NH columnist on Clark's "Springsteen moment" at church in Portsmouth

[tameszu]

Check out this great column here.

The choicest section:

I knew Clark was smart because they don’t give Rhodes scholarships to boneheads. I figured he’d possess a strong dose of confidence because NATO Supreme Allied Commanders aren’t known for timidity. But I wasn’t prepared for his humor, humility, accessibility and genuineness.

When outlining his biography for audiences Clark discusses his graduation from West Point, but doesn’t mention he graduated first in his class; describes briefly how he was wounded in the jungles of Vietnam, but doesn’t bring up how he handled himself with such courage and grace he was awarded the Silver Star.

He takes questions from the crowd and doesn’t duck any of them. His answers seem sincere and natural, quite unlike those of other candidates whose responses sound rote. His New American Patriotism sounds like the perfect antidote to the "compassionate conservatism" Bush promised America but delivered only to his friends with fat checkbooks.

Perhaps most remarkably, Clark didn’t take a single shot at any of his fellow Democratic presidential contenders. I don’t even remember him mentioning any by name. He banged around George W. like a jug-eared pinata, but even then said ‘W’ seems like a nice person.

Some of you may be worried about that last sentence--why even say anything nice about W when smacking him around? Answer: because that's the only way that a good chunk of the middle 20% of America will be receptive to this criticism. Middle America has so much respect for the Office of the President, even if we all know that W has peed on it, that they need to be won over by a "happy warrior"--someone who can dish out hard truths about W's screw-ups, but who can do it with a warm smile. I am not that kind of person, but I think Clark is.

I was at the Portsmouth event, by the way, and, yes, it was packed to the rafters. There were people pouring out of the aisles and overflowing the balconies. Clark spent an hour taking questions from the crowd and at the end got a huge standing ovation--even from an obvious Kucinich supporter. If Clark throws up big numbers in NH that boost him into the candidacy, it's this event that will be recorded as the turning point.

[bhunt70]

1. I think thats a great read...

He certainly seems to be a man who can be a uniter.

[Clark4VotingRights]

6. Oh god, I love this part!

"Perhaps most remarkably, Clark didn’t take a single shot at any of his fellow Democratic presidential contenders. I don’t even remember him mentioning any by name. He banged around George W. like a jug-eared piñata..."

[windansea]

2. Clark is very classy

and you are right...he will attract the swing vote in droves

[Clark4VotingRights]

3. Wow! What an fabulous column!

Thank you tameszu.

"Gen. Clark a rising star for Democrats"

And the faster he rises, the more buckshot there'll be in him.
Lieberman was complaining 'cause no one was attacking him. :)

"I saw the future of the Democratic Party last week and its name is Wesley Clark.

This isn’t to predict Clark will win the White House, the party’s presidential nomination or even the New Hampshire primary - this time around, anyway. But if the Democrats are going to win back the hearts and minds of mainstream America, this retired four-star general is the guy to do it."

Wow. This writer's smitten.

[Lefta Dissenter]

4. I guess this is the answer to

the other thread "Was it smart of Clark to skip the debates in IA?" People would STILL be talking about Dean not having any minorities in his cabinet, and Clark would have missed a golden opportunity like THIS!

I just KNEW that as soon as people started SEEING and HEARING him, they'd be sold! He's just amazing!

[ClarkGraham2004]

5. I agree. How he places in NH could really change things.

Ala Clinton in '92.

[kayleybeth]

7. What a great article!

Thanks SO much for posting this link! This is a keeper for sure.

GO WES GO!!!!

[Rowdyboy]

8. Its been an angry, frustrating day

and you made it better. Thanks

[snyttri]

9. This shows how Clark is winning support from Kerry and Dean in N.H.

and how Clark's appeal will work elsewhere once the media lets the lid off.

[Printer70]

10. Stop politicizing churches

They should not be used as backdrops or props for political events. It cheapens religion and too often the pulpit has been used for political demagougery. I can't stand it when the Xtian coalition does this and we shouldn't either.

[tameszu]

12. Event didn't politicize the church--it's just economical when scheduling

large political events to use churches, VFW and Rotary Club halls.

Dean has made plenty events in churches too.

And by the way, although I am hardcore secular, I also appreciate that religious groups are key loci of organization and advocacy in civil society. Think about where African Americans would be if they didn't have churches as sites where they could organize politically. It is political suicide for liberals to ignore alliances with liberation theology folks and so on.

[Printer70]

Don't exclude people of faith, but separate...

Political events from religious ones. If we are to truly respect the faithful, we won't intrude upon the one place that should be free from crass commercialization and politicking. While mobilizing blacks in their churches once served a purpose, today I think it unfortunately perpetuates the sense of victimization that holds far too many back.

[Joe the Revelator]

13. This is the best you had?

Its just too hard to say "Wow, Clark did a decent job with this speech." :think:

[Printer70]

19. I'm sure the speech was fine...

...but using a church for political purposes is exploitive and wrong. The commercialization and politicization of the pulpit is a very bad idea and it's a disturbing trends. As for commercialization, witness the mega-Churches in Western suburbia. Politicization is almost as bad.

[SahaleArm]

20. How is it politicization when it's used for a non-religious event?

Usually the cheapest venue to hold a political forum on short notice is a church; they get used all the time for exactly that reason. My Democratic legislative district meeting is held in a church.

[RafterMan]

21. Hey

Why not post that thought on your blog?

I'll bet your bottom-up grassroots campaign would be first to listen to its members and put an end to campaign stops in churches.

Maybe.

[TacticalPeek]

11. Great sig line by the columnist:

"D. Allan Kerr feels sorry for all the poor Republicans stuck with only one candidate to choose from this primary season. Kerr may be contacted at [e-mail]."

Ain't that the truth, poor things!


Thanks, tameszu, and all the other DUers who post from on-site and give us ground truth. You're like our night vision goggles that let us see through the mass media darkness.

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[Mattforclark]

16. Give 'em the truth

and they'll think it's hell!!!

[FrenchieCat]

14. The author just has seen the light....

and wants to beat Bush! Smart Democrat, I'd say!

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. What a great article!

He banged around George W. like a jug-eared pinata That is just too funny! Thanks so much for posting this. I can never read too many positive articles about Wes Clark. He's so incredible and I am so honored to support him. He makes me proud!

Thanks, again!

[Mattforclark]

17. Well said

jug-eared pinata. That is the best description I have heard of Bush since "blind man in a room full of deaf people."

[Clark Can WIN]

18. This is what I am so grateful for.

He's amazing in his ability to slash through crap and deliver the goods without coming off like a jackass.