Uh Oh.....Kerry goes after Clark....sort of...

[Nazgul35]

from the official Kerry site:

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0109c.html

Wes Clark: In Defense of Revolving Door Lobbying
“I’m very proud that I did that”
“Somebody has to be able to knock on the door and go in.”

In Peterborough, New Hampshire on Wednesday, Wes Clark delivered a surprising defense of his own practice of the same “revolving door lobbying” that corrodes the Bush Administration. At the same time, Clark gave New Hampshire voters a new perspective on the candidate who is new to the Democratic Party.

Citing the very same reasoning that allows people from government to capitalize on their relationships by going straight into lobbying and exploiting their government connections, Clark said his history as a high paid Washington lobbyist was actually an act of “patriotism.”

--snip--

Kerry has said that as president he will reinstate the five-year ban on lobbying so that government officials like Wes Clark cannot cash in by peddling influence. (their emphasis) He will also shine the light on the secret deals in Washington by requiring every meeting with a lobbyist or any special interest deal inserted into a bill by a lobbyist be made public.

--end--

You guys have my sympathy....this whole campaign could get ugly from the bottom to the top if any candidates try a slash and burn tactic towards the Dem nomination....

Looks like the love fest is over...

[liberalmuse]

1. I wouldn't mess with Clark.

That guy kicks butt. I wish our candidates would focus on 'outing' Bush instead of smearing each other. Oh well...

[RandomUser]

21. I'm not worried either

Clark can take it. He has a way of taking negative attacks and responding to them without going negative himself, but rather using wit and charm. He won't sit down and passively get beaten to a pulp (just look at his Fox interview with Asnan). But he always responds with class that makes his opponents smile and endears him.

Chickenwings and Zero bars!

Just look at the instance with the Dean flyer flap. Dean distributed negative fliers at a Clark event, fliers without a single thing about Dean, just Clark bashing. Clark responds and distributes fliers that say nothing negative about Dean -- just lots of quotes of Howard Dean praising Clark :)

[Jackpine Radical]

28. As something of a Deanie Duffer, I have to say

that flyer thing was not good. I hope it was some overly enthusiastic locals & not from higher up. I'm disturbed by Wes's conflicts and RW connections, but think he has handled a lot of things with class.

[funky_bug]

2. Et tu, Kerry?

Sigh...

Not that I've ever been particularly keen on Kerry, but who isn't he going to attack? Well, I guess it's official. Wes is a threat. Time to rejoice, fellow Clark folk.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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

[Lobo_13]

5. Fix your title line

Nicknames not allowed.

[funky_bug]

9. *sigh*

We all view any negativity toward our candidate as an "attack."

When Wes does something I don't like, I'll be the first to say so. This mess by Kerry doesn't bother me a bit. But that's just me. If it bothers you, that's fine too.

[xultar]

11. Once you start moving up people want to tear you down.

Stories and accuzations like this just proves that we have momendum.

Keep it in perspective Clark supporters. Answer the questions and concerns if you feel the need but don't get caught into flame wars.

[Kahuna]

35. LOL! Heh!

You stole my line. x(

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

39. Why is that not a valid criticism?

[Lobo_13]

3. Not to gloat

But it's nice to get a breather from Kerry.

Although I have to say that he has a very good point. Revolving door practices are certainly a huge problem in Washington.

[isbister]

12. Revolving door practices are certainly a huge problem in Washington

And I hate when these people are put on TV and their interests are not divulged. MSNBC was telling who these guys worked for as they were speaking...do they still do that?

[Lobo_13]

14. I haven't seen it

It's nice to know that Dean and Kerry supporters can agree on something.

[JI7]

6. good ideas

on lobbying.

[windansea]

7. it's a fair attack

not too sleazy...but then Kerry would never have to make a living if he left the senate..his wife has what...a billion?

actually I don't think Clark's connection with Axcion is something to regret from a GE perspective...the info they gathered is already readily available...who doesn't use databases??

[blm]

8. Kerry had that policy position BEFORE this article.

He's highlighting HIS policy position. Fair play.

I don't like Kornblau's remark, though. That's over the top and I hope he retracts it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. Agreed about

the Kornblau remark.

[Clark4VotingRights]

10. Tag, Clark's it.

One of the front runners with a bullseye on his back.

:)

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. Ah yes!

This means Tom Daschle's wife will be unemployed. :) She's a lobbyist. Anyway, Clark can handle this crap slung at him. It will be nice to get it out of the before the GE.

Go, Wes!

[hedda_foil]

15. Actually, I firmly believe Daschle's wife SHOULD NOT be a lobbyist.

It reeks!

[in_cog_ni_to]

25. I wholeheartedly agree!

I just wonder what Mr. Tom thinks of it? It looks even worse on him...a member of congress has a wife who lobbies congress? P-U! It stinks! I'm sure he knows Kerry's position on this, I wonder how he feels? :shrug:

[JNelson6563]

37. I agree too!

Is it just me or are there a lot of points on the board today where many folks who support various campaigns can agree on?

It brings back the point that we are not each other's enemies! Bush and his cronies are!

Democrats will win in '04.

Julie

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

40. Amen

We sure didn't care for it when Wendyy Graham went from the SEC to ENRON.

[blm]

41. I agree, hedda.

I think lobbying is one of the areas that NEEDS cleaning up and quickly.

Kerry has the exact right policy on this and he has said it consistently over the years.

[JI7]

16. many sons&daughters of congress are lobbyists

and other family members. la times had a pretty good article on it. another thing is it's kind of equal on the democratic and republican side.

[Lobo_13]

20. Then it should be changed

There should be rules against immediate family members registering as lobbyists.

It's all part of this culture of entitlement that Washington perpetuates.

[JI7]

26. interesting thing

is when i was reading it, many were family members of congress persons that i really like, and will continue to like. but you are right, the rules need to be changed.

[kayleybeth]

17. Congrats fellow Clark supporters

We've arrived!

GO WES GO!!!!!!!

[isbister]

18. As long as its accurate...

...then its fair game. If its not, then its an unfair attack and should be withdrawn.

I can imagine Kerry gets pretty frustrated by this type of thing after fighting against it for 35 years.

[Jerseycoa]

22. I'll still love John in the morning

This is primary politics. True charges I don't mind. Wes can defend himself vis a vis his expertise and the emergency situation.

I just have to put Kerry on hold a couple months. :)

[WillyBrandt]

23. First Lieberman attacks, now Kerry

Bring 'em on. We're moving on up!

[sandnsea]

24. We have a straight-shooting honest Democrat

I don't know why we don't just support him instead of running around like chickens with our heads cut off dragging up all these people who end up with sordid backgrounds saying silly things and not knowing who they really are. Our party is totally fucked up, that's all I know.

[SahaleArm]

27. Politics - got to be able to handle the mud but...

F*ck Mark Kornblau.

[stickdog]

29. Clark's "New American Patriotism" is actually selling influence?

Why am I not surprised ...

[windansea]

31. here's what Dean is selling

wanna play cartoons??

[Closer]

42. So you're saying

that you believe we ARE safer with the capture of Saddam?


that you believe Bush DIDN'T have any advance warning of 9-11?


that people SHOULDN'T have the right to a criminal trial?



Why am I NOT surprised. :eyes:

[xray s]

30. Given O'Neill's new book this part of Clark's response is very relevent

"“Somebody has to be able to knock on the door and go in. I took this company in to see the Secretary of the Treasury, Paul O’Neill because I used to work for Paul O’Neill when I was a White House fellow. And I said ‘Mr. Secretary, this company can help us track terrorist financing. And we need to get them involved.’ And he listened to it, and he said ‘You’re right.’ Of course nothing was ever done about it. But that’s what I did, and I’m proud I did that because I tried to help our country. Help you and everybody else in the country be safe. So…that’s what it’s all about and…and it’s not a defense, it’s an offense. Every American should try to help their country and that’s what I’m doing.”

Now, O'Neill comes out with a book saying Bush is basically inept. Clark was trying to convince the WH to buy equipment to catch terrorists. This all ties into his knowledge that the WH could have prevented 9/11.

When I first read the initial post, and the other one from the Moyers show that was deleted, I thought this was a problem for Clark. Now, after reading the whole transcript, the issue may actually be a plus for Clark, if he doesn't let the oppositition snippet his comments.

I do give Kerry credit for including Clark's commments about O'neill on his site. It definately changes the context. And I do agree with Kerry about lobbying.

[Jerseycoa]

33. whole transcript?

Bill Moyers show, you mean? Do you have a link? I'd like to read it. I agree with Kerry about lobbying, too, especially about identification on bills. Clark's right about how you can't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Legislators can hardly do without expert lobbyists. I say this having worked many years for a labor union in legislation and political action. Half the time pols don't know shit from shinola on issues. So it's a balance that has to be struck if any decent legislation is ever to be introduced.

[dfong63]

32. it's about time someone called Clark on that

[maddezmom]

34. not a SLAM

lovefest still on here. He is pointing out differences between the 2.

[TexasSissy]

36. As a Clark supporter, I'm not disturbed by this.

I think this is within the realm of fair play, and it is said in a respectful way (all the candidates deserve respect). Kerry didn't call Clark a cockroach or anything.

But I hope Kerry doesn't get much uglier than this. I am thinking that Kerry would be my second choice should Clark not make it (unthinkable to me at this point), but that would change if Kerry gets unfair or disrespectful.

[JNelson6563]

38. I agree with Kerry on the lobbyist thing

I think lobbyists are a blight on our representative government.

Julie