Did the Generalissimo fib? NYT"Clark Call to Clinton Follows Gore Move"

[Romberry]

(Disclaimer: I'm a Dean guy. I like Clark but he is not my first choice. This is the very first thread I have started that may have the lest negative connotation for Clark. I felt sure he was fibbing when he told Ted "bad hair" Koppel that he had not even thought about Clinton's endorsemenet and, well, for someone who hadn't even thought about an endorsement he sure did pick up that phone mighty quick.)



http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/12/politics/campaigns/12CBOX.html

Gen. Wesley K. Clark said yesterday that he had called former President Bill Clinton immediately after learning that Al Gore had endorsed Howard Dean in the race for president, "just to call and say `hello.' "

In a debate in New Hampshire on Tuesday, General Clark pushed away a question about whether he would welcome an endorsement by Mr. Clinton, saying, "I really have never even thought about that."

<snip>

General Clark said he made the call as soon as he learned of Mr. Gore's move.

More...

[Justice]

1. So Good You Are Trying To Be Fair

with that non-controversial thread.

So what if he called Clinton?

[jpgpenn]

2. Dean supporters trying the crafty approach huh?

you are no longer able to get away with direct assaults on others. Now in the last few days you have taken the approach of subtle attacks.

so what if Clark spoke to Clinton, Clinton said and stood by his word he wont endorse anyone until voting has started. Unlike what we can say about the 2 way chatter bewtween the Gore and dean crowd. what is your point of this post other then to start a flamefest. There is none.

[Romberry]

6. Clark people on DU should know...

...that turnabout is fair play. You guys start dozens of anti-Dean threads day after day and they are not near so polite as this one. Sorry if you don't like it but Dean supporters can't even start a pro-Dean thread without being assaulted over and over and over. You know it's true.

I suggest when Clark people stop starting anti-Dean threads that Dean people will do the same in return.

By the way, I think the Generalissimo fibbed. It isn't a big thing but it does appear to be supported by the evidence. Only a chimp would not have ever even thought about Clinton's endorsement and Clark is no chimp.

[bearfartinthewoods]

8. i'm not subtle

i'll come right out and say it. i do NOT buy Clark saying he never thought about a Clinton endorsement. it is inconceivable to me for a man to be running for president and not consider the implications of party bigwig's endorsements. if he hasn't given it thought he's stupid beyond belief.

also, i find it hard to swallow when he says he hasn't considered whether or not he'd serve as another candidate's VP, although that is sort of a standard lie that everyone is forced to tell because asshole reporters ask it. it's a standarnd 'gotcha' question and i think candidates should start saying so and stop lying about it.

stick the dam gotcha questions back in their faces people!!!!!!!

[HFishbine]

12. Gotta hand it to you

at least you are consistent.

[girl gone mad]

3. hmmm..

Maybe he was just asking for some advice? Maybe he hasn't thought of a Clinton endorsement. He certainly hasn't been going after endorsements as vigorously as Dean, and since he is so new to the political process, I wouldn't be surprised if he was telling the truth.

I don't have a preferred candidate, but this thread sure seems like flamebait, considering the title.

[PVnRT]

4. Eh - I'm not reading much into this

Seeing as how the article says that Clinton was one of the people who convinced him to run in the first place, he might have just been calling to get some advice or moral support. This Dean supporter is giving Clark the beneift of the doubt.

[theboss]

5. Clark should want his endorsment, Clinton should not give it

Just as Dean should have wanted Al Gore's endorsement, but Gore should have withheld.

If Clinton endorsed Clark before the Summer, I would be very very disappointed in him.

[WilliamPitt]

10. Clinton endorsement of Clark = open civil war in the party

:(

[returnable]

14. Open or closed...

...the civil war is already on. And Gore fired the first shot.

[AWD]

17. Gee, and here I was thinking....

...that Bush actually fired the first shot.

Silly me, I forgot who the enemy was.

[returnable]

19. The enemy...

Believe me, I know who the real enemy is :hi:

Personally, I don't give a rat's ass who Gore endorsed. It certainly is a feather in Dean's cap.

But I also believe Gore has an agenda of his own, and it's naiive to think he wasn't playing politics with his plug.

I would've preferred he stayed out of the process, just like I hope Clinton does, though whether he will or not remains to be seen.

[theboss]

16. Amazing scenario

I can't think of a time in US History when the last President and VP would be openly backing candidates in a primary. I mean, we've had a lot of Presidents and VPs who did not like each other (Eisenhower/Nixon, Kennedy/Johnson, Reagan/Bush) who kept it in the family.

This would be going back to the days of Adams and Jefferson, except they were in different parties.

[Jerseycoa]

7. They all called him probably

I know Lieberman did, Gephardt did, and I don't know who else. It's no surprise to anybody that Clinton's phone would be ringing off the hook that night, is it? If it is a surprise to anybody, that's what would surprise me.

This is what Clark said:

"I called him the other night after the Gore endorsement, more or less just to call and say, `Hello. You still there?' He said, `What do you say about it?' I said, `I don't pay any attention to endorsements unless they're for me.' He said, `That's exactly right.'"

He did not ask for, nor did Clinton offer an endorsement.

"I really have never even thought about that."

What Clark may be saying here:

"Bill Clinton has always said he would endorse the eventual nominee and would not endorse before there is one. I really never even thought about him endorsing me when I called."

I am sure that when Clinton encouraged Clark to run, he made the endorsement point very clear and Clark accepted it. Isn't it possible Clark never thought about an endorsement he knew wouldn't come?

This molehill should stay a molehill.

:dem:

[A-Schwarzenegger]

9. Maybe General called Bill for help on when

is is is.

[OKNancy]

11. Why call him Generalissimo

except to equate him with Mussolini. Looks pretty inflammatory to me.

[QC]

20. Yep. About like a reference to "Dr. Howard Mengele."

So nice to see that the original poster didn't want to be inflammatory.

[returnable]

13. So what?

Maybe he wanted to hear what Clinton thought about the endorsement.

BFD.

[retyred]

15. What? Are we to read between the lines here too?

Your header asks ""Did the Generalissimo fib?" because Clark called Clinton?

The article insinuates that Clark asked Clinton to endorse him yet backs it up with what? A phone call? This is your cue to ask if Clark was lying? Guilt by accusations, and insinuations?

Given that rational, dean is guilty of a whole lot more than Clark by the accusations on this board alone, calling Clark a liar seems just a little hypocritical, IMHO.



retyred in fla
“good night paul, wherever you are”
So I read this book

[Larkspur]

If these Mead Head Prez Candidates had actually paid attention to Gore's

speeches from last year to this one, they would NOT have been caught flat footed. I knew that Gore was leaning Dean and said so on this board. I didn't expect Gore to endorse this soon, but considering how Gore is immensely concerned that Bush's policies are destroying our nation's infrastructure, I'm not really that surprised. Gore knows more than all of us combined about Bush's and Rove's malicious lust for power.

For clarity sake, let me explain why I prefer Gore over Clinton -- Gore cares more about the good politics can do and Bill cares more about the game of politics. I don't necessarily agree with Gore on everything but he always struck me as someone who cares about the future of our nation and this world. I do not think that Clinton is evil but he lacks a sincerity that I see in Gore.

Al Gore and Howard Dean have more in common than people realize -- both are pragmatists. When Gore bowed out last year from the 2004 race, he did so after evaluating the cards he had been dealt and realized that he didn't have a way to defeat Bush. He most likely would have won the Democratic nomination, but the Party infrastructure, which was dominated by Clintonistas, would not support him when he needed them. Howard Dean was a long shot and his original intention of running was to bring healthcare to prominent attention. After he realized that Bush's policies were so radical and destructive to America and the world, Dean reevaluated his campaign intentions and strategy. Read his "Great American Restoration" speech. It's all right there.

Regarding Lieberman, before Gore bowed out of the race, polls consistantly showd that Lieberman could NOT garner half of Gore's support. This showed that Gore won Democratic support based upon Gore's merits and message, not by selecting Lieberman.

[bicentennial_baby]

18. WTF is with your title?

Generalissimo? He's not fucking Mussolini. :grr:

[Moderator]

21. I am locking this thread.

It is inflammatory.


DU Moderator