Gen. Clark Chosen to Speak At Cornell University Convocation '05

Why Wesley Clark?

An Ithaca political veteran's views on why Wesley Clark, and not presumptive candidate John Kerry or one-time frontrunner Howard Dean, deserves your vote in the March Democratic primary.


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These historical data portend a grim 2004 race for Democrats. To win, the Democratic candidate will need everything going for him (alas, there are no longer any "her" possibilities this year). The ideal candidate will have southern roots, have strong national security credentials, and will not begenerally perceived as a "standard democratic liberal". He will have to draw votes from outside of the basic Democratic base, and must win back those Democrats who are concerned with the dangers of a post 9/11 world.

Of all the possible candidates, I believe that Wesley Clark comes closest to the ideal Democratic standard-bearer. His weaknesses in the primary become strengths in the general election.

One of those weaknesses for many Democratic voters, particularly in New York, is that he is not perceived as a "standard democratic liberal". Those voters should look beyond perceptions, and examine Clark's beliefs and programs. He strongly supports choice, affirmative action and first amendment freedoms. He has promised that he will restore all of Bush's environmental cuts on his first day of office. He will build strong and lasting world-wide alliances to defeat terrorism. On the domestic front, Clark will ask Congress to eliminate income tax for all families with incomes below $50,000 and compensate by adding a 5% surtax on incomes more than $1,000,000, provide health insurance for all under the age of 21 and expand coverage for poor and middle-income families.

Wesley Clark can win, and by fulfilling his program, will reduce the divisiveness that separates Democrats and Republicans. Americans need a president who, like Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy, can be respected and admired by Americans across the political spectrum. He will make an ideal leader to bring our party and our nation into this new century.

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