Clark Blasts Bush for Criticizing Dissenters

[PSU84]

The Portsmouth (NH) Herald 12/04/03

Clark knocks Bush for saying dissenters are unpatriotic

By Chris Pedler

EXETER - Four-star Gen. Wesley Clark, one of nine Democratic candidates for president, spoke Wednesday night at Phillips Exeter Academy to an audience of 150 about his vision for a "new American patriotism," which has become the central theme of his campaign.

Clark called 2004 a "crucial election in American history" and criticized the Bush administration for failures in foreign, domestic and economic policies. "If we make the wrong choice ," he said, "we will have a country that is isolated from its friends and attacks workers to give tax cuts to the wealthy. There’s something wrong with that America, in my view."

After asking all the veterans in the audience to stand up and be recognized, Clark made the most impassioned plea of his short speech to protect the American flag and the American principles he believes it stands for. "I’ve served under this flag, watched brave men and women die under it, and no Tom Delay, John Ashcroft or George Bush is going to take this flag away from us."

He particularly criticized the Bush administration for attempting to silence democratic discussion by stigmatizing dissenters as unpatriotic. He ended his remarks this way: "I believe that in 2004 the president will unscrupulously use national security, patriotism and the American flag to try to crush the Democratic Party and the democratic spirit in America. I’m running because that can’t happen."


More....
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/12042003/news/63808.htm

[helleborient]

1. Thank you Gen. Clark

As I expected, last night at the Dean Meetup there were also some favorable comments about Wesley Clark. Many Dean supporters are watching him closely as well...seeing both candidates as a welcome shift from politics as usual.

[PSU84]

2. Dean/Clark Clark/Dean

This still looks like the strongest ticket to me. I'd like Clark at the top, but I mostly want a team that can beat Bush.

I hate this Administration and what it has done to our country.