Make the case for Wes Clark as Obama's VP

[Lakerstan]

I don't know if the whole Obama/Clinton thing would work, but I could see Obama conceding to give the VP slot to one of her supporters. I don't know enough about Clark - what would make him a good VP? I've really only seen him in a couple of debates in 04, and wasn't too impressed to be honest, but I'm keeping an open mind. Tell me what I need to know about him...

[anonymous171]

1. Military Experience and general experience

[BlooInBloo]

2. And white folks like him. Biggest negatives: loyalties not certain...

... and he delivers less to Obama electoral-vote-wise than some other further west choices would.

[grantcart]

3. The fact that he leaked out that he called Hillary to tell her to quit should cause all

Clark supporters to pause in their idolation. The crime scene hasn't been taped off yet and he is selling pictures to the Enquirer


A little too opportunistic for me. Of course he has all those good contacts at FOX having shilled their for years

[BlooInBloo]

5. Yup. Politically astute, but that's precisely the kind of astuteness that Obama isn't gonna like.

[Hieronymus]

7. Any reason that you say that, other than sour grapes?

[BlooInBloo]

16. You're weird. I think I'll go stand over there ->.

[Leopolds Ghost]

11. Says to me he knows what side his bread is buttered on.

Astute? BlooinBloo, he probably called Obama first and asked him what he would have to do to open channels with them.

[TBF]

51. I adore John Edwards and Bill Richardson, but I feel we need to

look at someone new. I don't know much about Wes Clark so I'll have to do some reading, but military experience is such a bonus.

[TheWraith]

19. Where do you get that?

You're assuming that he deliberately leaked the story as some form of opportunism, rather than simply answering a question, or stating it for other reasons.

Frankly, I can see a case for making that information known. Putting it out publicly that a high profile supporter told you to quit puts pressure on the person to do so. Clark has probably known for months that this campaign was doomed, but had no option to stop the ride.

[Leopolds Ghost]

32. Clark knew he was on both candidates short list and he doesn't want to go down with Captain Ahab.

Much as he is loyal like Ishmael, he wants to live to tell the tale...

[Leopolds Ghost]

33. Then again, he has a tendency to spout off, which is good and bad

He was overly forceful in attacking Obama's CINC credentials while defending Hillary.

Did something similar to Kerry in 04. Probably regrets all that bridge-burning.

[Tom Rinaldo]

49. This is so wrong

First off, it is a rumor, that's all. Second, how on earth could you presume that Clark "leaked" that call even if it were true? The leak, if there were one, could be from someone close to someone close to either Clark or Clinton who overheard something about Clark supposedly calling Hillary. People talk and some people like to pass it on. This rumor doesn't contain a stitch of substance beyond the headline, no summary of what he is supposed to have told her for example. There are no details. In other words "the source", if it is even true, could ultimately trace back to someone having overheard someone else saying something about as specific as "Wow, she just got off the phone with General Clark and she is looking pretty somber".

It is time for DU to turn over a new leaf. Hasn't there been enough character assassination practiced on this board based on suppositions lacking any evidence already?

[high density]

53. The only shilling he did on Fox was for the Democrats

He took the fight directly to O'Reilly and Hannity. This was while the best the rest of the party could do would be to go on Air America, play clips of Fox News, and whine about what was said.

[Clark2008]

57. Didn't make me pause - I thought it was gutsy.

Clark oozes integrity and calls a spade a spade. It's over. He knows it. She doesn't. And she'll probably throw him under the bus for it, but he was being a good friend and being honest with her.

I hardly looked at it as selling out - not in the least.

[Quixote1818]

59. Clark was PISSED that Republicans were questioning the Patriotism of Democrats

last time around. He would not let Republicans attack Obama's patriotism. He would hammer them big-time!

[TheDonkey]

4. Military experience, folksy, good politician

he learned a lot in 2004 and beyond. I just do not know if he has the PULL to bring a state over to Obama's column which is something we need.

Unity tickets for the sake of nice looking banners do not work. See: 2004.

[gmudem]

6. Experience up the wazoo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Clark

Wesley Kanne Clark (born December 23, 1944) is a retired four-star general of the United States Army. Clark was valedictorian of his class at West Point, was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he obtained a degree in PPE (Philosophy, Politics & Economics), and later graduated from the Command and General Staff College with a master's degree in military science. He spent 34 years in the Army and the Department of Defense, receiving many military decorations, several honorary knighthoods, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.


He's got as much experience as you could possibly imagine, and he's also a brilliant man. And in strictly electoral terms, he is a Southern Democrat with significant military experience and he actually is a foreign policy expert, unlike McSame. He would certainly help Obama with the white working-class vote, and any Republican who tried to call him unpatriotic would be laughed out of the room.

[Leopolds Ghost]

8. GOOD Idea.

A bunch of folks on TV said they can't see how that ticket would lose.

[woolldog]

21. are you being sarcastic?

I can't tell...

[Leopolds Ghost]

28. No, I'm being pragmatic.

I'm a radical libertarian populist. Anything i say on behalf of getting Obama elected (and not another neolib or neocon)
is in the interest of pragmatism only.

[Beregond2]

9. Vehemently opposed

the Iraq War from the beginning. Having a general on his team with that history would be very helpful.

[Leopolds Ghost]

14. Read the whole post, Beregond thinks Clark would be a good choice. :-)

[mikelgb]

10. No

[barack the house]

12. He has a record of honoring troopssafety, and a great military record.

[Lakerstan]

13. How would he compare to Anthony Zinni? nt

[Renew Deal]

15. He's shorter

And he has political experience. I think Zinni would be terrible on the domestic issues.

[Leopolds Ghost]

17. Zinni is old & conservative (like Sam Nunn). Clark is that oddity, a socially liberal officer class

Who is also a war hero. Not unlike Kerry I might add -- but without the "Yankee, sensitive, dovish ex-hippie" stigma.

looks like the 60's generation lost out forever in 2004.

Zinni opposed the war, and has veins in his teeth. thats about it...

[Lakerstan]

20. veins in his teeth - lol

[woolldog]

18. he's dull, boring, and lifeless

and would be a drag on the ticket. No one even knows the guy.

If Obama must pick a clinton loyalist as VP I'd rather he pick Bayh or Rendell. They're more dynamic and intersting people.

[Leopolds Ghost]

22. Bayh is DLC and Rendell is an old-school machine boss. Not new politics, not populist either.

[woolldog]

34. then it's settled.

No Clinton loyalists on the ticket!

I say Nunn or Webb must be the VP nominee.

[high density]

54. Dull boring and lifeless is what I'd call Bayh or Rendell

Boring indeed. If you don't think Clark is "interesting" or "dynamic" then I guess you probably don't know the guy.

[gmudem]

60. I'm gonna have to disagree

Clark is dull so we should pick Evan Bayh?? LOL sorry but when I think Evan Bayh the word milquetoast always comes to mind.

Clark is actually pretty vibrant and I bet more people know him from his campaign in 04, and certainly more people would know him than Bayh or Rendell, who don't have a chance at the VP slot.

And if they didn't know him, they would learn quickly that he was a 4-star general who opposed the war and is from Arkansas and that he graduated 1st in his class at West Point.

[woolldog]

64. maybe you're right....

and he could always improve as a campaigner, I guess. And maybe once the electorate is introduced to him they'll take to him.

I just don't like the idea of a relative unknown in the VP slot, because people feel like Obama is an unknown as well.

[StevieM]

23. Hillary doesn't want to be VP, but Obama definitely needs to pick a Clinton loyalist IMO (eom)

[Lakerstan]

25. What other Clinton loyalists would fit Obama's message

of "ending the game of politics". I thought of Clark, because I don't think he's percieved as an "insider-politician" guy. Who else might fit that bill? Someone already mentioned Bayh and Rendell.

[Leopolds Ghost]

30. Richardson, but Clinton fans have already rejected and denounced the guy. Clark can play kingmaker

Elder statesman like Sam Nunn or Goldwater who got Nixon to resign, no prints at the scene of the crime.

[hokies4ever]

24. give me Kathleen Sebelius

just because he's a retired general he'll make a great V.P.? I say get a governor with some executive experience. Kathleen Sebelius looks like a great addition to his ticket.

[Lakerstan]

26. I really like her, but...

I wonder if Clinton supporters would be upset that Obama picked a woman for the ticket, but it wasn't Hillary, and there would be backlash...or at least wonder that the media would play it up that way - as a slap in the face.

[hokies4ever]

27. a nice slap in the face

might be what's called for. :rofl:
But seriously though, 2 senators on the same ticket? McCain will just get Romney or Huckabee and laugh at the lack of executive experience on the Democratic ticket. Also, I would think that Hillary supporters would support Sebelius. Hillary did a great job playing the gender card and getting the female voters to want a female candidate in my opinion.

Also, if Hillary is on the ticket, what happens when the gas tax holiday is brought up in a debate?

[MrSlayer]

29. Ok. How about massive intellect, against Iraq from the begining, economics professor,

Former 4-star General and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO who won the last war we were in without losing a single troop. He's a master diplomat and an excellent communicator who now has two election cycles of political experience to go with his even stronger media experience. His foreign policy experience is unquestionable, his record impeccable and he's well known and liked around the world. He's also a Vietnam war hero. He'd make an excellent VP and would shore up the ticket in certain vital areas. I just don't know if he fits the mold of Obama's new wave campaign.

If I had my way, we'd be brainstorming ways to get President Clark re-elected instead of considering him for Vice.

[Leopolds Ghost]

31. If Kerry had chosen Clark, GD:P 2008 would not exist, it would be Re-election 2008.

I said it at the time (much as I like Edwards populist message he comes off as a dabbler.)

[MrSlayer]

35. I concur.

Though I still would rather have had Clark at the top of the ticket.

[blm]

58. RNC still would've stolen those votes for Bush, and DNC still would've let them do it.

Changing anything on the ticket wouldn't change the deceit that Terry McAuliffe's four year stewardship of the party allowed while he sat on his hands waiting for Hillary2008.

[FrenchieCat]

36. I do think that Clark would be good.

I supported him in 2004.

He did not believe that the Iraq war was a move to have made.
He's won a war and is experience at brokering peace.
He was Supreme Allied Commander of NATO
He's got loads of decoration
He served in Vietnam and nearly died, i.e., War hero
He knows the Pentagon inside out and is a anti-neocon
He wants to negotiate with the enemy
He's from the South, Arkansas, and is pretty White.
He's a good attack dog
Has/had a strong netroot following from '04.
He's a straight arrow, 1st in his class at West Point and a Rhodes Scholar.
He's about as liberal as one could find a lifetime army officer.
He's got Television experience.
He's got campaigning experience.
He's photogenic.
Has ran so he's been vetted.
He will attract seniors.
Gert and Michelle would get along as they are similar in many ways.
Clark is loyal but truthful...so he wouldn't be doing any dirty business for the Clintons who allowed him to be "retired" early from the Army.
He endorsed Clinton early. Too early.

[bowens43]

37. the last thing we need is a general on the ticket.

That would be almost as bad as having hillary on the ticket.

[earthlover]

38. ARe you kidding?

Wes Clark is among the most progressive choices Obama could make and he ALSO is a general.

Having a general on the ticket would help Obama immeasurably with regard to foreign policy....a definate weakness (electorally) for Obama.

The general gives a perception of being moderate. Whereas he actually is quite liberal. This is actually a good thing, IF YOU THINK OF IT. He won't be able to be stereotyped as a liberal by the Reps or by the media. He is a "stealth liberal"

I think it is ironic that this is also part of the reason some liberals don't like him. They can't see past his uniform. They have this mind-set that military must be war locks, conservatives, etc

As to war, you couldn't find anyone more dedicated to the principle of war as a last, last, last possible resort than Clark.

And, besides being from the South, Clark showed some strength out West in 2000.
I think Clark is a natural candidate.

[Bucky]

55. You read the post yourself, Earthlover

Do you think that was a serious comment?

[Political Heretic]

39. No.

[shadowknows69]

40. I'm game

I think he would help bring Clinton supporters back to the fold.

[NJmaverick]

41. He is a white southern male with strong a strong military background

He would cancel out any attempt to scare the voters with terrorism threats.

That, in my mind, is big.

[KaryninMiami]

42. Someone on Kos has a petition to make Edwards his VP

which would also be an excellent choice (then he can have Clarke as his Sec. of State)... Just a thought...
Here's the link to the Kos piece/request for signatures on Edwards as VP
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/7/6531/92318/845/510724

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

46. Yeah, let's pick the guy who keeps losing

...

[Clark2008]

61. Obama does not need fluff on his ticket.

:puke:

[Avalux]

43. I would be more than happy with Clark as VP.

And the rumor is he called Hillary lasted night and urged her to quit. I wasn't happy he supported her but I still love the guy.

[abburdlen]

44. The best case-

and the reason I think Clark does have a shot of being on the ticket if he wants it-
He'd make a great President.

There are political calculations for and against Clark but I don't think Obama is focused on that.
Number one issue is if the worst were to happen, who could take over. When you take that into consideration the list of possible VP picks gets much smaller.

[Bucky]

45. He kicks ass. He never said anything disparaging of Barack Obama

Oh, and half the female DUers refer to him as "General McDreamy". Whatever the hell that means.

[Darth_Kitten]

50. Like, geez, send him a note in study hall then..........

:sarcasm:

[riverdeep]

47. What Obama needs is someone who can mitigate his trouble in the South.

Let's face it, good ole boys are going to be his nemesis. There are some people who can't vote for a Black man because that would mean that a Black is symbolically above them, even though there are plenty of Blacks that make more money, are stronger, smarter or any other measure they might use than any given good ole boy.

WHOEVER can do that, is what the Dems need. Clark should be on board somehow, if not as VP, then as his Defense Secretary or some such.

So far, the short list seems to be Clark, Webb, or Edwards. It'll be interesting to see who else might get consideration.

[sampsonblk]

48. For starters, he's the first choice of many of us here

He's a strong military man who opposed the war from the outset. Lou Dobbs reportedly asked for him to be removed from CNN (as a military analyst) because his opinions were outside the mainstream of what military analysts were saying. But Wes Clark had the advantage of actually knowing what he was talking about. He was right and the mainstream analyts were wrong.

He went toe to toe with Bill O'Reilly for a spell on Fox. That's guts. He ripped BillO a new one - repeatedly.

Lastly, since at least 2004, he's been out there campaigning and raising money like mad for our party.

Wes Clark is my guy.

[WillyToad]

52. He would be my first choice for either of them....

He brings instant credibility in security matters.

[blm]

56. Nope - Obama had this won on Super Tuesday. He owes Clinton NOTHING and her supporters

closest to her cannot be trusted by any other Democrat.

[RichardRay]

62. As to Clark's experience....

Remember that when it comes to being directly responsible for the health and well-being a thousands of people nobody else we've mentioned (with the exception of Zinni) has Clark's experience. Some people may have found it a bit naive, but I recall four years ago when he was actually pretty outraged to discover that the average American citizen doesn't have a healthcare facility he or she can just walk into and get treated.

Sure, there are some pretty funky military hospitals, as we've recently discovered, but the some of the best trauma care imaginable is provided for active duty military and their dependents, and some of the best geriatric care available is provided for old veterans. Extending that kind of care to every citizen was part of his platform four years ago; I'd love to see him help move Senator Obama in that direcion.

And, he did rappel, under fire, to a crashed vehicle and rescue two injured soldiers. I don't know who McCain is going to pick for his VP running mate, but I'd love to see the debate.

[PatGund]

63. Let's see...

High positives, both with Sen. Obama's supporters AND Sen. Clinton's supporters. Which would help in unifying the party.

Impressive Military Record: (Purple Heart, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star w/ oak leaf, among others.) The record also goes to international decorations from Germany, Canada, Spain, and others, and no less than six honorary Knighthoods.

Vietnam Vet, wounded in action.

Academic Record: 1st in class, West Point, Rhodes Scholar, instructor in Social Studies at West Point,

Southern Democrat.

He's got a military and international affairs background that would be VERY hard to meet or beat. He would be a fantastic addition to the ticket, and would strengthen it further.