posted on September 16, 2003 09:12:38 AM
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Wesley Clark, the retired general with a four-star military resume but no political experience, decided Tuesday to become the 10th Democratic presidential candidate, officials close to him said.
Mark Fabiani, a spokesman for Clark, did not reveal the decision, but sources close to the former Army general said he told his fledgling campaign team that he's in the race. The announcement will be made at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday in Little Rock, sources said.
Clark's decision came as Democratic strategists from around the country gathered at his small, low-slung brick headquarters on the banks of the Arkansas river to discuss strategy for mounting a late-starting presidential campaign.
Fabiani, who served as spokesman for former Vice President Al Gore's 2000 campaign, is part of a cadre of former Gore and Bill Clinton advisers, who are now rallying behind Clark. In addition to Fabiani, among those attending the meeting were Ron Klain, a strategist in Al Gore's 2000 campaign; Washington lawyer Bill Oldaker; Vanessa Weaver, a Clinton appointee; Skip Rutherford, a Clinton fund-raiser who lives here; George Bruno, a New Hampshire activist; and Peter Knight, a Washington lobbyist and longtime Gore fund-raiser. Bruce Lindsey, former White House aide and now an Arkansas lawyer, also backs Clark.
Clinton had urged Clark to enter the race, but neither he nor Gore is expected to take sides in the primary fight.
Clark's team was exploring several venues in Little Rock for an announcement, including a park named for World War II Gen. Douglas MacArthur, a Little Rock native. This site would underscore what Clark's advisers consider his greatest strength: his longtime military background.
Clark greeted reporters with a ``good morning,'' as he climbed into a two-seat sports car and left his headquarters. Some of his aides had already gathered for the meeting, including Fabiani and Rutherford. Others, including Klain and Bruno, were still making their way to the Arkansas capital.
Clark, 58, believes his four-star military service would counter Bush's political advantage as a wartime commander in chief, friends say. The retired general has been critical of the Iraq war and Bush's postwar efforts, positions that would put him alongside announced candidates Howard Dean, Sen. Bob Graham of Florida and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio as the most vocal anti-war candidates.
It would be a long-shot bid.
Just four months before voting begins, Clark would be competing against candidates who have had months to raise money, build organizations in key states and recruit the party's top political talent.
But the strategists assembled in Little Rock on Tuesday are among the party's best. An Internet-fueled draft-Clark movement has developed the seeds of a campaign organization and more than $1 million in pledges.
Clark's team urged supporters from the draft Clark committees to travel to Little Rock for the announcement.
Clark's resume is formidable - Rhodes scholar, first in his 1966 class at West Point, White House fellow, head of the U.S. Southern Command and NATO commander during the 1999 campaign in Kosovo.
Clark's local office said no announcement was planned for Monday or Tuesday but it was noncommittal about the rest of the week as supporters anxiously awaited his decision.
Nearly 12 years after Clinton announced his first campaign, Arkansans were excited at the prospect of backing another favorite son.
``He almost has to (run) in light of everything that's happened,'' said Little Rock lawyer Phillip McMath, a friend of Clark's since ninth grade. ``He seems to be campaigning and getting his ducks in a row.''
Jean Wallace, a classmate of Clark's from grammar school, has organized Warriors for Wes, a group of Clark classmates named after the mascot at their alma mater, Hall High School. She said the supporters were ready to travel the country to tout Clark's candidacy the way ``Friends of Bill'' organizations crisscrossed the country campaigning for Clinton.
``We are eagerly awaiting an announcement very shortly. There are thousands of people across the country doing the same thing, people who have put their hearts and time and resources into this effort,'' Jeff Dailey, spokesman for Draft Clark for President 2004, said.
The group, one of several Draft Clark groups, boasts of 166 coordinators in 50 states.
``In New Hampshire, there are many people ready to move out if they're given the green light,'' said Bruno, one of Clinton's earlier backers in the key primary voting state.
Clark is scheduled to deliver a speech at the University of Iowa on Sept. 19.
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Men Are Like Grapes. If You Stomp on Them and Keep Them in the Dark Long Enough, They Might Turn Into Something That You Would Take to Dinner
posted on September 16, 2003 12:04:32 PM
I think its too late for him, but he would be a good vice-president canidate. Does anyone think we may see a Dean/Clark ticket?
posted on September 16, 2003 12:33:53 PM
I think that it may be too late for some candidates but not Clark. He will be a very strong candidate if he decides to run. It's doubtful that he would accept the Vice Presidental option with Dean. Clark/Dean would work though.
General Wesley K. Clark became the Supreme Allied Commander Europe on 11 July 1997. He is also the Commander-in-Chief, United States European Command.
General Clark's last assignment was as Commander-in-Chief, United States Southern Command, Panama, from June 1996 to July 1997, where he commanded all U.S. forces and was responsible for the direction of most U.S. military activities and interests in Latin America and the Caribbean. His previous assignment was as the Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, J5, the Joint Staff (April 1994-June 1996) where he was the staff officer responsible for world-wide politico-military affairs and U.S. military strategic planning. He also led the military negotiations for the Bosnian Peace Accords at Dayton.
General Clark is an Armor Officer who has commanded at every level from Company to Division. As the Commander 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas (August 1992-April 1994), he transitioned the Division into a rapidly deployable force and conducted three emergency deployments to Kuwait. During the Cold War, he commanded the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (April 1986-March 1988), and the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor, 4th Infantry Division (February 1980-June 1982) at Fort Carson, Colorado. General Clark has also commanded three companies, to include a mechanized infantry company in combat in Vietnam.
General Clark spent 5 years training leaders and soldiers at the National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, California, and with the Battle Command Training Program (BCTP). As the Commander of National Training Center (October 1989-October 1991), General Clark helped train many of the forces that subsequently saw combat operations in Desert Storm. During this time period, he developed new training methodologies for Division and Corps level training, helping to train 13 Divisions, and he conducted the first ever Corps level BCTP training exercise. In his first assignment at the National Training Center, as Commander Operations Group (August 1984-January 1986), he revised the overall training program by improving scenarios, enhancing After Action Reports, and developing the first Brigade-level training exercise and the first heavy-light rotations.
In addition to his work on the Joint Staff, his other major staff assignments have included service as Deputy Chief of Staff for Concepts, Doctrine and Developments, US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia (October 1991-August 1992), Chief of the Army's Study Group, Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, DC (October 1983-July 1984); Chief, Plans Integration Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, United States Army, Washington, DC (July 1983-September 1983).
General Clark is a 1966 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he graduated first in his class. He holds a master's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar (August 1966-August 1968). He is a graduate of the National War College, Command and General Staff College, Armor Officer Advanced and Basic Courses, and Ranger and Airborne schools. General Clark was a White House Fellow in 1975-1976 and served as a Special Assistant to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. He has also served as an instructor and later Assistant Professor of Social Science at the United States Military Academy.
Among his military decorations are the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (three awards), Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit (four awards), Bronze Star Medal (two awards), Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), and the Army Commendation Medal (two awards).
http://www.nato.int/cv/saceur/clark.htm
posted on September 16, 2003 01:47:53 PM
This just tickles me to death....helen giving a long list of a military commander [Clark's] credentials.
Now that's he's decided to run, we'll be hearing the debates again about why he was 'removed' from his job early under the clinton administration, following his last command. What most of the clinton administration thought of him. How he is thought to be the commander of the military during the Waco incident. And how he almost started WWIII by some peoples thinking.
The guy who almost started World War III? From The Guardian
Tuesday August 3, 1999:
No sooner are we told by Britain's top generals that the Russians played a crucial role in ending the west's war against Yugoslavia than we learn that if Nato's supreme commander, the American General Wesley Clark, had had his way, British paratroopers would have stormed Pristina airport threatening to unleash the most frightening crisis with Moscow since the end of the cold war.
Sure doesn't sound like he follows what he criticizes the current President for not doing....using military action as a last resort. He wanted to go MUCH further...but felt his hands were tied. LOL They had to 'HOLD' him back...read what he wanted to do to the oil pipeline...and how he was going to drop those bombs all over the place.
"I'm not going to start the third world war for you," General Sir Mike Jackson, commander of the international K-For peacekeeping force, is reported to have told Gen Clark when he refused to accept an order to send assault troops to prevent Russian troops from taking over the airfield of Kosovo's provincial capital.
Robertson's plum job in a warring Nato Mary Robinson, the UN human rights commissioner, said Nato's bombing campaign had lost its "moral purpose". Referring to the cluster bomb attack on residential areas and market in the Serbian town of Nis, she described Nato's range of targets as "very broad" and "almost unfocused". There were too many mistakes; the bombing of the Serbian television station in Belgrade - which killed a make-up woman, among others - was "not acceptable".
Are these actions of clarks's what you, helen, call acceptable? I thought you said you only supported military action to DEFEND the US? lol Have you now changed your position helen?
[ edited by Linda_K on Sep 16, 2003 01:52 PM ]
posted on September 16, 2003 02:01:17 PM
Clinton did not announce until October and he seemed to do ok with that so it is by no means to late. All the early announcing just drains funds and he will get more publicity with the later announcment then all the others combined. New poll already has him with double digits so the late entry will be a positve and not a negative. Hell with the class of clowns right now he will gain plenty of votes from people for just not being one of the other nine.
posted on September 16, 2003 02:24:05 PM
You are wrong about that, ebayauctionguy. He is described as a political moderate...From "Wesley Clark is Karl Rove's worst nightmare".....
..."Wesley Clark is a political moderate, a war hero, a smart-as-hell, telegenic, electable Southerner with "General" for a first name and a vision for America. Another way of looking at Clark is that he's potentially Bill Clinton in all the good ways (smart, centrist, and charismatic), but without Clinton's problems (wine, women, and bad sax playing). And the four stars on each of Clark's shoulders stand in stark contrast to George W. Bush, who went AWOL from his National Guard duty. Can we start the Presidential debates right now?"
posted on September 16, 2003 03:19:07 PM
also clark had spent zero $ as of right now. the other 9 have spent $25 million. and he is only 6 percentage points from the lead without even spending a dime. Perfect Timing! He was already promised a spot in the upcoming debate if he entered so I would be venture to say that after that debate he will be the front runner
posted on September 16, 2003 04:31:14 PM
ebag, please explain how wesley clark is "pathetic", or a "weenie". I believe you used these exact epithets in an earlier thread, without justification. Is that what you plan to do here also, name call without justification?
Gen. Clark's military record is extensive. Certainly more real than that of our current President's. I guess that makes him a "weenie"....
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In this world of sin and sorrow, there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. -- H.L. Mencken
posted on September 17, 2003 07:13:42 AM
Same old crap Colin? Please, rather than spew, justify. What is pathetic about Clark? What about Clark is going to alienate middle of the road Democrats. Please tell me how Clark is less qualifieds than our current president who had not even left the country prior to Presidency. Rather than throw dirt, please, list the weaknesses you see.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
Men Are Like Grapes. If You Stomp on Them and Keep Them in the Dark Long Enough, They Might Turn Into Something That You Would Take to Dinner
posted on September 17, 2003 08:56:39 AM
looks like the right wing fascists are starting to sweat,... he he he ....botton line wheather he will make a good president or not , time will tell if he does win...but maybe he could be a plant for the republicans, that possiblity is there...also having a ex military man in the president's seat has it's pros and cons....so one thing for sure, the 2004 elections if they happen, which i doubt, will be one of the years most memorable ( can't see Bush and gang giving in to a fair democratic process, condsidering the new e-vote scams going to happen, and if they knew they were to lose i believe they will do something real nasty, to abolish the elections all-together ).
