8/22 Crossfire transcript Garofalo - Wesley Clark - Carlson

I'm just struck. Janeane, I think General Clark seems like a really nice guy and he is clearly a smart and accomplished guy. But what does it say about the Democratic field that he's being taken seriously as a candidate? There are nine of them. You, for instance, I thought you were a Dean person. But you really liked him.

GAROFALO: I am a Dean person.

I do like Wesley Clark. It doesn't say anything negative about the Democratic field. It says what he emphasized. It's a very diverse field. The Republicans have, like I said before, a doughnut hole. They've got George Bush. That's it.

(LAUGHTER)

GAROFALO: Now, John McCain is great. I think John McCain is fantastic. And everybody likes him.

CARLSON: But 10 guys can't run for president.

GAROFALO: So what do you think? So that's a negative that there's 10? That's diversity.

(CROSSTALK)

GAROFALO: The Democratic Party has a very strong field of candidates. It's just because people keep...

CARLSON: Oh, you don't believe that.

GAROFALO: I do indeed believe that.

CARLSON: No. No. No. No.

GAROFALO: I do indeed believe that. Just because you criticize it doesn't make it so.

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: I'm not even criticizing.

GAROFALO: Just because you're saying it's not good doesn't make it not good.

CARLSON: Janeane, if you go around the country and talk to people at Democratic organizations

(CROSSTALK)

CARLSON: No, I'm serious. Apart from Al Sharpton, this is a weak enough field that General Clark actually has an opening. That's sad.

GAROFALO: Right. You just made up a fake anecdotal thing, like you go around the country.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: That's absolutely true.

GAROFALO: Yes, yes, yes. OK, sure.

CARLSON: Ask America. Al Sharpton.

In just a minute, we'll see how many members of our audience would consider voting for Wesley Clark for president. In "Fireback," one of our viewers sees through all of the conspiracy theories. And we'll wrap up our week with Janeane Garofalo. Don't miss it.

We'll be right back. (APPLAUSE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(APPLAUSE)

CARLSON: Welcome back to CROSSFIRE. Time for "Fireback."

But first, the results of our scientific audience poll, in which we asked, would you vote for General Wesley Clark? Yes, say 30 percent of Republicans; 88 percent of Democrats say they would and basically the reverse on the other side. That is interesting. He has support. All he has to do now is become a Democrat, and then he can run as a Democrat.

GAROFALO: I think a Dean-Wesley Clark ticket would be awesome.

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0308/22/cf.00.html

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is Marion (ph). I'm from of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

And I'd like to know which part of each of the candidates you would pick to create the ideal Democratic nominee.

CARLSON: Sort of like Mr. Potato Head.

GAROFALO: Howard Dean's eyes.

(LAUGHTER)

GAROFALO: No.

No, I actually -- actually, I like the idea of a Wesley Clark- Howard Dean ticket. But I also like the idea of a Republican and Democrat moving together. I would like that, a moderate Republican and a moderate Democrat running together.

...that's fairly obvious. She isn't the only one. I would fully support a Dean-Clark ticket, but I'm not a "Dean-Clark" "person" (or advocate per se). I don't think her comments are that odd...

"GAROFALO: Right. You just made up a fake anecdotal thing, like you go around the country.

(LAUGHTER)

CARLSON: That's absolutely true.

GAROFALO: Yes, yes, yes. OK, sure."

Snicker.

I love to see *ucker Carlson challenged on even his casual lies.

LOL