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."

[JustPlainJoe]

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.


-yet, he went for the democrat party, hence the question! Duhhhhhh...Wesley, what's so hard about that?

[Tank-FL]

I thought Peter Jennings asked tougher questions than Britt

[GulliverSwift]

... but also Democrats Bill Clinton and Al Gore...

This is likely a lie. Clark probably voted for Clinton-Gore, not Clinton AND Gore. He was tooling around at Republican fund-raisers before deciding to run for the Democrats' nomination. Does anyone really think that Clark voted against the man on whose behalf he was speaking?

[pettifogger]

carrying out a Republican agenda by questioning his Democratic credentials

Why would Republicans care? Except to be thankful that this nutcase is no longer one. Clark's Dem credentials were questioned by his Dem rivals, IIRC. A paranoid meglomaniac. Great.

[anoldafvet]

Thank goodness none of the other networks, especially ABC and CNN show any bias!!

[Loc123]

The VRWC strikes again.

I love Bush Jr. for this: he takes responsibility for his own actions. He doesn't blame a conspiracy, or agenda. Has he ever directly accused the liberal media of being liberal? No. At most he has hinted that the coverage in Iraq is not very comprehensive.

God bless Bush Jr.

[anniegetyourgun]

"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."

All these lib/dem candidates are paranoid nutbags.

[Dog]

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.

Then why did Clark vote for Nixon.....Reagan...GHWB I.. when he was in the military....all votes for Republican Presidents!

[anniegetyourgun]

I think Wes should just take his marbles (does he have any?) and go home then. Don't you?

[Dianna]

God bless Bush Jr.

Please don't refer to W as Jr. He is NOT a Jr. Use among conservatives legitimizes the use of the term in the press. He is called Jr in order to minimize him.

[Loc123]

I concede your point.

[happydogdesign]

[Hunble]

General Clark ordered his NATO troops to attack the Russians. The only thing that averted what could have escalated into WWIII was the British Commander refusing to carry out his orders by saying, "I will not start WWIII for you."

[Verginius Rufus]

The beauty of the secret ballot is that no one besides Wesley Clark really knows how he voted, so he can say whatever he wants to.

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?

[Pikamax]

Why am I not surprised at his choice of food.

[Hunble]

That image sums up why I could never allow Gen. Clark to become our Commander in Chief.

What are the Democrats thinking?

[wylenetheconservative]

Clark was basically calling himself a Republican in AR because he wanted to run for the Senate. He spoke at conservative Harding University, attended numerous Pulaski County GOP events...It wasn't until he realized that he could run for President as a D that he became one. Many in Little Rock are genuinely surprised that he has come out as a D. The man has no values or principles whatsoever. He is strictly an opportunist.

[MJY1288]

After watching Waffly Clark for a few months now, I unmderstand why Hugh Shelton said what he did about Waffly Clark

[PaulJ]

...one of the moderators in Thursday night's debate was carrying out a Republican agenda by questioning his Democratic credentials

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