Soros favors Clark?

[davidinalameda]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak21.html


Left-wing billionaire investor George Soros, who appeared to support Howard Dean for president, now is privately expressing doubts about the Democratic Party's front-runner.

In conversations with political friends, Soros confided he has become alarmed by Dean's recent performance and wonders whether the former Vermont governor is capable of defeating George W. Bush. In one such chat, Soros suggested he is interested in retired Gen. Wesley Clark.


Yeah, I know--it's Bob Novak, but I hate to admit it--he has some of the best political gossip out there

Is Soros would announce publically for Clark, what would that mean for Dean?

[Champion Jack]

1. Nofacts wouldn't know the truth if it bit him

on his bloated, fat ass.

[Bombtrack]

3. actually that's untrue, his column has been known for at least one scoop

every column for 40 years

[Tinoire]

2. This isn't new... It's been known from the start- Both Clinton & Soros

I can't find my old posts where I had dug this up this summer but here are a few posts from a DUer that make it pretty clear that this was insider knowledge all along. Clark and Soros go way back.

VoteClark (775 posts) Sat Aug-09-03 10:25 PM
Response to Reply #38

39. Do you want to beat on if Clark runs?

Clark is running. You are just not aware of when exactly he is going to enter the race. If you would like to place a wager on it, I would love to take your money. But this would be like insider trading because I already know when he is. So I suggest you be careful about what you say.

I also think you are insulting all the people that have put effort into drafting Clark in this election. We have three headquarters and raised over $1/2 million, which will be matched on the date that he declares. In addition he will have about $7 million from the Stephens Corperation, and will get a good boost from the endorsement of Clinton, and the financial help of Mega billionaire Soros, and the 30K supporters he has on the ground.

So let us add that up, Over $8 million plus whatever Soros gives. An endorsement from Clinton, and 30K volunteers,and headquarters in NH, Arkansas, and Michigan on the day he enters. How many candidates do you know that have that going for them one the first day of they enter the race? Or for that matter, right now?

Good luck. I hope you join the Clark team soon. Anything else is a waste of time and money in my book.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=16056

08-08-03
Wesley Clark to trusted aid: "Crank it up." Just released from the National Journal is a story that an aid of Retired General Wesley Clark was told to crank up the campaign apparatus in expectation of an announcement sometime after Labor Day. George Soros has pledged $75 million to help defeat GWB. Soros is a friend of WKC. Is this the dough to jump start the Wesley Clark campaign? It's soft money so it has to be spent on "party building." Lotta' party can be built with that kind of money. Would WKC doing a "get out the vote" thing be party building? Draft Wesley Clark.com has launched its "million dollar march" pledge drive. If the General announces after Labor Day as expected, he should have a nice little nest egg to get himself started with.
http://nevadansforclark.com/arch_aug2003.html


But Dick Holbrooke, who's been U.N. ambassador since August, has a different idea of what sort of people the suite should be filled with. Tonight, he's hosting a dinner for General Wesley Clark, the granite-faced, soft-spoken nato chief, who is leaving his post in April.

<snip>

By 8:30 p.m., in addition to the usual complement of ambassadors and diplomats, the living room is filled with an A-list New Yorkers might recognize. Super-agent Binky Urban is schmoozing with Time editor Walter Isaacson. Barbara Walters races in, apologizing for running late. Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen are on hand, having flown in from L.A. (Steenburgen's mother knows Clark's mom back in Arkansas).

Dressed in a formal pin-striped suit, crisp white shirt, and red tie, Holbrooke still manages to look comfortably rumpled -- his unruly hair is the secret to this effect -- as he banters his way around the room. Introducing Clark to billionaire financier George Soros and Canadian press lord Conrad Black, Holbrooke teasingly calls the general, whose formal title is supreme Allied commander for Europe, "The Supreme," then launches into a hummed rendition of "Stop! In the Name of Love."

<snip>

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/people/features/1748/

VoteClark (775 posts) Thu Aug-14-03 08:13 AM
Response to Reply #8

12. Money, no Prob!

He will get in on or about Labor Day.

The money is not a problem. He has support from many people. Some including, Soros, a billionaire. While Soros is limited to donations he can spend as much as he wants smashing others,promoting Clark and doing fundraisers for the General.

Stephens Corperation, the same that backed Clinton, would heavily back Clark as well. To be honest, I think Wesley is better than Clinton, and more likeable then Clinton.
Also, Clark has 500,000 from private donations that could be doubled. I think he is in fine shape.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=20436

[madfloridian]

5. And a little more to add.

From November:
http://wesleyclarkweblog.com/archives/000565.html#008651

SNIP..."Bush can spend more money, but with the "I approve of this message" having to be on the ads, it means he probably won't be running too many smears. Those will be done by outside groups that aren't in conjunction with the campaign.
Soros will be picking up that bill. And he is a friend of a certain man from litle rock running for president."

Interestingly, the very next comment indicates the poster wishes he had not said that and indicates so.

[LOL]

4. Cool

works for me...Dean: :nuke:

[TrueAmerican]

12. You can say that again

DEAN = :nuke:

[madfloridian]

6. Soros is helping all of them, but I heard he was for Clark all the time.

http://progressivetrail.org/articles/031207Editorial.shtml

SNIP..."To the anger of Republicans, he has also injected large amounts of money into organisations that are deeply involved in the election battle against Bush.

Soros said he had made only "relatively modest contributions" to the Democrats in previous elections.

He has held functions at his New York state home in support of a number of Democratic party candidates, including Howard Dean, John Kerry, Wesley Clark and Richard Gephardt.

But more importantly he has spent 15 million dollars to help activist groups fighting the US president.

Soros gave 10 million dollars to America Coming Together, which campaigns to increase the number of people taking part in elections and 2.5 million dollars to Moveon.org, a mass grass-roots organisation that has opposed the Iraq war and many other Bush policies....."END SNIP

However, rest assured. If the big boys decide to bring down a candidate, any candidate, they can and will.

[JanMichael]

7. Duuuuuude...Isn't this a "General Discussion: 2004 Primary" thread?

Bwa..ha..ha..ha..

[knight_of_the_star]

8. That would have a BIG impact

I mean, how many billionaire Holocaust survivor philanthrophists have endorsed the other candidates?

[stickdog]

9. Of course Soros favors Clark.

Clark is already on his payroll.

[csc]

10. Whats he thinking

The only think i like about Clark is that he has true socialist economic policies liek the rest of us. rightwing fasists were having a blast with his comment last year about believing the nation was founded on the idea of progressive taxation. conservatives hate that because conservatives are capitalist loving private property hogging bas***rds. but i don't like clark with everyone loving the military everyone loves Clark to much and he seems to wishy washy. i love dean because hes holds the popularity and communist beliefs of ralph nader but in a more friendly democrat package. WE SHOULD ALL BE FOCED ON DEAN AND IF YOU ARENT THEN YOU ARENT PUTTING THE PARTYS INTEREST FIRST YOUR PUTTING YOUR OWN INTERSETS FIRST AND THAT MEANS YOU ARE NOT A TRUE LIBERAL.

[cryofan]

11. do you have a URL showing Clark favors progressive taxation?

That would make him VERY unusual, if true, and might get my vote for him....

[Jackhammer Jesus]

14. Meet the Press, June 15th.

Mr Russert: What do you think of the Bush tax cuts? Would you have voted for them?
Gen. Clark: Well, I would not have supported them, no.
Mr. Russert: Why not?
Gen. Clark: Well, first of all, they were not efficient in terms of stimulating the kind of demand we need to move the economy back into a recovery mode, a strong recovery and a recovery that provides jobs. There are more effective ways of using the resources. Secondly, the tax cuts weren't fair. I mean, the people that need the money and deserve the money are the people who are paying less, not the people who are paying more. I thought this country was founded on a principle of progressive taxation. In other words, it's not only that the more you make, the more you give, but proportionately more because when you don't have very much money, you need to spend it on the necessities of life. When you have more money, you have room for the luxuries and you should--one of the luxuries and one of the privileges we enjoy is living in this great country.

[cryofan]

17. good enough for me!

That makes him a True Liberal in my book. Without progressive taxation, none of the liberal agenda is possible. And the way things are headed (Bush or Dean), progressive taxation may be on the way out....

If Kucinich flounders, I may vote for Clark...

[Party of the People]

22. FYI

Clark repeated that he supports progressive taxation this weekend on C-SPAN as well.

Check out his official website for various positions on the issues.

[ibegurpard]

13. Possibly money

Assuming he can find some way to get around campaign finance laws. Other than that I'm not sure it would mean a whole lot. How many people even know who he is?

[arewethereyet]

15. the people with the big money know who he is

and if he's seen to be disenchanted with Dr Dean, there is a better than even chance that they will re-consider where their money goes as well.

[Myra]

16. Um, I don't know enough about Soros to be comfy with his claims

To want to save us from BushCo.
He's just a rich urban folk legend to me.

[lurk_no_more]

18. My, My, My

Soros confided he has become alarmed by Dean's recent performance and wonders whether the former Vermont governor is capable of defeating George W. Bush.

Not a good thing to hear when you're thinking about donating big money to a candidate, was this Soros's way of giving a warning to his big buck friends to put away the checkbook for now?


Just food for thought from….”JAFO”

[arewethereyet]

19. IF its true, yes, absolutely

it was just a matter of time before Dr Dean's mouth drew suffiecient attention to make the money pay attention.

They always wait to see which way the wind is blowing.

[madfloridian]

20. I would rather Dean would tell the truth and fail, than buckle.

I really feel that way, and we will support him as long as he is in play.

Sometimes, you have to tell the truth. You have to stand for something. I don't agree with him on everything, but the other day blew my mind........the day Saddam was caught.

Within a few days the others had become all filled with warm and cozy feelings about how wonderful it was that Saddam was caught.

They said we were safer now. That is not true, and they were NOT being honest. Dean had the courage to say the emperor had not clothes, and they bashed him for it.

[OKNancy]

25. You might be surprised, but I agree with you

I've never really had a problem with most of what Dean says, in fact I agree with his Saddam comment. I also remember when he said something like, " Our military might not always be the strongest". He was probably right there too. But this is the problem. It is unfortunate, but the art of politics means that sometimes you have to be politic. Sometimes you just can't blurt out everything. It's a game, although a serious one, I know.

I've always thought that Dean was a good man, but being good at politics is more than raising money.

[madfloridian]

27. That is what the others are doing, being circumspect, non-committal.

Actually, watching him speak tonight about the health care and the role of doctors and patients made me realize how far wrong we have gone.

I don't think being politically proper will work much longer. They have the power, and we either try to take it back or we are doomed.

By they, I mean those who put the corporations first, and we as humans last. Things have gone so wrong, that being sweet and nice and not offending Mr. Bush just ain't gonna work.

[ClarkGraham2004]

21. Clark needs to hit NH and SC HARD

An ideal scenario would be:

NH = strong 2nd

SC = strong 1st

[mzmolly]

23. Bob Novak is scarred to death of Dean.

He was sweating on Crossfire with Paul B telling it like it is. He actually ended an interview last week on the subject of Dean. He covered his face with his hand hiding from the camara and asked "can we end this now please?" Begalia said sure, it's just a sign that your losing this debate.

Novak is :scared: and it's clear. More wishful thinking on the part of the Rovies.

[ClarkGraham2004]

24. I don't think you read it right.

The last thing the GOP is, is scared of Dean.

JMO

[Red_Storm]

26. "left-wing billionaire" .......I love that..........LOL !!!!!!!!!