Blast from the past Clarkies are bringing up -- what do you guys think

[beachmom]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/08/29/clark_defends_kerry146s_record_slams_bush/?page=1

Clark defends Kerry’s record, slams Bush
By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff | August 29, 2004
Boston Globe

TACOMA -- Wesley K. Clark yesterday hammered President Bush as ''incompetent" and ''indecisive," as he kicked off a raucous outdoor rally for John F. Kerry before the Democratic presidential nominee ceded the political spotlight for the Republican National Convention this week.

Offering a preemptive strike against expected GOP criticism of Kerry, his military record, and his decisiveness, Clark used his stature as a retired Army general and former allied supreme commander of NATO forces in Europe to vouch not only for Kerry during the Vietnam War, but also to argue that he is the most competent leader on domestic and foreign policies.

''Where was George Bush when young men from Arkansas and Texas and Massachusetts were called to serve their country and went to Vietnam?" Clark shouted as Kerry stood next to him before thousands gathered in a parking lot outside the Tacoma Dome. ''Where was George Bush? He wasn't there. I think it's outrageous that the president of the United States can question the medals and the service and the valor of American veterans who have served."

Clark added: ''We say to George Bush, enough is enough. You want to match early records of service? Throw it open to the public. Let's read about your efficiency reports. Let's read about that honorable discharge. Let's show it out there. Let something out. But if you want to talk about what the American people want to talk about, then let's talk about policies."
Team Kerry responded:

Afterward, Kerry spokesman David Wade said of Clark: ''Obviously, he's very angry about these attacks. He does not speak for us, though."

That's when I knew Kerry was gonna lose.

http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2007/1/31/17521/5419/249#c249



Even though Kerry isn't running, I still feel the need to defend his campaign, but I have to admit -- I am puzzled by Wade's distancing of Clark. I thought what Clark said was pretty damned good. Thoughts?

[TayTay]

1. That is very odd because

Kerry blistered Bush the night of the Bush's acceptance speech. Kerry gave a very, very strong attack at that late night Ohio stop. He hardly refrained from attacking Bush or the Republicans who had ridiculed his record at their rally in NYC. (Date is about 9/3/04 or so.)

[karynnj]

2. I remember that it was late at night and very energized

It was like it started the second the Republicans ended - almost as they observed the tradition not being out during the others convention, but they were straining at the leash.

I think they may have been distancing from the personalness of the slams and the liklihood that they went beyond what was provable.

[beachmom]

3. I'm not in the mood to comment on that Clark thread

Supposedly, he's running for president but it's based on a "platinum" source. Totally weird -- I'll believe he's running when he and a website say so.

I also remember Kerry's speech, especially since a Bush supporter friend of mine was so pissed about it -- how Kerry lacked class for attacking Bush that night. WTF?? They had those stupid purple band aids at the RNC -- no way Kerry could go lower than that if his life depended on it.

[sandnsea]

4. The not serving thing

I think the campaign decided to avoid the entire who served, who didn't, guard then and now, fight. Maybe the campaign thought it would be spun as Kerry attacking the troops again - Rove sure had a campaign ready for that joke now didn't he? Maybe the Bushies were pissed they didn't get to use it in 2004. So I think that's what David meant. I think that's how it works, surrogates take the heat, not the candidate.

[karynnj]

6. The reason may be because they knew it was a loser

When the Rather story first came out the NYT found that people leaning to Bush, when asked if that being true would change their vote and the vast majority said it was irrelevent. (It was just another thing he did wrong in his youth.) Kerry's service did matter, because as Beachmom pointed out, it went to Kerry's honesty and character - and Bush being a low life was irrelevent.

The people left to win were the people who in late August were still tied to Bush. It's hard to see, given what was already known about Bush, that even knowing that he blew off attending the national guard, it was not the issue in 2004. The election was not a vote on who had the better service record - Kerry would have won that losing only the wingnuts.

Also, as you said, the campaign may have publicly distanced themselves, while privately being ok with it.

[sandnsea]

7. The people left to win in August

You know that's true. By late August, anybody who was voting against Bush was already on board. The margin was so thin, just a few percent. Has anybody ever attempted to analyze who changed their mind over the course of the year??

[MarjorieG]

5. Archives alert. The strong JK 11/2003 anti Iraq war speech.