Wes Clark on "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" CNN - Noon Sunday

[VolcanoJen]

On now... first question is about Bush's secret visit to Baghdad.

[in_cog_ni_to]

1. "A visit or a photo op

or whatever it was, does not make up for the failed strategy in Iraq."

Go General!

[Cush]

2. Shut up Wolf....

trying to make him attack Dean

[Red_Storm]

12. yep....he went into chris matthews mode for a minute..

[VolcanoJen]

3. Clark: "Ultimately, the US has no control over Iraqis electing a Shiite...

... regime, despite what Donald Rumsfeld has said."

This in response to the question about turning over sovereignty to the Iraqis.

In reference to Bush's visit to Baghdad, Clark said "It was absolutely the right thing for the Commander-in-Chief to do. He should spend every major holiday with the troops. But, I'll tell you this, Wolf... a photo-op visit, or whatever it was, to Baghdad does not make up for a failed strategy. What our troops really need is not a one or two hour morale boost visit from the President. They need a strategy for success, which this President hasn't given them."

[maddezmom]

4. he's doing well

and glad he won't be baited into attacking of any of the dem. candidates.

[Mika]

8. Why didn't Wes just say that any Dem candidate is more qualified than W?

eom

[wndycty]

9. He smart not to attack. . .

. . .but he would be stupid to praise another candidate as well.

[KittyWampus]

33. Wes Is Running For President

Not majority leader.

[FrenchieCat]

5. Wolf Blitzer is such a

lightweight. He is so obvious and unintelligent!

[Kahuna]

6. Wolf is getting shrill in his desperation...

:puke:

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. Wolf is an asshole.

3 TIMES asked Clark......"Do you think Howard Dean is qualified to be Commander-in-Chief?"..Wolf..."By you not saying yes or no there is a resounding NO hanging out there."

You're not hearing a no from me Wolf. We should be going after Bush.

"If you want a doctor to lead the country, vote for a doctor. If you want a lawyer to lead the country, vote for a lawyer. If you want a leader to lead the country, vote for a leader." :bounce:

Clark read the intelligence prior to Iraq war. He believed the intelligence he saw. Iraq WAS NOT an imminent threat.

[Mika]

11. Wes missed a chance

He should have ponted out that every one of the Dem candidates is more qualified than the imposter there now.

[wndycty]

15. Nope. . .

. . .because if had said that then he would have weakened his position and argument for being the nominee.

[chaumont58]

28. Clark is a little disengenuous

"If you want a doctor to lead the country, vote for a doctor. If you want a lawyer to lead the country, vote for a lawyer. If you want a leader to lead the country, vote for a leader."

So we should have written in Haig in previous elections. He's a 'leader.' MacArthur could have been elected just as well as Ike in '52. Clinton was a lawyer in '92, but Bush(ver 1.0) wasn't.

So I guess all soldiers are just leaders, period. I don't think Clark did himself any favors with this twisting.

[FrenchieCat]

30. Sorry, but Clark was more than a

mere soldier. A leader is someone that's ahead of others and has the power to tell them what to do and to get things done. Supreme Allie Commander is not "just a soldier"....he is a Commander-in-chief. Recognize, don't minimize!

[KittyWampus]

40. Neither Haig Nor McArthur Were Diplomats

who were able to forge consensus.

They also didn't have degrees in Economics and Philosophy.

[wndycty]

44. Those are masters in Economics, Philosphy and Political Science

. . .that he earned as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford after graduating first in his class at West Point, before he went to Vietnam and was wounded four times.

[in_cog_ni_to]

51. Enough said!

:7

[robbedvoter]

85. Here's the actual quote- explains what makes him a leader:

if the country wants a lawyer to lead it, elect a lawyer. If you want a doctor, elect a doctor. If you want a leader, somebody who has been in the trenches and somebody who's been at the top in diplomacy and in war, elect a leader. I'm that leader

Operative words: at the top in diplomacy and war.
Other key words: "stood toe to toe with a dictator before" (prior speech - this time just named W)

[LEW]

10. Clark is right

He stated you can already see the re-selection campaign is going to be about foreign policy, and the war on terror, as shown with first commercial saying others who attack pResident are unpatiotic. He stated he is the only candidate who can go toe to toe with b*sh on these issues and intelligently push the FAILED foreign policy.

I totally agree with him, and this is why I have always supported Clark and will continue too.....

[Kahuna]

18. The RNC ad AND the Thanksgiving photo-op telegraphs..

their strategy for the election.

[FrenchieCat]

13. Actually Wolf made

the point himself. That this election is a referandum on National and International security, the war on terror, etc...

It was like Wolf was screaming that Dean was'nt qualified.

Clark didn't have to answer.

But I saw MTP today, and they forgot to mention Clark. There was a roundtable discussion, with Safire, etc... That blonde English woman Journalist was the only one that spoke Clark's name. She said in England, they would love to see Clark get the nomination. Then she quickly discounted it by saying, but he probably won't.

I said WTF? Why are they doing this?

The rest of the conversation was Dean, Dean, Dean.

[last1standing]

71. In one of your post the media loves Dean, in another they hate him.

Try to get your story straight, will you?

In other news, Clark is doing very well and if he wins the nomination I'll be damn proud to support him. Can you say the same of Dean or is you're bias too strong?

[VolcanoJen]

14. On the RNC ad, and Wolf's annoying Dean questions

Clark: They're trying to take patriotism and national security away from the Democratic Party. I can stand toe-to-toe with George Bush on these issues. I've been there, I've done it, I've worn the uniform for real." This was his response to the RNC ad.

On the question "Are you saying Howard Dean is not qualified to be POTUS?" (Whatever, Wolf... he said Bush isn't qualified to be POTUS!)

Clark: "I'm saying that all the voters in this country, Democrats, independents, moderate Republicans... if you're looking for an alternative, you'd better understand what this election is going to be about. This is going to be a foreign policy election. It's going to be a referendum on the war on terror. And Wolf, we are not winning the war on terror. We are not winning the war on terror. It's a world-class bait-and-switch."

Wolf pushes him on "Is Dean qualified?"

Clark: "I'm not going to attack a fellow Democrat! My objective is to attack George W. Bush. And I think the Democratic voters in this country, and everyone who is concerned about change in Washington, needs to take a look at the differences in the candidates and make your own decisions."

Wolf: "By refusing to answer yes, there's a thunderous no I hear."

Clark (irritated but stern): "If you want a lawyer to lead the country, elect a lawyer. If you want a doctor, elect a doctor. If you want a leader, somebody who's been in the trenches, and someone who's been at the top, in diplomacy and war, elect a leader. I'm that leader."

[Donna Zen]

64. Dancing in the kitchen

I've worn the uniform for real.

The words "for real" were perfect! perfect!

[Cush]

16. Wolf is clueless

a lost little hack talking to someone who knows what's going on.

[in_cog_ni_to]

17. Whew!

~~~~~~~~fanning self~~~~~~:loveya: The General is so handsome.

"Neo-conservative press....extend this into Syria and maybe Lebanon."

"Chilling insight of what was going on in discussions by this administration going after States, not terrorists."

"Bin Ladin is not a state sponsored terrorist."

[Kitsune]

19. Defending the Israeli Wall...

Bigtime minus points for Clark AFAIC...

[FrenchieCat]

36. I think he handled right....

since it's the 3rd rail. He said that there is a concern in reference to where and how the wall will affect the Palistenians. I believe that his emphasis is more on the fact that there needs to be a bigger effort on the part of the US to deal with this issue. Someone very high level that would be there on the ground to negotiate this thing. I believe that his approach is correct as a candidate running for office. It's was very Clintonesque.

[Kitsune]

46. I dunno

He said something about how it was a positive or progressive step...I can't remember the exact language he used, but he basically said it was good. He may have qualified the statement after that (I was too busy posting/being ticked), but no matter how you qualify it, building a concrete wall on land that isn't even yours is not a good thing.

I agree that it's the 3rd rail, but the very fact that it is pisses me off. A concrete wall with barbed wire on top is not a "security fence."

[Red_Storm]

78. Clark said that........

the building of the wall was right because of the suicide bombings and Israel had a right to defend itself......

[FrenchieCat]

20. Wolf Blitzer

is so excited...and is a very bad interviewer. He seems like a little schoolgirl!

[KittyWampus]

47. Why Does He Knit His Eyebrows & Frown So Much?

:shrug:

[Kahuna]

52. That's what "concerned" people do. Concerned like in...

this General Clark is a threat to my sweetheart Bush. :evilgrin:

[in_cog_ni_to]

21. Wolf is a true to form

WH, ass kissing whore today, eh? Clark is handling him well.

[Cush]

22. Clark: No to being Dean's VP

Says he would consider Dean for VP.

[in_cog_ni_to]

23. Holy Moly!

No running mate with Dean! Clark will be Prez or nothing!

[Field Of Dreams]

25. There it is!

n/t

[VolcanoJen]

24. "Bush said he was going to 'ride herd' on the leaders of the Baathists...

... instead he's basically ridden home to the ranch in Texas. He hasn't been engaged in the Middle East. It's time to appoint a top negotiator."

Wolf presses Clark to criticize Colin Powell:

Clark: "You can't do it from Washington. You have to be in the area, working it until it's finished."

[in_cog_ni_to]

26. Dean could be running mate.

I will consider a number of people as my running mate.

AGAIN...from Wolf. "What if something happened to you and Dean was to lead? Is he qualified?" Damn Wolf! Let it go!

[Jerseycoa]

31. "Dean could be running mate."

Wolf was trying to pressure Clark into saying no, he wouldn't want Dean as his VP. I think the answer is no, but Clark doesn't want to be insulting to Dean. Clark will have to pick a domestic legislative heavyweight like Bob Graham. Also I can't see Clark and Dean as at all temperamentally suited.

[Kahuna]

41. I think the answer is no also, to Dean as running mate..

I just don't see it. Clark could do so much better.

[Kahuna]

27. My email to WOLF!

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form4.html?2
Concerning your very contentious interview with General Clark; What's got your panties in a twist?Could you be more transparent? You are being loud, shrill and petulant. Your bias towards the Bushistas is always transparent. For crying out loud, why the hell are you asking General Clark about his Jewish father? What does that have to do with being president? You have a very small mind and you reveal that every time you open your mouth.

[leetrisck]

32. Did I hear Wolfie's last question right?

Did he ask Clark if he is a Christian now and Clark said yes.

[Kahuna]

35. Yes. I forgot to add to my email...

P.S. Wolf. You sound like a be-yootch. :7

[Jerseycoa]

38. Yes

He is a Christian and always says so when asked.

[Jerseycoa]

34. Why not?

What's wrong with asking about his Jewish father? It obviously means a great deal to Clark.

[Kahuna]

37. I think it's irrelevant. You hammer the guy for 15 minutes...

and then say, by the way tell us about your Jewish father. :wtf:

I hope you don't think I think Clark's Jewish father is something he should conceal and not talk about. Because I certainly don't think that. It just seems out of place for Wolf to ask that question out of the blue after the line of questioning he had just pursued.

[Jerseycoa]

42. No, I didn't think that

I just wasn't sure what you were thinking. It was out of the blue.

[Kahuna]

45. Wolf's question was out of the blue. That's why I mentioned

it. I just wanted to let Wolf know how ridiculous, shallow and transparent he is.

[Jerseycoa]

50. Yes,

Not your comment. Wolf's question was out of the blue. Still, I thought it was okay.

[OKNancy]

39. Actually I liked the question

Questions about the personal help a voter to see a candidate as human, not just someone up on the screen spouting policy ( which Clark does with such intelligence)

SO many people are not like us, they know nothing of Clark's background. I thought it was nice diversion.

[Jerseycoa]

48. Yeah

It did leave the human note as the ending, which was good. I've seen and read it before and was glad it came up at all. It was a bit abrupt, though.

[Donna Zen]

66. I liked the question as well...personal

All they ever ask in foreign policy questions. I think they do that so that the regime will know what their next move should be. Did anyone else notice the banner? The regime has announced a change in force structure which will remove the heavy infantry and replace them with a lighter commando strike force.


(tapping chin...now where did I hear that before?)

[Mz Pip]

29. Clark will not

let Wolfie put words in his mouth or force him to say what Wolfie wants him to say. He handled the questions well without being the least bit defensive.

Everytime Clark does one of these it just reinforces my belief that he's the best candidate.

MzPip
:dem:

[FrenchieCat]

43. amen!

Mzpip, right you are! He just has the gravitas, the moxie and the charisma we need to beat George Bush.

I hope Democrats were watching.....because if they don't want to be handed their ass next November, they will vote yes to Wes!

Is all.

[chaska]

49. Note the new sig line.

[chaska]

53. Lawyers, doctors..., okay fine...

but I absolutely draw the line at candlestick makers.

[in_cog_ni_to]

54. deleted

dupe.

[in_cog_ni_to]

55. Niiiiiiice.

I like it! Simple and to the point. :7

[RandomUser]

56. What do you have against candlestick makers?

:D :D :D

[chaska]

58. It's a very personal and painful thing...

I don't want to talk about it.

[Tom Rinaldo]

57. Even if you are not backing Clark

It is easy to see that Clark is becoming much better as a campaigner. He is not letting himself get talked over by interviewers. He is sounding forceful. He is sticking to his themes and making his points. This is good for all Democrats, because even if Clark doesn't get the nomination, the points that he is scoring against Bush are key ones, and I am sure Clark will be on the campaign trail next fall, either running for President or supporting a Democrat who is.

I have also noticed that Clark is getting much clearer at making the case for why he should be the Democrats Presidential candidate. He was much less crisp and direct on that early in his campaign. Of cours, early in his campaign in Clark's case was only a couple of months ago. Clark is showing his lifelong pattern of mastering new and difficult undertakings. He is a natural leader, always pushing himself and those around him to excell. No long "working holidays" on his "ranch". If he makes it through the early primaries count on Clark honing his campaign skills even sharper.

[FrenchieCat]

59. I agree that

Wes is a real quick study. Guess that's why he did so well in school.

However, I am much more optimistic that more Democrats would rather back a winner than see Bush back in the White House for another 4 long tortured years. I think that the more they realize that what the real focus will be during next year's election, the more they will realize that Dean ain't gonna cut it....anyway you slice it.

This election will be about Bush's strong suit...and that is the whole war on terror, 9/11 and the fact that we have not had anymore attacks in this country.

No one best will be able to tell Bush that his strongest suit is actually his weakest. Bush won't be able to have any comebacks for Clark, like......you don't know anything about foreign policy...you don't know anything about running a war, let alone a war on terror.

Clark is the guy that can beat Bush. For those who can't see it, all I can say is ?

[alfredo]

61. Wes has spent years advocating and defending

positions on matters of life and death. Relearning politics of the civilian world was rocky at first, but he seems to be adapting.

[Donna Zen]

70. Wrestling

Clark refers to these interviews as "wrestling" with_______(fill in the blank...Wolfie, Russert, ?) From what I've read/heard he actually seems to enjoy it.

Clark, as you probably know, was trained as a classic debater. This junk, that we have come to accept as debates or interviewers, would have taken some adapting if one was to move from informed comments to the dodge and parry. Playing got'cha and winning is the standard by which we now judge the leader of the free world.

[Kahuna]

79. Agree. His message is clearer about why he should...

get the nomination to go up against bush. I'm relieved and glad to see it. The media pundits are saying, 'he's found his footing.' For once they're right.

[Skwmom]

60. I missed Late Edition. Will it be rerun later on? e/o/m

[bandy]

62. As of today

I am now joining forces with Clark. And Wolf showed himself to be the lowest form of lowlife journalism. His manner was unforgivable. I don't say much here because most of you speak so eloquently in comparison but I am outraged by the treatment of Wolf toward Clark. I have been just trolling the candidates so far, but Clark was very impressive against that barracuda!

[LeinesRed]

63. the question about his father

Where was that coming from?

[Mz Pip]

68. Tinfoil hat time

I thought about this when I was reading about the rise of anti Semitism. I just wonder if maybe Wolfie asked that question just to play into that demographic. Clark's Jewish roots could hurt him with those voters. I suspect that Wolfie just wanted everyone to be sure that they knew about Clark's Jewish roots.

I am always suspicious of how the media handles Clark, when they bother to deal with him at all. This was such an odd question in light of the rest of the interview. It's hard not to see sinister motives from Blitzer.

MzPip
:dem:

[in_cog_ni_to]

72. We need to remember

that Dean's wife is Jewish. The journalists who would play that card are also playing it against Dean...their candidate.

[Mz Pip]

73. Wolfie

strikes me as a Bush supporter. So if he can wound 2 birds with one stone, all the better.

MzPip
:dem:

[Kahuna]

74. I wouldn't put it past him. Especially when he assured the..

viewers that Clark is NOW a Christian. :wtf:

I actually didn't consider that Wolf may have been trying to jab at Clark's ancestry until after I sent the email. Wolf is an ass and a bee-yotch. :puke:

[Donna Zen]

76. Probably correct reasoning

However, much to the chagrin of folks like Code-word Wolfie, any anti-semetic votes are already going to someone else. Besides, Clark became very animated during his answer, and seemed pleased to answer.

[Kahuna]

77. Clark answered it beautifully... Giving a full and detailed account..

of his Jewish ancestry. Anything else you want to know, Wolfie old bean? :evilgrin: That was priceless! That's my Clark! He's a wisenheimer to be sure.

[DeepModem Mom]

84. Wolf himself is Jewish -- the question's a puzzlement.... n/t

[mikehiggins]

69. Well, it just shows Clark is a wise ass Jew, that's all.

There are reasons for everything said on cable, you know. Maybe there is a segment of the population who might think differently about Clark because of his ancestry. Maybe some folks with battle flags on their pickup trucks might feel even more close to Clark because his dad was one of the Chosen People, them being so popular down there and all.

Not that anyone would want to bring that out or anything. I mean, there aren't any anti-Semites in this country, right? That's all in the past? And you wouldn't want Orthodox folks thinking Clark was a "self-hating Jew" because he's now a Christian, would you?

Or that he secretly drinks the blood of Christian babies at Passover, right?

Not that I think that was the intent of bringing that question up, not at all. Of course not. I mean, we're well past the days when a Jew could get banned from a country club or a men's club just because of his ancestry, right? And Leo Franks was a long time ago.

Despicable.

[Jerseycoa]

65. Welcome to the force!

:yourock:

I know what you mean about staying quiet for a while. You get yelled at a lot less that way. I stay quiet now and then, too, just for the sake of peace.

The more people see of Gen. Clark, though, the more support he garners from thinking people who like the thought of a thinking man in the White House.

[bandy]

67. Not that I don't appreciate the banter here

it is always thought provoking (but it does get hot in here sometimes). But you are right. Better I just listen and learn.

[Kahuna]

75. Welcome to the Wes Wing!

:yourock:

[DancingBear]

80. Welcome aboard Bandy!

There's plenty of room on the Clark For President Express!

[RandomUser]

83. Welcome, Brandy

Welcome to the Wes Wing :)

:yourock:

[Bill of Rights]

81. Clark was great, as usual

The trick is to get more and more democrats to see him. We need to move beyond the cable viewers. I'd like to see him on shows like Oprah, but maybe they are waiting until January for that.

[BootinUp]

82. Kick

Recorded the interview and just finished watching it...

I thought this thread captured the interview very well. Clark expressed more clearly than ever before why he should be the nominee. He does this without attacking other candidates but by making a strong case for his campaign. He strikes me as a skilled diplomat.

I really like this guy, but I am not biased, not at all... ;-)

[robbedvoter]

86. The transcript is here:

 http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0311/30/le.00.html

[Tom Rinaldo]

87. I used the transcript to correct a false news report

Thanks for the link. Just opened up a rlatively good short AP wire story reporting on Clark on appearing with Blitzer that I found on Yahoo's site. The last paragraph floored me however. Here is how the AP reported it:

"Clark also said even if the United States should bring democracy to Iraq, the country eventually will have a government, much like Iran's, controlled religious leaders from the Shiite wing of Islam."

Now here is the relevant part of the interview (the context was a discussion on how to organize a transfer of sovereigntyback to the citizens of Iraq:

"BLITZER: What if they elect democratically a fundamentalist, Islamic, ayatollah-led regime in Iraq?

CLARK: Well, I think what we'll want to do is do the best we can, in terms of setting up the conditions, in terms of the election, to ensure that it's representative.

But ultimately, Wolf, the United States won't have any control over that, whether it's this year or next year or the year after. If they want to elect a theocratic regime, they're going to elect a theocratic regime at some point, despite what Donald Rumsfeld has said."

Clark made no prediction that Iraq would eventually form a government much like Iran's. He simply said that the people of Iraq will eventually do what the people of Iraq want to do. Rumsfeld doesn't get to decide for Iraq. It is a much cleaner, and more powerful message about the current administration thinking they can dictate to the world, than was the distortion AP printed. The media creates News all the time. They put words into candidates mouthes. Constant vigilance is required.

I called AP's number, (after finding it through a Google search by the way, God I love Goog)le and said I wanted to report an inaccuracy in reporting. I was asked what the dateline was (it was Washington), and then given a number for that bureau. Eventually I talked to someone who tracked down the story (it's helpful to have the incorrect story handy when you call). I read him the interview transcript and he noted my observation. I don't know if a correction will be issued, but AP should always be reminded that we are paying close attention to their coverage.

[BootinUp]

88. Good catch Tom!

Yes vigilance is necessary, has anyone ever seen a correction on the newswires like AP?

[Barbara917]

89. Good job, Tom!