Clark blasting Kerry on Larry King - Was it as bad as they say ?

[Hoppin_Mad]

I heard it described as "Al Haig" like. For those of you not old enough to remember - after Reagan was shot and the VP was out of the country, or indisposed - Al Haig, in a wacky yet terrifying homage to Dr. Stangelove's General Turgidson, announced " I'm in charge here" ! I thought he was going to launch the missiles ! Very scary.

This is what was written about Clark's appearance on CNN.

But Clark is an odd duck, and he started sounding like Alexander Haig on Larry King last night when Bob Dole, one of King's panelists, suggested to Clark that he might be the loser in New Hampshire. Clark exploded: "Senator, with all due respect, he's a lieutenant and I'm a general. You got to get your facts on this. He was a lieutenant in Vietnam. I've done all of the big leadership."

* Village Voice "

Dole said later ( To Sean Hannity ): "I couldn't believe I was listening to a presidential candidate. This guy needs some help."

I'd like to watch it myself.

Link to video anyone ?

Was it really that bad ?

Is Clark the 'Democrat's own Al Haig' ?

-edit - removed paragraph originating from Newsmax + added source of Dole quote

[Dookus]

1. I watched it live...

and didn't even have a slight negative reaction to it. I thought Dole was a bit disrespectful to Clark, and Clark, in his typical manner, smacked him down. He didn't appear angry or upset in the least.

But I'm sure Newsmax has a different take on it.

[xultar]

16. Yet, he didn't let Pineapple boy get away with that shit either! n/t

[Frederic Bastiat]

45. Kerry's jibe about Edwards in diapers was worse

IMO

[RichV]

87. The rank thing came up because

Dole called him Colonel Clark. Not General. And then he said that Kerry was a lt. and he was a general. It didn't come across as a knock on Kerry, but rather a reply to an "insult" by Dole. But my guess is that Dole just misspoke.

[Julien Sorel]

2. Shameless flame bait, and a rules violation.

7. You may not post any material from extreme right-wing sources, specifically WorldNetDaily.com, Newsmax.com, FreeRepublic.com, and their ilk. Material from more "mainstream" conservative writers or sources, such as The Washington Times and Fox News, are permitted as long as the post includes a clear warning about the source. (For example: "WARNING: Please note that this article is written by George Will.")

[Hoppin_Mad]

12. Thanks for the Heads Up - Changing it to The Village Voice now !

thanks

[shance]

3. We would be believing bitter Bob Dole?

Could be, but its not as if he doesnt have an agenda himself.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

61. Dole told him he thought Clark would lose & said he was now a Colonel

instead of a General and Clark is supposed to roll over and play dead?

[democratreformed]

4. No, it was not anything like that from what I've heard n/t

[killbotfactory]

5. If Kerry unashamedly uses his veteren status for political gain...

Why can't Clark?

[progressivebydesign]

35. I hadn't wanted to mention this.. but..

you brought up a good point. Kerry does appear to use his military status a lot. I thought the reunion, a day or two before the caucus, was really pretty manipulative. I mean.. I'm glad he did it, it's a great story.. but God.. Kerry is in the damn phone book, he's not hard to find. Now he has this reunion? It was a little too political for my taste. Becaue Bush has made our country a military state, the Dems are falling all over themselves to push their military experience. There is a hell of a lot more wrong with the country, that cannot be fixed by military experience. Isn't that why we're floundering the way we are?? BEcause TOO MUCH emphasis is on the military and not enough to domestic issues?? If I had to choose between two guys with military experience, I'd choose the one with some domestic experience. Too bad we don't have a veteran, who was also a governor running. I'm a Dean supporter myself.. who will support whomever gets the nomination. I like Dean for his domestic experience. Governors make good Presidents (okay, except for Bush.. but he wasn't much of a Governor!).

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

90. Do you really think the "reunion" was political?

You'd have to be pretty cynical.

[aquart]

6. Bob Dole, the ex-Viagra spokesman, said this?

And you paid attention?

Come now. Dole????

[The Magistrate]

13. Well, Sir

It is largely in Republican sources that criticism of Gen. Clark originates, though some on the left will take it up; after all, the Republican stalking horse must be stopped at any cost....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[Dhalgren]

14. "Come now" and "Viagra" in the same sentence?

Too drole, but very funny.

[boxster]

7. Hmm, they forgot what led to the comment in the first place.

Dole called him, "Colonel", a failed attempt at humor trying to say that Kerry's surge in Iowa was essentially a field demotion for Clark.

Clark, mostly in jest, said that he still outranks Kerry.

Dole didn't say your highlighted statement on Larry King, so I'm not sure where they got that. (I was watching it live.)

[Cheswick2.0]

8. I saw it

Yes that is about what happened. Clark can't seem to relate to civilian life at all.

[ecstatic]

9. Does Clark have a temper? Is he too arrogant? nt

[Joe the Revelator]

10. If I remember correctly....

Clark was smiling through the comments.

[ecstatic]

15. Nastiness with a smile?

Does that work? Are we that stupid?

[BeyondGeography]

19. He wasn't being nasty; Dole baited him

Clark could have handled it better, but smiling does help. It keeps you from being a national joke, for one thing.

[The Magistrate]

20. You May Take It From Me, Sir

That is indeed how it is best done....

"As mild-mannered a man as ever scuttled ship or cut a throat."

[Zomby Woof]

89. true

It didn't work for Dean either.

[bicentennial_baby]

11. Big nothing

Dole deserved what he got. The transcript isn't truly reflective of the tone of the interaction, but here it is:

"KING: Bob, do you have a question for the General?

DOLE: No, I think, you know, it's a tough -- you indicated it's a tough business you're in. Looking at it from my perspective, it seemed to me that John Kerry is a big winner tonight, not just in Iowa but also New Hampshire. I know you can't worry about Kerry's campaign but just as an observer I think he's going to benefit a great deal in New Hampshire. Somebody has to lose. Now, of course, you don't want it to be you but I think it may be you.

CLARK: Senator, let's be honest about this thing. The American people want a change in leadership. They're looking for a candidate that can lead on all of the issues. I'm the only person in this race who has ever done foreign policy and I know all of the domestic issues, too. It's one thing to talk about it, but if you think of foreign policy it's like major league baseball. I'm the only person who has ever played it and I pitch a 95 mile an hour fastball. I've negotiated peace agreements, I've won a war. I'm prepared to help the country that's why I'm running. I'm not worried about John Kerry or anybody else.

DOLE: We're not -- we're discussing here as friends but I think just politically you just became a colonel instead of a general...

CLARK: Well, I don't think that's at all -- Senator, with all due respect, he's a lieutenant and I'm a general. You got to get your facts on this. He was a lieutenant in Vietnam. I've done all of the big leadership. I respect John Kerry and I like him but what I'm going to say it's up to the voters of New Hampshire, South Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, all across this country, and that's what democracy is about. It's your job to handicap the race. It's my job to go out here and do the best thing I can do for the United States of America and that's what I'm going to do.

DOLE: And I certainly wish you luck. I'm not being critical. I'm just being realistic. I've been there and I lost, of course, which is a lot more fun winning but...

CLARK: Well, I'll tell you what, I've been in a lot of tough positions in my life, one of them was leading the operation in Kosovo where I not only had to hold alliance but I had to worry about the Pentagon behind me. I'm looking forward to New Hampshire.

KING: General Clark, we'll see you next week. And Senator Dole just announced his support for you.

DOLE: In Kosovo, he had my support in Kosovo.

CLARK: I know I did and I'm grateful to you, Senator, for that."

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0401/19/lkl.00.html

[silverlib]

17. Thank you -

I'm a DK supporter with a great admiration for all the candidates. I saw it live and am glad you put it to print. It was a BIG NOTHING! Dole took some punches and Clark punched back. It wasn't nasty - It was two politicians disagreeing.

[Hoppin_Mad]

18. Thanks for the transcript -nt-

[maddezmom]

27. blown out of proportion~thanks for the transcript

:)

[bearfartinthewoods]

49. clark so totally missed it!

what a moran. dole does have a cutting wit and i guess clark is just too self absorbed or dim to get the reference of kerry's big win _demoting_ clark in the NH primary. hahah...dole get's it.

[bicentennial_baby]

52. Did you see it?

Clark was in a room full of phone-banking volunteers, and it's quite possible that he did'nt hear Dole completely, esp. since Dole kept interrupting him, which is not reflected in the transcript.

I know you're a Clark hater, so whatever...

[overground1]

50. thanks

[knight_of_the_star]

73. That reads like Dole got the smackdown laid on him

There is a good reason that the pundits don't mess with Wes!

[sandnsea]

21. I thought it was fun

I didn't see any problem with it in the context it was happening. Dole gave a little to Clark, Clark zinged back. He was fine.

[Frederic Bastiat]

22. It's not like he screamed or anything

;)

[Padraig18]

23. Does Clark have a 'loose temper'?

How soon before we hear him make an out-of-control speech to his supporters. Can we trust him not to drop the bomb, etc.,repeat Dean anger memes but substitute 'Clark' for 'Dean'...

:eyes:

[The Magistrate]

34. There Will Be No Such Incidents, Sir

There will be occassional smiling work with a very keen blade: that is the man's style....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[boxster]

44. Somehow, I don't see Clark screaming state names at supporters.

Or loosing a primal yell, for that matter.

[bearfartinthewoods]

54. i don't know about a loose temper...

more like marbles missing if he really means it when he says he'll guarantee no terrorist attacks.. that's like throwing down the gauntlet. on that basis alone i think he's a few short if you know what i mean.

bush says... 'bring 'em on".
clark says.... "We are not going to have one of these incidents."

show me the difference?

[girl gone mad]

75. Exactly..

The RW strategists have seen how the media ran with Dean's Iowa speech, and now they are hoping to pin other candidates into the same corner. "Non-Presidential." Listen for it on the call in shows and look for it in editorials and letters to the ed. That is how they are going to go after our candidates. They'll do it whenever they get a chance to whomever they can.

[JI7]

24. Clark was right

i believe he used the term "junior officer" to describe kerry's status in the military also. but there was nothing wrong with this. it's what kerry was. he didn't make it to general, although he became lt governor, senator. all of these things are good things. and clark worked his way up to general which he should and is proud of. dole insulted his service to country by downgrading him. to clark it was as if dole was disregarding all the hard work he did to become general.

[Justice]

29. Kerry Was Never MA Attorney General

just fyi.

[JI7]

41. thanks

he was actually a prosecutor. but did many good things as that also.

[VolcanoJen]

25. Link to video

Watch the whole thing here and judge for yourself. Be very, very careful when defending Bob Dole. :-)

http://www.us4clark.com/mediaclips.html

Scroll down... second row, last link on the right.

ON EDIT: I just watched this again, and it's proof positive that Bob Dole is still a nasty little pit snake. His condescending attitude toward Clark in that interview is astonishing.

[Hoppin_Mad]

39. Thank - I'll download and watch it later -nt-

[poskonig]

26. The long answer:

No.

[Monument]

32. On the Warpath: General Launches Suprise Attack on Kerry....

...Over Military Resume

Headline in the Boston Globe

NCHESTER, N.H. - Retired Army Gen. Wesley K. Clark is pulling rank on former Navy Lt. John F. Kerry as the two military heroes and Democratic presidential candidates vie to be top gun in the final week of the New Hampshire primary campaign.

Kerry's surprise victory in the Iowa caucus - which Clark skipped - is compelling Clark to downplay the Bay State senator's military credentials even as he highlights his own.

Until Monday night, when Kerry breathed new life into his bid for the White House, Clark had avoided comparing his record with that of other candidates.

But with polls showing Clark and Kerry running neck-and-neck behind former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who did not serve in the military, the general lobbed a grenade.

``He's got a military background but nobody in this race has the military background I've got,'' Clark said.

``It's one thing to be a hero as a junior officer - he's done that and I respect him. But I've had military leadership at the top as well as the bottom - he was a lieutenant in the Navy and I was a four-star general in the Army.''

Kerry's campaign said Clark's comparison was beneath both men. ``Sen. Kerry has a lot of respect for Wesley Clark's military service, his service in Vietnam,'' said Kerry spokesman Michael Meehan. ``It's a sad reflection to play politics about one man's rank versus another in the military.''

Meehan said the retired general shouldn't be playing the title game, given his time as a Washington lobbyist. ``John Kerry's had several titles in his life - lieutenant, prosecutor, lieutenant governor and senator - he's never had the title of lobbyist,'' he said.

But Clark insisted yesterday he is not resorting to ``negative'' campaigning, even as Kerry's campaign is branding him as a lobbyist with Republican ties.

Clark repeatedly stated, ``I stayed with the military,'' detailing his decorated 38-year military career that included a Silver Star for his service in Vietnam, and culminated with his promotion to supreme allied commander of Europe.

Clark's lengthy military resume contrasts sharply with that of Kerry, who resigned his commission after serving in Vietnam and joined the anti-war movement.

``I'm only saying I stayed with the U.S. armed forces and I'm proud I did - lots of us did,'' Clark said. ``We knew at the time that the armed forces were in great difficulty and that we had a crisis of faith. And step by step we rebuilt the armed forces.''

The charges came on the first day of the final New Hampshire sprint - a day each of the major candidates began with a predawn rally at one of the New Hampshire airports, having just flown in from Iowa.

Kerry bounded onto a stage in a Manchester airport hangar to the strains of U2's ``Beautiful Day,'' surrounded by a cadre of local supporters and weary relatives who flew through the night with him after his surprise caucus victory.

A clearly energized Kerry said he hoped to capitalize on the momentum. ``It's your chance now, you're next,'' Kerry said to his New Hampshire supporters.

[progressivebydesign]

37. Look how fast the media spins their attack on the other candidates..

One by one, they will destroy them all. The problem is, that until we get to the last dog standing, the Democrats who didn't see that fact, will have helped destroy the rest of the pack FOR the GOP.

[Bread and Circus]

28. Yeah, I watched it and it proves a few things...

A.) The GOP is scared to face Clark, I think they actually
think they can "get" Kerry due to his Vietnam protest days.

B.) Dole continues to willingly lie, distort, and mislead for
the gain of his treacherous band of thugs.

C.) There are some folks on this thread willing to buy Dole's
BS because they think it helps their candidate.

D.) Clark laid a heavy smackdown on Dole.

E.) Frankly, Clark does have more execute and FP XP than
Kerry, though Kerry is quite competent to challenge Bush.

F.) The GOP thinks we are a bunch of idiots and remedial
buffoons because they are actively trying to spin Democrats
against each other and our candidates.

[poskonig]

38. Amen.

:toast:

[Bread and Circus]

30. P.S. This thread's title is purposely misleading and inflammatory

[Hoppin_Mad]

36. The Village Voice is a respected voice of The Left -nt-

[slinkerwink]

31. I saw that, and it was really that bad....

in fact, it was scary like Dean's concession speech ;-)

[BeyondGeography]

42. Yeah, that's why it's all over the place

Howard Stern, Leno, Letterman, they're all jumping on this. And the talking heads just can't shut up about it. People are e-mailing the MP3 files all around the country. You name it.

[Renew Deal]

33. The Dole quote is from Hannity's radio show.

Funny you used Newsmax and left out some details.

[windansea]

47. uh huh...no link....edited...misleading

now the Dole quote appears to be from Village Voice which it isn't as I just read the article

[Hoppin_Mad]

51. I never said it was from the Village Voice

And just attributed the quote to where it was said.

The Village Voice indicates the paragraph above - but you knew that.

[robsul82]

40. What are we TALKING about here?!?

Wes Clark, for all his faults, did NOTHING wrong on Larry King. He had a big smile on his face, and Hell, I figured he was joking around and just CORRECTING Dole when Dole didn't know his rank (or made a stupid attempt at humor). That's all. Between Dean's speech being blown up into this unbelievably huge EVENT! and Clark suddenly "blasting" Dole, we REALLY need to get a dose of straight truth in here!

Later.

RJS

[The Magistrate]

46. It Is Just The Usual, Sir

Someone who cannot abide a candidate sets about constructing a mountain from a mole-hill; a crowd congregates to chortle over the waste of effort....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[maddezmom]

43. do you have the link for The Villlage Voice?

thanks :)

[Hoppin_Mad]

48. Yes - Here it is

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0403/nh5.php

[jumptheshadow]

53. It's in this category

I saw it and I wished Clark hadn't said it because I knew it would be blown out of proportion and misconstrued.

It sounds like something that might be a bit of a joke between the two men. In fact, given Dole's military background, it could be an inside joke among all three men.

Dole is a sarcastic guy. Clark showed him up a bit and Dole was responding with his razor-edged tongue.

[Kahuna]

55. Your sources are Hannity, Dole and Newsmax. Why don't you..

gio to them to confirm?

[Hoppin_Mad]

56. Wrong - The Village Voice compared him to Al 'unhinged' Haig -nt-

[kerry-is-my-prez]

57. That's rich! After complaining for days about the treatment of THEIR

candidate - a Dean supporter does the same exact thing to another candidiate.

[jumptheshadow]

58. Hmmm....

And look at the Kerry-bashing threads they've launched in the past day...

[Hoppin_Mad]

60. Moi ? No way - Kerry's OK in my book !

[Name removed]

72. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BearFlagDemocrat]

80. Karma's a bitch. n/t

.

[jmaier]

59. Hoppin

This post is a nice move: deflect attention away from Gov Dean and stir the Clark vs Kerry pot. LOL

[maddezmom]

62. and edited a few times along the way

:(

[laruemtt]

63. i saw it too and felt a mild blip

on my radar by it. and now the media are doing what they do with it. i'm a huge clark supporter but i e-mailed them and told them he needs to neutralize this whole "general versus lieutenant" thing because it's turning people off! he's got too much going for him to have to resort to this type of one-upmanship. he's still my boy!

[maddezmom]

64. the campaign must be listening, here's a link

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/01/21/politics1423EST0601.DTL

[xray s]

65. How I wish Clark would have responded

Sometimes Clark seems too anxious to respond to attacks. He has to sit back, let them throw their curve ball, then hit it out of the park, like this...

DOLE: And I certainly wish you luck. I'm not being critical. I'm just being realistic. I've been there and I lost, of course, which is a lot more fun winning but...

CLARK: Senator, when you lost, you lost to Bill Clinton, a great President with a record of peace and prosperity. I will be running against George Bush. That is why I think I will win.

[Justice]

66. Great!

I think Clark often responds with humor - and that wins every time. I wish he had a bit more humor.

On the other hand, there was probably not anything worse that Dole could say than that Clark would lose and that Clark was demoted.

It is funny - people on DU always say Dems don't fight back - but when they do (whether it is Kerry, Dean or Clark etc) DUers are right there piling on the criticism.

[Leilani]

67. Because your candidate has screwed up

you're trying to cause trouble between Kerry & Clark people.

It won't work.

I respect John Kerry, & his supporters have been terrific.
They don't start flamebaits, & they're not hateful; neither are the Edwards people.

[OKNancy]

68. Yeeeeehaawww

[Hoppin_Mad]

76. LOL - I have no problem with Kerry - He's a real Dem - as for The General

That's another matter .

[West Coast Democrat]

69. I didn't see it

but from what I hear, if there was any negative press about Clark's appearance, it was completely muted by the uproar over Dean's WWF-style speech Monday night.

[LiberalBushFan]

70. you left out what Bob Dole said immediately before Clark's statement

where Dole made a jibe at Clark concerning his and Kerry's ranks. Flamebait.

[Kira]

71. I am a Dean supporter

who is very glad you started this thread. Clark is my second choice and although I have not given up on Dean I am watching Clark more carefully because I am worried about what is happening to Dean.I feel that the media, pundits and other Dems are now doing to Clark exactly what they did to Dean. Clark was simply pointing out his experience. They were saying he did not have the same experience Kerry did legistlating and Clark was explaining what he did during his career in the military. Obviously, a General has more responsibility and decision making then a Lieutenant (which I think was Kerry's rank.) He wasn't putting him down. That is absurd! I am so sick of this. Also I am a women and like Clark very much. He is very nice to look at and is extremely smart. That is a winning combination. And since when has * been able to give a speech that wasn't written? At least Clark can write his own!

[Name removed]

74. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mot78]

78. Nice post VA4Lieberman

Welcome to DU:toast:....but put on a flame-proof suit....Lieberman has it tough on here.

[Hoppin_Mad]

82. Welcome V4L ! Joe Lieberman is his own man - I admire his courage -nt-

[VirginiaIs4Lieberman]

86. Yeah Lieberman is in trouble

Virginia votes on Feb 10. If Lieberman is out of it, I think I will vote for Dean. I think he is his own man as well.

[Hoppin_Mad]

91. Thanks for your consideration V4L ! Lieberman supporters rock ! :-)

[Woodstock]

77. sounds like a tempest in a teapot

Give 'em hell, Clark. I'm SO sick of rethugs dissing out guys and us repeating it like gospel to promote one candidate over another.

THEY ARE REPUBLICANS - THEY WANT US TO LOOK BAD.

WE ARE DEMOCRATS - WE CAN CHOOSE TO IGNORE THEIR BALONEY.

[economic justice]

79. I watched it - I'm a Clark guy - and it was BAD!

I have been thinking for a few days now about my support for Clark. This was one of three things that have REALLY troubled me lately. I saw the interview and was blown away that he would say something like that. The "General for the troops?" He seemed to be denigrating Kerry's HEROIC military service. I was ticked off and called the Clark office. My two cents...

[Hoppin_Mad]

81. Thanks for your honest reply ! -nt-

[kerryistheanswer]

85. Thanks for your honesty

It reminds me of when somebody told Clark that they thought his Health Care plan was fluff. He went crazy on the guy - why can't he just respond in a calm, respectful manner?

Life isn't boot camp.

[kerryistheanswer]

83. I thought it was quite bad

And I like Clark but he was completely on the offense against Bob DOle.

Say what you want about Bob Dole but he's a diplomat who told Clark that Kerry would beat him in NH. Do you know how many times Kerry and Edwards have been told such things by the pundits? They don't react like Clark.

Please watch for yourself and let me know what you think.

[Justice]

84. Clark Is On C-Span Praising Kerry Right Now

Clark just said - I like John Kerry, he is a friend of mine, as far as I am concerned he is a patriot - I am just here to tell you what I stand for -- and it is up to the people of New Hampshire to decide.

Very very classy.

[gauguin57]

88. he'd BETTER say nice stuff about Kerry

to make up for his obnoxious rank-pulling over the last few days. Sorry, but that's a real turn-off -- trying to diminish Kerry's war heroism by referring to him a "junior officer while I was the general blah blah blah."

I saw the Larry King deal, and it pissed me off.

From everything I've heard about Clark, he's very MUCH the general ... as in "MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY." To be president, you must be a leader AND a compromiser. Clark may be the former, but he ain't the latter. He has to have things his own way, and damn the torpedoes.

And, sorry ... he became a Democrat too recently for my taste.

[Justice]

92. Guess What - Kerry Also Said Nice Things About Clark

Today on CNN.

People are too funny - one minute complaining that their guy is being quoted out of context, or the quote is being overblown and the next minute they are doing the same thing to someone else's guy.

If you can be honest and admit that Clark reaction to Dole was more about what a jerk Dole was being than any slam on Kerry - well then, it is no use trying.

Anyway, seems that Kerry and Clark are friends. That is what matters.

[LTR]

93. What Clark should have said

"Is that you or the Viagra talking?"

[bobbyboucher]

94. This all seems sooooo familiar.

What the hell is going on around here? There is so much negative shit being thrust upon us here at DU you would think we are at FR. Yeah, I said it.

Besides noticing that way too many regulars are not around any more, I think this place is one big "under the bridge" fest.

Tell me I am wrong.