Wesley Clark endorses Obama

[bluestateguy]

This just came into my e-mail box:

There has never been a more important election in my lifetime -- with a war waging, gas prices at record highs, our health care in crisis, and our nation's standing around the world severely diminished. I spent the last year traveling across the country talking to great Americans in Iowa, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, South Dakota, Indiana and many other places. They all agree on one thing: This country needs new leadership, and it's time for change.

Many of you in the Clark community answered the call. Some of you worked tirelessly for Senator Clinton while others poured hours into Senator Obama's campaign. You did this because you were willing to sacrifice your time and energy to bring the change we so desperately need. I can't thank you enough for all you have done.

Now I am asking you to come together and make sure Barack Obama is our next president. This is a critical mission.

Hillary Clinton ran an amazing race. She inspired millions. Our party is a better party because of her campaign, and our nation is a better nation because of her service. She is and will always be a friend whom I admire.

I congratulate Senator Barack Obama on securing the nomination. His historic campaign has touched lives and his message has moved people in every corner of America. I believe he is not only ready for the challenge but will be a great President.

It's time our party comes together to stand behind Senator Obama as we move forward in this election season. I look forward to doing everything I can to help Senator Obama's campaign. While I respect John McCain's service, I know exactly what he stands for --Bush's third term. America is a great nation, and our people deserve more. We need Barack Obama to be our next president.


Sincerely,

Wes Clark

[Texifornia]

1. Thank you, General

You've always been a class act.

[texasleo]

2. Sweet. Now I can stop ignoring his e-mails.

[Cha]

5. Yeah, now that he's on board the

Obama Peace Train.

[Tatiana]

3. Glad he's one board! VEEE PEE!!!!!!

:patriot:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Family shot

[senseandsensibility]

6. Nice

I still think he would make a great VP.

[1776Forever]

7. My husband and I just received it too - I predict he will be the VP! Deal made last night!

I could be wrong but I have a feeling from the way his email read that he is more then just backing Obama - he is sounding like a VP!

:patriot:

[PoliticalAmazon]

10. How much do you know about Clark?.....

His military history is checkered. His life-long affiliation was the Republican Party and he was going to join the GOP before he filed to run for president in 2004, but then (according to Clark, because Karl Rove didn't return his call) he joined the Democratic Party.

He has reeatedly praised the Bushes. He praised Bush Jr and Tony Blair for their conspiracy to lie us into war in Iraq.

Now he claims he's anti-war.

Clark is, as the Chinese say, "A banner that blows to any breeze."

“President Bush and Tony Blair should be proud of their resolve in the face of so much doubt.” Times of London (4/10/2003)

“General Clark said today that he would have supported the congressional resolution to invade Iraq.” NYTimes (09/19/2003)

"...And I'm very glad we've got the great team in office, men like Colin Powell, Don Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice... people I know very well - our president George W. Bush. We need them there." Pulaski County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner, Little Rock, AR (5/11/2001)

“I would have been a Republican if Karl Rove had returned my phone calls.” January 2003, to two Republicans at a conference held in Switzerland.

But this is really scary--he sounds very much like he is one of the paid military schills of the Bush Jr administrationin his joyous description of Baghdad falling:

"What Must Be Done to Complete a Great Victory
-Wesley Clark
Times of London, April 10, 2003

Can anything be more moving than the joyous throngs swarming the streets of Baghdad? Memories of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the defeat of Milosevic in Belgrade flood back. Statues and images of Saddam are smashed and defiled. Liberation is at hand. Liberation — the powerful balm that justifies painful sacrifice, erases lingering doubt and reinforces bold actions. Already the scent of victory is in the air. Yet a bit more work and some careful reckoning need to be done before we take our triumph…" (http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0917-14.htm)

[roguevalley]

12. you might know that you list of crap is just that, crap. we've been

through this. its crap. Wes Clark for VP.

[KittyWampus]

13. your entire post is filled with vile, uncalled for smears against Clark. Clark testified to Congress

AGAINST invading Iraq. He was the counterpoint to Pearle, IIRC.

He has campaigned extensively for progressive Democrats across the country since his POTUS run.


I'm not going to do a full rebuttal of each piece of crap you posted.

[Crunchy Frog]

20. Pure BS.

[elleng]

21. Unfortunately,

those who stop at 'superficial' are allowed to vote in this country, as well as those who bother to inform themselves. TRY reading some of these and learning:

http://www.9news.com/yourshow/article.aspx?storyid=79037

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/9867

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/14468

http://securingamerica.com/taxonomy/term/5?page=1

Mario Cuomo said, "Wes Clark is a man of whom you can ask a question, and he will look you directly in the eye, and give you the most truthful and complete answer you can imagine. You will know the absolute truth of the statement as well as the thought process behind the answer. You will have no doubt as to the intellect of the speaker and meaning of the answer to this question."

[1776Forever]

24. He is not my first choice for VP but I think there was a deal made between Hillary & Barack on this

We shall see - I would like to see Sen. Webb of Virginia! That is my hope!

:shrug:

[Heather MC]

32. I don't think so because,

Obama has a staff of three people working on the vetting process, maybe he agreed to add a name to the list, but I don't believe he is running his campaign to Appease Hillary. Show her respect of course, but she shouldn't be allowed any say.

At least not until we see her move in a positive direction, hopefully it will be evident after she "concedes" today oh correction suspends her campaign and pretend to throw her full support to Obama. Still secretly hoping and praying he makes a mistake so she can happily move in.

[Sparkly]

25. Oh, and Al Gore said he invented the internet, discovered Love Canal,

and his mother sang him the "Union Label" theme song as a lullaby....

This is ridiculous, OLD, long-refuted, quotes-out-of-context crap.

[WHAT]

27. "It takes many types of soldiers to win a battle." Sun Tzu...

That's from your profile page. I looked at your page because you sound like you really don't like Clark and I wondered if it was personal...trying to understand your feelings, not your thoughts, because it's your feelings I'm picking-up on. Anyway, you quote the same guy Wes does..."The Art of War" guy. Are you in the military? Is it personal for you?

Anyway, I tend to go more towards Clark but there are things I have reservations about. I tend to think he says things for expediency but I also think that might be part of his military training or mind-set, if you will. It points towards subtlety which can be good or bad, depending on intentions and motives. I think he would be loyal.

This willingness to accommodate may be more diplomatic than self-serving. That would pair well with Obama's diplomatic disposition if it includes integrity and decency.

[PatGund]

38. Wow.,...

I haven't seen those smears since 2004. A blast from the past - and not in a good way either

[WA98296]

8. Very Intelligent, Disciplined, Foreign Policy & Military Creds, Sounds like a VP short-lister!

[FredScuttle]

9. Clark would make an excellent VP

n/t

[PoliticalAmazon]

11. I don't think so.... n/t

[KittyWampus]

14. your opinion is based on grievously faulty information

[bunnies]

15. Nice to know he's been deprogrammed.

at least somewhat.

[usregimechange]

16. VPish?

[tekisui]

17. Obama/Clark '08!!!

[Crunchy Frog]

18. Yay Wes!

Glad that he's finally on board. :bounce:

[Pablo Suarez]

19. Who else was he going to endorse?

Even Hillary endorsed Obama.

[Hieronymus]

22. Why'd he endorse Hillary to start with? Did the Clintons offer him something?

[tekisui]

23. They likely did.

At any rate, he's on board with the Democratic Candidate. And, I would like to see him on ticket.

Obama/Clark '08

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

Their relationship goes back for decades

Clark was born in Chicago but raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. Like Bill Clinton, Clark was also a Rhodes Scholar

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

26. Dupe (oem)

[MrSlayer]

31. Loyalty.

He is a loyal friend and he was giving back what he got. His endorsement of Hillary was one of the very few things I disagree with him on. Normally, I toe his line but I couldn't on that one and he recognizes that his supporters went both ways despite his endorsement. Whether he is tapped for VP or not, Clark will be a great surrogate for Obama.

[jordans11]

28. Clark 4 VP

makes perrrrrrfect sense.

He's a southern, Hillary supporting, military man. Excellent. He's got diplomatic and executive experience. Bring it on!

[depakid]

29. I can't think of a better VP choice

Though I can sure think of a LOT worse ones out there....

The question is whether he'd be willing to run.

Had he and Dean hooked up early on, I seriously doubt we'd be having this conversation, but unfortunately, egos got in the way....

[MrSlayer]

30. I'm a long time Clarkie and his class does not surprise me in the least.

He's a class act and is one of the most qualified people alive to be President of the United States. Even when he had to do a bit of dirty work for Hillary you could see the embarrassment and revulsion on his face. He is a good and true public servant, an honest, loyal and brilliant man. As VP he would be a tremendous asset. He covers all of Obama's weak spots, real or perceived, and has always been separated from the Washington D.C. status quo drones. He was against the war from the start.

[davidpdx]

33. I was a lukewarm Clark supporter in 2004

and would welcome him to the ticket if he were picked for VP.

[lojasmo]

34. Not a fan of clark.....

But I'm glad he's on board. Having him on as VP won't thrill me, but it won't kill the deal.

[meow mix]

35. enabler of hills racism and filthy campaign, go to hell wes.

im ashamed to have supported him in 04

[BeyondGeography]

36. It was no fun being pissed off at Wes

This feels much better to this ex-Clarkie.

[lebkuchen]

37. a cabinet post, fine, but not VP

Clark had initially supported Hillary. I don't want a compromise on the VP pick; I want someone who has been behind Obama for the duration of his campaign.

[ShortnFiery]

39. That had to HURT. Clark was almost as shameless as Lanny Davis when shilling for HRC.

I HOPE that Obama can see through this "spring-butt" "yes-man" former General Officer and NOT give him any positions within his future Executive Branch.

For the life of me, I don't GET why people put Wes Clark on a pedestal? :shrug: :(

If you wish to have your admirations "well deserved" choose to support a cabinet position for Retired USMC General Anthony Zinni. A man who steadfastly disapproved of the Iraqi Invasion ... and LIKE OBAMA came forth to speak out against it. :thumbsup:

http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/zinni.html

Comments of Gen. Anthony Zinni (ret.) during a speech before the Florida Economic Club, Aug. 23, 2002:

Attacking Iraq now will cause a lot of problems. I think the debate right now that's going on is very healthy. If you ask me my opinion, Gen. Scowcroft, Gen. Powell, Gen. Schwarzkopf, Gen. Zinni, maybe all see this the same way.

It might be interesting to wonder why all the generals see it the same way, and all those that never fired a shot in anger and really hell-bent to go to war see it a different way. That's usually the way it is in history. (Crowd laughter.)

But let me tell you what the problem is now as I see it. You need to weigh this: what are your priorities in the region? That's the first issue in my mind.

The Middle East peace process, in my mind, has to be a higher priority. Winning the war on terrorism has to be a higher priority. More directly, the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Central Asia need to be resolved, making sure Al Qaeda can't rise again from the ashes that are destroyed. Taliban cannot come back. That the warlords can't regain power over Kabul and Karzai, and destroy everything that has happened so far.