If Dean and Clark "seemingly" get along, why can't their supporters?

[bhunt70]

First, Im a clark supporter but I have no problem supporting Dean also. Either one of them are fine men and I think they can both kick the crap out of bush and do good things for this country. They both have flaws also, but for me they aren't "deal breakers".

Dean and Clark haven't had any finger-in-the-face confrontations with each other, they haven't degenerated to taking verbal jabs at each other, they haven't decided each other are enemy #1...their supporters seem to have done so.

It's sickening and disheartening.

It's seems like at times instead of it being ABB (Anyone but Bush) it's NED (No one except Dean) or ABD (Anyone but Dean).

I could see if they were diametriclly opposed to each other politically but they aren't. There is no schism, nor should there be any.

[xultar]

1. I think they get along because Clark doesn't attack any candidates.

Looking at their personalities I don't think they would get along at all. They are 2 very different Alpha males. I don't see it happening.

[deminflorida]

2. It was Gore, he not only wanted to jump on a fast moving train....

He wanted to wreck it....

He thinks maybe they'll have the tracks fixed by 2008, of course like I said earlier, if he's sincere he'll take some of that campaign war chest he's sitting on and repair them himself.

[Sean Reynolds]

7. Proof please.....

What makes you think Dean winning the nomination will result in a victory for Bush? For that matter, if NONE of the Democrats can beat Dean, how do they expect to beat Bush?

Dean must be doing something right because he's gone from 2% in the polls to the top. It's obvious he's won over a lot of folks, I do believe he can continue to win over a lot of folks come next year if he were so lucky to get the nomination.

[deminflorida]

13. It's not that I don't think Dean can win, I think Gore believes that

Dean can't win. I lost respect for the guy when he hung us out to dry for two years, that's all. Actually Dean earned my respect last night during the debate for defending Gores ass. Gore knows this shit wasn't right, he should have at least waited until Dean won one primary. In the long run, he's caused problems for Dean, but you can't turn down an endorsement like that. I hold nothing against Dean.

[Sean Reynolds]

19. But if Gore supported say Clark, would you have the same theory?

I mean Gore stated earlier this year that he'd come out in support of a candidate before the primaries. He's sat back for a year and watched the primary season unfold and he's decided to go with Dean.

I do not believe Gore would endorese Dean just because he feels he can't win. If that were the case he'd go for Lieberman, who we all know can't win. Of course supporting Lieberman probably would have won him the nomination - it will not.

[deminflorida]

25. Listen, I would not be pleased if Gore gave Clark.....

the endorsement before winning a single primary either, and I would not expect Clark to turn down the endorsement either. But, Gore would never give that endorsement to Clark because, it is perceived by many and very, very possibly true that President Clinton supports Clark. I do believe everyone interested in power here, has a horse in this race. Likewise it has been perceived and still is by many Washinton insiders that Dean can't win. That's not my belief but the fact remains that the perception exists. I can't read tea leaves and I can't see inside of Gore's heart or read his mind, but I can see that campaign fund bank account he's sitting on. It's the only true test of his sincerity. He needs to start campaigning like hell for Dean, or start spending some of that money on him. If he just sits back and lets things take their course....he's a fraud. I hate to say, and never thought I would, but it would make him a fraud in my eyes.

[Sean Reynolds]

27. It's just your opinion.

I myseld believe Gore backed Dean because he's got a strong message and CAN beat Bush.

[coralrf]

22. Dean has GOP support...

you can see it right here in DU. Open your eyes...

Dean/Clark in 2004
Clark/Dean in 2008..or vise versa....will that work?

[Cha]

10. Opinion that I don't agree with.

[janx]

15. C'mon, some Dean and Clark supporters on this board were

bickering long before Gore made his endorsement.

[Sean Reynolds]

3. I get along fine with Clark supporters......

Well the ones that respect me.

[deminflorida]

5. Hi Karl.....I love you man....

n/t

[Sean Reynolds]

9. I love you too.

[Khephra]

4. Clark is my second choice pick

I'm down with Clark.

[LSdemocrat]

6. I agree

I don't really understand all the animosity on all sides. I ardently support Dean, but Clark is my second choice.

It wouldn't be so bad if both sides were arguing about whose plans and priorities were better, but instead it seems like people here are more interested in spewing the most ludicrous accusations at each other.

[Cha]

8. You're sweet!

[Larkspur]

11. I will never trust Clark

He's a political opportunist, who once worked for the military industrial complex and whose campaign staff is made up of pompous Clintonistas. He is also a civilian political neophyte, who came into the Prez race late thinking that we'd swoon over his 4 stars.

Dean hasn't said much about Clark lately because there is no need to give him free air time and Dean is concentrating on Iowa, where he is battling Geppy, and with helping fellow congressional Democrats with fundraising. Dean has a powerful campaign machine and it will make mince meat out of Clark, especially after Gore's endorsement.

[bicentennial_baby]

14. Actually

He's got a bunch of Gore people working for him too...

[Larkspur]

31. Dean also has Gore people on his staff prior to Gore's endorsement

The ones on Clark's team are mostly the Clintonista types, like Chris Lehane.

[bhunt70]

16. Post 11 is exactly what Im talking about.

what was the point in it? What did it bring to this thread other than spite?

It is sentiments like that which hurt our party more than help it.

Thanks.

[Donna Zen]

17. Example #1

[QC]

21. 90% of the problem is caused by a very few people doing this

i.e., patrolling the forum night and day dropping flamebait everywhere, even--or especially--in positive threads where people are trying to make nice and get along.

Not all disruptors are low-post-count newbies.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

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

[janx]

12. I wish Frenchyfrog would JUMP in here.

I tried to send FF private mail, but FF is not yet allowed to receive any, presumably because FF needs to post a bit first.

In any case, contrary to what people here at DU believe, Dean and Clark supporters (and others) really have no problems getting along in the real world. It's only in the microcosm of this message board that there seem to be problems.

Of all of the Dem candidates, Clark and Dean seem to have the most parallel views.

They know this. They've met several times to discuss things.

[Texas_Dem]

18. its like dogs..

Dean is the loud barking dog, and Clark is less so. Clark has a way meaner bite tho! :-)

[killbotfactory]

20. I'm a Dean supporter who has no problems supporting Clark

He seems like a class act.

I just don't get the animosity of some people.

[Mz Pip]

23. If that were the case

Dean would not keep repeating falsehoods about Clark. Clark has kept his cool but during one debate his look at Dean when Dean was repeating his lies was about as scathing as one could get.

No I do not think they like each other that much. Dean likes to bait Clark but Clark won't sink to that level. Makes him a better candidate in my estimation. Clark focuses on Bush. Dean is an equal opportunity trasher.

MzPip
:dem:

[Walt Starr]

24. I see both men as wonderful candidates

I also see all nine of our candidates as wonderful!

There are a great many positive points that can be made about any of them.

[Donna Zen]

28. Thanks Walt!

And....bush having no positives makes the flaming that much crazier.

[Melodybe]

30. I'm with you Killbot. If Clark gets the nomination I'll be in the streets

Telling folks how great he is. It is hard to critize a Rhodes scholar that happens to be good looking and a 4 star general. My sister in law is from Montenegro and Clark helped save her family. I like Dean more but I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH CLARK!! I jump up and down in my chair whenever ANY of the candidates tells shrub whatfor. I just want all of us to put our petty differences aside and unite, I want this to be an election that ends in a landslide for the Dems. Honestly, * is the worst president in the history of the US and we have that going for us. I just get mad when the media plays up the rivalries between the candidates, they know we have been looking for ABB since he stole office. They KNOW that we are all getting attached to our candidates, so they play up the feuds to make us hate eachother and divide the vote. They played up Nader's role in the 2000 election to keep us feuding, instead of focusing on the 70,000 black people that were turned away from the polls. I voted Green last time b/c I am in MS and we usually go Repub anyway, so I voted my conscience. Do I regret it? Kind of, but I know I voted for who I believed in. The media WANTS shrub to win. That way they get to stay giant monopolies. If we are divided, the vote might be close again and they can steal another election. STOP THIS STUPID BICKERING NOW! WE ARE PLAYING INTO THEIR HANDS!

[in_cog_ni_to]

29. Others have said this

and I will just reiterate. The only reason they get along...ON CAMERA..is because Clark has taken the high road every time he's been attacked by Dean's lies. We don't really know if they get along off camera though. I somehow doubt it.

[TopesJunkie]

32. Could it be?

That too many Clark supporters feel their candidate is the holy grail, the entitled one? And, since he's not leading, they are mad as heck at the leader?

I suspect that's one very big reason, though I know some Dean supporters are also to blame.