Wesley Clark: GOP Agenda at Play in Debate

AP ^ | January 23, 2004

[Shermy]

NASHUA, N.H. - Presidential candidate Wesley Clark on Friday complained that one of the moderators in Thursday night's debate was carrying out a Republican agenda by questioning his Democratic credentials

Brit Hume of Fox News Channel, who worked as both moderator and questioner during the two-hour debate with the seven candidates, pressed Clark about when he had first realized he was a Democrat.

Clark told reporters Friday, "I looked at who was asking the questions, and I think that was part of the Republican agenda in the debate."

Democrats have complained that Fox News Channel shows a Republican bias.

Clark joined the Democratic Party after announcing his bid for the presidency. He has said he voted for Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush but also Democrats Bill Clinton and Al Gore. In defending himself as a Democrat, he cited his pro-choice, pro-affirmative action, pro-environment and pro-labor positions.

"I think voters understand that I am a Democrat," Clark said Friday after an appearance at Rivier College in New Hampshire.

For several weeks, Clark has shared the Granite State with only one other Democrat, Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, as their rivals focused on Iowa. In that time, Clark showed gains in the polls, surging to second place in some surveys.

But some eyebrow-raising remarks have taken a toll on Clark's candidacy, and advisers have conceded that he lost all the ground and momentum that he had gained while the rest of the field was in Iowa. They hope he can cling to a respectable showing in the New Hamsphire primary Tuesday, setting the stage for making a stand in the Feb. 3 states, including South Carolina and Arizona.

On Thursday, Clark said he supported a woman's right to have an abortion "as modified by" a 1992 court case that allows states to impose limited restrictions. Clark's comments, at a news conference, marked a far less sweeping position than one he staked out in an interview earlier this month, when he told a New Hampshire newspaper he opposed any legal restriction on abortion at any point during pregnancy.

Clark also has stirred controversy with his comments that the Sept. 11 attacks were preventable and lobbyists make America safer.

During the debate, Hume noted that Clark had voted for Republican presidents and had complimented President Bush and his father before entering the race. "I think it is not unreasonable to ask you when you first noticed that you were a Democrat," Hume said.

In response, Clark told Hume he was not a member of any party when he was in the military and considered joining the Republican Party after he had retired. Clark served in the Army for more than 30 years.

Clark often let his friends and former colleagues in the military tell voters why he should be the next president.

Cris Hernandez, who was part of Clark's security team when Clark served as NATO supreme allied commander, said soldiers have told him, "When you see the boss, you tell him to get us out of Iraq."

[adam_az]

Clark joined the Democratic Party after announcing his bid for the presidency. He has said he voted for Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush but also Democrats Bill Clinton and Al Gore. In defending himself as a Democrat, he cited his pro-choice, pro-affirmative action, pro-environment and pro-labor positions.

If Clark is so in favor of affirmative action, he should step down and throw his endorsement behind Al Sharpton.

After all, it's not about finding the right person for the job, just the person of the right race for the job.

If Wes were less of a hypocrite, he'd stop telling us he's the right man for the job.

According to his belief system, that isn't even close to a primary qualification.

[anniegetyourgun]

BTW, Wesley Clark is what you get when Barbie's Ken ages.

And let's face it, in many ways, if Ken had been anatomically correct, he would have been nothing to write home to mom about. Something tells me, the same can be said of Wessy.

[Alberta's Child]

I recently concluded that Clark was never considered a viable candidate by anyone other than himself. He's nothing but a bag of wind who is making one last attempt to stay in the news after his military career ended -- and Bill Clinton propped up his candidacy simply as a half-hearted gesture to try to make amends for having fired him as Supreme Commander of NATO.

[Steel Wolf]

It's not the GOP agenda, genius, it's the fact that you're unable to grasp the fact that changing from a Republican fundraiser to a born again Democrat who is running for President does seem somewhat suspicious.

It's not that anyone is questioning his Democratic credentials. They can't, because he doesn't have any. Aside from his friendship with Bill Clinton, and his four stars, he's got nothing.

This is imporant, folks. He has clearly not drunk the kool aid. He pretends like he has, to the best of his ability, but he just doesn't know what to do. Most of the time he comes across as a foolish caracature of a real liberal. He acts like he knows the words, but in reality he's just mouthing along and hoping no one notices how clueless he is.

People who have paid their dues to the Democratic party don't have to pretend. The talking points are second nature, and the reflexive responses are smooth and automatic. Clark is a posuer, a pretender, an opportunist canine in liberal clothing.

[anniegetyourgun]

Yes, but to what end? To see that no "D" gets elected to the Whitehouse in 2004? 'Cuz after all, doing NOTHING would have been adequate for that task.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

About half of my co-workers are retired Army officers, many of whom knew Clark by reputation. He was, they say, a pompous, arrogant, perfumed prince who worried real hard about his image. Sound like any other president we know?

Semper Fi,

[Sonny M]

Did he become a Democrat because the Clintons had the goods on him, or because he realized that he couldn't run as a Republican in 2004 against the incumbent?

Clinton and him became close during the white house years due to the fact that they had met a long time earlier, either in college or Oxford (You have to read Clarks recollection of meeting Clinton, its hysterical). Since they both came from Arkanas, and all the other generals hated Clinton, Clark reached out, as the only Clinton Ally, he moved up the chain of command and fast.

Clark was still looking to run for office as a repub, however, as the media started pumping him up more and more, he saw a chance to run for the prez instead of the senate and do so as a dem. The guy may be nuts but he's not stupid, if Al Gore was president, Wesley Clark would be running as a republican. I know Wes Clark fans who even concede that (but are so blinded by Bush hatred, they don't care).

[Pokey78]

Clark: "Well, they were out of quiche & veal medallions on watercress".

[WOSG]

LOL

Frankly, it would be to the GOP's benefit to have Clark as the nominee. The guys not stable and not ready to be President. It would make it easy for Bush to win in November.

So GOP MEMO TO BRIT: QUIT ASKING THOSE TOUGH QUESTIONS TO CLARK!

[WOSG]

About half of my co-workers are retired Army officers, many of whom knew Clark by reputation. He was, they say, a pompous, arrogant, perfumed prince who worried real hard about his image. Sound like any other president we know?

Er ... President George McLellan? :-)

[WOSG]

"It's not that anyone is questioning his Democratic credentials. They can't, because he doesn't have any."

LOL ... But seriously... Isnt a DINO better than a real Liberal as the Demo nominee ... if you are a Republican?

[.cnI redruM]

Have another shot of Kool-Aide there, General. The Hemlock Bowl is over there. Way to the left.

[Clara Lou]

That's interesting, Mr. Clark. I think that if you can't take the heat that you need to get out of the kitchen. Don't whine. [I simply cannot visualize this guy as a general in the US armed service.]

[veronica]

Brit Hume nailed him to the wall. It was beautiful. :)

[Junkman]

Gen. Clark reminds me of poor old Adm. James Stockdale. When they put these dotards out to pasture, they should do more to protect them from themselves. Whatever Clark may have accomplished during his illustrious military career (besides bombing the Chinese embassy in Belgrade) is all but forgotten when he is allowed to go out on the campaign trail and make a complete fool of himself. Remember the words of Admiral Stockdale, “Who am I and what am I doing here?”

[Steel Wolf]

LOL ... But seriously... Isnt a DINO better than a real Liberal as the Demo nominee ... if you are a Republican?

Normally, yes. Clark is not a normal case, which is precisely the problem. In fact, he's completely and thoroughly disconnected from reality.

Normally, I'd much rather see a DINO win than a McGovern clone, but not if that DINO is a 'Gen Jack D. Ripper' wannabe.

[Graymatter]

>>Why am I not surprised at his choice of food.

A little whine and cheese would also be appropriate!

[anncoulteriscool]

In a related story Wesley Clark said he believes it is unpatriotic for a journalist to ask a tough questions during a democRATic debate. LOL!

[IonInsights]

he's a loon

[Political Junkie Too]

And, of course, the "Republican agenda" means asking (or reporting) anything a Dem would rather not discuss.

It also means holding them to prior statements and actions. The Democrats would wish we all lived in "Groundhog Day" when every day is a blank slate and nobody has to remember what you said yesterday.

-PJ