Clark’s ‘New American Patriotism’ may resonate, despite criticism

Too much of the pundit analysis of Gen. Wesley Clark’s campaign seems, to me, focused on the wrong questions.

--snip--

As the campaign moves beyond Iowa and New Hampshire, Clark’s message has a lot of appeal. He is painting a vision of an America where people are confident of their physical and fiscal security. He’s on a mission. He’s the “can-do” candidate. He’s smart and he’s confident and we should trust him to sort out the details later.

Does that sound familiar? Arnold Schwarzenegger swept to victory in California without a single detailed policy. His message boiled down to: “If you’re happy with the way things are, keep your current leaders. If you want to change this state, then join me.” It is not hard to get that message into a 30-second commercial. Clark, who is arguably the best of the Democratic field on TV, can easily do the same.

Last week, California’s attorney general, a life-long liberal Democrat, announced he had voted for Schwarzenegger — against the recall, but for Arnold. He opposed the recall as a good Democrat should and campaigned with Davis. But when he walked into the voting booth, he decided he’d had enough of “transactional, cynical, deal-making politics.” He voted for a vision. He voted for change. He voted for “principled leadership.”

That sounds a lot like Clark’s “New American Patriotism.” Clark and Dean are contesting for the “broad vision” space. If Clark prevails, President Bush may well wish the general were running the war in Iraq and not the Democratic campaign for president.

http://www.thehill.com/goddard/102103.aspx

and Clark?

... a similar comparison could be made with Dean and Sharpton - political outsiders.

Trying to read anymore into it is stretching it a bit.

than Dean & Shapton.

neither Clark nor Sharpton have ever been elected to office.

one could also say that neither nor Clark nor Shapron have put forward positions on many major issues, and instead rely on their oratory skills… Clark by way of commanding the troops, and Sharpton by way of preaching to the choir.

Thanks!

for governor. I am a dem but I wanted change. Arnold
failed to deliver. Let me. After all, I flirted with
change once. I can lead you to change now. 'K?

Although he can't do much worse than Dean, he's going to have to nail it. And I'm sure Russert will have plenty of gotcha quotes.