10/2/06 - Brown, Clark Promote Security, Integrity

Brown, Clark Promote Security, Integrity

October 2, 2006 AP | via CBS13

Clark, a former NATO commander, said Republicans had failed to provide honest, competent leadership. He said Brown would help bring the government back to "public service rather than selfish service."

(AP) SACRAMENTO - Democratic congressional challenger Charlie Brown, engaged in a longshot bid to unseat Republican Rep. John Doolittle, campaigned with retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark on Monday and sounded the themes of security and integrity.

The evening rally at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial near the state Capitol had the feel of an event intended to resonate with the congressional district's conservative voters. Republicans hold an 18-point voter registration edge.

Brown and Clark served in Vietnam -- Brown as a helicopter rescue pilot and Clark as an Army officer who was awarded the Silver Star.

Clark, a former NATO commander, said Republicans had failed to provide honest, competent leadership. He said Brown would help bring the government back to "public service rather than selfish service."

Brown, 56, has drawn considerable attention in his first bid for public office. But the retired Air Force lieutenant colonel faces a struggle against the eight-term incumbent in the strongly Republican Northern California district.

Republicans comprise 48 percent of registered voters in the 4th Congressional District -- which encompasses the far northeast corner of the state. Democrats are about 30 percent.

Brown said his rally was a contrast to a planned Doolittle event Tuesday featuring President Bush at an El Dorado Hills country club.

"What he's doing is fundraising," Brown said of Doolittle. "This is campaigning."

Under Doolittle and others, Brown said, politicians in Washington had strayed from the constitutional idea of "we the people."

"We need leadership to represent the people and not just the money groups," he said, reprising a familiar theme of his campaign.

Brown has criticized Doolittle for his ties to Jack Abramoff, the GOP lobbyist who pleaded guilty in a conspiracy to corrupt public officials.

Doolittle accepted campaign money from Abramoff and used the lobbyist's luxury sports box for a fundraiser without initially reporting it, although he has denied wrongdoing. His wife and one of his former aides also worked for Abramoff.

Clark -- who has been mentioned as a possible presidential contender again in 2008 -- also defended the Democrats' record on national security under President Bill Clinton, which he called "pretty strong."

Citing Clinton-era actions such as the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999, Clark dismissed Republicans' contention that a Democrat-controlled Congress would deal a blow to the fight against terrorism.

"This is the third election in a row bashing Democrats on national security," Clark said. "But since this administration has been in office, we've had nothing but security problems."

Brown on Monday also called for Doolittle to return a donation he received from Mark Foley, the Republican Florida congressman who resigned last week after sexually explicit e-mails he sent to congressional pages were made public.

Doolittle should say what he knew about Foley's actions and return $1,000 he received from him in 2002, Brown said.

Doolittle issued a statement through his House office on Monday condemning Foley. Calls requesting comment from his campaign Monday evening were not returned.