General Clark has been molded by his military experiences....

[kentuck]

That is not meant to reflect negatively or positively on the man. I think that one point can be safely stated as a fact. Many issues that we now see as political issues, such as Pristina Airport, School of the Americas, his corporate career after his military career, and his votes for Republican executives, etc, did not register on a "political" scale with the General. He looked at it from a military perspective, in my opinion.

However, we should not assume that military men do not have liberal attributes, such as compassion and social justice. No doubt, military career men do not spend a great deal of time thinking about what they will do in the civilian world once they are relieved or retired from their military duty. I give the General the benefit of the doubt. Why? Because he has spoken words and thoughts that warm the hearts of many progressives. Is he just doing it for ambition reasons? That is an individual decision that each voter will have to make.

But, I think voters will have to look at the General thru a different lens than the "normal" politician. He is not a normal politician and it is not possible for him to be one. He could only start his political career after his illustrious military career was over. In a way, he is like the philosophical clean slate, in many voters minds.

They are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because they understand from where he started and from where he came. They are willing to look at him at this moment in time and judge him by his words and deeds and are very forgiving of actions that took place while he was in the military and while he was transitioning from the military, such as when he was working for the cable network, CNN. Americans are basically ready to give him an equal opportunity in the political arena.

[Dookus]

1. True enough...

and the rest have been molded by their political experience just as much.

I suspect a lot of Americans regard the military in higher regard than they hold politicians.

[kentuck]

3. We may find out in NH...

:) We shall see.

[Leilani]

7. As a matter of fact

I recently saw a poll & the military was at top of respected; politicians at bottom, along with lawyers, & media.

[kentuck]

8. Not to deal with generalizations....

But there are good and bad in whatever field of endeavor we are talking about.

[Jack_Dawson]

2. The Beauty Is, Clark's Compassion

He may have spent 34 years in the military, but if you've seen the dude interviewed or speak at a town hall meeting, the guy has...SINCERITY. He GENUINELY wants to help people and help his country. I know a lot of DUers see "military" and mentally change channels, but a deeper look will have you won over to The General.

[Democrats unite]

4. I would have to rate this as fair and balanced...

Thank you for your contribution.

[kentuck]

5. I have learned that it is very easy to stereotype people...

especially military. I think of this good friend, who is a retired Colonel from the military, who I think is very similar to General Clark. My first encounter with him was when my wife was working the polls in one of most conservative areas in this nation and people just assume that military people are Repubs.

But my wife was so thrilled and excited telling me about this Colonel that came in to vote and they did not have his name on the polls. He chewed them up one side and down another. They assumed he was a Republican. Since that time, he has become a good friend and is one of the smartest and most compassionate persons I know. Even though he is still a big Bill Clinton fan... :)

[MIMStigator]

6. Discipline, courage, knowing when to send kids to die in war.

you're right

[wiley]

9. Military Men and Women

I have had the pleasure of meeting general Clark, and speaking with his wife. If he isn't a down home sweetheart of a progressive southern Democrat, I'm a Neo-Con. I've met many military men and some women in my life, I have to say that the older, retired ones have been horrific rapidly anti-semitic and islamic, authoritarian oppressors who believe that gays and lesbians should be used as target practice. The other s were gay men or women who are probably more liberal than I am, but they believed that they owed this country something so they served. Wes Clark is on the cover of this week's The Advocate, a gay and lesbian newsweekly. I bought it because of the picture. The interview is great. The man couldn't be more sincere and open and honest.