"Mary, help!" (General Clark) called to his press secretary.

[JustJoe]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/19/politics/campaigns/19CLAR.html?ex=1064635200&en=3cf55b5c39e03a89&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

General Clark on the War resolution:

"At the time, I probably would have voted for it, but I think that's too simple a question," General Clark said. A moment later, he said: "I don't know if I would have or not. I've said it both ways because when you get into this, what happens is you have to put yourself in a position — on balance, I probably would have voted for it."

...

(After noting his votes for Nixon & Reagan, the story goes on...)

"Mary, help!" he called to his press secretary, Mary Jacoby, at the front of the plane, as he faced questions about Iraq. "Come back and listen to this."

At one point, Ms. Jacoby interrupted the interview, which included four reporters who were traveling on the general's jet, to make certain that General Clark's views on the original Iraq resolution were clear. "I want to clarify — we're moving quickly here," Ms. Jacoby said. "You said you would have voted for the resolution as leverage for a U.N.-based solution."

"Right," General Clark responded. "Exactly."

(more)
---------

As a Dean supporter who looked forward
to Clark running as veep to Dean's Prez, I only
hope Clark improves rapidly on the grueling campaign
trail.

[dean4america]

1. campaign off to an auspicious start

we all predicted the neo-cons would be slinging the "he almost started ww3" stuff around, but hearing stuff like "Mary, help!" is not reassuring to me.

Like you, I am a Deanie, but had hoped Clark could be a VP for Dean. this, coupled with the will he/won't he 9/25 debate appearance, is pretty poor campaigning. let's hope he gets better at it.

So, how is his position different from Kerry's, then? Isn't Kerry's position the same? (that he voted for the resolution as leverage?).

trying to figure this all out...

[JustJoe]

2. Maybe it'll seem disarming to people

to see him being so sweet and vulnerable as to
ask his press sec'y to bail him out. But holy
smokes, he will be facing onslaughts of questioning
he never faced as a General. Especially at the
beginning of his run, the spotlight is on him as the
writing on his relatively blank slate appears. Mary
won't always be there to erase and correct. To see
the General's diffidence exposed so blatantly the
day after announcing is disconcerting.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Actually I see it as refresnehigly

honest and a VERY HUMAN moment.

(Disclaimer I an not a Clark Suporter, just as always
keeping options open, after all I LIKE DEAN)

[Guaranteed]

5. Yeah but he said he would have voted for the resolution.

That's extremely disappointing to me. I had hopes of voting for the guy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. I recomend you read the WHOLE New York Story

and realise how torn the man was about it... and he admited
to that.

Damiel Ellsberg was also torn, and so were many other clear
thinkers.

This was not a black and white decision and I think peoople
who have been there done that, and he has in the line of fire,
are honest when they admit they are torn.

What is it with Americans do they want somebody who will say
NO, NO WAY, no HOW?

I'd rather see a full human mean tortured over this, than somebody
who claims moral certainty on either side... maybe because I was
not morally certain, and there were moments of doubt for me.
Maybe I can listent to Daniel Ellsberg and understand what he meant
when he said to the CBC, those who claim moral certainty in
absolute terms are ideologues, I am paraphrasing by the way.

Those very human and very bonest moments have been gone in US Politics
for how long? At least since FDR... and in that sense Clark
has reminded me of a gentler time in US Politics, a time
when we had respect for our instittutions and the process.

Oh and when you read the article please note what he said about Dean.

And I quote:

Still, asked about Dr. Dean's criticism of the war, General Clark responded: "I think he's right. That in retrospect we should never have gone in there. I didn't want to go in there either. But on the other hand, he wasn't inside the bubble of those who were exposed to the information."

[OKNancy]

8. I was going to suggest the same thing

I admit that I was disturbed by this turn of events, but then I read the WHOLE article.

The article goes on to say that his anti-war rhetoric was as strong as anything Dean has said.

And he says he doesn't see why every person in America shouldn't have healthcare.......universal coverage.

[Kahuna]

16. Voting for the resolution doesn't mean that you think..

going to war against Iraq was the right thing to do. It means you would have voted to give dumbo the authorization to attack IF a the inspecters found evidence of WMDs.

I'm sure that Clark will be asked about this during the upcoming debates. I look forward to hearing his explanation.

[LizW]

4. Maybe he's sandbagging

and when the debate comes around he'll roar in and blow everyone away.

Or not.:shrug:

[ima_sinnic]

7. so far he just seems like a "manufactured" candidate

Somebody (probably DLC) said, hey, let's find a general or somebody like that, war-minded but still "progressive" and turn him into a presidential candidate.

The guy's an amateur.

[robbedvoter]

9. Which part of DRAFT movement don't you get?

Tens of thousands of activists - many of them DU-ers are NOT DLC.

[ima_sinnic]

10. & as I recall those "Draft Clark" rousers seemed like plants

. . . somebody had to get the ball rolling. I remember reading here on DU about the concerted effort by somebody's campaign (can't remember if it was Clark's) to infiltrate message boards and e-lists.

[Pepperbelly]

14. yeah ...

I came here YEARS before you so I could rabble-rouse for Clark. We saw this coming forever ago and planted people all over the internet just to thwart Howard Dean.

:eyes:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

18. Aren't you related to Clark?

Cousins or something?

[Clark Can WIN]

26. I am not, nor have I ever been a

Boo!

[Eloriel]

25. Well, that raises an interesting question, actually

I'd like to know quite a bit more about the 2 brothers who started this, and where they got their funding.

Eloriel

[gasperc]

17. agree, need to get some political acunem rather quickly

Bush found a way to trounce McCain, and he'll find a way to trounce Clark if he doesn't get his act together. You CAN NOT make muddled statements like this to the press.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

19. Yes, manufactured.

Not sure about the amateur part, though. Time will tell about both.

[union_maid]

11. This is not really news

He probably has to tighten up his message to fit it into the soundbytes required by the press, but it's not news. Those who watched him on CNN know what he said and what his opinions are and what came across was - he never would have gotten us into this stupid mess. Now the right answer and honest answer for today is, "Given 20/20 hindsight, no, I wouldn't have voted for it, but I didn't have to make that decision at the time and it would be unfair to the candidates that did vote to unequivocally state that I wouldn't have done so." The General is welcome to use any or all of that. :) He needs to learn to state the part he wants to get across in the first few words and put in any qualifications later.

[Donna Zen]

12. Some good news!

Asked how he would pay for it, General Clark said he was open to some cuts in the budget he is more familiar with — the Pentagon's. "The armed forces are a want machine," he said. "They are structured to develop want."

Go Clark...and he is the only, I mean the only candidate who can say this and an actually act on the statement if elected. The congress is divided, and will be divided for quite some time. The only money to do anything positive in this country is stashed in the Pentagon...you want to shake it loose; well perhaps some strategic thinking is in order. For all of the talk..talk..talk, who can walk...walk...walk? Who can find the support among the brass to get the leverage to milk the cash cow?

Note: During Clark's NATO run Albright specially warned him that "they", the Clinton haters had gotten her and they were out to get him. One of the critters who fought for Clark during this time was Lieberman. Clark has also said that he is a good friend of Kerry's. Nice to see someone willing to defend Kerry's position rather than exploit it. The Bottom Line: how many of the Dems would have plotted and lied to drag the country into a war? Hmmm? Clark's effort to "walk in their shoes" rather than to make political points may not be politically kewl, but it certainly is refreshingly honest and broadminded.

Remember: Senator Jeffords probably voted for Nixon and Raygun and Bush I and Bush 2...somehow I don't see Jeffords as my enemy. I guess you do. Guilt by association is a curiously rightwing thing.

[Art_from_Ark]

13. One BIG difference between Jeffords and Clark

is that Jeffords left the Republicans and actually VOTED with the Democrats, thus showing his alliance with us in a tangible manner at a time when it was really needed. Clark wouldn't even state his party preference in 2002 when he was being asked to run for governor of Arkansas as a Democrat.

[Pepperbelly]

15. you actually skimmed right past the main points to dwell on irrelevancy.

Clark knows how the Pentagon positions itself for a superior place at the feeding trough and has the vision and resolve to deal with it AND when put into a place to bash his fellow candidates about a decision he did not have to make, rather than taking the low road as some do, he chose to not bash them and to show some empathy.

Of course, the so-called liberals hyperventilate because he takes the high road rather than the low one.

:eyes:

[Art_from_Ark]

22. Sorry, but I don't follow your argument one bit

How is Clark's sudden revelation about being a "Democrat" irrelevant? If he really is a Democrat, why didn't he announce before? Why did he avoid the issue last year when his name was being brought up as a possible candidate for governor? Sorry, but as a lifelong Democrat, and as an Arkansas Democrat at that, I don't cotton to the idea of someone with no political track record just waltzing in and saying "Give me the nomination to the highest office in the land. I really am a Democrat. Trust me."

[TacticalPeek]

27. "cuts in the budget he is more familiar with"

Boyyyy Howdy.

What a salient and major concept!

Given the presumed position from which some bash Clark (a tad leftish?), this would seem to be potentially a main banner issue and rallying point. What is the take of the other candidates, beyond the bromides like cutting waste, fraud and abuse without damaging readiness, etc.? Which have likelihood of succeeding, with what approach? There can hardly be a bigger leftist mission than throttling the M/I complex, so isn't it important to consider what this general might bring to that fight? More important than, say, when the D got behind his name, or details of a pissing match between generals in the most recent Balkan war?

Some critics' imbalance between stimulus and response is perplexing, as is their target issue selection. Maybe I've guessed wrong about the position from which they hail?

[lindashaw]

20. May I create a new word: "election-speak"...Clark has to learn it.

The man is not a born-again politician, for which we can all yell, Hallelujah!" But he does have to speak slowly, because the enemy can take the most honest answer and turn it into an idictment. I'm glad he has Mary.

[Bertrand]

23. lol

mary appears to be on top of things...hopefully :D

[Terwilliger]

21. this guy is all over the freakin map

he's another plastic politician! Bend him! Shape him! Tell him what to say! He's a general!! :eyes: :nuke:

[Bertrand]

24. First lesson for the General

the media will sell you out, so dont put faith in them.