Just came across an interesting opinion on Clark--do you agree?

[SeveneightyWhoa]

This is from an educated, liberal-minded young man, on Wes Clark:

"I like him less every time I see him speak. For a guy who calls himself "a leader, not a politician," it seems like everything out of his mouth is a carefully calculated but poorly delivered sound bite."

What do you think about this? Is it somewhat (or totally) true? Or is it just one man's misguided opinion?

[xultar]

1. one man's misguided opinion n/t

[mrgorth]

2. No

He's a good speaker. I think he speaks intensely and it sounds "bite-ish" if you will. That's all. I didn't appreciate Clark stealing Dean's flag line tonight.

[Nashyra]

6. No it's not true

The callers on C Span seemed to like him more than the others.

[Cush]

15. Flag line?

Clark's been saying that for quite a while now, even before he entered the race

[WillyBrandt]

3. The intellectual equivalent of an empty calorie

There's no "there" there. There's nothing to this except one individual's personal sentiment; without tracing it to cause, then it's nothing.

It's a totally worthless thing to worry about.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

4. I don't agree at all

But that's just me. I think he has an innate ability to connect with his audiences (at least with this audience member anyway) and his responses never sound canned to me. I believe he's for real.

[MontecitoDem]

5. Disagree!

Clark has the opposite effect on me (although the debates, I believe, have been his weakest venue for public speaking). Did you see him on Hardball? MTP? 60 minutes? He rocked. It's weird how different our perspectives can be. I find him the most authentic of the lot. I started as a split between Kerry and Dean this summer, but now support Clark. He has the chops.

[newyawker99]

34. Hi MontecitoDem!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Kathleen04]

7. Disagree.

I like him more every time I hear him speak. To me, he comes off intelligent and sincere.

[Lisa0825]

8. I may have agreed early on....

I think Clark is taking some time to hit his stride. early on, I was not impressed with the sound bites I heard, but I have really liked what I have heard of him more recently.

I'm a Dean/Clark fan, tho, so I can't say I am unbiased.

[Kool Kitty]

9. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I just don't agree with this "educated, liberal-minded young man".

[slinkerwink]

10. I do agree because he has no domestic policy record and seems

to be coached by his handlers on what to say.

[Mattforclark]

14. Not true

It is not true that he has 'no' domestic policy record. It is not a voting record, but nevertheless it is not 'no' record. Thank you, that is all.

[Kathleen04]

17. Clark on domestic policy..

Recently he was discussing alot of the things he was responsible for in the military...making sure there was adequate healthcare, childcare, etc for the troops. I found that to be interesting. Plus he has a masters degree in economics, so he's educated about that aspect of the domestic front.

[Mattforclark]

18. exactly n/t

[slinkerwink]

25. a voting record is REALLY important

so we'll effing know which issues he REALLY cares about and will stick to!

[Skwmom]

39. Why should someone's record matter?

Dean says one thing, his record says another. Bush said one thing in 2000, his record said another. I would be careful about using the words "stick to." Is there anything that Dean sticks to? I can't think of a single issue where Ho Ho has been consistent.

[mmonk]

43. Voting is not implementing nor coming up with an overall policy.

If you really want to know his domestic agenda (which I seriously doubt), download his pdf files on the Clark website and read them.

[Donna Zen]

45. For the record

If a record is sealed, does it still effect the elections?

If someone admits to being a liberal and another candidate denies being a liberal, when do we have a St. Paul moment?

Every thread and everyday it is the same ol' whine.

Who's promises are to be more respected, someone who keeps his word, or someone who keeps changing his tune?

[deminflorida]

23. His domestic policy does not call for a Tax Hike for the Middle

Class of America. Period...enough said.

IS THE ANY SITUATION WHERE YOU WOULD LIE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.....

They're after him, they're gonna get him too.

TEFLON DEAN - THE MEAN MACHINE

[slinkerwink]

26. THERE is no TAX HIKE on the middle class

we didn't even get a tax cut! Dean himself said that after he balances the budget, that he'll provide tax cuts to the middle class.

[SahaleArm]

28. So if Dean said it - it must be true?

uh, ok....

[slinkerwink]

32. if Clark said he is a Democrat, is it true given his past history in

voting for Republicans?

[SahaleArm]

33. Since he's now a registered Democrat - Yes *nm*

[MariaS]

24. Clark doesn't need

anyone to tell him what to say. I don't think he had speech writers when he was dealing with European heads of state. He may need a bit of coaching on Political nuance but the words are all his.

[Mattforclark]

11. Not true

If the 'educated, liberal-minded young man' does not want sound bites, he should not be watching the media.

I would recommend that he either visit Clark's website and find out about his policy positions or read a book written by Clark.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

12. misguided

http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player.html?4908&FOX_News_Live&Setting%20the%20Record%20Straight&wvx-300

that's not so calculated, that's pretty impassioned.

[nostamj]

13. i think i could convince my repub parents

to vote Clark.

i LOVE pretty much ALL the candidates for many reasons.

i think Clark could take on rove & jr and annihilate them

but i'll support whoever gets the nod. there's lots of time and lots of battle ahead.

[Eloriel]

16. Actually -- I see quite a bit of truth in that

And what came immediately to mind was his carefully crafted (scripted) response to Chris Matthews re the Gore endorsement (delivered with a huge smile, of course, and overlt rehearsed for that perfect pause before delivering the punch line) --

"I don't pay any attention to endorsements -- unless they're for me."

That's just the type of thing voters are rejecting in choosing the Dean campaign.

[retyred]

29. "I don't pay any attention to endorsements --

unless they're for me." LOL, what a classic answere, thanx for sharing!


retyred in fla
“good night paul, wherever you are”
So I read this book

[Lefta Dissenter]

19. Couldn't be more wrong! (eom)

[sweetheart]

20. he's a behind the scenes president

i don't expect him to be a media manipulator face... he wins wars. He wins elections and he wins. He must be allowed to take a significant role in the next administration, if not to lead it.... there is room for more than one great person in an enlightened administration... why not have all of us in the bloody tent... we'll all win bigger. Let the primarys run their course... clark is our great ally and champion as is dennis kucinich, howard dean and al gore... they are all our champions, and i support them all... would the divisive ones cut the crap.

[JNelson6563]

37. I don't have much problem with the General

What troubles me ar some of the statements his supporters make.

He wins elections

He does? Care to tell us what he's been elected to? Here all along I thought he'd never held elective office. Am I out of the loop?

Julie

[Field Of Dreams]

21. Don't agree

Anybody who uses words like "plebiscite" during a debate is not dealing in sound bites.

[HuckleB]

22. Talk about saying nothing.

Look, I'm a Dean supporter, but this isn't even opinion. It's one line blather with nothing to support it.

[bhunt70]

27. I personally don't agree.

In many cases he sums up my thoughts succintly.

[Eccho]

30. I find him riveting.

I find myself holding my breath and listening to every word. I think he has the necessary 'IT' quality. Same feeling when I first started noticing Clinton. He's just not polished yet.

[newyawker99]

35. Hi Eccho!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[TexasSissy]

31. He's not a smooth politician, it's true....

but he has very defined and specific plans, and he articulates them very well, IMO. He'd be better at articulating them and jousting with interviewers, if he were an experienced politician. The superficial pinnings will come in time. He's already improved significantly in that regard. But as for substance, it's there, if the listener wants to hear it.

[CWebster]

36. Clark is good on the rhetoric

Lousy on the tough questions.

[ajacobson]

46. That's the shortest

denunciation of Clark from you I've seen. Not getting soft are you? Or maybe just pressed for time?

[maddezmom]

38. disagree

:)

[in_cog_ni_to]

40. If there's one candidate

who DOESN'T do sound bites, it's Wes Clark. I don't know who that "educated, liberal-minded young man" has been listening to. In fact, when I hear Wes give answers to questions, I sometimes think..his answers are almost too long. He states his position, why that's his position and how he will implement his idea. Soundbite is NOT a word I EVER associated with the General. He's a talker, an intellectual and gives waaaaay more than a sound bite. JMCPO

[Polemonium]

41. good grief

Dean supporter here, but I think he speaks fairly well and I'm glad he is in the race. Why don't we talk about the kind of razor he uses to shave or something more relevant.

[Rowdyboy]

42. Obviously, the young man has a agenda

No problem with that, he's just made up his mind and is trying to diss Clark subtly.

[HFishbine]

44. I get the sense he's being overly managed

His "extemporaneous" speaking has changed of late. It's canned, trite and repetative. Clark does better when he speaks from the heart.