Clark campaign statement on Dean/Trippi

For Immediate Release
Date: December 21, 2003

Clark Campaign Responds To Joe Trippi
Little Rock - Clark Campaign Communications Director Matt Bennett issued the following statement in response to Joe Trippi's comments to ABC News:

"Joe Trippi may want to check in with his candidate before talking. Howard Dean did in fact offer Wes Clark a place on the ticket in a one-on-one meeting that Trippi did not attend. Joe Trippi shouldn't comment on meetings he wasn't invited to."

http://www.clark04.com/press/release/136/

Damn. Just damn!

Bet it turns into a argument about what the definition of "is" is.

I seriously doubt Dean would offer the VP position without much discussion and negotiation. Not a great day for Clark and his team whom I would otherwise greatly respect.

Feed for the freepers.

what is the issue here?
This looks like a Matt Bennett statement, not a Clark Statement. You might want to change your topic heading.

...that the small minority of Dean supporters/Clark detractors won't admit that this was even a possibility because it would put their feelings about Clark in contradiction with those of Dean's.

I fixed it.

:kick:

:kick:

because it reeks of what's wrong with this campaign.

all about the team winning instead if finding the best person to go against bush.

Especially after his sketchy performance with Stephanopoulos. He's lucky it wasn't Meet the Press...

deny it or confirm it.

Well, I guess that beating around the bush is no longer an option. Dean, the ball is in your court.

If, indeed, Clark is telling the truth on this one.

I'm sure if Trippi was there, he would have told Dean that offering this position to Clark was NOT a good idea.

He'd realize that we need to KEEP Progressives that are in the Dean Camp, not SCARE them away with Clark on the ticket.

Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!
Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

Wait... what does this issue have to do with anything?

The issue isn't whether or not the VP slot was offered but rather that the small minority of Dean supporters/Clark detractors won't admit that this was even a possibility because it would put their feelings about Clark in obvious contradiction with those of Dean's.

so I guess it's a nonissue to me.

ang finding out who it is, is important

as much as he was uninformed....the question is, is it better to be labled a liar or uninformed about the guy you are promoting?


Food for thought from….”JAFO”

Deans supporters. We should all unify behind th person Dean supports. Wes Clark :evilgrin:

it didn't happen at any meeting he was at. If this indeed did happen (and I have my doubts) Trippi was asked a question and responded honestly. Y'know, I really, really like Wes Clark, but this is very disappointing. If indeed, this did happen, to whose advantage is it to reveal it? It's like a major "so what?" Dean has always said he talked to Clark and had high praise for him and when asked, indicated he could definitely work with him. Clark's team has tons of quotes from Dean that reflect his admiration and respect. Again, if indeed it did happen, and happened just between the two of them, you would think it would be in both their interests to keep it private. That kind of talk goes on all the time behind the scenes in a campaign and it's just dumb to air it publicly.

And finally, if indeed this did happen, the fact that it was a one-on-one meeting implies it was private and confidential. Doesn't say much for Clark's respect for those things. I guess when you meet with General Clark one-on-one, you better be real careful what you say.

I'm just disappointed in him, that's all.

eileen from OH

Of course if he is lying I fully expect and welcome Dr. Dean to call him on it!

I am disappointed that Clark revealed what happened in a private and personal meeting, one-on-one, with Dean.

It isn't the veracity angle that disappoints me in Clark, it's his lack of respect for confidentiality.

If it is true, does it somehow help his campaign in a way that I can't see? Does it really hurt Dean?

I mean, why the hell say it at all, especially since it violates a private discourse?


eileen from OH

Who says this was a one-on-one meeting? Neither side has said this, so why do you assume this was a one-on-one meeting? From what I understand, Clark's son was in on this as well... who knows who else was too.

Edit to Clarify: one-on-one meaning candidate to candidate but other people or person around... not necessarily part of the conversation.

Clark Campaign Responds To Joe Trippi
Little Rock - Clark Campaign Communications Director Matt Bennett issued the following statement in response to Joe Trippi's comments to ABC News:

"Joe Trippi may want to check in with his candidate before talking. Howard Dean did in fact offer Wes Clark a place on the ticket in a one-on-one meeting that Trippi did not attend. Joe Trippi shouldn't comment on meetings he wasn't invited to."

So by one-on-one meeting, Matt Bennett really means one-on-one plus whoever else was in the meeting.

Thanks for clearing things up.

And by "sort of dangled and discussed", Clark meant what?

that you shared with others? Just asking?

If Clark was asked "NOT" to reveal what was discussed, then yes this would be a problem, since I am not privy to what was all said and that Clark did say this, I must assume that no such request was made.

The disappointment here should be in the assumption that Clark violated a trust simply because it was assumed he did.

Before passing judgement, it would serve this board better if we all would be a little more informed than Joe Trippi appears to be.


Food for thought from….”JAFO”

F*cking Observer! Who asked for your opinion!

Joke

Actually a well stated common sense suggestion.

this is a top notch firing on all cylanders campaign who thinks that this issue will let everyone know that Dean is afraid of Clark, that's why he tried to buy him off....therefore, now that this is out, everyone will flock to the General's camp and the sky will be blue again and the birds will sing and the evil Sauron will die a horrible death....

Cause my candidate's bigger than your candidate and yours is a skardy cat.....nah nah nah nah boo boo....

Makes me so confident about our chances should Dean not win the nomination.....well oiled machine that campaign....

sheesh...

So of course Clark has to respond by calling out Trippi.

DTH

He said that he wasn't at any meeting where something like that happened. He answered to the best of his knowledge. He didn't bring it up, fer Gawd's sake, he was asked a question by that idiot.

So Clark's guy is telling Trippi that he should check with his boss before denying something happened at a meeting at which Trippi wasn't present . . .geez, I have a headache. I guess Trippi was supposed to give Dean a call while on the show.

eileen from OH

And the proper response for Trippi would have been to say he didn't know. Maybe even he didn't think so. Not to respond like he did.

DTH

at all. Dean supporters have been throwing out the VP meme for quite some time. Letters from NH are telling the campaign that Dean operatives have promised Clark as VP on the ticket when they go door to door. I guess when people are lying about you, you have no choice but to throw the gauntlet down. Clark ain't no pussy. He's not going to take Dean spreading rumors anymore that he will tolerate Bush doing the same.

This is definitely as bad as Dean whining and saying Dems candidates should stop attacking him. Dean who said enough times to hurt Clark's campaign...."he was a Republican until 25 days ago"....Dean who keeps talking about Wes stance on the Iraq War and not really being against it....while he Dean all along had the same stance...

Time to take the gloves off.....

Here is the New York Times take on Dean & Clark and the VP issue:

Archived article:
September 11, 2003, Thursday
NATIONAL DESK

Dean Asks General to Join Him in Primaries, Aides Say
http://query.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F20815FA385F0C728DDDA00894DB404482
By JODI WILGOREN (NYT) BURLINGTON, Vt., Sept. 10 --
After months of friendly discussions about national security and other issues, Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont, asked Gen. Wesley K. Clark to join his presidential campaign in some capacity if General Clark decided against making the run himself, aides for both men said tonight.

''The governor's told him repeatedly that he should run if he wants,'' Joe Trippi, Dr. Dean's campaign manager, said at the campaign headquarters here. ''I'm sure that along the way the governor's made clear that we want General Clark's support if he decides not to run for president. I assume every other candidate has done the same thing.''

The meeting on Saturday in Los Angeles was first reported tonight by The Washington Post. Mr. Trippi and an aide to General Clark said that they were unsure whether the two men had discussed the vice presidency as The Post reported but that Dr. Dean had not tried to persuade General Clark not to join the fray.

Dr. Dean is often asked whether he would put General Clark on a short list of running mates if he received the nomination. He always says, and Mr. Trippi repeated tonight, that it is far too early to engage in such conversations.

General Clark, who was the supreme allied commander of NATO and has retired from the Army, is expected to announce next week whether he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination. Dr. Dean, whose summer surge has made him a focal point of the nine-person primary field, has often spoken fondly of General Clark, in public and among his friends and supporters. The two men are both darlings of the Internet, which spawned a Draft Clark movement and has been fertile ground for Dr. Dean's fund-raising success.

Asked whether the meeting would have an effect on General Clark's decision about entering the race himself, his senior aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: ''No, no, no, no, no.''

''General Clark has had an ongoing dialogue with a number of the presidential candidates,'' the aide said. ''He's been talking to them all about national security issues.''

General Clark was in Los Angeles on Saturday as a guest on the HBO program ''Real Time With Bill Maher,'' and Dr. Dean was there for a fund-raising retreat. They had a wide-ranging discussion about the presidential race and their prospects, people who were there said.

Many political observers have said they believe General Clark will jump into the race, in part because he has scheduled a date, Sept. 19, to announce a decision.

Mr. Trippi played down the significance of Saturday's session.

''They've been meeting for months,'' he said. ''They've had these conversations over the phone. Every time they're in the same city, they meet.''

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DU Moderator

ohh boy...we're in trouble now....

It seems that the attacks of most campaigns are rather anemic...to be nice about it....come on guys.....get better at this, we need to toughen up Dean for the general election...and this stuff is just lame...

not answer the question honestly. It was asked and he answered it. Who leaked it in the first place? If voters think Dean has Clark lined up for a VP slot it doesn't help the General. He was just setting the record straight.

Trippi was being dishonest and he was called on it.

experience on dean's part. he should know ny now that thhere are no secrets in plitics.

and many Dean supporters were all twittering about having Clark as the VP. Now they're all twittering, calling Clark a liar for stating what so many of them had been stating months ago.

Whatever.

MzPip
:dem:

How are you?

Look at this, and tell me who's side I'd rather be on:


Pic

. . .the photo almost looks photoshopped.

Clark in the past. Was it my imagination? What happened, Dr. Dean? All of a sudden when Clark jumped into the race did your warm fuzzy feelings change?

what has Dean said bad about Wesley Clark? Dean has said plenty nice things about him, as well as that any of the other candidates would be better than Bush. Dean doesn't get a whole lot of that in return, being the frontrunner, of course. But what can you do.

I doubt Clark found that complimentary.

to mention it until now? Seems par for the Clark course from what I gather.

There are several reasons why I don't buy it.

1. Dean was not in a position to offer anyone a VP slot.
2. Clark knew Dean denied offering him the position early on, and I believe Clark denied it also, but I'll have to check.
3. Clark seems come out with stuff long after it's relevant.
4. Dean has said time and again, it would be presumptuous to name VP candidates when he doesnt even have the nomination. And this was supposed to have happend last summer?

I am questioning the integrity of Clark more each day. But, I'm not the only one who has done so, as I recall.

I heard Clark say he was not fired on Hardball too...but when asked about the situation, it was clearly not the case? Tweety just kind of chuckled and moved on to the next question, as Clark refused to admit that being asked to 'step down' is infact being fired.

Clark concerns me now more then ever. He is clearly not living in reality.

he never answers questions directly (one of the reasons I like Dean) - I used to think it was inexperience and hedging because he hadn't actually formulated his policy positions, now I am starting to see it as more of a political calculation. Oh well. It's too bad - I think Dean/Clark could be a great combo - guess Clark wants to pull out the long knives now.

isn't he good enough for you? Clark is so terrible but you still want him as VP? Funny

I don't trust him and Graham would be a much better VP. Clark also isn't the only general in the country. The only job in the white house Clark is even qualified for is Secretary of Defense. In recent comments coming out of his mouth it's becoming quite clear he's a bit of an egomaniac. I'd much rather see someone with a better demeanor in that position too.

I dont want Clark any longer personally, especially as his credibility issues are becoming clear. I questioned Clark, then defended Clark, now am back to questioning him.

However, I expect both camps to clarify tomorrow that it was discussed as a "possibility," thus clearing the matter up.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

It's not his fault that the media asked him a question about it.

As for your other points, they're frankly bizarre, IMO:

1) Of course Dean could offer Clark a VP slot. It's obviously a hypothetical (based on the assumption Dean wins the nomination), but it's a very obvious one.

2) Clark NEVER said "Dean never offered me a VP slot."

3) See above. He didn't raise this issue.

4) Of course Dean says IN PUBLIC it's too early to pick a VP. But you know there is always jockeying behind-the-scenes. That should also be obvious.

In your zealous rush to "defend" your candidate, please try to maintain some basic level of objectivity as well, please.

DTH

there seems to be a lot of that going around,

didn't this issue surface now because Trippi said Clark was lying about being asked by dean to be his VP when Clark said he wouldn't be dean's VP because dean couldn't win?

It seems to me Trippi was trying to do damage control for dean because of Clark's statement by calling Clark a liar, which IMO deserved a response from Clark at this time.

If dean's camp hadn't felt so insecure about Clark's statement and called Clark a liar, there wouldn't have been a need to dress down Trippi for being uninformed about the goings on of his candidate.

Trippi was uninformed and now he knows it.




food for thought from….”JAFO”

I'd believe Clark over Dean any day.

Clark is da man!

I'd believe Dean over Clark any day. So ......??????

I tend to believe Clark, 'cause he tends to tell the truth.

Hugh Shelton ring a bell?

and he won't comment or speak about what he said to anyone. Same goes for Norman, who based his comments on Shelton's remarks.

I can't believe you're giving Hugh Shelton credibilty. That statement says a lot. Hugh Shelton, that is really pathetic.



Food for thought from….”JAFO”

perhaps he should be running for President?

http://speakerseries.com/spk2003/shelton.htm

http://bigjweb.com/artman/publish/article_1124.shtml

but the unsustantiated slam against Clark lacks credibility in itself, to give this man credibility indicates an approval of his method of slander for slander sake without the integrity to provide an answer in detail.

This is a typical Rovian tactic and I find it a little more than odd that a Democrate would condone this type of tactic by giving credence to the delivery of a blatant attempt to discredit Clark through accusation alone.

Using Shelton as your source to discredit Clark IMO does tell me a lot.


Food for thought from….”JAFO”

"Contrary to Mr. Milosevic's claim, General Wesley Clark carried out
the policy of the NATO alliance, which was to stop massive ethnic
cleansing in Kosovo, with great skill, integrity and iron
determination,"

If I were Shelton, I wouldn't be too proud of having Milosevic pull up my words as an attack - not a good team to be on, if you ask me.

an ATTACK on Dean :eyes:

to gain from it? Nothing that I can see. Clark in 2004!

Why would Dean ask anyone to be his VP over the summer? He was'nt in a position to do so...

Dean said Clark was one of many people on his list for VP, one of several.

wasn't he asked the question directly in an interview?