Dean's '00 comments on Bush vs. Clark's record

[WI_DEM]

I've seen many Clark supporters on this board make a good deal of hay about comments that Dean made in 2000 saying that Bush was "in his heart a moderate." Do I agree with that statement? No. But at the time I think the country was trying to unite after a divisive battle. But now I ask these same supporters of Wes Clark's who love bringing up this comment of Dean's how it compares to Clark's praise for Bush and his foreign policy team only acouple of years ago and his voting record for Republicans including Nixon, Reagan, and Bush I and who knows who he voted for in congress? Let's be fair now.

[Clark Campaigner]

1. I'm fine with Clark's voting record

It shows he is diverse and open minded and isn't just another partisan hack.

[Bozola]

10. He HAS a voting record?

[Rainbowreflect]

14. I like Clark, but I have that question as well.

How does he have a voting record?

[molly]

2. Clark supporters have that right

after all the Dean campaign has been "making a good deal of hay" about any little thing said or done years ago since Clark jumped in.

[WI_DEM]

3. that is fine

but the corporate media is certainly trying to prop up your guy. They have been gunning for Dean now for months. It makes me wonder why they are trying to do away with Dean and prop up a General who has only recently become a Democrat and has a GOP voting record.

[maddezmom]

6. hmmmm

molly is a Kerry supporter. :)

[WI_DEM]

9. I apologize to her then

Kerry with the exception of his vote on Iraq Resolution has a laudible liberal record and deserves better. If it had come down to a two man race I would much prefer it being Dean vs. Kerry--at least both these men have a record to run on.

[beawr]

4. Both of these guys realize that we are roughly 50-50

Hence, neither is going to make all the Democrats happy all the time. The reason Dean and Clark are going to be the only ones left standing is that they realize you have to make Republicans happy too. If we Democrats don't like that, we need to try to change the electorate, not the candidates

[cthrumatrix]

5. there are no fairs..... the smear is on...you are not allowed to look at

the generals voting...all of a sudden being a democrat or question anything about him.

Especially...don't worry that he has never held an elected office.

[maddezmom]

8. yup the smears are on all sides

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=87752&mesg_id=87752

[stickdog]

7. Dean gave Bush a chance.

The Clark & the DLC Dems gave Bush carte blanche.

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. I don't care who he voted for

20 or 30 years ago. He was military and supporting the military with his vote. More recently, he voted for Clinton TWICE and Gore in 2000. Why didn't you mention that? :eyes:

[Eric J in MN]

12. Dean's comment was before the Patriot Act, before

Dean's comment was before the Patriot Act, before Total Information Awareness, before hundreds of immigrants were detained on minor violations without telling their families.

On C-Span, I saw a panel of authors of books about George W., including Molly Ivins, and they all seemed to think George W. had a moderate record in Texas but not in Washington, D.C.

[Clark4Prez]

13. So where Clark's

Just because someone once said something nice about Bush doesn't make them the enemy.

Hell, after the election, I said nice things about him too, after 911 also, so what? Some on this board would say I am not a "real" democrat, what ever that means.

[CMT]

15. I believe in conversion

and Clark has a right to change his views--but we really don't know where he truly stands because he has no record to run on. But he does have a record which he admitted to of voting Republican and I think that understandably that causes concern among some.

[Clark4Prez]

16. I do too

While I understand that there are some who have concerns that Clark voted GOP for much of his life, the reasons are understandable.

Like most military people, Clark voted GOP. He has stated the reasons for his change of heart. This is not a bad thing, but proves something I have always believed, that if people take time to look at all the issues, they will join the Democratic Party.

We should encourage conversion, not attack those that convert to our party as "not real", how motivated are those who are leaning toward joining us, but are put off by the attacks on Clark. The answer to that could affect the party far beyond this year's election.