My Faith In Democracy Is Shattered
or, Vote prof_booty in '04
from Chicago Sun-Times

While his chief rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination are in a four-way deadlock in Iowa, Clark is gaining [in NH].

He drew the biggest New Hampshire crowd of his campaign on Saturday afternoon, as some 2,000 people jammed bleachers at a high school gym for a rally starring the retired four-star general and a strong supporting cast: muckraking filmmaker and author Michael Moore, and a string of Clinton White House officials, including former U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.).

Moore, an outspoken critic of the Iraq war, took aim at Dean's anti-war base of support. Clark "is our anti-war candidate," Moore said, after he described himself as "the peacenik for the general." He said he relished a debate between "the general and the deserter," a reference to a gap in documenting Bush's record of reserve duty in the Air Force National Guard.

Meeting with reporters after the rally, Clark did not distance himself from Moore's deserter comment.

The minute I find I candidate I can support, Michael Moore endorses him and Clark actually accepts it. [sigh]. Where's John McCain? Santo & I saw him on the Daily Show the other night, and he was awesome.

More

Clark gains in N.H. with anti-war message, ties to Clinton

January 18, 2004

BY LYNN SWEET Sun-Times Washington Bureau Chief

PEMBROKE, N.H. -- Wesley Clark has New Hampshire to himself this weekend, and he is hunting for Howard Dean defectors.

While his chief rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination are in a four-way deadlock in Iowa, Clark is gaining here.

He drew the biggest New Hampshire crowd of his campaign on Saturday afternoon, as some 2,000 people jammed bleachers at a high school gym for a rally starring the retired four-star general and a strong supporting cast: muckraking filmmaker and author Michael Moore, and a string of Clinton White House officials, including former U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.).

Clark's team on the stage was designed to demonstrate geographic diversity and to send the message that his Democratic tent holds the rabid anti-war and lefty crowd as well as more moderate Democrats, to drive home the campaign's assertion he is the party's best chance for beating President Bush in November.

Polls show the Jan. 27 primary here to be wide open. Clark, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) are bunched together, with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) lagging.

The Clark campaign is full of former Clinton White House officials and staffers, though other camps claim notable Clinton alumni. On Saturday, to dilute Clark's claim to be Clinton's heir, the Kerry campaign put out a list of its Clinton-linked backers, including former Labor Secretary Robert Reich and former Defense Secretary William Perry.

Moore, an outspoken critic of the Iraq war, took aim at Dean's anti-war base of support. Clark "is our anti-war candidate," Moore said, after he described himself as "the peacenik for the general." He said he relished a debate between "the general and the deserter," a reference to a gap in documenting Bush's record of reserve duty in the Air Force National Guard.

Clark became a Democrat shortly before jumping in the presidential race, and his rivals are trying to exploit that. On Thursday, the Kerry campaign sent out a direct mail hit on Clark in New Hampshire that attacks him for voting for Bush, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon; for raising money for the GOP, and for his work as a lobbyist.

"I love the fact we have a candidate who voted for Reagan. The majority of America voted for Reagan," Moore said, addressing the concerns without mentioning the mailer.

Meeting with reporters after the rally, Clark did not distance himself from Moore's deserter comment.

Earlier in the day, Clark campaign manager Paul Johnson, in a conference call with reporters, said Kerry was "two-faced" because he was focused on a positive campaign in Iowa while sending out a negative piece on Clark here.

Kerry New Hampshire spokesman Mark Korblau said, "calling an elephant an elephant is not negative."

Clark and Lieberman did not stump in Iowa for Monday's caucus to concentrate on New Hampshire.

posted by prof_booty | 09:58 AM