Is it a "sellout" for Clark people to now go to Kerry?

[MrSlayer]

From what has been reported on CNN General Clark spoke to Senator Kerry this afternoon and again tonight before the announcement. It seems that a deal may have been struck. I am dedicated to Clark but if he has a place on the ticket or in the cabinet and he endorses Kerry, I'm with Kerry.

So the question remains, is this a sellout?

[Dookus]

1. of course not...

it's very standard in politics.

I just learned a few minutes ago that Clark has dropped out. I'm still a little shocked and a whole lot sad, but I'll be supporting the nominee no matter who it is, as will Clark.

He's a class act all the way.

[madmax]

2. Tell us more about this 'deal'

I didn't hear anything about it. Please :)

[arewethereyet]

3. its a sell out if they act without reason

IF they feel that Kerry deserves their support then thats what is right for them. Same for any other avenue for thier support.

[quinnox]

4. Clark made a very dignified exit and

I have seen his backers give many compliments to Kerry here before. It is a natural choice to go to Kerry.

I also think Clark will probably be in the Kerry administration in some manner.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Kerry was always my #2

I always felt we needed a veteran on top of the ticket this year, all other policy concerns being equal (which they are).

Bush is going to play 9/11, fear and the flag for all it's worth. Look at all the mileage we're getting out of the AWOL story because Kerry is a war hero. He's not my idea of perfection (that would be Wes), but I'll be rooting my heart out for Kerry in the fall.

[krkaufman]

13. Similar opinion

I'll be nowhere near as enthusiastic for Kerry as this poster come November, but -- with Clark out of the race -- Kerry is the only remaining candidate, IMO, that can beat Bush.

[maddezmom]

22. same here

but I'm holding my support until the nomination, or unless I hear from Clark directly. I trust his judgement.

[Jerseycoa]

6. It's not a sellout

He'll either release us, we'll release ourselves, or he will let us know who he would like us to support. We get to choose.

[Edge]

7. Why would it be selling out to go from one Democrat Candidate...

to another?

[KaraokeKarlton]

8. Other...we all need to let the Clark supporters digest and deal with this

It's one thing to let them know they're welcome in your camp, but I'm seeing too much pushiness towards Clark supporters. That's just not cool. These folks worked really hard for who they believed in and the media and Democratic Party leadership basically shit all over him. Clark supporters are hurt, angry, feel betrayed, probably feel a bit hopeless and dejected and I'm reading comments like Clark dropped out so he could back Kerry or that Edwards is entitled to Clark supporters' votes.

I say, the Dean door is open to the Clark folks should they want to help us give the powers that be a massive collective middle finger, but I'm going to do my best to respect and be considerate of how bad they must be feeling right now.

[democratreformed]

12. Thanks KK

Your compassion is much appreciated and WILL be remembered when I get it all together in a few days.

[RafterMan]

14. Well said.

[mitchum]

15. But you still slipped that Dean pitch in there amidst all the soft...

murmurings of concern

[KaraokeKarlton]

19. Not much of a pitch, just letting you know you're welcome

if at any point any Clark supporters are interested. I wasn't being pushy or demanding, though. We actually have quite a bit in common in the level of crap we've been dealing with as of late. I know it's not much fun. The concern is genuine, and it could just as easily be my camp instead of yours going through this. Sure I hope some of you join us in trying to give the government back to the people, but ultimately, it's not my call and I have no right to place any kind of expectations on you or anyone. I just want you to know that you have a lot to be proud of. You guys put the candidate draft movement on the map, didn't you? I can't ever recall any ofther successful candidate draft movements. You guys have had an impact and done your part to change the way things are done. You should be very proud of that, regardless of where things go from here.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. Is That The Same Dean Whom Him And His Supporters Started The

Clark Is A Crypto Puke Meme?


I have a lomg memory....


In the doctor's defense at least he didn't call General Clark a war criminal like some of his devotees on this board did...


I have a long memory...


Good Bye, General Clark, you are a fundamentally good and decent man.... A true patriot....


You deserved better....

[KaraokeKarlton]

32. There was a lot of nastiness from both camps

However, we do have much in common in the way our outsider candidates have been shunned and mistreated by the establishment. Sure, some Dean supporters attacked Clark, but there were plenty of Clark supporters attacking Dean, too. Six to one, half a dozen to the other. I think most of us have moved beyond that. :shrug:

[revcarol]

17. My sentiments exactly.

I urge all to let the Clark people alone for a while and stop this crass behavior.Spoken from a Kucinich supporter whose candidate was also DLC'ed and de-media-ed.

We can't know what you are going through but your candidate was a class act. You can be proud of his not being part of dirty politics.

[mikehiggins]

9. Clark is an honorable man. There is no "sell-out"

If he is the man I think he is, I expect he will do as much as he can to help the Party win the White House.

As far as I'm concerned the election is over. I'll go into the booth in November and pull down the Democratic lever, just like I always have done. Hopefully our guy will win, whoever he is.

As long as Bush is gone I don't give a rat's ass who it is.

[brainwashed_youth]

10. nope

remember, ABB

[The Magistrate]

11. Prior To Gen. Clark's Entry Into The Race

Sen. Kerry was my choice among the candidates then available. Gen. Clark still seems preferrable to me, but clearly the majority of the Party does not agree, for whatever reason. As he is no longer a candidate, my choice reverts back to Sen. Kerry. Sen. Kerry would be wise, it seems to me, to select Gen. Clark for a running mate, or to make clear he could serve in a Kerry administration as Sec. of State or of Defense.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[deminflorida]

16. This is B.S.

We have to get behind the candidate that wins the nomination PERIOD.

I will support Kerry, but if he stumbles, then so be it. I will support who he stumbles to.

I can't take another 4 damn years of Bush, and neither can alot of other common people in this country.

I'm a fighter, I'll stay in until this fight is decided, NOVEMBER people.

[SadEagle]

18. No. It's your decision to make entirely.

If an endorsement by Gen. Clark, or a guarantee of a cabinet spot for him makes you prefer Sen. Kerry over all other candidats, it's your call. If it doesn't, and you feel like an endorsement doesn't quite sway you, it's also your call. Your only obligation is to do what you feel is best for the country, and I am sure you'll fulfill that

[YouMustBeKiddingMe]

20. What a silly question. Of course it's not a sell out.

It's a DEMOCRATIC Primary. The idea is to chose a final candidate for the whole Democratic Party to stand behind to take on the Republican nominee in November.

It's not uncommon for a candidate that drops out to endorse another candidate either. Happens all the time in primaries.

The whole name of this game is to beat Bush.

[lostnfound]

21. YOUR judgment, not someone else's endorsement, should be deciding factor

because YOU are the one who has the responsibility for ensuring that the person who becomes commander-in-chief of the world's most dangerous arsenal -- and general policy-maker for a nation of 300 or so million.

[HFishbine]

24. A little biased, dont you think?

When of the three alternate candidates listed, only one includes the option of Clark as VP. Don't think that might make a wee bit of difference?

[teevee99]

25. other, i'm with clark. he's my prez

my vote goes to where ever wes is

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

26. Now, my heart says Dean, my head says Kerry and I'm going with the head

I supported Clark because he has so many impressive qualities and would get swing voters. But after listening to Dean on Cspan, I came to realize how much his message spoke to me, as well. I have always been a Harry Truman fan for one thing. Also, he framed the debate, worked the grassroots, everything. I think Clark and Dean are both great and would have been happy with either, they have made humongous contributions and will continue to do that.

But now I will wholeheartedly support Kerry because he is the one to beat Bush and he is the one to deal with the BFEE. It's important that he's a combat vet and war hero. He's got Rand Beers and Joseph Wilson working for him. He's proven he's a smart politician and fights. He is the insider that will anticipate the dirty tricks, the October surprises and all the filthy tricks they will pull. He is getting the black vote and that is really important.

Before Iowa, I thought Kerry must be out of touch the way he was portrayed. As usual, listening to the media is a mistake. I watched him on Cspan and he is great at talking to and relating to ordinary people.

Not a sellout at all, but a smart decision, I think.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

27. Let me also add a comment from a blog called Hullabaloo

because the person makes a great point:

"Kerry's Secret Weapon

Super smart commenter Sara points out something very interesting that may very well be a potent arrow in Kerry's quiver:

Well next month we have yet another book to digest -- from the inside of the Bush White House. Richard Clarke, the former NSC counterterrorism expert from Bush I, Clinton and 2 years plus of Bush II is publishing his insider book that takes no prisnors. Word is that Rove is very afraid of what Clarke has to say -- particularly because Clarke was the August 6 2001 briefer of Bush, and there is a good deal about how he got told never to raise such matters again with Bush. Book will get big play. Richard Clarke knows where all the bodies are buried.

The close collaborator with Richard Clarke -- going back to Bush I at NSC was Rand Beers -- who quit last summer in disgust, and walked down the street and volunteered his services to Kerry, where he has been ever since. Beers eventually drew Joe Wilson into the Kerry camp. Taken together this represents about 75 years of high level Bureaucratic Counterterrorism experience -- and it is super connected with every establishment going. To put it mildly, Kerry is not going into battle unarmed and with pacifist intents. If Bin Laden's been warehoused for use in October -- these are the guys who know it, and know who else knows


Kerry's foreign policy team is formidable and the fact that he has Wilson, Clarke and Beers on board, all of whom have been on the inside of the Cheney administration is very, very interesting.

If Kerry's biding his time with the kind of explosive info that could expose Bush on 9/11 then he is a major league threat. Big Time."

[Renew Deal]

28. That deserves it's own thread.

Please repost that. It deserves it.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

OK! n/t

n/t

[NNN0LHI]

29. I would have very been happy with either of them right from the start

So this is a non-issue for me.

Don

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[neverforget]

31. Kerry was my number 2 but is now my number 1. Clark for VP!

:cry:

[HootieMcBoob]

33. Before Clark entered the race Kerry was my choice

I even voted for Kerry in the Moveon.org straw poll. But when Clark entered it was just apparent to me who the best candidate among the group was. I still believe that Clark stands head and shoulders above the rest. Not only would he have been able to decimate Bush in the general election but he would have been the best president in our lifetimes. He was the one who would have been able to make real changes in Washington and not just talk about how we need change.

We've let a great opportunity slip through our fingers.

Having said all that - I will have no problem at all supporting Kerry now. I think it would be great for him to have Clark's support but I had made up my mind anyway. I don't look to what endorsements a candidate has to make my decisions. At the moment the important things are who can beat Bush in the general election and who would be able to accomplish the most as President given that fact that we are faced with a republican house and senate.

Kerry is the best man in the race at this point.

[Quahog]

34. I got your sellout right here

As I hope everyone who calls themselves a Democrat knows, you either support the candidate who wins our party's nomination, or you "sell out" to George W Bush. All Dem no-shows at the polls in November are collaborators, as far as I'm concerned.

Clark is a good and honorable man, I believe. He sees the need for the party to avoid a squabble that goes all the way to Boston. He will serve his party well in the cabinet of our new Democratic president. We should applaud him and his outspoken courage. But to cling to him as a candidate (when he has voluntarily retired himself) out of some fear of "selling out" is delusional. You can't "sell out" to another of the Dem candidates, because they are not the enemy. The Bush family is the enemy. The PNAC is the enemy. Kerry or Dean or Edwards or whomever comes out on top is on OUR side, eh?