Clark enlists Hollywood to ignite campaign

[T_i_B]

Article by the right-wing UK Sunday Telegraph about Wesley Clark, whom the UK press are forever claiming has a faltering campaign at present. I haven't kept up to track on the Dem candidates that much since Bob Graham dropped out though so you lot might have to fill me in on things.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/11/30/wwes30.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/11/30/ixportal.html

In an unlikely attempt to gain star backing for a slow-burning campaign, the Democratic presidential candidate, General Wesley Clark, is spending late nights talking politics with Madonna and wooing sympathetic supergroups such as The Eagles, with whom he recently shared the stage during a rendition of Hotel California.

Gen Clark, who had a cerebral and somewhat austere reputation during his military career, has spent much of the past month seeking out the late-night company of west coast rock stars, screen idols and movie producers. While his rivals preach to the worthy but unglamorous residents of early-voting Iowa and New Hampshire, Gen Clark is dressing snappily and going out on the town in LA.

After a 90-minute policy discussion with Madonna in her Los Angeles home recently, a friend of the star was authorised to disclose that "Madonna was very impressed with Gen Clark's intelligence and his vision for America". Another associate added: "Don't under-estimate this. Madonna is often ahead of the curve."

The general's tacticians believe that Howard Dean, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, has already won the support of most left-wing grassroots activists. Gen Clark's goal is to emulate Bill Clinton in the 1990s by capturing the heart of Hollywood, a centre of liberal power and influence in America.

[Skwmom]

1. I agree with Morton

Mr Morton, who has also thrown a dinner party for Gen Clark with Aaron Sorkin, the creator of the hit television series, West Wing, said: "I haven't been this moved by a politician since I had lunch with Bill Clinton prior to his becoming President. Clark is the Democrat's best chance."

[joeybee12]

2. The funiest thing about this article is..."A 90-minute policy discussion

with Madonna!!!!!!!!!!"

Anyway, Hollywood is a good source of money, wonder why Clark seems to have the inside track with Hollywood donors.

[pinkpops]

3. she's one smart lady

[coralrf]

5. Dont fall for the money angle....

it is intended to make Bush look a winner. If you equate pre-election success with money you will doom the Dems. That is the GOP's goal: To redefine the game.

Madonna has long been known to be quite bright. I am no fan of hers but have seen her speak a few times and she is quite an intellectual. As you would have to be to remold popular culture as she did.

This was a brain on brain rendezvous. Don’t talk money as Bush has it all. Talk brains, ideas, solutions and potential as Clark has all that.

[maggrwaggr]

14. I wouldn't call her intellectual but she's a marketing genius

she's been able to market herself into a major superstar with almost no talent. And she's done it for years now

[jokerman93]

22. joeybee12 Methinks you misunderestimate Madonna

She's a media-culture genius (remember that virgin/whore thing? Material Girl?). Hell, she practically invented Brittney Spears tm; she understands the business of "Hollyhood", and has the money connections to the power that keeps Hollywood wired.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Glad that

Clark is lunching with Michael Spielsberg and that Jennifer Lopez is not a Clarkie. Those are some deep pockets over there in Hollywood.

Go General Electric, Go!

Maybe the pic that the following thread links to is what did it:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=765805#765807

[FrenchieCat]

23. Oh.....

Jennifer Lopez IS a CLARKIE......well my, my, my!

[RamboLiberal]

6. Problem is the 'Hollywood elite' has been turned in to something

akin to 'liberal' these days. Don't make much difference to us, but could be a big turn off to any moderate republicans and independent voters thinking of voting for Clark if he gets the Dem nod.

Not going to play well in a lot places having 90 minute meetings with Madonna.

I know Dean and probably Kerry has also courted Hollywood but so far has managed to keep it more under the radar.

One big mistake I think Clark made was fiddling around about getting in to this race. In my mind he could've had the fundraising prowness of Dean if he'd have gotten in sooner, and then he wouldn't have had to opt out of Iowa. (on edit corrected by mistake about NH). But I still think Clark fiddled a bit too long.

And btw he's my 2nd choice after Dean - and there are days I sway a bit more to Clark, but the above about Iowa and the late-start make me hesitant to support Clark yet financially. I do support Dean financially.

If I had the extra $$$'s I would be putting it to Clark.

[carpe diem]

7. he has not

...opted out of NH and is moving up in the polls there

[newyawker99]

36. Hi jg82567!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[KittyWampus]

8. He Didn't Opt Out In NH. He Just Began His First Ads There

He has been doing well as regards fundraiser... so I hear.

And what is the Left's counterpart to "Hollywood Elite"?

How about "Enron Insiders"?

[FrenchieCat]

9. I heard about Dean and Hollywood

more than several times. He has Reiner and Martin Sheen...etc...

So why shouln't Clark capitalize on his coup too?

That comment didn't make sense to me.

How is Madonna who has a #1 best seller's children's book "not good to associate with Clark"....

He's trying to win the nomination for goodness sake's!

[RamboLiberal]

10. My bad on NH - and I don't fault him for talking with Hollywood

but again I do think it's something the Dems have to be careful of. The wingnuts own the airways these days and it's too damn easy for them to paint Dems as beholden to the 'Hollywood Elite'. We've all seen the ranting and chortling about this in the past year.

It's the kind of thing that could just sway a moderate republican or an independent to vote for AWOL instead of Clark.

[freethought23]

11. Bunch of Clark-groupies on this thread

Reading this stuff is like attending "sat-sang" (spiritual chit-chat) for the guru of some religious cult. :)

[truthisfreedom]

12. so what? anyone but bush. ANYONE.

Clark included. i'd be perfectly happy if any Democrat got the Presidency. ANYONE BUT BUSH.

[freethought23]

13. You have a point there.

But all this gushing about Wesley makes me a little queasy.

[FrenchieCat]

15. Then don't get into the threads.....

It's not like anybody is forcing you to read any of this....
or are they?

[freethought23]

16. We have freedom of reading here.

In case you didn't know. And freedom of posting. So I guess you'll just have to put up with me, even if I am not a bot for Clark.

[wtmusic]

18. No need to be insulting

the implication being that WC supporters do not think, are not rational, and are soulless 'bots'.

Care to back anything up at all, or are we just casting aspersions?

[freethought23]

20. No general insult intended

Not all Clark supporters are "bots."

I myself was excited about Clark when the rumors first appeared about his presidential bid. But he has gradually shifted his position to the point where I can't support him.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[freethought23]

27. Actually, Frenchie, you're kinda cute.

:)

[StatBabe]

33. I agree--ABB!

I agree with truthisfreedom--ANYONE BUT BUSH! The idea of Kucinich or Lieberman make my skin crawl, but neither are serious contenders anyway. I've already told everyone I know how I am voting next year--ABB (Anybody But Bush!).

[newyawker99]

37. Hi StatBabe!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[neuvocat]

17. And just who are you rooting for?

You wouldn't be trying to single people out by any chance, would you?

[freethought23]

19. None of the Democrats looks attractive to me except possibly Kucinich.

But he doesn't have a chance.

[Piperay]

25. The subject line is about Clark

so it stands to reason it is going to attract us Clark supporters. :shrug: :-)

[T_i_B]

35. And your problem is.......?

I started a thread about Clark, and as such I have no qualms whatosever about having lots of Clark supporters on here to defend and promote their guy. :-)

Personally I did like the look of Bob Graham, but sadly he's pulled out. I like the look of Dean and as for Clark, he has an impressive CV but I don't know what policies he stands for and as such I tend to be quite neutral on the guy.

[goforit]

21. Keep working Clark.Try telling the military they're under a tyrranny

as well. Hollywood and the military and the Unions
all can surmount a victory!!!

[jsw_81]

26. Ignite?

Isn't his campaign already going down in flames?

[Kat45]

28. Not at all.

That's just what those who fear him want you to think.

[freethought23]

29. Hmmm....

Should some of us be afraid of General Clark?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/671495.stm

[Kat45]

30. Only if you're a bush repug

Because he has the potential to kick bush's ass right out of the White House.

[freethought23]

31. You sure talk funny for a Christian.

Kicking ass? :)

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[freethought23]

34. Lost?

Mais non! Je n'aime pas M. Bush (ou Mlle Bush).