Why did Dean want a Republican as a Vice President?

[CoffeePlease1947]

Dean and his supporters were clamoring for Clark to be his VP. Now Dean and supporters are trying to say that Clark is a Republican because somebody that kinda knew Clark said he was considering running for office and thought he was a Republican. Now that Clark is whipping Dean's butt in the national polls he suddenly a Republican?

Anyone want to explain why all of sudden the first choice for VP is NOW a Republican and why Dean wanted Clark to be his VP if he thinks he is a Republican?

Mike

[MercutioATC]

1. When did Dean want Clark as his VP?

That was a media fabrication. Both parties denied it.

[AP]

8. AFAI can tell, Dean only denied asking him outright if he wanted to be his

VP. He doesn't deny having conversations about the possibilty.

Yesterday, I started a thread about how RFK talked to MLK about the possibility of his being his VP. RFK didn't ask MLK to be his VP, and he could have honestly denied saying that he didn ask him if anyone asked RFK him whether he did.

Now, does anyone think RFK wouldn't have discussed with MLK the possibility if RFK didn't think they were on similar pages politically?

[MercutioATC]

11. Dean said that they'd talked about Clark's support if he DIDN'T run.

Draw whatever conclusions you wish, but the fact remains that there's nothing that shows Dean and Clark ever discussed the Vice Presidency.

[AP]

15. Unless this whole thing was a very clever trap for Dean, I can't imagine

who else was the source of the press rumours that Dean asked Clark to be his VP if it wasn't Dean. It had to be the Dean campaing ('cause nobody could have forced Dean to accuse Clark of being a Republican).

I, for one, believe Dean exaggerated his conversations with Clark and intentionally leaked a story making it sound like Clark considered it so to undermine the impending threat to Clark's candidacy to the Dean campaign.

However, he's doing a different, incompatible attack right now. It is definitely very contradictory. I don't know how Dean plans to get away with it, but, for now, it's interesting to discuss it.

[MercutioATC]

18. Alternately, and slightly less "tinfoil hat"....

Dean and Clark met. They didn't hide the fact and Clark, while having a strong support base, hadn't declared his candidacy. It's a conception among some that Dean's primary weakness is how he's percieved on defense issues. Clark, on the surface, might seem a good way to combat this conception. Dean and Clark talked about the possibility of Clark running and whom Clark would support if he didn't (just as Dean claims). Not being headline-worthy, the media spins it as a meeting about the Vice-Presidency.

Why is it that so many people feel the need to make assertions based on what's possible, rather than what they can prove?

[AP]

20. The bottom line is that Dean probably leaked that he was considering Clark

(which wasn't true, and was done for obvious strategic reasons), but now he's saying Clark is too conservative.

Then why was he good enough to be perceived as a possible VP?

You can't have this argument both ways.

The other candidates aren't falling into this trap.

Of course the other candidates don't get all their support from trying to stir up the far left of the party's hatred for Bush.

[MercutioATC]

21. The original post makes an accusation based on a "probably"...

Namely, that Dean's contradicted himself by first wanting Clark as a VP and then saying that he wasn't a Democrat until 25 days ago.

I'm just asking for proof to support the contention that Dean wanted Clark as a VP. If that's not true (and there is zero proof that it is) then the whole "contradiction" issue becomes moot.

[WillyBrandt]

2. You obviously don't understand

Dean is a different sort of political animal. You can't classify him as liberal or cenrist, even though he says he's a centrist. If Dean has flip-flopped on Clark, then it's not a political move. He's no politician, he's leading a movement: one group of prosperous white people must take AMERICA BACK from another group of prosperous white people! No Bush-Lite!

Sorry, just kidding there :)

[CoffeePlease1947]

4. I agree

Now all of a sudden Dean had nothing to do with Clark. It was just media hype. There were conversations. Dean never praised Clark in public. Dean never asked Clark to be his VP or join the Dean Team. It was in our heads, not real. We only remember things that best suit our cause.

Mike

[gully]

3. More, "Dollars for Dean!!"

When Dean supporters see slams, let's post this:

Contribute to the Dean Campaign here!

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=bat_contribute&JServSessionIdr001=8j5lz3xhs1.app194a

I just gave another $20 :)

[Julien Sorel]

7. Until you run out of money, fervor or hit the 2k limit.

Then someone has to find someone just as loyal to take your place, or the machine breaks down. How many angry, white, internet-savvy Democrats willing and able to donate money to a political campaign are out there?

[MercutioATC]

14. That's the beauty of it...most donors are nowhere near their limit...

The vast majority of Dean's contributors have plenty of space left below the contribution cap. I appreciate your "concern", but we'll be just fine.


:P

[AP]

10. He's going to need a lot of dollars to buy media time undoing the damage..

he's causing with contradictory statements like this one.

[bicentennial_baby]

5. To be accurate

this is what Dean said on 8/24/03:

"BLITZER: Let's move on and talk about General Wesley Clark. He may or may not, in the coming days, decide to become number 10, the tenth Democratic hopeful for the White House.

You have high regard for him. Would you consider him as a potential running mate?

DEAN: Yes. There would be a great many people, of course, that would be considered as potential running mates.

And I must say, I think it's much too early to discuss potential running mates. I mean, we're five months from the time the first official vote and delegate-selection process takes place, so I find it very premature.

But I think Wes Clark, he is somebody I keep in close touch with. He's a terrific person, very bright, very capable, very thoughtful. Our views coincide on a number of matters, and he is a -- I certainly can't say enough good things about him. It'd be tough to run against him.

BLITZER: Well, if he decides to run, would you be disappointed that he throws his hat in the ring?

DEAN: Not a bit. You know, I think this is a democracy, and I never get disappointed when people throw their hats in the ring. You know, he has every right to get out there and give his views and do the Iowa and New Hampshire and so forth thing, and I wouldn't be the least bit disappointed.


http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0308/24/le.00.html

[boxster]

12. "I wouldn't be the least bit disappointed."

Uh, isn't he really lying here? He really can't honestly have wanted Clark to run, so he must be lying.

Ack, guess that means we can't possibly vote for him. }(

Don't flame me; just a little joke. Just trying to point out how easy it is to pull something out of context and then jump on it.

[tsipple]

6. I Had No Idea Clark Raised Money for the GOP in 2001

I was a little queasy when he wouldn't answer the simple question of whether he was a Democrat, but I figured that he was being "politically coy."

But now I find out that he helped the GOP in Arkansas raise money in 2001. And I'm deeply disturbed. That's 28 months ago! :wtf:

[AP]

13. He worked for Stephens, Inc, and they're HUGE donors to Ark GOP.

Has anyone read The Hunting of the President?

Incidentally, this is a classic ex-military/future politician path. I can't imagine that anyone's surprised.

[boxster]

9. Because he's not a Republican, but claiming he is

is easier than bothering to discuss real issues. Plus, it's faster and works much nicer as a sound byte.

Dean and Clark are closer fundamentally than Dean's supporters would think:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=423028

And I like Dean, but frankly, I don't think his hardcore supporters are helping with these goofy attacks.

[MercutioATC]

16. The original thread post is a pro-Dean attack on somebody??

It seems an attack on Dean to me...

[Justice]

17. Goofy Attacks.

I like that phrase - thanks, keeps things in perspective.

Dean was welcoming of Clark - and spoke well at the debate when asked his view on Clark's entry into the race. I admired Dean for that statement.

It is a little sad that that we went from talking about how great the 10 candidates were at the debate and how anyone of them is better than Bush - and a few days later we are throwing virtual arrows at each other.

I suspect there are more than a few freepers in our midst, stoking the fires and loading the bows. Let's keep to the issues - and sharing links to great articles

[sandnsea]

19. They 'evolved'

Deny, evolve, misstate, attack. That's the Dean campaign and has been since day one.