Wesley Clark to be endorsed by U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel

[Khephra]

NEW YORK -- A day after he called President Bush an arrogant "bully" at a Manhattan fund-raiser, Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark was expected to be endorsed by Harlem congressman Charles Rangel.

Rangel, who has already publicly backed Clark, introduced the retired Army general at a Wednesday dinner that a campaign spokeswoman said was attended by 600 people and raised more than $1 million.

"When Charlie speaks," Clark said of Rangel, a Democrat and Korean War veteran, "people listen."

At the fund-raiser, Clark accused the Bush administration of pulling a "world class bait-and-switch" after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by waging war against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein instead of focusing on capturing bin Laden and breaking up his al-Qaida network.

more.........

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--democrats-clark1211dec11,0,6431916.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

[Don Claybrook]

1. Congratulations

Rangel's endorsement is a good one to have. I've always liked him and his outspokenness.

[R Hickey]

2. I wonder if thes will upset Joe Lieberman

I hope he doesn't say he was counting on Rangel's support too, and start crying all over the talk shows that he didn't get a call, and that he's been stabbed in the back all over again.

[Don Claybrook]

3. No, Joe views it as another positive

As with Gore, the Rangel endorsement has galvanized his supporters. Why, his office got 3.2 billion supportive calls just yesterday from disaffected McCain and LaRouche voters after the Rangel announcement.

:)

[Nashyra]

4. Just saw on the cnn ticker

that Clark raised 1M in one day

[Don Claybrook]

5. That's impressive

I really think it's come down to a Dean / Clark race. We win either way.

[dave29]

9. From Whom?

just curious

[Jerseycoa]

13. Meryl Streep was there

This was mentioned in one report, but I don't know who else. You're asking about the Hilton event last night, right?

[PaDUer]

6. Lieberman should

do everyone a favor and drop from the race now because it's becoming more of a "pissing contest" and this is how the WH will remain w/ * controlling and sending more people to their graves.

[davsand]

7. Dean/Gore's event in Harlem caused hard feelings.

I saw an interesting article about the Gore appearance in Harlem on behalf of Dean that may shed a bit of light on this one. (I am looking for that link, BTW because it is interesting stuff.) The upshot of it was that Gore did that event in Harlem (Rangle's district) and they never bothered to contact Rangle at all about it. They just went in and did it. Rangle sounded a bit put out by that lack of respect.

THe article was talking about Dean and his lack of strong support from African American voters. It was a fairly pro-Clark article, but from what I recall they even quoted Rangle as saying there was one minority person present at this event--in Harlem--and he was with the Dean campaign...

Rangle had come out for Clark a while back--so I can't say I am shocked that they didn't call him. But, that is a real breech of protocal NOT to call the Congress Critter if you are going into their district for a press event.

Laura

[Racenut20]

8. This was discussed on Imus this morning

Said they held the endorsement there to connect with Gore's strong support from black voters. Me thinks they missed one. LOL (Personally I think it was aimed more at Clinton than black voters. If they wanted to attract black voters for real, they should have done it in South Carolina)

[Snivi Yllom]

18. Carville dissed Gore on Imus

Carville seems to be a Clark man and made some very blunt comments...

""It was the perfect picture of a doctor and a corpse standing there,"

"I don't think Al Gore should even get in the same ring with Bill Clinton when it comes to trying to impress black voters,"

"I told Steve McMahon, the media guy for Dean, who was on 'Crossfire': You have one of the three most influential presidential campaigns of my lifetime. That's the good news. The bad news is the other two are McGovern and Goldwater."

[tabasco]

10. Charles Rangel is a smart, brave, and influential Congressman

This is a boost for Clark. I admire Rangel a lot for giving republicans hell. He can dish it out just as good as the nastiest repug.

[bushisanidiot]

11. Dean Supporter Here. Good For Clark!! May The Best Dem. Win!

all that matters is that AWOL be shown the door in '04!!

[floridaguy]

12. Who belongs in Harlem?

Gore vs. Rangel: Who belongs in Harlem?


Recently, as we all know, Al Gore and Howard Dean went to Harlem to announce Gore’s endorsement. More recently in Harlem, U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, who lives in Harlem, endorsed General Wesley Clark. Let’s compare the endorsements, their meanings, and the political skullduggery.


Al Gore went to Harlem to endorse Howard Dean. Why would he do that? Perhaps, because Howard Dean has ostracized many African-Americans with his bad judgmemt concerning the Confederate flag, and as Dan Rather suggested, Gore hopes to pass along his good will among black voters to Dean. Has anyone yet heard Howard Dean say he used bad judgment when making the comments about southerners in pickups with Confederate flags? Rev. Al Sharpton was right. Dean may not be a racist, but it appears he’s too arrogant to admit he made a mistake. I’m tired of arrogance in the White House. Look where it’s gotten us with Bush.

I’m curious to know when was the last time Al Gore or Howard Dean were in Harlem. The decision to go to an area which is a symbol for African-Americans to make this endorsement is condescending and patronizing. It further reeks of Bossism and elitism. I’m Al Gore, I know what’s right for you. Don’t bother thinking. In political theory, this is called elitism. Along with others, I believe we’ve had enough of elitists telling us what’s best for America. Just after the announcement, chartered private jets whisked these “elitists” off to Iowa, where they could do the same dog and pony show. Why wasn’t the endorsement made in Iowa in the first place?

Rep. Charles Rangel belongs in Harlem. He lives there with his family and he has fought for the people of Harlem his entire life. Pluralism, is contrast to elitism, is when leaders are supported by their constituencies, and the leaders actually pay attention to the needs of the people. This is much different than the elitist approach of “I know what’s best for you”. Al Gore, you have never walked the streets of Harlem. What gives you the right to go their and make your endorsement? The Dean supporters in the Democratic party are starting to act more and more like Rove and his spin doctors. As we all know, Americans have been deceived by them into thinking George Bush is a good President.

I pray that this left-wing of the Democratic party is not successful in pulling the wool over the rank-and-file of the Democratic Party. We have all mentioned the $200 million that Bush will have to try to bully his way into a re-election. The same tactics are now being used on the Democrats. Al Gore’s endorsement is a sham and an embarrassment to the Democratic Party. To nominate Dean will give us our second best chance to defeat Bush. We can't afford to take that chance!

[wryter2000]

14. Good for Clark

Rangle's a certified great American.

[realFedUp]

15. A good endorsement for Clark n/t

Interesting that he didn't endorse fellow Congressman
Gephardt...that's saying something.

[Walt Starr]

16. Congratulations!

This is a second outstanding endorsement and could help put Clark over the top!

Watch out, though. It seems once a candidate gets in the lead, all bets are off and the attacks begin. I've got your back if that starts up on DU, though!

[DemExpat]

17. Sounds good for Clark!

:kick:

DemEx

[CivilRightsNow]

19. Good, they can oil up the draft machine together

http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news1/salon1.html

I know many of you will just tell me that it was a political tactic to insure that the american public be forced to look at the consequences, including the rich upper class, of war.

But I say that the mere fact that a democrat jumped upon the draft bandwagon before the Iraq war was even begun is ridiculous and if you look historically it is not how things typically work.

Since the democrats couldnt find a spine to oppose this war, instead, they throw EVERYONE into the mixing pot in some attempt to incite opposition? How convienent that this draft plan also sounds very similar to Wesley Clark's Civillian Reserves, Im sure that program will work very nicely with it.

[tameszu]

21. RANGEL VOTED AGAINST IWR

And he is COMPLETELY justified in his argument for the draft. He said: "Look, out of ALL of you Congresscritters who voted for the war only ONE of you is a parent of someone who serves. Maybe if a whole bunch more of you had children who served, you might be a bit more cautious about sending our troops into war."

Rangel has EVERY right to complain that Republicans, who are overwhelming rich and white and have not served, are callous when advocating that other folks die for their stupid theories and to enrich Halliburton.

And as for "how things historically work," note that in Vietnam, we went into Vietnam FIRST, THEN a bunch of Americans and Vietnamese died, THEN the draft was instituted, THEN some more Americans died, this time a higher proportion of rich and white ones, THEN the rich and white Americans finally got fed up and ended the war.

Why the heck would Rangel be wrong in reversing history, doing the draft in the first place so that any potential burden doesn't fall so disproprotionately on poor people minorities, and possibly AVOIDING THE WAR ALTOGETHER IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Also, Clark doesn't support the draft, and I doubt Rangel would support it with Clark in office either, because the idea would be that Clark would avoid unnecessary or hard to justify wars in the first place.

[Cooley Hurd]

20. A great endorsement for Wes! Congratulations!

Every endorsement makes us ALL stronger as a team - ABB, baby!!!!

[trapper914]

22. Was it necessary...

...for Rangel to insult Dean and Gore?

link