ultra-left California Democratic Council's (CDC) L A group endorse Clark

[FrenchieCat]

DECEMBER 8, 2003 – Three pointed confirmations of General Clark's rapid rise to frontrunner status, which we reported in our Election 2004 roundup on Friday (see article here.)

There is nary a more left-leaning group in California than the Los Angeles chapter of the CDC. They are so far left that Congressman Dennis Kucinich was their favorite of the Democratic Presidential hopefuls. That is, until General Clark's secret weapon won an endorsement from their LA members this past Saturday afternoon. (note: The entire CDC chose not to endorse anyone at this time as no one garnered 60 percent).

A General. A man of war. How in God's name would the ultra-left California Democratic Council's (CDC) Los Angeles group come to endorse a moderate military man?

It has to be that they like the message. Because this group that puts principle so far before practicality that they would vote for Kucinich - decided to back General Clark instead.

That message, however, was delivered in person to this LA group of the CDC by none other than Clark's greatest secret weapon: his extremely eloquent, well-spoken, humble, and charming son, Wesley Clark, Jr. Wes, Jr. showed up at the CDC convention this Saturday in Los Angeles and turned this group who had found even Dean too moderate into Clark-endorsing fools.

Odd? Wait, there's more.

Stonewall. Maybe you've heard of the group. The Stonewall Democratic Club is one of the most powerful, left-leaning Democratic groups in the nation. During the 2000 Presidential elections Al Gore only took the time to visit one Democratic club in California, and it was the Stonewall club centered in Hollywood. The group is predominately a gay and lesbian caucus.

Now, this group made no bones about the fact it intended to endorse Howard Dean. That had been a long time coming, and on Saturday, it was just going to be a matter of formality.

That is, until the General's secret weapon showed up once again.

Wes Clark, Jr. brought the General's humble, apparently appealing message to this group and stopped a lone endorsement of Dean in its tracks. By the time the meeting was over, the group had entirely changed course and decided on a double endorsement of both Clark and Dean.

Yes, as we reported Friday, the Clark steamroller is rapidly gathering speed. While the rest of the press refuses to acknowledge this yet, the Republicans clearly have noticed.

[FrenchieCat]

1. Here's the link......

http://www.moderateindependent.com/v1i16clarksurge.htm

[maddezmom]

2. An Endorsement for both Clark and Dean!!!

That's pretty interesting! Thanks for the link.

[FrenchieCat]

5. That's not the CDC....

CDC endorsed Clark only.

The Stonewall
Democratic Club did a joint endorsement of both Clark and Dean.

[maddezmom]

15. oops..

:)

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

3. If Clark had followed Kucinich's lead

and run a populist campaign, Clark would be the far frontrunner. He can get away with things that someone like Kucinich can't. Unfortunately, it seems Clark is wedded to neo-liberal economics, just like Dean. Sad.

[tameszu]

18. As a member of the academic establishment

unfortunately for you and Kucinich supporters (and sort of Gephardt supporters), even (especially?) most left-wing economists like Krugman and Sen are neo-liberals. Ever since dependency economics died, there hasn't been much of a serious alternative for intellectually rigorous left-wingers who study economics.

Most bright people who criticize neo-liberalism cannot offer a coherent and institutionally viable alternative that would pass the muster of economics--then again, economics hasn't always been the most predictively impressive science either. Anyway, I'm not seen much of a viable alternative to social democratic neo-liberalism. Protectionism in developing countries may be sometimes OK, but when the U.S. does it, it's murder on the third world.

[Jerseycoa]

4. Great news

Along with Andrew Young today.

(They should edit this out, though, "Star Trek extra" - nasty.)

[FrenchieCat]

6. I thought so too....

But I did want to take liberty in editing someone else's work.

I believe that Kucinich supporters don't care about the appearance of their candidate, but rather his ideas and stances!

On edit....took your advice.

[Jerseycoa]

7. This part's interesting, too

Yes, as we reported Friday, the Clark steamroller is rapidly gathering speed. While the rest of the press refuses to acknowledge this yet, the Republicans clearly have noticed. For example, check out this excerpt from a conservative website a campaign insider informed us of:

Give, Give, Give

To everyone who took up my call to donate to Howard Dean in June, here's your new assignment: Give all you can to John Edwards and/or John Kerry.

The rationale is simple:
1. We still want Dean to be the nominee so that President Bush can crush him and have long coattails.
2. The biggest threat to a Dean nomination is no longer Dick Gephardt, John Kerry or John Edwards. It's Weasel Clark, for all the reasons outlined below.
3. To help Dean, we have to bring down Clark's vote totals in the crucial states of New Hampshire and South Carolina.
4. In New Hampshire, donating to neighbouring-son John Kerry will help ensure that Clark won't surpass expectations by finishing ahead of Kerry.
5. In South Carolina, Clark can be stopped by neighbouring-son John Edwards.

Donating online is easy. Just click here to donate to Kerry or click here to donate to Edwards.

Hmm. Maybe these guys just really are pulling for Dean, Kerry, and Edwards, trying to help them out. Or, maybe they know what we said was true. Before, when they were just asking people to support Dean, you could make the argument they were using reverse psychology to make it seem like they wanted Dean when really they feared him the most. Now, that argument no longer holds water

[Myra]

24. Jerseycoa, would you please give the link for this conservative website?

Thanks.

[meow mix]

8. wooot

looks like i get to make some phone calls today.

go LA! =)

[BootinUp]

9. More good news

thanks frenchie...I am trying not to show too much excitement these days, still a ways to go.

[Capn Sunshine]

10. Ahem...

One of our steering committee guys was THERE and DEAN beat Clark by a substantial margin

Press Release

California Democratic Council

Immediate Release Contact: Jim B. Clarke, President

December 7, 2003

CDC EXPRESSES STRONG PREFERENCE FOR DEAN, KUCINICH & CLARK IN PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT.


Boxer Endorsed for U. S. Senate, as are Congressional & State Legislative candidates.

The California Democratic Council, the nation’s largest grassroots Democratic political organization, has made endorsements of candidates for the 2004 March Primary election.


U. S. Senator Barbara Boxer topped the list of endorsed candidates. Endorsements were conducted at eight regional meetings held during this past weekend. Delegates, representing 130 Democratic clubs and county central committees, voted on races from U.S. President to State Assembly. In order to be endorsed, candidates were required to register for the endorsement, pay a filing fee and receive at least 60% of the delegate vote.


While no Democratic presidential candidate received 60% to be endorsed, the delegates clearly expressed a preference for certain candidates. Gov. Howard Dean easily outpolled the other candidates receiving 56.11% of the votes. Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich was second with 17.19% of the vote and Gen. Wesley Clark finished third with 14.48% of the vote. None of the remaining candidates obtain more than 6% of the delegate votes.Among the Democratic candidates running in hotly contested primary races that received the CDC endorsement were former State Senator Jim Costa for Congressional District 21, James Brandt for CD46, former Assemblywoman Elaine Alquist for Senate District 13, Donna Begay for Assembly District 9, Henry Manayan for AD 20, Barbara Nesbet for AD 21, former State Senator Nate Holden for AD 47, South Gate City Councilman Hector De La Torre for AD 50, Lori Saldana for AD76, Maxine Sherard for AD 78 and Mary Ann Andreas for AD 80.



Good spin , though.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bertrand]

12. No, you and Captain Sunshine have a hard time reading

read it again.

[Capn Sunshine]

23. LA? OH ,That's completely different!

nevermind. :crazy:

( thought the LA group was a part of California when last I checked)

[FrenchieCat]

13. The LA Chapter of CDC did

endorse Clark....sorry, the national group will not endorse anyone.

I am making up nothing...

but thanks for the personal attacks. Have so many from you, don't know what to do. My locker is getting full.

[pruner]

16. if John Kerry was impolite he'd tell you where to put them…

[FrenchieCat]

17. Looks like

the personal insults are making someone look bad....
and it ain't me nor Clark!

[neuvocat]

22. You mean like what's posted on that site?

You might have seen that part if you actually READ THE DAMNED THING!!!

[DoveTurnedHawk]

14. Please Read More Carefully, Mike

LOS ANGELES CHAPTER of the CDC. It's all throughout her post.

We also stopped the statewide CDC endorsement of Dean by making a last-minute push for Clark that kept Dean below the required 60% threshold.

I was at a Los Angeles for Clark leadership meeting this past Sunday, right after we heard the news. We were all thrilled.

DTH

[FrenchieCat]

19. It is always nice when people read........

Isn't that what DU is all about?

[David__77]

20. "Ultra-left?"

I disagree with that assessment. It's not as if they're calling for the expropriation of the bourgeoisie or something.

[FrenchieCat]

21. Well, it's left enough!

It ain't centrist....that's for sure!

[KittyWampus]

25. Very Cool!

good news