September 15, 2007
Gen. Wesley Clark Endorses Clinton
Gen. Wesley Clark, a favorite of the anti-war blogosphere, endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, in a joint conference call with reporters Saturday morning.
“I’m very pleased today to announce my endorsement of Sen. Clinton to be our next president of the United States,” Gen. Clark said. “I think she’s a remarkable person. She’s had incredible experiences. She’s smart; she does her homework; she’s decisive; she’s strong. I think she’ll be a great leader for the United States of America and I think she’ll be a great commander in chief for the men and women in uniform.”
Clark, a retired four-star general who was raised in Arkansas, briefly ran for the Democratic nomination in 2004. His criticism of Pres. George Bush’s handling of the Iraq war helped make him a hero among liberal, anti-war bloggers. Those same bloggers have slammed Clinton for declining to call her 2002 vote to authorize the Iraq war a mistake. Clark’s endorsement should help her score points with that crowd.
The endorsement also means Clark will immediately be seen as a potential running mate for the senator.
“I want to thank Gen. Clark for his wisdom and his amazing ongoing leadership on so many fronts for our country and for this endorsement, which means a great deal to me and I look forward to having him campaign with me as the campaign moves forward,” Sen. Clinton said.
In a call beset by numerous technical difficulties, the senator and the general discussed the role he might play in her campaign, the war in Iraq, the threats posed by Iran and Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani’s recent attacks on Clinton for her tough questioning of Gen. David Petraeus during last week’s senate hearings on the progress of the troop surge.
Clinton reiterated her strong respect for Gen. Petraeus.
“I think both he and I share a strong commitment to the young men and women who wear the uniform of the United States,” she said.
“I have a disagreement with my Republican opponents and with the president about what is the best direction for our country when it comes to Iraq and I have repeatedly urged that we begin to bring our troops home starting now,” Clinton said, though she declined to respond directly to a question about whether she supported the MoveOn.org ads criticizing the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and accusing him of “cooking the books” when it comes to reporting on progress in Iraq.
Clark called Iran a serious challenge for the U.S., the region and the world.
“I think it is a serious concern and it should be met by a strategy of engagement with Iran at this point,” he said, adding that while all options are on the table, a sustained dialogue is crucial and military force should only be used as a “last, last, last resort.”
He said the Bush administration was not fulfilling its responsibility to the American people and to the region, because it is not engaging in a such a dialogue with Iran.
Clark heads a political action committee, WesPAC, that focuses on getting Democrats elected to the White House, Congress and state and local offices and providing leadership on national security issues.
In a statement posted on WesPAC’s website before the call began, Clark said, “Senator Clinton and I share a worldview in which diplomacy is the best first-strike tool in our arsenal; in today's complicated global system, the United States should be making more friends than enemies."
Gen. Clark said he would be honored to do what he could to help the senator’s campaign, while Clinton said she would welcome that help, but understood the general might be busy with the tour promoting his new book on leadership, “A Time to Lead.”
By endorsing Clinton before setting off on tour, Clark becomes a surrogate for the campaign, able to make solo stops in early voting states like New Hampshire.
Clark was born in Chicago but raised in Little Rock. Had he not endorsed Clinton, he would have been the only major Arkansas Democrat not to do so. [ATHENA JONES]
Posted at 05:47 PM
Comments
Old news. Clark was always going to endorse Hillary Clinton from the moment that she entered the race.
It would have only been real news had Clark endorsed someone other than the wife of his former boss, Bill Clinton.
Clark endorsing Hillary Clinton is no different than Madeline Albright doing it.
I mean, what do you expect?
OEST | 09.15.07 09:57 PM
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This is great news that General Wesley Clark has endored Senator Hillary Clinton for President of the USA. I have opposed this war when there was talk in Washigton that President Bush wanted to go to war in Iraq. I have always supported the troops. Even though I was against this war,I supported my son and his unit 100% when he served in Iraq as a member of the Minnesota National Guard.
I stongly believe that Senator Clinton with the military help of General Clark will end this war responsibly, and bring our troops home safely. She will certainly unleash a diplomatic surge to win the peace.
Marie Bonin | 09.15.07 10:37 PM
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I am very happy to hear General Clark's endorsement. I am not sure I will vote for Hillary but with General W. Clark, whom I admire, respect and trust, I could overlook some minor differences I have with their political point of view. I am not a party voter. Base my decision strictly upon individual merits. Thank you,
Gerry
Gerry | 09.16.07 04:57 PM
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I'm sorry that Gen. Clark has chosen to endorse
Hilary Clinton.
I am a life long Democrat and I will stay home before I vote for Hilary Clinton.
Sorry.
Olga | 09.17.07 02:03 AM
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Come on people! Google these CFR buddies. This General has sold out the country for the New World Order. Hillary is a also a CFR member. They are not for America or the worker but are part of the warmongers bent on destruction of this country.
You want to stop the war and bring America back to the People - checkout ronpaul2008.com
Niidji | 09.18.07 06:23 AM
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I supported Wes Clark in 2004. I knew when they helped him out in 04 that he would probably do the same for Hillary in 08. I support Clark but Hillary will not receive my vote.
Jordan | 01.06.08 07:23 PM
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