would smile and wink at the camera. Did he have to come right and say he was gay for God's sake?!

nice comparison! but i wouldn't vote for Liberace either.

[unfrigginreal]

2. To be fair, not many on this board bash him

Yeah, a few Naderites come out from under their rocks but for the most part Clark seems to get wide support on this forum. It's as it should be!

[robbedvoter]

3. It's not about the affiliation.

Some people resent their candidate losing ground because of Clark. I can understand that. Others have a limited mission from Ralphie: support Kuchinich, blast all others - you recognize them by the contempt for all Dems. (one of them calls the "anyone but bush" voters idiots) And it's also a laugh and a half from them to do that, because they want the dems destroyed themselves. So. they'll throw at him everything they get their memos on. yesterday it was Pristina. Today is the affiliation. They'll have something else tomorrow. Relax. It's just about a half a dozen foot soldiers. The Dems will support their candidate and will rally for the nominee

[Kahuna]

21. And... Some of the same ones who bash Clark for not being a

"Proud Democrat" aren't such proud Democrats themselves. Some voted for Nader or reluctantly voted for Gore. Some even want to see the demise of the Democratic party. They know that Clark can not only salvage the Democratic party with an infusion of some very needed leadership, but also be such a dynamic unifying force that it would render their anti-Democratic activism moot.

[JI7]

29. good point

never thought of it. but very good point.

[TheBigGuy]

4. it is annoying.

Clark will lose the moderates?

Why would declaring his affliation cause him to lose the moderates?

Wont he lose them anyway, when he DOES declare?

Im not bashing him, but this coyness about political affiliation is annoying. I guess he hasnt decided to run yet, which is why he is saying this...keeping his option open.

If he does declare one option for him, the career as news commentator or resident military expert, would be closed.

[graham67]

7. Lost Moderates

Moderates in this case = moderate Republicans JMO :)

[Chesapeake]

5. he said today he didn't declare self a democrat YET

.

[59millionmorons]

6. He doesnt need too

Of course he is a Democrat, just listen to him speak. If this guy decides to run and he will all the others might as well step aside. This guy has high likability and he knows the issues. Other than Fox, all the news networks love this guy. He will have the media at his back.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

28. Military Industrial Complex

"Other than Fox, all the news networks love this guy. He will have the media at his back."
and who owns ALL the media?


beware of the rove/corporate media selection of who will represent the Democratic Party ...whoever they give plenty and favorable air time to ....you can be sure that the rove/corporate media has selected him for your consumption...

as i stated on another the thread, "Clark would be the icing on the "Military Industrial Complex" cake that Eisienhower warned against.


just my $2.02

[gulliver]

8. I agree.

I think Clark wants to be Clark first, and he wants to be a leader for the whole country (compare that to Bush the "uniter").

[jonnyblitz]

9. so i am the only one who cares what party he belongs to?????

give me a break?!?! you think i would vote for him if he chose to run as a republican. would all of you who are pooh poohing his not even wanting to admit what party he is vote for him if he came out as a Republican ?!?! LMFAO!! :crazy:

[foxglove1]

10. Clark's son says he will NOT run as a Repub

if and when he decides to run

Sue

[Kahuna]

22. I'm 100% in favor of Clark running as a Democrat. If he ran

as a repuke or indie, I would not support him. But happily, I know he has no intention of running as a repuke or indie.

[Bread and Circus]

11. Clark will run, and I think as a democrat...

If you read between the lines, he will run as a Democrat and will announce within 5 weeks. Pro-Clarkers get ready, we need to help our man but at any pace, we need to respect each other and each other's candidates. It is not good for those to oppose Bush to disrespect each other. A good debate and healthy competition is necessary.
Let's all keep our "eyes on the prize".

But also remember, it is not about the Democratic Party. It is about
democracy. It is about justice, freedom, accountability, prosperity, equality, and security.

Don't burninate ourselves over a power struggle.

Keep Bush on his heels. We have so much dirt on him it is outrageous
and it will only get worse if we keep the pressure on. Fight him,
not ourselves :)

Peace, brothers and sisters of the left.

[Mz Pip]

12. Signed up

to attend my first Meetup for Clark on Monday night.

I realize people are pretty antsy as well as critical about Clark not declaring he's a Dem (yet) or not declaring his run yet, but it is still very early in the grand scheme of things. Most people aren't even paying attention yet. I suspect there is much behind the scenes stuff going on with him and potential backers. I've heard rumors that there are some pretty heavy hitters backing him.

MzPip
:dem:

[inthecorneroverhere]

13. what about....?

Maybe he is considering a run as a third party candidate....

Maybe that is why he isn't declaring himself Repuke or Democrat....maybe he wants to run as 'neither.'

I mentioned in another post that if he runs on a conservative platform, he could split the Rep*ke vote, and thus put a Dem in the White House.

[MercutioATC]

14. He won't declare because he wants to bring in more moderates?????

That makes NO sense.

He's not "bringing in" anybody until he campaigns.

He can't campaign until he declares an affiliation.

And making this thread sticky will NOT stop people from asking questions, either about Clark's affiliation or whether he's even running...

[Bread and Circus]

16. Have patience

Who knows why Clark hasn't declared what
party he is in "Yet"...it doesn't matter
because we all know it will be the Democratic
Party(if you can read between the lines).

What matters more is what he believes in and what
he fights for and we are all coming to learn
that.

[kentuck]

17. He's waiting for Cheney to step down...

Bush will ask him to be his running mate...and he will accept. :scared:

[Q]

20. Read several articles yesterday...

...including one from Salon...and in each and every one Clark refuses to declare himself a Democrat. This suggests many things...among them that he's a political opportunist and manipulator.

- The Dem party is losing it when they would even consider voting for someone that's too 'shy' to admit that he's a Democrat in public.

[dfong63]

32. right on

The Dem party is losing it when they would even consider voting for someone that's too 'shy' to admit that he's a Democrat in public.

next question: how much of a "coattail" effect would a non-democrat like Clark have, even if he climbed on board?

which would you rather vote for - a man who proudly shouts,
"I'm from the DEMOCRATIC wing of the democratic party!"

or a man who nods and winks like Liberace (the comparison used by a Clark supporter), and refuses to be pinned down as to his party affiliation, as if it would sully him?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

37. thank you Q and dfong..it is scary that people are supporting a man that

that has not made known how he stands on any issues....inho he is a political opportunist, manipulator and fence sitter in the first degree.....doesn't claim affiliation to the Democratic Party "yet" and has so called dems on this board swooning over his "good looks" and military backround as enough reason to vote for him....:scared:

[Kahuna]

23. You forgot the, end of sarcasm tag, Kentuck.

:D

[zekeson]

24. He declares his affiliation and

candidacy and he loses any income he may have get being a commentary should he decide not to run. He has no desire to declare until he has the assurance of the financing needed to be competitive. When he knows he has that it makes sense to run, until, it makes no sense to put his family and future earning potential on the line. Remember, he is not a career politician - he doesn't have 20 years of financial backers to jump start him, this campaign, if it is such, is just being birthed and he is approaching it pragmatically, as we shoudl expect a leader to. There is plently of time.

[dfong63]

34. ie, for selfish reasons

He declares his affiliation and candidacy and he loses any income he may have get being a commentary should he decide not to run.

in other words, he's keeping his options open, even though by doing so, he's hurting the other dem candidates. and thereby helping bush*.

i don't buy this excuse anyway. being a declared republican didn't stop buchanan or bennett from being commentators.

[zekeson]

38. Name another Dem Candidate who is running their campaign

looking out for the other candidates. Is it common practice to, in a political contest, make decisions based on the good of the other candidates? In my 30 years of poly watching I don't recall any instances.

"being a declared republican didn't stop buchanan or bennett from being commentators."

Puleease. Do I need to comment on the specious nature of that comment?
a. They are Republicans - different set of rules - pay attention.
2. Both are/were fringe characters just making certain the twisted little viewpoints they spouted got some national attention. The largest concentration of votes Herr Buchanan got was from Miami Jews who thought they using K Harris' funky elect-a-Shrub butterful ballot to vote for A. Gore.

[TahitiNut]

25. Uh-huh. Sure.

I guess it has nothing to do with taking a principled political stance and defending it, right? What is it about a person who has never been a public proponent of any political position that folks find attactive in advocating their candidacy?

I like and respect General Clark. He's bright, well-spoken, convivial, and accomplished. I cannot, however, understand how that qualifies him for a political candidacy. Personally, I want to see experience in politics of some kind. That doesn't need to be in elected office -- it just needs to be public advocacy and some track record as a proponent.

[sweetheart]

26. i'll bash him for waiting for the repuke nomination.

He is waiting because bush may not be our opponent. This scandal we are happily crowing over may very well be his demise and the end of extreme republican "neocon" psychosis returning to a more eisenhower centrist republican adgenda.

He knows that if bush becomes a serious downside liability in the next year, the repuke primary will become the presidential election, as no democratic policy is capable to defeat a republican money candidate that can disclaim bush and sweep a centrist sentiment.

Until he declares hes a dem, he's a republican hopeful and potentially a fierce opponent.

[Nashyra]

30. There is something to say about a candidate being pragmatic

like he told Novak yesterday, no need to make or announce a decision until it is necessary, seems like candidates that decide too soon on an issue are often accused of flip-flopping, when they don't take a stand soon enough they are accused of being fence sitters. I have respect for the fact that he said he would make an announcement in mid August and at that time we will knbow what we need to know about him. Bashing him because he has the tenancity to stick with what he says instead of conforming to what we want to hear is not part of the solution in unseating *.

I personally think he has more than enough experience, his assignments and position in the military more than qualifies him for the position, you don't get to where he was in the military without knowing "politics". Such critical remarks about this guy tells me there is a certain amount of fear about this would be candidate. If your favorite candidate is so good why would you have to resort to bashing the other candidates. A candidate should be able to win the nominations on his qualities not by demonizing the other candidates. That should be saved for the general election against *

[charlie]

35. Coyness about party affiliation

isn't reserving judgement on an issue. There's no danger he'll be accused of flip-flopping unless he's dumb enough to change parties after he's thrown his lot in with one. This "is he or isn't he" game he's playing is plain weird.

[AntiCoup2K4]

33. If Clark came out as a Republican, I would vote for him......

....In the primary. Any vote against Bush Jr is a good vote :evilgrin:

That being said, I hope he's not a Puke. Whoever our nominee turns out to be, having Gen Clark on the ticket can only make it stronger.

[ibegurpard]

36. Absolutely astounding

People ADMIT that he won't say whether he would run as a democrat and expect others to just trust that he will. :wow:

Granted, I've already found a candidate that I support wholeheartedly and so I'm sure that my incredulation will just be dismissed as sour grapes from another guy's groupie who is annoyed at attention being deflected away from his candidate. There may be an element of truth to that but I am really, absolutely incredulous that people can be jumping on the bandwagon with a guy who refuses to even declare his political affiliation. How do his supporters answer that question? Just trust us. Whatever. :wtf:

[JasonBerry]

39. MOT78

You wrote:
"Moderators: Is There any way you could keep this thread at the top so people stop asking about Clark's party affiliation?"

People will stop asking, when Clark starts answering.