Reply #24: Why Kerry needs Clark [View All]

[Jai4WKC08]

The first consideration ought to be, who's most qualified to act as President should Kerry become incapacitated for some reason? Let's face it, that narrows the field considerably (Edwards comes to mind, but ymmv). It's an important question, but I'm certainly not naive enough to think it would be Kerry's first priority. I do have enough respect for the guy to think it's at least in the back of his mind.

The next question is, who gives Kerry the greatest advantage and the best odds of winning in November? Here's why Kerry has an asset in Wes Clark, if he will only use him.

No other Democrat has been as effective in taking Bush apart, piece by piece, for his foreign and military policies. Before Clark entered the race, no other Democrat even tried. No one but Clark has the capability and credibility to make the case that Bush is a failure on these issues, and perhaps more importantly, to make that case in the future when Bush/Chaney/Rove engineer some new "developments" to show how tough they are on terrorists, or how successful in Iraq. Because make no mistake that they fully intend to pull a few surprises along the way.

Dean is getting a lot of credit lately for giving the Democratic party a backbone. Well, some of that credit is well deserved, but Dean could never challenge the Republicans on national security, defense, or foreign affairs, because quite frankly, he knows nothing about any of these. Kerry knows more, but he has a lousy congressional record on defense issues. And then there's his post-Vietnam protesting--justified or not, it will not play well in middle America.

Wes Clark was the first of the Democrats to visibly demonstrate, with no equivocation, that you can criticize this so-called "War President" and still be a patriot. He was the only one to show that criticizing Bush when he is wrong is one of the highest forms of patriotism. Oh, Dean may have tried, on the war alone--beyond that he was out of his depth--but he just didn't have the credentials to make the case convincingly.

Clark has been the party's "weapon of Bush destruction" since he entered the race. He can continue to be that for Kerry and the party all the way to November, but only if he's positioned to do so. And here's the bottom line:

If Kerry was even half-way serious about wanting Clark to "walk point," he must know that the General can only do so effectively from a position where the media will have to pay attention. If General Clark is on the ticket as VP, he gains a platform to continue his eloquent and devastating attack on the Bush administration. If he isn't, he'll get about as much media coverage as Mosley Braun. I have to hope that the man who would be our next President has the good judgment not to throw his most lethal weapon away.

Besides, who could resist the "Super Hero" ticket they would make together? Twin silver stars would make a great logo that everyone could come to recognize as THE symbol of courage and character. It's too good to let go by.