Dallas Morning News

"Rick Noriega is not able to buy a United States Senate seat"

Gen. Clark helps Noriega in Dallas fundraiser

Comparing his battle for the Senate to David's rumble against Goliath, Democrat Rick Noriega held a fundraiser in Dallas on Wednesday night that attracted nearly 700 people.

"We recognize that it's an uphill fight," Mr. Noriega said of his race against Sen. John Cornyn. As of June 30, Mr. Noriega had just $916,000 in cash, compared with the Republican's $9.4 million.

"If it has to be all about money, then we shouldn't have elections," he said.

The fundraiser featured retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a former presidential candidate who was criticized this month for saying John McCain's service in Vietnam didn't qualify him to be president.

Before Wednesday's event, Gen. Clark explained that remark. He said military service is "a wonderful test of your character and what it means about your willingness to sacrifice for the country." But, he said, judgment is also important.

Continue reading "Clark keynotes to crowd of 700 Texans for Noriega" »

Posted by awcd at 1:08 PM | Permalink

Wesley Clark to Address Netroots Nation Attendees

Third annual gathering of the Netroots to be held July 17–20 in Austin, TX

July 11, 2008--Netroots Nation organizers announced today that Gen. Wesley Clark confirmed his participation in the third annual event, to be held this weekend at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX. The retired four-star general will speak to conference attendees for the third consectutive year as part of Thursday night’s program.

Clark, a vocal critic of the Bush administration’s handling of the Iraq war, was an early Netroots supporter, gaining substantial support as a 2003 presidential candidate through the Netroots-driven DraftWesleyClark.com.

“The progressive Netroots community is a critical force for positive change, working tirelessly to put America back on track after seven-plus years of failed right-wing policies,” said Clark. “Without the progressive blogosphere, I wouldn’t have run for President in 2004, and I couldn’t continue to speak out and fight for the issues we believe in.

“Netroots Nation will give our community a great opportunity to re-connect in person, exchange ideas, and mobilize for the important political battles we face in the weeks and months ahead. It will also give me, personally, a chance to thank you for all of your help and support, especially recently. I look forward to seeing everyone in Austin and being a part of this historic gathering.”

Continue reading "Wes Clark speaks at Netroots Nation tomorrow" »

Posted by awcd at 11:12 AM | Permalink

Dallas Morning News

Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark will be in Dallas on Wednesday campaigning for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rick Noriega.

Gen. Clark, a former Democratic presidential candidate and onetime NATO supreme allied commander, will appear with Mr. Noriega and speak at a 6:30 p.m. fundraiser at the Westin Galleria hotel.

Mr. Noriega, a state representative from Houston, has touted his military credentials in his campaign against incumbent Republican John Cornyn. Mr. Noriega, a Texas Army National Guard lieutenant colonel, has served in Afghanistan.

Gen. Clark recently caused a campaign dust-up by declaring that Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s service in Vietnam didn’t qualify him to be president. Mr. McCain’s plane was shot down during a mission, and he spent more than five years as a prisoner of war.

Posted by awcd at 12:39 PM | Permalink

The Truth About John Sidney McCain III

DID YOU KNOW? John McCain came back from Vietnam and cheated on his disabled wife before leaving her and his three children and marrying a rich heiress 17 years his junior. McCain obtained a marriage license for his second marriage while he was still married to his first wife.

DID YOU KNOW? The McCains own ten homes, valued at more than $13 million, including TWO swanky beachfront condos in California. The McCains failed to pay taxes on one of those beach homes for the past four years.

DID YOU KNOW? The McCains have been known to charge hundreds of thousands of dollars IN A SINGLE MONTH on their credit cards.

DID YOU KNOW? John McCain's chief economic adviser, rich Swiss Bank lobbyist Phil Gramm, recently told the Washington Times that the current economic crisis is a "mental recession" and said that America is a "nation of whiners."

DID YOU KNOW? Earlier this year John McCain said, "I don't believe we're headed into a recession, I believe the fundamentals of this economy are strong and I believe they will remain strong." He also stated that, "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should."

DID YOU KNOW? John McCain regularly plays craps for "a few thousand dollars at a time." He loves to gamble and is extremely superstitious.

DID YOU KNOW? John McCain recently called Social Security "an absolute disgrace." McCain was a big supporter of President Bush's unpopular plan to ditch Social Security and replace it with private accounts.

DID YOU KNOW? American taxpayers spend $340 million EVERY SINGLE DAY in Iraq. Yet John McCain thinks it would be okay to keep our brave troops there for up to "one hundred years."

DID YOU KNOW? Disabled American Veterans give John McCain a 20% rating on his voting record for Veterans, the worst score among all 100 senators (tied with Mike Crapo and Larry Craig). The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave him a "D" rating.

DID YOU KNOW? John McCain says he wants to save the environment, but the League of Conservation Voters currently ranks him DEAD LAST among all 535 members of Congress, with a 0% rating.

DID YOU KNOW? McCain has failed to vote on the last 19 environmental bills in the Senate, dating back to 2005.

DID YOU KNOW? Every single day for the first four months of this year 1.6 million barrels of U.S. oil were exported to foreign countries - up 33% from last year - while our gas prices continue to go through the roof. The McCain/Bush solution is to give big oil companies even more opportunities to pollute our coastlines and despoil the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

DID YOU KNOW? The Department of Energy estimates that if we start the McCain/Bush offshore drilling plan today, we could lower gas prices by 6 cents - but not until the year 2025.

DID YOU KNOW? John McCain, like George W. Bush, supports using the form of torture known as waterboarding.

DID YOU KNOW? John McCain will continue George W. Bush's "rich get richer, poor get poorer" fiscal policies. If you make under $112,000 per year you will pay HIGHER taxes under John McCain than under Barack Obama. One quarter of McCain's tax breaks go to people making more than $2.8 million per year.

Posted by awcd at 7:45 PM | Permalink

From In One Ear ... Out the Other

Want proof of how tacit and friendly the media is with Senator John McCain? Take a look at how the media treats both candidates leading military men; Colonel George ‘Bud’ Day and General Wesley Clark. Both are highly decorated officers, Bud Day is generally thought to be the most decorated officer since Douglas MacArthur, being a medal of honor recipient and a roomie of John McCain at the Hanoi Hilton. Wesley Clark is also a many times award winner and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was the NATO commander during the war in Kosovo. Both were wounded in Vietnam, both have been politically active since their retirement. When comparing two great and decorated American patriots like Day and Clark it is useless to try to compare the magnitude of their sacrifices or service, so do not take the following as criticisms of either man so much as it is a criticism of the media to provide a fair and even coverage of the news.

-snip

The bigger sin here is not really the actions of Wes Clark, Bud Day, Barack Obama or John McCain, but the media's inability to give balanced coverage of this issue. There has been barely a peep out of the main stream media on the fact that McCain is employing a former swift boater to defend his military record.

-snip

Now we all know that the state of our national media has been spiraling down, down down for quite some time; and its not just a liberal or a conservative spin thats happening but a total lack of quality and context. Whats wrong is that the media has forgotten how to challenge the assertions of politics and be he sane voice in this political circus, instead they are more than happy to become a part of the dog and pony show.

Posted by awcd at 1:39 PM | Permalink

Boston Globe

McGovern: War heroism doesn't make a president

Globe Staff / July 9, 2008

WASHINGTON - He was a pilot in World War II, bombing targets in Europe to stop Hitler. But former senator and 1972 Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern says that didn't qualify him to run the country - and the same goes for GOP presumptive nominee John McCain.

"I don't have any regrets about that," the antiwar Democratic stalwart said in a brief interview yesterday on Capitol Hill. "While bombing is a terrible thing, we smashed Hitler's oil refineries all over Europe."

"But I don't recall ever saying that experience as a bomber pilot equipped me to be very strong on how to run a war, how to command the armed forces," said McGovern, who will turn 86 on July 18.

Retired General Wesley Clark, a onetime candidate for president himself, raised ire when he said recently that McCain's experience in Vietnam - while laudable - did not qualify him to be commander in chief. While noting that he honored McCain's service - including his years as a prisoner of war - Clark said late last month that McCain has not held "executive responsibility," and added, "I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is qualification to be president."

The remarks on CBS's "Face the Nation" were immediately derided by McCain's supporters.

But McGovern said Clark had it right.

"I think General Clark was misunderstood," McGovern said yesterday evening as he visited the House chamber where he once served. "He wasn't belittling [McCain] at all."

-snip

Posted by awcd at 12:00 PM | Permalink

Politicker

Losing a home to fire takes a toll on nearly every aspect of one's life. When a high profile campaign for the U.S. House is part of that life, the price gets distributed on to thousands more people, whether they are active campaign volunteers, or merely constituents who passively miss out on normal campaigning. Such was the case last week when 8th District Democrat Darcy Burner lost her home to fire.

Fortunately for Burner many of her constituents, along with well-wishers across the country, have banded together to help ease the campaign burdens she will undoubtedly face in the coming weeks as she and her family move forward with their post-fire lives. The campaigns financial burdens, at least.

Spurred on by calls from bloggers across the country, Burner has raised over $110,000 from more than 2,000 contributors on the fundraising site ActBlue since last Tuesday's fire. David Goldstein who, at HA Seattle, was one of the first to call for relief contributions, said Monday that much of the money had come as news accelerated over the 4th of July weekend.

Even today the ActBlue tally has already grown by $10,000 and is increasing by the minute. Most of that has come from adding former presidential candidate and NATO commander General Wesley Clark as a champion. This morning Clark encouraged his supporters to donate inb order to help Burner in her time of need both on his WesPAC website, and his facebook page to show that Democrats "have her back" and has already raised more than $10,000 for her through ActBlue.

"Politics is tough," Clark says on his website. "So when one of our own is down, we have to have their back."

-more

Posted by awcd at 12:06 PM | Permalink

"America will believe that Democrats will defend America when Democrats defend other Democrats." - Wes Clark (years ago)

Obama did what he could do. It was not enough for me, while I realize somebody running for president has to make hard choices. But no mistake: Obama is wrong to let Clark go off into the business world at a time like this. Breaking McCain on national security is exactly what Obama needs doing and Clark was perfectly willing and able to do it.

It was a gift.

Wes Clark was always a gift to the country and to the Democratic Party. But it is as it ever was: Clark can defend every goddamned Democrat who walks the face of the earth, but nobody in the Democratic leadership steps up for him.

Not even Hillary Clinton.

I saw a comment in a UPI thread this morning, where someone remarks that Hillary Clinton is not involved in this. I say, yeah, that's the problem, isn't it?

Feh.

Not one National Democrat has defended an American hero of their own party who is being swiftboated by the Republicans and crucified by the collaborationist media.

Dems can be so pathetic, it's downright embarrassing.

I will never again mock the 'Netroots, I promise. At least they knew what to do. At least they stepped the hell up, as did veterans groups. At least the 'Netroots know the difference between a Republican war hero and a Democratic war hero, which is more than can be said for the Democratic Party.

Tad Devine, chief strategist for Kerry's 2004 campaign, said in the article below:

“Obama is handling this perfectly” by distancing himself from Clark’s comments but warned that “to cut Clark loose [would be] ridiculous.”

The strategist’s view that “there is some context to be considered” is shared by many Democrats.

Then why the hell don't they say so?

Oh, for a Democrat like Paul Wellstone, with balls. Let's hope General Clark's leave of absence from the Obama campaign is a temporary one: Paul Wellstone is dead.

Continue reading "It is as it ever was" »

Posted by awcd at 8:32 AM | Permalink

Rove’s Third Term

Al Gore never claimed that he invented the Internet. Howard Dean didn’t scream. Hillary Clinton didn’t say she was staying in the race because Barack Obama might be assassinated. And Wesley Clark didn’t impugn John McCain’s military service.

Scott McClellan, the former White House press secretary, titled his tell-all memoir “What Happened.” But a true account of modern American politics should be titled “What Didn’t Happen.” Again and again we’ve had media firestorms over supposedly revealing incidents that never actually took place.

The latest fake scandal fit the usual pattern as an awkwardly phrased remark, lifted out of context and willfully misinterpreted, exploded across the airwaves.

What General Clark actually said was that Mr. McCain’s war service, though heroic, didn’t necessarily constitute a qualification for the presidency. It was a blunt but truthful remark, and not at all outrageous — especially given the fact that General Clark is himself a bona fide war hero.

Yet the Clark affair did reveal something important — not about General Clark, but about Mr. McCain. Now we know what a McCain administration would represent: namely, a third term for Karl Rove.

Continue reading "Faux Scandals and War Heroes" »

Posted by awcd at 7:24 AM | Permalink

"Europeans are startled that a man of such great distinction, who they know and worked with, would be left in the lurch by those who should be standing behind him."

Atlantic Eye: Defending Gen. Wesley Clark

OXFORD, England, July 3 (UPI) -- Gen. Wesley Clark has served the United States with honor for 45 years -- 38 of them in the military.

He was valedictorian of his class at West Point. He was supreme allied commander Europe. He is a great military strategist, a great commander.

Wes Clark was my choice for president in 2004; I co-hosted him in Geneva. He was my choice again in 2008. I have gotten to know him. I like the man.

Like all great leaders, Clark can be a very difficult compatriot. He has great character. He is temperamental. He is tough, smart and forthright.

Three weeks ago I met Clark in downtown Washington. In typical D.C. fashion his car stopped at 13th and K streets; Clark was driving himself. I hopped into the front seat next to him. During the 20-minute drive to Reagan National Airport we touched on Korea, Iraq, Abkhazia, Russia, our European allies and missile defense.

Last Sunday, when I got back to Europe, I was sitting with fellow members of Magdalen College watching his interview on CBS's "Face the Nation." Wesley Clark is one of us. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Magdalen. The college celebrated its 550th anniversary on the weekend. Several of us have served and come from military families. We are proud of "our general" and our respective countries.

Clark's recent comments about John McCain are purposely being taken out of context. There are many who are keen on damaging him as a leading voice in an Obama administration. McCain's strategists fear him.

Continue reading "Startled Europeans say WTF?" »

Posted by awcd at 7:48 AM | Permalink

New York Observer

Despite all the feigned outrage fanned by the mainstream media and the right-wing noisemakers, Wesley Clark—retired four-star general, former Supreme Commander of NATO, wounded and highly decorated veteran of ground combat in Vietnam, and a military man to his core—assuredly did not denigrate the war record of John McCain when he talked about the Republican candidate on television last Sunday.

Instead, perhaps naïvely, General Clark stated a very simple fact. Mr. McCain’s service in Vietnam doesn’t prove his aptitude or competence to serve in the nation’s highest office. Or as he told Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer on CBS: “I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.”

Nor with all due respect is withstanding long captivity and torture by the North Vietnamese. “I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me, and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a prisoner of war,” said General Clark. The reservations he expressed were clear and honest, requiring no apology and no scuttling repudiation by Barack Obama.

Supporters of Mr. McCain insist that his military service should be exempt from discussion, except when they feel like bringing it up to prove some point about national security, terrorism or the presidency that it really doesn’t prove at all. But of course he was not the only soldier, sailor or airman to survive such experiences with courage and nobility. There was once another former POW whose candidacy for high office vindicates the Clark argument.

Or has everyone forgotten Admiral Stockdale?

-snip

Posted by awcd at 11:54 AM | Permalink

In mulling over how the media could be swallowing whole the Republican illogic that General Clark’s saying a presidential candidate’s early military service might not apply to Executive Office qualifications—after translation into some language only the media and Republicans understand—was equal to disrespect for John McCain’s military service, (since getting shot down 40-odd years ago is the same as running a country), I came across this statement at Democratic Underground:

“Wes Clark was not thrown under the bus; he is the bus.”

On the Ed Schultz radio show today, asked if he’d gone too far, Gen. Clark said: "If the sun is shining and someone asks you if the sun is shining, I suppose you could say, the sky is blue and there are no clouds, but I always try to answer the question asked of me."

The question asked of Wes Clark by Bob Schieffer on Sunday’s Face the Nation followed remarks about McCain’s particular military experience that included Clark’s reference to McCain as a personal hero of his.

Bob Schieffer: Could I just interrupt you. If-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Sure.

Bob Schieffer: I have to say, Barack Obama has not had any of those experiences either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down. I mean-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be President.

Bob Schieffer: Really?!

Shock! Dismay!

The retired four star general and MSNBC military analyst and political commentator expressed an opinion about military service and politics, surprising hell out of pundits everywhere.

Shocked, I tell you. Paranoid even. Anything but objective or accurate.

Continue reading "“Wes Clark was not thrown under the bus; he is the bus.”" »

Posted by awcd at 6:26 PM | Permalink

June 29 (Bloomberg) -- Retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark, an adviser to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, said Republican contender John McCain has oversold his military and national-security experience.

The Arizona senator ``has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and he has traveled all over the world, but he hasn't held executive responsibility,'' Clark, one of Obama's chief foreign policy advisers, said on CBS's ``Face the Nation'' program.

Even the squadron in the Navy that McCain commanded ``wasn't a wartime squadron,'' said Clark, who headed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and was commander of the NATO bombing campaign during the 1999 Kosovo conflict. ``He hasn't been there and ordered the bombs to fall.''

Clark, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton of New York for the Democratic presidential nomination before Obama, 46, became the party's presumptive nominee. The Illinois senator has better judgment on national security issues than McCain, Clark said today.

``I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president,'' Clark said, referring to the incident that led to McCain's being taken prisoner of war in Vietnam. He also said McCain's service as a prisoner made him ``a hero.''

Obama is ``running on his strength of character, on the strengths of his communication skills, on the strengths of his judgment,'' Clark said.

Continue reading "Gen. Clark: McCain Oversold Navy Experience" »

Posted by awcd at 5:16 PM | Permalink

John McCain opposed legislation expanding GI benefits to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, skipped the vote on it, then skipped voting on the supplemental budget paying for it.

He skipped the vote on the GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century, lauded by Veterans groups for its overwhelming 75-22 vote and as “a historic victory for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.”

McCain skipped the vote on the spending bill, which passed by an even more overwhelming 92 to 6.

The supplemental, which passed by a 92-6 vote, authorized a new GI Bill, Gulf Coast and Midwest flood recovery funds and an extension of unemployment benefits. It will be added to $165 billion that the House and Senate have already approved for U.S. military needs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Does McCain know what he is saying?" »

Posted by awcd at 10:00 AM | Permalink

From Mark Begich's website

Retired General Wesley Clark today endorsed Mark Begich's candidacy to represent Alaska in the U.S. Senate. During 34 years of service in the United States Army, Wesley K. Clark rose to the rank of four-star general as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Europe.

“Mark's commitment to America's veterans and his record of getting results for Alaska families makes him the right person to lead Alaska in a new direction,” General Clark said. “I'm proud to endorse Mark Begich for the U.S. Senate.”

General Clark's awards and honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom; The State Department Distinguished Service Award; the US Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal; The U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal; The Silver Star; the Bronze Star; the Purple Heart; and Honorary Knighthoods from the British and Dutch governments.

“It's rare that voters will get the opportunity to cast their ballot for someone who keeps everything out in the open,” Clark said. “Mark will restore Alaskans trust with his commitment to honest leadership.”

“General Clark is a true patriot who has dedicated his life to public service on behalf of America,” Begich said. “I am humbled by his endorsement.”

Gen. Clark’s support is the fourth major endorsement for the Begich campaign. Begich was earlier endorsed by the AFL-CIO; The Alaska State Employees Association/American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 52; and the National Education Association – Alaska and the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education.

Posted by awcd at 5:52 PM | Permalink