I Wish More Democrats Could Have Gotten to Know Clark Sooner

[Tom Rinaldo]

The media by and large hasn't helped, but mostly it's just the way it is. As Clark says, "Democrats aren't used to having a General in their Party". I have watched over the weeks as respect for Clark has grown, here on DU in particular. It isn't always a matter of people choosing Clark as their preferred candidate, but it is a growing appreciation for his basic integrity, and realization that he really is an exceptional person to emerge now out of the military, at exactly the time when American's Sons and Daughters, in the Armed Forces, are being moved around like pawns by Chicken Hawks gathered around their geo-political chess boards.

Clark is an outsider, and for the first time in his adult life he is a totally free agent, able to speak out about what he believes in openly and publicly, and Damn, he is doing just that. I understand why it was difficult at first for so many to trust Clark, and why some still don't, but I have never trusted someone running for higher office this much in my lifetime, and I am 54 now. To quote that wonderful phrase, Clark speaks truth to power, and he doesn't back down, and he doesn't cover up, and he doesn't take the low road ever.

It took Clark several weeks to begin picking up the basics of campaigning. You know, how to speak in sound bites, how to sound emphatic without giving ammunition to your enemies, how to deflect a question so that the answer is about what you want to talk about rather than what the questioner wants you to say. To tell you the truth, although he has gotten light years better in just a few months, Clark will never truly master it, because it feels unnatural, and almost dishonorable, to a man who would rather communicate his actual thoughts and ideas. Clark knows how to be deceptive during warfare against an enemy, if that is what is needed, but he doesn't view tha American public as an enemy. He thinks this is our country and that we always have a right to know what our leaders are planning for us, and why.

Clark has been an instructor at West Point, he has been a commander of units that were underperforming, and he took them and brought them all up to a standard of excellence. Clark is a superb communicator, but he isn't a verbal trickster, never has been, never will be. Some think that will handicap him as a candidate. I think the opposite. His clarity and candor has been refreshing to behold in his recent interviews. Clark knows how to explain his positions, even if sometimes it takes him more than a minute to do so. He is incredible answering questions live before a crowd. He takes each question seriously. People know Clark is not a traditional politician, and that is a good thing.

Now Clark is learning how to give rally speeches. He's doing just fine at it. If he lacks a few flourishes that someone like John Edwards has perfected through years spent as a trial lawyer, Clark makes up for it in intelligence, and sincerity, and the power of his ideas and vision for America. Some of the larger strokes still need to be filled in, but the direction he is pointing at could not be clearer, it is clearly progressive, and it is clearly inclusive. I would rather have a President with some details lacking from his policies, than have one who had them filled in over the years through negotiations with special interests, using their input.

Clark is at his worst in the dreadfully artificial Debates, with time divided between 7 to 10 contestants, sparring with malicious inquisitors, all striving to land the perfectly honed barb or clever turn of words. Some narrow political skills may be showcased in those formats, but not leadership ability. Still Clark does alright there, if he is not kept out of the game by low blows and coordinated ambushes. Clark will do far better in one on one debates, where he is given more time to make his points, and the opportunity to directly follow up on them. Clark will be debating George W. Bush, and I long for that contrast in "leadership philosophy" to be so starkly revealed.

The place where Clark has really been tested, is told in the story of his life. Can Clark lead us in times of danger? We know that he can. We know he can assemble the right team, and demand excellence, and succeed in the harshest of circumstances. And now I think more of us are seeing the humanity in Wes Clark, and seeing past his uniform to the reasons why he wore it, and what he felt called on to defend. Clark is not politics as usual, and the powers that be know it. They know they don't have their hooks into him. They don't know how to control Clark, and they don't want him speaking truth to the American people. I pray to God that enough people have heard Clark by now that they won't soon be able to turn off his mike. Clark is saying things that need to be spoken.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. If only we had known he was one sooner

and knew he was running.

[Endangered Specie]

2. Coming in too late and skipping Iowa were bad for him

HE needs to be tougher, especially about the "Hardly a Democrat" charges. Hes just not forceful in debates, appearances etc... hes got to much Graham calmness in him.

[cally]

3. I think some of it is that voters

have to understand Clark to connect with him. I know many DUers despise him and I'm not referring to you. I'm thinking of the gender gap where women almost automatically reject a military candidate. I did at first. It took much research and consideration for me to support him and I don't think most voters have the time nor inclination to do that.

It's not over yet. :-)

[teevee99]

4. wonderful post.

I agree. Some of the things I've learned from Wes Clark over the past few months will shape the rest of my life and the things I teach my children about democracy, patriotism, and being honest.

He deserves everyone's respect, regardless of whether or not they want to give him their vote.

thansk for posting!

[sandnsea]

5. Was Reagan a good President?

Never heard him speak truth to that. Until he does, I don't see any reason to go to his candidacy. We've got a couple of good Democrats to choose from and I'll stick with that.

[returnable]

6. Was the PATRIOT Act a good vote? IWR?

Please, let's not get into another purity contest here :eyes:

[teevee99]

26. you know, this pissing contest

has gone on long enough. i'm 26. I voted for gore in 00, but would have voted for dole in 96, because I was a stupid kid.

are you going to say that I don't belong in "your" party???

Because if so, I'll take my lifetime of voting I've got ahead of me somewhere else.

Reagan was a good president in my mind. I was a kid when he held office and my life was pretty good;)

others might have differing opinions.

Do you think you could allow that people can change and grow? i think that's the reason I won't support kerry, lieberman, or gep....they've been doing the same thing for far too long. a rolling stone gathers no moss, grasshopper.

[mikehiggins]

7. Tom, the media is not "just the way it is"

For whatever their reasons, whether a conspiracy or an unknown conjunction of the stars and planets, the media has consistently downplayed and ignored Clark as a man, and presented him as a foil, a tool of the Clintons, an arrogant martinette, a poseur, a clown.

I have never seen such an unmitigated and directed attack on one individual candidate since the Dems ran that famous A-bomb commercial attacking Barry Goldwater. It only ran once but it killed his chance at winning, and gave birth to the right-wing paranoid cult that underlies todays GOP. The viciousness of that attack poisoned the waters among conservatives until they were willing to put up with the most odious candidates in order to put the liberals in their place.

And they succeeded.

Now we have Clark, who can present them with a Democratic candidate they can vote for without feeling that they have betrayed their own beliefs.

And the media, owned by people who know the cost of everything but the value of nothing, are savaging him without pause. The story of the Clark campaign, win or lose, will be in large part the story of how America was betrayed by people who really aren't newsmen or reporters, just actors who play them on tv.

And the more this gets out, the harder it will be for them to succeed.

[Bread and Circus]

9. terrific post

[Leilani]

16. Hear! Hear!

I think long after this race is over, the big story will be , how much did the media shape the oucome of the race? And I'm not talking only about Clark; all the candidates have been affected, whether for good or ill.

[Mz Pip]

8. Regardless of what happens

I will be thankful that he was in the mix, bringing his point of view as not only a military man, but a highly learned one at that, to the table.

I think it was important for someone with his background to challenge Bush.

I only wish the press would go after Bush's missteps and gaffes with the same enthusiam that they do with the Dem candidates. Instead of repeating Dean's "I Have a Scream" speech 637 times, or Clark's refusal to condemn Michael Moore,they should repeat the portions of last years SOTU speech where Bush misleads us all into war.

Like that will every happen.

MzPip
:dem:

[Qutzupalotl]

10. Past tense?

The first vote gets cast tomorrow. 3rd or 4th is a good start for someone in their first bid for office. Then it's on to first place in Oklahoma, Arizona, and a strong showing in South Carolina.

Over? It hasn't even begun!

On edit: Make that subjunctive. ;)

[returnable]

11. You forgot New Mexico!

:toast:

[Qutzupalotl]

12. Yeeaaahhh!!

:7

[Tom Rinaldo]

17. No, not past tense.

I do wish more Democrats could have gotten to know him SOONER. So many angry words could have been avoided, and yes, his campaign likely would be in a stronger place today if more Democrats had gotten beyond their uncertainties about a previously unaffiliated General earlier.

If there is a whiff of "nostalgia" in my post, it is tactical and intentional, because it is not too late for Clark to become known by America, if enough people give him their support over the next two or three weeks. Donate time, donate money, speak to others and vouch for Clark, and vote for him in the Primaries. Yes there still is time. If we want Clark to fight for us, we must fight for him now.

[Auntie Bush]

32. Bravo Tom

We're also lucky to have you on our side and speaking MY thoughts so elequently. Here's to you Tom...I'm a slow drinker!

[THUNDER HANDS]

13. I have nothing against Clark

but I'm not voting for a rookie in the primaries. He's still learning slowly and has a long way to go before he is presidential material.

[Jerseycoa]

15. Rookie politician

Not a rookie leader. He was presidential before he started. But we can disagree.

[THUNDER HANDS]

18. I meant more in the sense of a campaigner

You have to admit, if Clark got in the game earlier, he'd probably be doing better.

He needs more experience and time. I just don't know if time is on his side in this primary.

[Loren645]

23. I hope Clark never becomes a Kerry style professional pol

Who sells out the very people he's supposed to represent,
by voting for IWR and the Patriot Act, for political gain.

Yeah, Kerry's a pro - at betrayal.

[Strelnikov_]

29. Presidental = Leadership

They don't give 4 stars to people who exhibit limited leadership ability.

Kerry - Great, part of the top shelf Pelosi/Daschle leadership style that has brought the party to it's current dominance.

Edwards - Looks good, sounds good, 5 yrs. w/ no major legislation in the Senate good.

Dean - Governor of a small state. Yes, I think that is a much stronger leadership resume than a decorated 4 star.

After every election we have lost in the 30 yrs. I have been voting I ask "how could .... beat us". I am afraid that all one has to do is review the comments on this board to find the answer as to why we continue to lose.

Another note, if you have had to be a Democrat, and never even voted Republican, your entire life to be ideologically pure enough to run as a Democrat, I'm afraid it's game over for us as a party.

As Michael Moore said, we have been given a gift, and it now appears that the Democratic Party is trying to exchange it at Wal-mart (or Tiffany's in the case of Kerry patrician wing) for last year's model.

Footnote: Yes, I appreciate Dean’s fresh leadership, and Edwards populist message. I just feel that Clark would make the better candidate and President.

[resist]

14. Shouldn't some blame lie with his campaign?

I cannot understand why his ampaign manager has not done a better job of getting his face in the news every day. Ideally, he should be presenting an issues oriented platform o his own and in such a manner tht it compels a response, thus making the news. Haven't they failed him here?

[hilzoy]

22. In some ways I agree. But:

When he does do things that ought to make news, oddly enough the media doesn't notice. He came out with a really great tax proposal, and it got no play on TV, and short articles on obscure pages of the more serious newspapers. No doubt that was because of more important stories, like Michael Jackson's trial and the neverending saga of Ben and JLo.

[Tom Rinaldo]

25. I Recommend Fighting

Certainly not quitting. If you care about Clark, what can you do to help this week? I am leaving for New Hampshire tonight,and I will work the Election there tomorrow. Then I will leave on a business trip until Sunday night, so don't think I stopped fighting if you don't hear from me.

You know, you can pick up the phone right now and start calling New Hampshire voters. Go to Clark's web site for more information.

[Strelnikov_]

30. And Donating

There is historically no correlation between a strong Iowa/New Hampshire finish and who will win the nomination. The candidate that collects the most money has always won the nomination. The more money Clark has, the longer he can stay in and get his message out.

Give till it hurts (till it hurts to the tune of $2k, that is).

[bain_sidhe]

27. "oddly enough the media doesn't notice"

I think there's nothing "odd" about it, it's deliberate. The tax proposal was one thing that any honest news organization would have covered in more detail. And, to my knowledge, he's STILL the only candidate saying the Bush didn't do enough to prevent 9/11 - You'd think that would be as "explosive" a charge as some Clark supporter calling Bush a "deserter" - but have you heard/seen any coverage of this charge Clark is making?

I don't know if they're in the pay of the repukes, or just "aligning" their interests with them, but there's nothing that will convince me that the media isn't determined to take Clark out of this race BEFORE any more people have a chance to hear what he's saying. It's our job to do our best not to let them get away with it.

**edit: er, I meant "ISN'T" not "IS"**

[waldenx]

19. I agree

I wish Democrats could have got to know him sooner.
Then he would be polling the same numbers as Sharpton.

[xultar]

20. Amen, We are missing the best opportunity to elect the best President

of our time. I believe that with my heart. I feel as though I am letting down the entire country. I'm hurt cuz I don't believe that I was able to translate what Wes Clark is so that people could see in him what I see.

It is so heartbreaking to know that we are blowing this chance.

Oh well, so it goes....

[HootieMcBoob]

21. Don't give up

February 3rd looks good in some states.

[Ivote]

24. A Golden Opportunity

comes along only once in a lifetime. I hope that people that havent considered Gen. Clark, doesent wake up to late. Then they might say could have, should have, would have. Now is the time to return our thanks to someone that has given us 36 years of his life helping to protect us. Surely we can give him at least four and maybe eight.

[rpf113]

28. Beautiful, well though out post.

I wish I had the time to go through point by point, but I essentially agree with you.

I think that had James Carville and Paul Begala come out of retirement and worked for the general at the behest of Bill Clinton, Wes would be doing a lot better. Remember how much it helped Clinton to have Carville as a surrogate out there screaming his head off and Begala with his unmatchable wit. That way Clinton could stay above the fray.

Clark is trying to stay above the fray, but you know this reminds of a misquote of Dubya's "He (McCain) can't take the High Horse and claim the low road". That's what Clark needs to do. He needs surrogates to attack, attack, attack, but he needs to stay positive. I watch his rallies on C-Span all the time and out of all the candidates I think he gets the best response (with John Edwards only slightly behind.) I've even seen supporters crying at his events.

Unfortunately he's run a lackluster campaign--but what could we expect? This man never though about politics until after 2000, he's a military man not a politician and he's made some grave mistakes. Kerry won Iowa because of his Vietnam experience. Clark''s experience trumps Kerry's experience and probably could have won Iowa if he had run there.

[TexasSissy]

31. I'm voting for Clark. Wait until he gets into his area of the country.

He's a sincere, honest, brilliant, creative, man who has years of leadership experience and a genuine concern for the middle class. What's more, he is Bush's worst nightmare. He doesn't have 20 years of voting records to be beaten up on and about, and no special interest backings for conflict.

[For PaisAn]

33. I was getting depressed,

checking polls and listening to those vile people who have taken over the airwaves. No more. TV is off except for C-SPAN. I'm not giving up. I've gone to NH and done "American Son" DVD drops, made phone calls to NH voters, told everyone I know about him, will be writing letters to SC voters, made the max donation and will continue doing all I can as long as he is in the race. They're not going to manipulate me or my emotions. I'll do everything I can and then what will, be will be -I don't say that in a cavalier way, it will be a loss for all of us if the American people get this one wrong. I have never felt so strongly about anything in my life.

I don't think Clark can be explained to anyone, they would have to experience him.

He is a gift to the Democratic Party and to the country. And he can beat Bush.

[Loren645]

34. More *will* get to know Clark. He's finally introduced himself, and now

people can get familiar with him, and realize what a superb
person he is.

[milkyway]

35. I thought Clark was unbelievably good in a town hall meeting soon after

announcing his candidacy. He had a few women in the audience crying. I thought he would end up the nominee. He's excellent in the smaller, more personal venues, but he seems a bit out of his element at other times. No matter what happens from here, I'm sure Clark will have a very prominent role in any Dem administration.

[Crewleader]

36. I agree with you Tom Rinaldo

and I too feel he's the most honorable man for the oval office and at the time we need him most with the War on Terrorism and the service of our soldiers now in Iraq.
He truly cares about each of them and for the ones who lost their lifes' protecting America but with the wrong leadership.
We need General Wesley Clark and his leadership for peace and prosperity for all!

Keep Hope Alive Friends! :-)