Clark earned stripes in party, analysts say
In past 2 years, retired Army general has forged a place among Democrats
BY PAUL BARTON ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

WASHINGTON — When Wesley Clark was contemplating a run for the White House in 2003, everything about being a candidate was foreign to him.

Having spent his life in the military — and having never run for so much as a school board seat — he faced basic training that began with picking a political party.

Although the Army general from Little Rock voted in Arkansas’ Democratic primary in 2002, he didn’t formally declare himself a Democrat until two weeks before he announced for the presidency. As a result, his competitors for the nomination seldom let an opportunity pass to question his party credentials.

Party credentials are no longer an issue.

The former NATO commander has spent the past two years doing everything short of planting yard signs and baking cookies for Democratic candidates nationwide. He went frequently to Capitol Hill to advise Democratic congressional leaders on national-security issues. In the run-up to the midterm elections, he spoke out against President Bush’s conduct of the war in Iraq at forum after forum.

As one headline in The Hotline, National Journal’s political news service, asked: “Is anyone doing more for ’06 candidates than Wes Clark?”

By his own account, in the Democrats’ drive to retake Congress, Clark “raised $1 million for 86 different candidates, and a lot of the candidates I supported won.”

“I think Wes Clark had a very good year in 2006. He was one of the most visible leaders of the Democratic Party,” contends Washington-based political strategist Simon Rosenberg....

http://epaper.ardemgaz.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:ArticleToMail&Type=text/html&Path=ArDemocrat/2006/12/10&ID=Ar00102&Locale=

NT

I agree. I hope he can start making some "political noise" such that Hillary and Obama don't dominate the presidential nominee landscape.

I`d be proud to support him.....again.

He is a real asset to the Party.

he had a choice: try for a diplomatic post, go into higher education, into business, or politics. He is obviously too young to be "retired," in the classical sense of the term.

He chose politics, and the Democratic Party after having been basicly forced to go along with whichever Party was then in power in his previous roles.

Luckily for the United States he chose politics. General Clark may be as smart as were Jefferson and Clinton and Garfield (he could write Latin in one hand and Greek simultaneously in the other, simultaneously translating from the original text being read to him). Gen. Clark's credentials -- his bones -- his bona fides -- are earned now in the party. His platform, with the exception of his questioning of immediate withdrawal from the Middle East completely is a classic "Liberal Left" populist progressive one: pro-GLBT rigthts, pro-universal health care, etc.

Some dismiss him for having been in the military. I reject this out of hand. I spent 6 years in the Navy and was not even remotely "brain washed as an E4-6. I can't imagine how a general officer could be. If anything, his experience in dealing one on one on people as diverse as Private grunts in Nam to the Queen of Denmark is one of the greatest plusses in his column.

At the same time, pragmatically, I do consider Wes Clark to be the most "electable" Democrat at present. However, I am a Kucinich loyalist to the end, and really love me some Edwards, too...

I think we have a fantastic hand on which to bid next year!

and the lies of this administration. He felt and still feels America is at risk.

In that sense, he is different from most who run for political office who do so I believe more for personal gain than a sense of patriotic duty and love of country.

I don't know if he'll run in 08', but whatever his decision I'm sure he will make it based on a pragmatic look at how he feels he can best continue to serve his country in the troubled times ahead.

a mere ego-stroking "politician."

And for all of those who are stuck on Dennis Kucinich's big ears and short stature, veganism, and his Croatian name: Clark, a good old-fashioned Anglo-Saxon name, even though he was born Kanne, that is close enough to Cohen not be "odd." Strikingly distinguished good looks.

Squeaky clean. What isn't to like as a candidate or a person?

He is one of those rare candidates who is plenty progressive, but too hard for the GOP to paint as a wimpy, latte librul.

Every time I looked up this fall, General Clark was in one state or another campaigning for a Democrat running for Congress. Much of my being aware of that has to do with the fine job his supporters at DU had in getting the word out, but they he gave them a lot about which to get the word out.

General Clark deserves credit for his hard work during the campaign. Should he run for president I will keep it in mind as points in his favor.

How lame can people get? Clark is a Democrat, period!

for the 2006 mid-terms was to Take the Hill, and elect Democrats to provide balance of power to GWB's insane policies. He's been credited for personally doing more for Democrats across the country than any other Democratic spokesperson and his extensive network of supporters, still active and engaged, worked for candidates on a local and state level. Through these actions, and his discussions with the national Dems to help inform and craft their Iraq, security and foreign policy messages, Clark truly made a difference. Here's hoping he'll run. :patriot:

Should Wes Clark choose to run for President in 2008, and if any DU Troll attempts to challenge Clark's trustworthiness and commitment to the Democratic Party again, I pledge...

TO GO BAllISTIC!!!

ballistic would be um, the words "shock and awe" come to mind for real. :wow:

Clark's defenders and advocates are truly world class! :toast::patriot::hug:

The Milosevic apologists will start coming out of the woodwork, along with the isolationists (though they don't call themselves that) who think that the entire Bosnian campaign was one long war crime.

Should Wes Clark choose to run for President in 2008, and if any DU Troll attempts to challenge Clark's trustworthiness and commitment to the Democratic Party again, I pledge...

TO GO

BALLISTIC

and

S- - - P- - - I- - - T NAILS : )= = = = = = = = = = = =

:kick:

This thread should be saved for when the Clark/Military haters start their insults.

Wes Clark personally travelled to campaign for these candidates and Democratic organizations in 2006. There may be other trips (like his keynote for the Texas Democratic Party State Convention that aren't on this list and it doesn't include multiple trips for the same candidates -- there were many in Kentucky that he campaigned for on a 2 day barnstorming trip that asked him to return to campaign for them again. They aren't on this list either.


Bill Nelson for Senate in FL
Bob Gammage for Congress in TX
Brian Moran for VA Delegate
Bruce Braley for Congress in IA
Carol Shea-Porter for Congress in NH
Carolyn Maloney for Congress in NY
Charlie Brown for Congress in CA
Charlie Rangel for Congress in NY
Christine Jennings for Congress in FL
Claire McCaskill for Senate in MO
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Dan Maffei for Congress in NY
Dr. Selden Spencer for Congress in IA
Dr. Victoria Wulsin for Congress in OH
Eric Massa for Congress in NY
Florida Democratic Party
Francine Busby for Congress in CA
Goffstown (NH) Democratic Committee
Harold Ford Jr. for Senate
Harry Mitchell for Congress in AZ
Hawkeye (IA) Labor Convention
Henniker (NH) Democrats
Hubert Vo for Congress in TX House
Iowa Polk County Leaders
Iowa Warren County Democratic Party Dinner
Jack Carter for Senate in NV
Jay Fawcett for Congress in CO
Jill Derby for Congress in NV
Jim Pederson for Senate in AZ
Jim Webb for Senate in VA (in the Primary)
Joe Sestak for Congress in PA
John Cranley for Congress in OH
Jon Tester for Senate in MT
Juan Garcia for TX House
Kentucky Dem Party
Kirsten Gillibrand for Congress in NY
Leonard Boswell for Congress in IA
Lincoln Davis for Congress in TN
Marty Meehan for Congress in MA
Mike Beebe for Arkansas Governor
Mike Weaver for Congress in KY
Nashua (NH) Democrats
Ned Lamont for Senate in CT
Ohio Democratic Party
Patrick Murphy for Congress in PA
Patsy Madrid for Congress in NM
Paul Aronsohn for Congress in NJ
Portsmouth (NH) City Democratic Committee
Ron Kind for Congress in WI
Russ Warner for Congress in CA
Santa Barbara (CA) JJ Dinner
Seabrook (NH) Democrats
Steve Filson for Congress in CA
Tessa Hafen for Congress in NV
Tim Kaine for Virginia Governor
Tim Mahoney for Congress in FL
VetPAC
Will Pryor for Congress in TX

From Erick Mullen's memo, posted by Kathryn Jean Lopez in NRO:

Fundraising for Candidates: $1,362,179.94

In-Person Fundraising and via ActBlue for 60 candidates

Endorsements: Total Candidates Endorsed: 96

Candidates/PACs/Organizations For Whom General Clark Traveled:

Bill Nelson for Senate in FL
Bob Gammage for Congress in TX
Brian Moran for VA Delegate
Bruce Braley for Congress in IA
Carol Shea-Porter for Congress in NH
Carolyn Maloney for Congress in NY
Charlie Brown for Congress in CA
Charlie Rangel for Congress in NY
Christine Jennings for Congress in FL
Claire McCaskill for Senate in MO
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Dan Maffei for Congress in NY
Dr. Selden Spencer for Congress in IA
Dr. Victoria Wulsin for Congress in OH
Eric Massa for Congress in NY
Florida Democratic Party
Francine Busby for Congress in CA
Goffstown (NH) Democratic Committee
Harold Ford Jr. for Senate
Harry Mitchell for Congress in AZ
Hawkeye (IA) Labor Convention
Henniker (NH) Democrats
Hubert Vo for Congress in TX House
Iowa Polk County Leaders
Iowa Warren County Democratic Party Dinner
Jack Carter for Senate in NV
Jay Fawcett for Congress in CO
Jill Derby for Congress in NV
Jim Pederson for Senate in AZ
Jim Webb for Senate in VA (in the Primary)
Joe Sestak for Congress in PA
John Cranley for Congress in OH
Jon Tester for Senate in MT
Juan Garcia for TX House
Kentucky Dem Party
Kirsten Gillibrand for Congress in NY
Leonard Boswell for Congress in IA
Lincoln Davis for Congress in TN
Marty Meehan for Congress in MA
Mike Beebe for Arkansas Governor
Mike Weaver for Congress in KY
Nashua (NH) Democrats
Ned Lamont for Senate in CT
Ohio Democratic Party
Patrick Murphy for Congress in PA
Patsy Madrid for Congress in NM
Paul Aronsohn for Congress in NJ
Portsmouth (NH) City Democratic Committee
Ron Kind for Congress in WI
Russ Warner for Congress in CA
Santa Barbara (CA) JJ Dinner
Seabrook (NH) Democrats
Steve Filson for Congress in CA
Tessa Hafen for Congress in NV
Tim Kaine for Virginia Governor
Tim Mahoney for Congress in FL
VetPAC
Will Pryor for Congress in TX

Endorsed Candidates:
AL-AG John Tyson, Jr.
AL-Agricultural Commissioner Ron Sparks
AL-Gov Lucy Baxley
AL-Lt Gov. Jim Folsom
AR Gov Mike Beebe
AR-03 Woodrow Anderson
AR-HD89 Jim House
AZ-01 Ellen Simon
AZ-03 Herb Paine
AZ-05 Harry Mitchell
AZ-08 Gabrielle Giffords
AZ-SD25 Pat Fleming
AZ-Sen Jim Perderson
CA-03 Bill Durston
CA-04 Charlie Brown
CA-11 Jerry McNerney
CA-46 Jim Brandt
CA-50 Francine Busby
CO-03 John Salazar
CO-04 Angie Paccione
CO-05 Jay Fawcett
CO-06 Bill Winter
CO-07 Ed Perlmutter
CO-SD9 Keely Marrs
CT-04 Diane Farrell
CT-05 Chris Murphy
CT-Sen Ned Lamont
FL-16 Tim Mahoney
GA-01 Rev. Jim Nelson
IA-01 Bruce Braley
IA-03 Leonard Boswell
IA-04 Selden Spencer
IA-Gov Chet Culver
IA-SD25 Daryl Beall
IL-06 Tammy Duckworth
IL-08 Melissa Bean
IL-14 John Laesch
IL-17 Phil Hare
IN-02 Joe Donnelly
KS-02 Nancy Boyda
KY-02 Mike Weaver
MD-06 Andrew Duck
MN-01 Tim Walz
MN-02 Coleen Rowley
MN-06 Patty Wetterling
MN-Sen Amy Klobuchar
MO-Sen Claire McCaskill
MT-Sen Jon Tester
NE-03 Scott Kleeb
NH-01 Carol Shea-Porter
NH-02 Paul Hodes
NH-HD102 Steve Shurtleff
NH-SD22 Elizabeth Roth
NJ-05 Paul Aronsohn
NM-01 Patricia Madrid
NV-02 Jill Derby
NV-03 Tessa Hafen
NV-Gov Dina Titus
NV-Sen Jack Carter
NY-13 Stephen Harrison
NY-20 Kirsten Gillibrand
NY-25 Dan Maffei
NY-29 Eric Massa
OH-02 Dr. Victoria Wulsin
OH-04 Rick Siferd
OH-12 Bob Shamansky
OK-04 Hal Spake
OK-05 Dr. David Hunter
OK-HD85 Jennifer Seal
OR-SD10 Paul Evans
PA-07 Joe Sestak
PA-08 Patrick Murphy
PA-10 Chris Carney
TN-07 Bill Morrison
TN-Sen Harold Ford, Jr.
TX-03 Dan Dodd
TX-04 Glenn Melançon
TX-06 David Harris
TX-10 Ted Ankrum
TX-17 Chet Edwards
TX-21 John Courage
TX-22 Nick Lampson
TX-23 Lukin Gillibrand
TX-31 Mary Beth Harrell
TX-32 Will Pryor
TX-Gov Chris Bell
TX-HD32 Juan Garcia
TX-HD42 Richard Raymond
VA-02 Phil Kellam
VA-05 Al Weed
VA-10 Judy Feder
VA-Sen Jim Webb
WA-08 Darcy Burner
WI-Gov/Lt. Gov Jim Doyle and Barbara Lawton
WI-03 Ron Kind
WI-08 Dr. Steve Kagen
WV-02 Mike Callaghan

Wes Clark's done a lot more than just good in the 2006 races.

I like Clark, and would gladly vote for that man ...

West Point at age 17 ? ... First in his class ??? ... Rhodes Scholar ? ....

Chimpy sneers at such brilliance and poise, and pretends that swagger makes a man .... That macho swagger is ALL pose ..... ALL hat and NO cattle ...

Bush is bullshit: Wesley Clark is the real deal ...

I will vote for nearly ANY of the fine possibilities we have going into 2008, and Wesley Clark ranks VERY high in that group ...

from his actions as a General to his foray into politics are sickening. I hope articles like this will finally put an end to it. It's long overdue.

This country needs people like Wes Clark, and from what I understand, he is one of a kind!:patriot:

and saying otherwise was just a gratuitous slam used by his whiny opposition. He has given to the party selflessly and deserves more recognition than the MSM begrudgingly gives him.

as I'm concerned! The man is honest as the day is long...and when he says he's a Democrat...he's a Democrat...period...end of conversation!

Obama is preetty cool as well, but I like the idea of a man with military credentials on the ticket.

For Pres or VP, you have my vote, Gen. Clark!

:patriot: