“That is what we call leadership.”

“That is what we call leadership.”

Pat Mattos Minneapolis, Minnesota

I first learned of Wes Clark during the Kosovo campaign and became reacquainted with him when he was a military analyst for CNN. His insightful analysis of the situation in Iraq, and his obvious distress that we went to war under these circumstances got my attention.
I researched him further and found that we have in General Clark a man whose first concern truly is the welfare of this country.
His has an idealistic view of our country and its promise, and helps rekindle it in those who are willing to listen.
That idealism does not mean he sees the world through rose-colored glasses. Far from it. He tells us the truth, even when it goes against public opinion. That is what we call leadership.
It is rare, it is a treasure and it defines General Clark.

“He looks at you as if to say ‘you matter.’”

“He looks at you as if to say 'you matter.'”

Carol Kilyanek
New York City

The more I read and learned, the more I came to realize that Wesley Clark wasn’t just a 4 Star General who actually had the courage to speak out against this war before it started, he was also a really good man, an amazing leader, someone who hoped for the world what I wanted for it, a truly selfless man who would always put the good of the country and the world ahead of his own.

The first time I met General Clark I thought, “He looks at you as if to say ‘you matter.’”

When I met him at an event attended by folks way more important than me, I remembered that impression as he stood and talked to me (I was very underdressed in black jeans and a jean jacket-obviously a “nobody” - as men in suits milled around me) and really listened to me, for the longest time, until organizers of the event urged him on to meet those more important folks, the ones who might have something to say about his political future.

To General Clark, I and my concerns were just as important as anyone else in that room. That meant a lot to me. It is rare to find someone who truly cares about what he can do for people, rather than what they can do for him.

“…A man who understands the value of each and every life”

“ …A man who understands the value of each and every life ”

Kathryn G.
Texas

My son decided long ago that he intended to make the military a career. He's an honors' scholar and is majoring in political science and international affairs; a kid who is a Democrat through and through and values the leadership in a military that is based on a meritocracy.

My selfish, personal reason: I would trust Wes Clark with my son's life.

Wes Clark is a man who understands the value of each and every life and what a tragedy it is to lose even one. He understands that every action he takes has consequences. Wes has used his talents, his skill and his conscience to make sure that every decision he makes guarantees the best outcome with the least cost in lives and heartache. Tirelessly, sleeplessly and with unfailing courage and unceasing care.

Oh, there are a lot of politicians that I might vote for, but there are NONE that deserve to make the decision about whether my son lives or dies. Except Wes Clark. Because you see, I think he may be the only one out there that values my son as much as I do.

"He is a soldier-statesman who embodies the essence of American values…"

“He is a soldier-statesman who embodies the essence of American values…”

Ruth Benedict
Downingtown, Pennsylvania

He is genuine. Wes Clark reaches out to friends and acquaintances alike with the same warmth and kindness and revels in it. His personality is absent of conceit and phony veneer but filled with a genuine love of life and the challenges it presents. Wes Clark could be your next-door neighbor or your next president, but he remains true to himself and his values. His eyes reveal the sincerity in his soul.

He is human. Wes Clark can display an extraordinary spectrum of human emotion. He can share a hearty laugh in good company, share concerns over a cold beer, or shed tears over a tragic event. His fluid intelligence and understanding of the human condition allow him to formulate a candid and appropriate response in any situation.

He is fearless. Wes Clark will boldly enter the lion’s den without hesitation. His courage in the face of severe opposition is unmatched on the battlefield and in life circumstances. Both friend and foe can only marvel at his dauntless spirit.

One only needs to be in the company of Wes Clark for a short while to experience his authentic human qualities. He is a soldier-statesman who embodies the essence of American values through word and deed. He cares, he understands, and he can be trusted as a leader on the world stage. It is an honor to know him and support him.

“A true patriot”

“A true patriot”

Rachel Fox
Portland, Oregon

After September 11th, I rallied behind my President and my government. Unfortunately, I lost belief in the Bush administration soon after and started to question their responses. I'm called a "Security Mom", mother of two young children.

Reading and hearing Wesley Clark's words in print and on television brought a reality to me that I hadn't heard before. I became very involved in my community; I would have never expected I’d respond this way. All of a sudden I was organizing my state for Democrats, energizing people to get out and vote.

I traveled to rural communities to speak about progressive candidates and how important it is for us to wake up and be true to our constitution and hold our government accountable. I am proud to support Wesley Clark because he is a true patriot.

Can you imagine what our country could be if we had a true veteran patriot like Clark leading us today?

“We trust him with our eyes wide open”

“We trust him with our eyes wide open”

Tom Rinaldo
Phoenicia, New York

I find that many of the most committed Clark supporters started out being interested in Wes Clark for very pragmatic political reasons but ended up loyal for life to him for deeply idealistic reasons. As a group you will find many recovering cynics among us, pragmatic cynics who realized that we could not afford to stand back any longer while a hard right Republican junta stole America away from us. We were looking for someone with the right stuff to beat Bush, someone we thought average Americans would respond to. I would never have considered supporting a General if it weren't for that reason, and that is how I started out viewing Clark, as a General who seemed sensible and intelligent enough that people could feel secure voting Bush out of office during a time of war.

So I understand it when people don't "get" Clark right away. I didn't either. Because I viewed electoral politics as a cynical endeavor I wasn't looking for a candidate to fall in love with, just someone who could win who I thought I could at least tolerate. The last time I actually felt idealistic about Presidential politics was when Bobby Kennedy ran for President. That was a long time ago.

Probably if I had been less cynical about politics I never would have considered Clark. I would have gone looking for a man with a life story I could more easily relate to, someone who frequently opposed the military probably, someone who had cast some courageous votes on issues that mattered to me perhaps. Certainly not someone who recently retired from 34 years in the Army. But I wasn't being idealistic, I was being pragmatic, I badly wanted to win. So I looked into this General, Wesley K. Clark. I thought it would be hard to get excited about Clark. I thought I might be embarrassed admitting to my typically radical friends that I was backing a General for President. I was never so wrong in my life.

The first real clue came when I went to the Draft Clark web site and started reading hundreds of letters that were being sent to Wes Clark from all across the country begging him to run. I found myself crying at times while reading some. I couldn't type cast the type people who were writing to Clark. There seemed to be nothing that they had in common except their sincerity and fears, fears for our future, fears for their children. But the fear weren't about terrorists, the fears were over the actions of our own government. And it wasn't just Democrats writing. Time and time again I read, "I'm a Republican but I would be honored to support you".

Yet it wasn't just moderates and conservatives writing either. There were a whole lot of Liberals, Radicals, environmentalists and peace and justice activists begging Clark to run also, and they weren't sounding cynical and pragmatic, they were sounding honest and passionate about their reasons for wanting Wes to run. They were sounding the way I started sounding a few weeks later. They just happened to discover Wes Clark a little sooner than I did, and they already had a grasp of who he really was.

A piece like this is hard to write because it does come from my heart and it does flow from my ideals, but you don't know me, we haven't met. I was fortunate enough to meet Wesley Clark soon after I decided to support him. Clark was speaking at a relatively small fund raiser in New York City that I went to. I stood near him and there is something special about being able to do that of course, with anyone who commands attention, but it was so easy with Clark to sense his candor, to hear his honesty, and to see the sincerity in both his comments and his smile. So what, I could have said, there are a lot of good people in the world. In a way I did say exactly that to myself, and that was my cynicism falling. I saw Wes Clark as a good man, not just a General who frightened Americans might vote for.

The more you are exposed to Wesley Clark, the clearer that becomes. He is a good man. He is an honest man. He is an honorable man. He is also unbelievably brilliant and thoughtful, and the two are not always combined. There is no arrogance in Wesley Clark, though there is a strong sense of purpose and deeply held convictions. All of that quickly becomes clear if you spend any time around him, or even if you take the time to read much of what he has written. His warmth really comes across in person. He loved being with us on the campaign trail.

When it was over, after Clark withdrew from the Presidential race, many of his supporters, especially those of us who worked to draft Clark, had pangs of guilt. What had we dragged this good man through who had already devoted his entire life to his country? It got ugly at times as we all know, and in Clark's case the Republican attack dogs were on him from day one, because they feared him. They went right at his character, at his honor, at his accomplishments. These are all things that mattered greatly to Clark, and they tried to tear them down, they and their media jackals. I can't tell you how often Clark supporters wondered if were we wrong to call him out of retirement to put him through this. Honestly, our guilt clouded our vision of the warrior in Clark, the fighter for whom service was a higher calling than comfort. Clark's reaction to the entire experience was to thank all of us for allowing him a rare opportunity to have his voice heard in the debate on the issues he deeply cares about. So much for guilt, he didn't miss a beat. Within days, Clark was back on the trail fighting just as hard against George Bush and his failed policies on behalf of John Kerry as he had for himself.

Clark is a four star General. He is not intimidated by his enemies and he was not intimidated by Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft and PNAC rolled together. He directly called them out, time and time again, and that type of boldness, that type of focus, is inspirational once you tap into it. By now, we who are his close supporters will follow Wes Clark anywhere. We trust him with our eyes wide open. He is a true leader, and yes, he is a true hero. Clark's life story is one of triumph against challenges, of perseverance against obstacles, and of courage under fire. It is worth looking into.

You notice I have not said a single word about any of Wesley Clark's positions and policies. Sure I studied them. I studied them when I first looked into supporting Clark, and I studied them again when it came time to explain and defend them. I was amazed at how much I strongly agree with them, to tell you the truth. I suppose that's a hangover from my initial knee jerk reaction to backing a career military officer. But you know that simplistic prejudice, because now I see that it indeed is what it was, has mostly dissolved now, and I thank Wesley Clark for that also. So yes, I like where Wes Clark stands on the issues, but I love how Wes Clark stands for what he believes is right. And almost always I agree with him on that, but even if I don't, I never doubt that Clark is saying what he really believes when he explains his position, and knowing that is a real liberation, freeing me from another shred of my cynicism.

But here is the greatest gift my involvement in Wes Clark's campaign has given me. I have my idealism back. I have pride in my country again. Not blind pride, I still see the stains on our past and the sins of our present. But I believe there is a revolutionary, multi cultural spirit in America that we can draw on, that we can build on to correct some wrongs and promote some good. And we can do that under an American flag because the Republicans don't own it. Clark is very clear on that. This is our country too, we can love it and we can embrace the aspects of it that we seek to strengthen and are proud of, and work to change the rest. It took a patriot like Wes Clark to help me understand that I am a patriot also. Our nation was founded by radical patriots, and there is much work left to do.

“A way to make Americans more secure”

“A way to make Americans more secure”

Shari Rosefelt
Longwood, Florida

General Wes Clark has the answers needed by Americans at a time when we have become lost. With his keen intelligence, he has a vision for Iraq and a way to make Americans become secure. He is a man respected around the world for his intelligence and common sense. Clark is sensitive to our right to privacy, is pro-choice, pro-affirmative action based on the diversity programs in the army and loves the environment.

General Clark, you inspire me to do anything I can to help you to realize your goals.

“You know what really bugs me?”

“You know what really bugs me?”

Tricia Keith Spiegel
California

Clark’s resume is stunning. But, you know what really bugs me? When someone says, “Wesley Clark can’t be President because he hasn’t held an elected office.”

As the most decorated soldier since Eisenhower, Clark’s 34 years of public service has accorded him more leadership experience than most politicians will ever have in their lifetime! Furthermore, the world is so interconnected now, that our country will remain vulnerable unless we have leaders like Wesley Clark who have proven track records when it comes to building international coalitions and pursuing diplomatic solutions to difficult problems.

The General knows war, and he also constantly reminds us that war is the very last resort. I hope to see the day when we have an established leader, not just a politician, at the helm of our country.

"His commitment to excellence was evident at an early stage of his career."

“His commitment to excellence was evident at an early stage of his career.”

Rick St. John
Richmond, Virginia

 
During the early months when Wes Clark announced his intention to run for president, I had a conversation with my father about him. Wes and my father graduated from West Point in the class of 1966, where Wes was ranked number one.  His best friend at West Point was my father's roommate.  My father told me that when he would be leaving the room at night for a little recreation, Wes would be arriving with a stack of text books to study the night away.  His commitment to excellence was evident at an early stage of his career.
 
 
My father had a wonderful career in the military and was highly decorated in Vietnam for bravery and valor.  He was always promoted to the next higher rank ahead of most of his peers and received great assignments.  That being said, Wes was promoted WAY ahead of everyone else and after a while was several ranks ahead of anyone in the entire class of 1966.  His intelligence, determination, work ethic, and integrity was recognized by his superiors at all levels.
 
 
He naturally rises above all the others and to this day, displays the same commitment to excellence.

“I felt very much American”

“I felt very much American”

Dom Manalo, PhD

As a molecular biologist and postdoctoral fellow in 2001, it was the threat of the ban on embryonic stem cell research by George W. Bush that awakened me to his dangerous agenda. Bush set forth a policy to undermine science in this country. It particularly provoked me into citizen activism; and I visited Congress in July 2001, along with a contingent of other graduate students to appeal before our Representatives for greater appropriations in NIH research funding.

Wes Clark has been a very vocal advocate for science and technology, and I knew that he would help restore the integrity of our institution. By 2003, I joined a group of concerned citizens who were part of the Draft Clark movement in order to help elect him. Most of them confided that they had never participated in politics before. We all had a common cause, and, in Wes Clark, we had someone to believe in who would take up that cause.

I had unlimited energy that was inspired through his leadership and our common cause. Letter writing, sign waves, weekend trips to Delaware, phone banking and Meetups-we were all new to this, it was exciting and we learned a lot, not just about Wes Clark, but about why we fight together for common causes.

I felt very much, American.

“Not your everyday soldier...”

“Not your everyday soldier...”

Senior for Clark
California

Once I got to know a lot about General Wesley Clark, I could not understand why some people, including a few of his military colleagues, made some criticisms that just didn’t make any sense or for which there was any evidence, especially about a man who was first in his class at West Point and who could have lost his life after taking four bullets in Viet Nam. It was always clear that Clark was not your everyday soldier, but why the occasional bad mouthing?

When I read this quote from General Barry McCaffrey, I fully understood why:

“Wes was always looked on as too well-educated, too wired, too good-looking. He’s not a simple crunch soldier.”

It’s sad but true that being bright, highly motivated to achieve, and handsome to boot is a sure-fire recipe for those twin green monsters, ENVY and RESENTMENT. For our nation’s own good, we need to put egos aside and bestow honor upon someone who served his country so admirably for his entire adult lifetime.

"The Man for all Reasons"

““The Man for all Reasons.””

From the right front seat
Cris Hernandez Jr, Chief Warrant Officer (Ret)
Former Personal Security Officer to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Casa Grande, Arizona

If you are lucky, once in your lifetime a truly exceptional person will cross your path. I met and know such a person: General Wesley Clark. For three years, I had the privilege of working for General Clark when he served as Supreme Allied Commander-Europe. I can attest to the fact that he is a General's General and a soldier's General.

I first met General Clark in June 1998 on a special assignment in Maastricht, Belgium, in support of General Hugh Shelton. I was immediately struck by two things. First, although General Clark wore the uniform of a four star General, he spoke as though he were a polished diplomat. He seemed comfortable in both worlds - as a General and as a spokesman for NATO.

The second thing I noticed was the way he treated his subordinates. He treated everyone equally, regardless of their rank, and he listened - really listened - to what people had to say. And the General's security detail clearly loved working for him. This is not common; most security guys don't get to know their principals on a personal basis.

A year later, I got a call from my assignment officer. He told me I could either work at the Pentagon for the Secretary of Defense, or I could work for General Clark. After my memorable first encounter with him, there was no question what I would do. I said that I wanted to work for General Clark.

In the weeks before I arrived at SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe), I thought that I would be the "token Hispanic." When I arrived, I quickly found out that I was mistaken. I had never seen so many minorities working in any high-powered setting. I learned that it was because General Clark values diversity and wants to give everyone a chance.

And from the moment I arrived, General Clark and his wife did everything they could to make me feel welcome. My first assignment was to take the General to his quarters and then to a dinner engagement with NATO officials. After the event, the first thing General Clark asked me was whether I had gotten anything to eat. To most four-star generals, security is an instrument. With General Clark, it was a different story. He always treated his staff like family.

During the war in Kosovo, I saw how deeply compassionate General Clark is. He worried about the pilots who were out on night missions, and he would not go to sleep until he knew the last pilot had bedded down. Instead, he would work in his study, going over the latest intelligence reports and providing updates to the alliance and officials back in Washington. When he finally went to bed, it was only for two hours, and more often than not, he would be awakened by calls. His instruction to me before going to bed was: "Chris, push every call through." No rest for the General.

In fact, I don't think anyone in the U.S. armed forces worked harder than the General. His superiors in Washington, DC knew this. They would often preface their calls by saying, "Don't wake General Clark." All of us who worked for him were amazed by his constant upbeat tempo and energy. We wanted to do everything possible to take care of him because he was doing so much for America and NATO.

And no matter how pressing a situation became, General Clark always stayed calm. I recall when an F-117 went down - the only plane to go down during the entire campaign. In contrast to other officers I knew who would explode in tense moments, General Clark remained calm and efficiently took the necessary steps.

I don't think anyone else could have done what the General did at NATO. For anyone who thinks that was a small accomplishment, just get nineteen friends together for dinner and try to pick a restaurant as a group. General Clark took nineteen countries and built consensus through dialogue. He gave Milosevic a chance, and then took action only as a last resort.

General Clark is an extraordinary leader. People trusted him because they knew that he was honest and a straight shooter. And there was no mincing words with him. He always wanted to hear the truth. You didn't put things off. He wanted to know what had gone wrong so that he could make corrections and get back on the right track.

But most of all, General Clark is loyal -- loyal to his country and to the United States Army, the organization that brought him up from West Point cadet to Supreme Allied Commander. I have worked around a lot of generals, and I can say that the Boss is one of the best I've ever worked with. He cared deeply about the soldiers he led, treated all of us who worked for him with the highest respect, and served his country with dedication, courage and honor.

“It was the closest I've seen a politician mirror the idea of thinking ahead at least 7 generations.”

“It was the closest I've seen a politician mirror the idea of thinking ahead at least 7 generations.”

Brent Housteau
from CCN

I echo the experience of never expecting to support a General for much of anything. "Republicrats" was a common word in my vocabulary up until the fall of 2003 at which time I registered for the Democratic Party. I was a supporter of the Greens and Libertarians for many years, liking some of what each had to say, and disliking a lot.

I first heard of the General from his CNN commentary on the run up and during the first stages of the Iraq invasion. He seemed honest and was one of the few people on TV sharing intelligent concerns about the invasion. I later saw a Hardball appearance and learned of the Draft Clark movement. I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about him and the movement.

After he announced his candidacy, I checked out his website and was extremely surprised to see a link to Wes' "100 Year Vision". Never had a seen a politician speak or write in those terms. I have studied indigenous cultures, and it was the closest I've seen a politician mirror the idea of thinking ahead at least 7 generations. I was very impressed and have not been disappointed by the General since.

I met him once in person on Super Bowl Sunday 2004 while volunteering in Flagstaff, Arizona. He was every bit impressive and sincere in person as I had seen on TV. I can’t wait to help the General take back our Country.

"I assumed it was because of his Hollywood leading man looks..."

“I assumed it was because of his Hollywood leading man looks”

Rich Racimora
Aptos, California

My wife and I were watching the Bill Maher show in late 2003 when General Clark was introduced as a guest. My wife took such quick notice that I simply assumed it was because of his Hollywood leading man looks. (I confess, he did remind me a little of one of my own favorites, Steve McQueen.) Well, I had never seen my wife so excited by any public figure, so my knee-jerk reaction was to not like him. But after listening for just a few minutes I realized that here was an incredibly bright man.

So, then I thought “H’mm, being both handsome and brilliant means he must also be conceited and egotistical.”

But instead, he was coming across as warm, caring, and trustworthy. So I decided to learn more about him. I learned that General Clark has accomplished more in his lifetime than most leaders and politicians.

I have since attended an event where he was the major attraction. Despite being greeted like a rock star, he mingled a long while after his speech, shaking every extended hand, smiling through photo ops, and chatting comfortably as he mingled with the crowd. I ended up working hard to support his efforts to make changes in our country.

Once you know all about him, you know he is the leader we need. If he runs for President again, I plan to do all I can to support him in this effort.

“…A positive values-driven vision.”

“…A positive values-driven vision.”

Florence Upson Arlington, Virginia

As a General Clark supporter since October 2003, I believe his national service commitment, character, integrity, humble roots, and qualifications make him the best possible person to be President and to unite this country for a better future.
He has a positive values-driven vision and a strong appeal across ideological lines. General Clark and his vision appeal to liberals, moderates, and even some conservatives. (My 91 year old father, a great judge of people, has always voted a straight Republican ticket, but he promises to support General Clark over any Republican opponent.)
General Clark always stands for what he thinks is in the best current and future interests of the country and the world. In the eight meetings I have attended with General Clark, he has treated everyone with warmth and respect. WesPAC has the best, nicest, most committed, highly motivated supporters of any volunteer organization I have known.

“Wes Clark is far more than a “military man”.

“That is what we call leadership.”

Debby Burroughs, RN
Richmond, Virginia

One of the first things that you’d associate with Wes Clark if you didn’t know much about him is that he knows national security and is an expert on this topic. After all, he spent his entire adult life in the military, from his West Point cadet days through the rank of Four Star General and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. You’d also likely assume that military security was ALL he knew. After doing my homework and learning as much as possible about Wes Clark, I found that his education, experience and intelligence make him an expert in many types of security.

With a Master's degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford, experience as an investment banker, advisor to technology firms, leader of military bases the size of large cities, overseeing schools, healthcare, infrastructure, family support, among many other aspects of daily life, he realizes what security means on a personal and family level. His own family members have been faced with job loss and he knows first hand how that impacts the individual and the family.

We have heard so much over the past 5 years about terrorism and national security that we may tend to forget that day-to-day, individuals worry about their own basic needs; healthcare security, financial and economic security and the security of knowing personal freedoms are intact. During the time of the presidential primary for the 2004 election, Wes Clark put forth his plans and solutions to address all these aspects of daily life that affect each of us. His plans are visionary, thoughtful, practical and achievable.

It’s very clear to me that Wes Clark is far more than a “military man.” He is a well-rounded and knowledgeable leader in addition to being a thoughtful and caring family man who is in touch with the values and concerns of Americans of all stripes. The more I learn about him, the more I watch and listen to him, the more certain I am that he is the person who can best lead our country, bring together a nation of people who have been badly divided, and provide solutions that will improve our lives and our standing in the world.

I will continue to support and work for the principles that he espouses, and to encourage others to learn what he stands for and what he can accomplish if we give him the opportunity.

“Most important to me was his integrity as shown in his determination …to prevent the killing of innocent Kosovars”

“Most important to me was his integrity as shown in his determination …to prevent the killing of innocent Kosovars”

Lt. Col. Fred Seamon
U.S. Army (ret.)
Soquel, California

I retired from the US Army in 1983 after a career spanning almost 23 years, I was perhaps the leading expert on Yugoslavia and the Balkans in the US military. I concluded my military career as US Army Attaché to Yugoslavia. I served in positions directly associated with the region for fifteen years and after my retirement engaged in economic development activities in the former Yugoslavia.

During my service as Army Attaché in the US Embassy in Belgrade, I became aware of the desire of the Serbs to replace Albanians as the majority ethnic group in Kosovo, the medieval birthplace of the Kingdom of Serbia, and that they were willing to go to virtually any length to do so.

I first became aware of General Clark in 1999 when, as NATO commander, he led a coalition that prevented the Serbs from killing or displacing thousands of innocent ethnic Albanian residents of Kosovo, without a single loss to NATO Forces. I found much to admire in the General.

Most important to me was his integrity as shown in his determination to do what was right, to prevent the killing of innocent Kosovars, despite the opposition of his superiors. I personally believe that humanitarian intervention to prevent of the killing of innocent civilians is one of a very few valid reasons for engaging in war.

I was impressed by his political skills in creating a multi-national coalition among NATO countries who had never before been involved in a conflict and his skillful military leadership which resulted in zero coalition losses during the war with the Serbs.

As an officer who was engaged in political-military affairs involving cooperation with US government agencies outside the Department of Defense, I was especially impressed with his work with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Ambassador Richard Holbrooke in preparing the Dayton Accords that brought the war in Kosovo to an end.

I support Wesley Clark because of his integrity and intelligence. He is a proven military and political leader; a coalition builder and multilateralist who supports the United Nations at a time when we need to cooperate with other nations to combat terrorism and other threats.

“What's with all the Clarkies?”

“What's with all the Clarkies?”

Random User

Many have wondered about the steady following that Wes Clark inspires. Others have been dumbfounded, annoyed, jealous, resentful, exasperated, and even hostile. Switching to bashing Clarkies when arguments against Clark fail on logic is a common tactic. I won't go into those retreads, just look for your nearest flame-fest, but I would like to address the support that Clark gets on DU [Democratic Underground blog], and perhaps make it more understandable to some.

Why exactly is Wes Clark so popular with the grassroots? His grassroot supporters drafted him when he had no intention of entering elective politics, scrutinize his every interview or article, stuck with him when he left the race, and pine for him to run again. Why are his followers so committed to him? The thing about loyalty is that you must give loyalty in order to receive it.

Loyalty begets loyalty. The reason we are loyal to Clark is because he has always been unfailingly loyal to us. He stood up for us when all others refused. Not because of self interest or political calculations, but because it's the right thing to do. As a matter of fact, it's often been against the prevailing political winds, and against his own personal interests. But he stood up for us anyway, because it was the right thing to do.

When the nation was gungho about going to war in Iraq, and Michael Moore condemned Bush at the Oscars, everyone ridiculed Moore and castigated him for being unpatriotic. Being anti-war was not only considered "unpatriotic" but also unpopular. The media was drooling over the ratings they would get and giddy over their "embeds." The politicians who had signed the IWR [Iraqi War Resolution] were all trying to prove how "patriotic" they were with little American flag lapel pins. But, even against this backdrop, when the popular thing to do would have been to agree with condemnations of Moore or to remain neutral, Wes Clark defended Moore. He stood up for Moore even when he didn't have to, and when no one expected him to. He did it because it was the right thing to do. He stood up for us.

When everyone was running away from the label of "liberal" as if it were political suicide, including Howard Dean, Bill Maher asked Clark on national TV if he would dare touch the label. Wes Clark embraced the label and then proceeded to defend "liberalism" on national TV, at a time when almost everyone else was trying to move to the center and considered "liberal" to be anathema. He stood up for us.

When Howard Dean's Chairmanship of the DNC [Democratic National Committee] was under assault for supposed verbal gaffes, so-called Democratic leaders were claiming Dean "didn't speak for them." Leading Democrats went on TV and tried to distance themselves from Dean and his chairmanship. These Democrats claiming "Dean didn't speak for them" ended up weakening not just Dean and the position of DNC Chair, but -- more importantly -- party unity and solidarity in the face of Republican attacks on our party and our Chair. When the media was having a field day with Dean's supposed gaffes, and the political pressure was to disavow association with Dean's Chairmanship ("Dean doesn't speak for me"!), Wes Clark stepped up and said he was proud of Dean and the job he was doing. Clark could have just sat the storm out and not commented. But, instead of caving to political pressure to disavow Dean, Clark defended Dean. He defended Dean, Dean's Chairmanship, and our party. He stood up for us.

A couple of weeks later, when the media excoriated Durbin for his comparison of Bush to Nazis, pundits and politicians fell over each other asserting Durbin was out of line. The media pressure -- and even peer pressure from other Democrats -- would eventual force Durbin to issue a tearful apology, where none was due. Prevailing political pressure was to denounce Durbin, batter him until he apologized, score political pundit points by saying, "See? I'm reasonable and politically correct, unlike that Durbin fella." But Clark refused to condemn Durbin as being out of line, and supported and defended Durbin all the way until the end of the fiasco. Clark kept faith with his own words, "The American people will trust the Democratic Party to defend America when they believe that Democrats will defend other Democrats!" Clark defended Durbin because Durbin was a Democrat, and because it was the right thing to do. He stood up for us.

When the Wall Street Journal published an attack on Democrats, claiming the Democratic Party had no plans for Iraq and only went around whining about surrender, Clark responded. When pundits and even a few weak-kneed Democrats were nodding their heads, acquiescing to Republican talking points, Clark refused to buy the lie. He wrote and got published a Letter-to-the-Editors of the Wall Street Journal countering their assertions and defending the Democratic Party. And when the Wall Street Journal later refused to publish his plan, he would not let them stifle him and went to the Washington Post. No one was going to get away with smearing Democrats as whiny negative people, weak on defense with no constructive criticisms or ideas of their own -- not on Clark's watch. He stood up for us.

I may not always agree with Wes Clark on everything, and we do differ on some issues, but I know I can always trust him to stand up for what he believes is right, not what is most popular or politically expedient. He will always stand up for us. He has stood up for us when everyone else refused to. Even as we speak, he is running himself ragged trying to help Democrats win back this country in 2006. We "Clarkies" are loyal to Clark because Clark is loyal to us. Loyalty begets loyalty.

He will always stand up for us, stand up for what is right, stand up for Democrats and all those who repudiate the radical extremists who have hijacked the Republican party. So when the critics come calling, or when political operatives sneak around to smear him, or complain about how Clark supporters are fanatics (or "a cult of personality" as one critic of Clark claimed recently on DU), they should remember this fact about Clark's grassroots: we fight for Clark because Clark fights for us. Clark has proven himself and continues to every time he stands up for us.

I stand with Wes Clark.

“I realized that this was the man who could be one of the greatest presidents of all time”

“I realized that this was the man who could be one of the greatest presidents of all time”

Lt. Colonel Jai Johnson-Pickett
Kansas

What attracted me to Clark? Initially, competence. Later, character.

I first signed on to the Draft Clark movement knowing little about the man except by reputation. I knew he had been a hyper-competent commander. The way the Bush administration was making a mess in Iraq and against terrorism was literally making me sick, so I was actively "candidate shopping." While I respected many of the candidates running before Clark entered, I just didn't think any of them could challenge Bush on national security and I knew that would be critical to winning in '04.

But after I started listening to him speak, and reading more about his background, talking to people who knew him personally and in many cases who had served with him, I realized that this was the man who could be one of the greatest presidents of all time. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but it's what I believe.

Clark has an incredible intellect and depth of knowledge on so many different subjects, and an almost innate ability to cut thru to the heart of any problem, and yet understand it in its full complexity. He knows what's critical and what's just extraneous, and can look over the horizon and see long-term implications. He "gets" the vision thing.

But more important, he has heart. He cares. About people, this nation, the world. He has what Sy Hersh called "a great streak of integrity" -- he looks you in the eye and you know he's giving it to you straight. He has the courage to accept whatever risk to himself that's necessary to do what he thinks is right, whether it's bucking the Pentagon to save a million lives in Kosovo, or rappelling down a hillside amid mines and mortar-fire to save a handful of folks trapped in a burning French APC. Or to take on the Karl Rove reputation-destruction machine to try to put this country back on course. And he's one tough hombre.

Yeah, issues are important. And for me, Clark comes down on the right side of just about every issue that's important: an internationalist foreign policy, civil rights and liberties, protecting the environment, personal choice, fiscal responsibility, educational opportunity. But what I've been most impressed by is his grasp of the bigger, more fundamental issues: the very nature of our democracy, the role of the individual in society and the responsibilities of our government to the people. He KNOWS that we're in grave danger of losing precisely what America is all about.

Clark is the first presidential candidate I ever thought was worth working for, donating money to, or making any kind of personal sacrifice for. The rest are just politicians--some better than others, some a whole lot worse. But none have ever inspired me the way that Wes Clark does.

“He has held positions of great power without being corrupted by it.”

“He has held positions of great power without being corrupted by it.”

Noel Schutz
Taiwan

I want to preface my remarks by saying that as a Democrat, I find many fine leaders who are such. I like Feingold a lot and I voted for Al Gore and did not find him boring (I admired his foreign policy expertise which helped Clinton in an area in which he was not a heavyweight). I vote in California, so Boxer is my senator and my hero.

That said, I supported Wesley Clark for president. The reasons are not simple. While I am a veteran of four years in the USAF during the Korean War period, I was not a gung ho military type. Perhaps being an army brat did not actually make me inclined to continue a military life. I became anti-Vietnam War while working for the USAF as a civil servant during that period. Politically, my views are very much in the mold of Kucinich, whom I also like - but not as president.

So it is not a "military" thing. Wes Clark was not a typical military officer. While he did go through the officer ranks, serving at every level from company to battalion to division to being a CinC for the Southern and European Command, he did it against the grain of many soldiers who look suspect on an officer who graduates from West Point, has a Rhodes Scholarship, and wins a Silver Star. Wes says these were three strikes against him. He rose because his superiors, colleagues and supporters recognized the brilliant mind, the can-do hands-on spirit, and the obvious dedication to serving his country - his patriotism. Many of Clark's supporters find themselves supporting the man DESPITE their views to the military in general.

I support Wes because he is a LEADER who has the intellect to analyze a situation, come to a conclusion about what must be done, and map out the strategies for doing it. No matter what the mission is - military, diplomatic, or political. That is the kind of man we need as a president. One who is a dedicated, proven leader who tells it like it is.

I support Wes because he is an exceptional PERSON that I admire (and I have known first hand many exceptional people in my civil rights work in Alabama in the 60s and 70s). He has held positions of great power without being corrupted by it. He has endured hardships and struggles without becoming bitter. He stands up for what he believes, for other Democrats (he stood up for Dean when other Democrats trounced him, saying that Americans would believe Democrats were a party of national security when Democrats stop attacking other Democrats.) I have never heard Wes speak badly of another Democrat, and he even held back against ridiculous attacks by Republican machine military men.

He is a man for all seasons. He is that rare military man who combines not only intellect with action, but statesmanship and diplomacy alongside military expertise.
I support Wes because his POSITIONS, especially on Iraq since his views mirror the manner in which he determines policies. He does not accept the easy popular view, but determines what should be believed and done by and intellectual process combined with a sure common sense concept of what is needed and what can be actually accomplished.

I am not a gun person, Wes believes in guns for hunting but not rocket launchers. I can live with the Southern and others’ penchant for that even though I do not believe it for myself. It is like Hackett said, leave my guns alone and stay out of my bedroom. He is as liberal as one might expect, perhaps more so, for a Southerner. He has been a Democrat for a decade and a half under the Clinton administration until now. He is not a recent liberal convert but worked it all through for himself. He had the most detailed position papers of any candidate posted on his website (still there for all to see). I looked them over and, by and large, they agreed with my positions.

I support Wes Clark because of his PERSEVERANCE. He never stops fighting for what he believes in. He logs in more appearances at local Democratic events, national and international conferences, TV and media spots, and speeches at events such as the Cornell graduation. He never stops working for the Democratic and liberal view of what is right about America. He put in more hours than any other former candidate for Kerry (although Dean was close behind) and is a high profile representative of our party. He campaigned Oklahomans to death, and won, making him the only candidate to win a state away from Kerry that was not a favorite son spot (Dean and Edwards). He does not let defeat stop him, but keeps on moving. He does not let victory lull him, but takes the next hill. He does not let slurs and lies discourage him, but keeps an optimistic view. He says it is not about the candidate, but about the party. And he is one of the most steadfast and dogged Democrats one could hope for.

I support Wes Clark because of his clear-headed sense of PERSPECTIVE. He does not take any situation out of context, he does not look at the short term benefits of anything, he puts everything in the broad perspective and looks for the long term. His 100 year vision for America was a masterpiece of visionary policies and programs.

I support him for many reasons. I like him. He can be humble when others might be proud, he can be proud when others might be cowed. Well, I could go on, but maybe I have made my point. People do not support Wes Clark for any trifling political expediency or boilerplate reasoning. He is a natural leader and I, who have always been suspect of leaders, find myself marching in step with one of the most outstanding men of our times. And he would be the first to praise the Democrats that many others support.

“An innate ability to lead...”

“An innate ability to lead...”

Kelly Flinn
Carmel, California

Why do I support Wesley Clark? Because he is what's best in all of us...because he is the best of us.

What does that mean, exactly?

It means he not only embodies, but demonstrates daily, those qualities to which we all (hopefully) aspire; honor and ethics, compassion, strength, kindness, honesty, a healthy sense of humor and humility, brains, unabashed patriotism without the dangers of blind obedience, an open mind with the driving curiosity to understand the world and people around him (you know...that part of us that drives us to become better human beings and evolve!), for starters.

Along with that genuine interest in others is an innate ability to lead - which is why I always laugh when opponents say he has no governing experience.

What do people think being a base or regional commander is?

It's being a Governor - and one who is directly and solely responsible for everything from potholes, to education, to the health and welfare of every individual in his command, their families, and other civilians. Bear in mind, some of his commands encompassed millions of people spread out over dozens of countries - something no state governor has to navigate. And...tell me again when was the last time a senator had to govern anything? Yet, the majority of presidential candidates always seem to be senators. Did they not get the memo that we don't usually elect senators to the presidency? We elect those who have a demonstrable ability to lead and govern - and there is no one, since Eisenhower, who has successfully performed the majority of the duties of a president, including winning a war, before he ever considered running for public office.

Did I mention he's also one of the nicest guys I've ever known??

“I’ll go to the gut level…”

“I’ll go to the gut level…”

Jen DiFeo
Ravenna, OH

The reasons I support General Wes Clark are many, but rather than list his military and business experience or his specific stand on the issues (i.e. the logical side of why Clark would make an excellent President) I trust that those facts are covered in some of the other entries here, and are also widely available online.

I'll go in to the gut level, intuitive, emotional, spiritual reasons of why I believe General Clark is (as I heard it put one time) the President we were promised as kids.

Growing up in the '60's, my views of government were shaped by seeing the untimely, shady deaths (assassinations) of men who were poised to lead our country to a place where the ideals of truth, liberty and justice for all would be realities and not merely words mindlessly repeated.

My faith in our government eroded before I came of age to vote - my attitude was "it's all a game and I refuse to play their game." I now realize that that attitude is what is responsible for where we now find ourselves. Democracy is NOT a spectator sport and without the active participation of "we the people" policies are set, laws are enacted and those in leadership positions are free to do whatever they want. The old saying "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" is - like many sayings - Truth.

After the fiasco of the 2000 election (I was a registered Green, living in California and safely cast my vote for Nader) I realized it was time (past time) to get involved as I saw the "game" of politics taking us in a dangerous direction. It was time to "play." (Yes, I realize it was probably too late, and I think a lot in my generation came to the same conclusion.)

Summer of 2003 I was wavering between supporting Dennis Kuchinich and John Edwards. Neither of them struck me particularly hard, but I believed they were both good, honest men who would do their best to represent our country in a way we could all be proud of.

Then, early Fall of that year I went to hear Michael Moore speak in my town. He was talking, very passionately, about this General he was supporting for President. After hearing what he had to say, I found myself interested enough to do some research and learn what I could about this Wes Clark that so inspired Moore.

That was the beginning and I've never looked back. I never imagined I'd be supporting a General! The more Clark supporters I met, I found there were many who felt the same. The stereotypical image of a "General" just did not fit this man. How could a General be a peacenik? How could a General be determined to slash the budget for the bloated, corrupt military industrial complex? Yet this is part of what Clark is about.

When I finally got the chance to see and hear Clark speak (and even to meet him!) it all fell into place. He is an incredibly intelligent, compassionate, honest, decent, honorable man who shares my values AND can communicate them in a way that people of all walks of life can relate to. His life has been and still is dedicated to serving country and working for the common good - he believes in lifting people up and it's not just empty words - his life is an example of what he tells people: "When you can do good, you should."

His warmth and intelligence is not something that can be faked. He is the real deal. He's not one of the elite, life-long political types that put the good of the corporation before the good of "we the people." He is exact opposite of that and for that reason the corporate powers will not be anxious to promote his name and resume to the American people. That's up to us.

We may have the chance - if General Clark decides to run in '08 - to have someone in the White House who will heal the divide that helps no one but big business, who will inspire people to help each other which will help us all, who will bring integrity and honor back to our country which is so badly damaged right now.

If we are offered this chance and pass it up I fear for the future of our country.

“With Wes, it’s the face-to-face that will hook you”

“With Wes, it’s the face to face that will hook you”

Martha Smith
Beverly Hills, California

Some people effort and struggle to attract a group of steadfast supporters, going so far as to decree “loyalty oaths.” Others are gifted innate leaders who naturally inspire admiration, respect, and, even awe-- merely by their presence and demeanor. Wes Clark is a sterling example of the latter.

From my first peek at the General as a commentator on CNN – (when my husband and I turned to each other and longingly asked, “Why can’t he be our President?”) through each subsequent Wes encounter over the years-- that degree of unabashed enthusiasm he evokes, has only intensified.

As an ardent WesPAC supporter, I wax hyperbolic about General Clark.

With Wes, it’s the face to face that will hook you. He blankets you in a mysterious, but tangible comfort zone, otherwise uncommon to these times. It feels like the flannel and fleece remedy for today’s long American political winter...

Politics aside, the General exudes the essence of fundamental ingredients necessary for any effective leadership: Intelligence, Passion, Vision, Integrity, Humanity, Courage, Kindness - All brimming in surplus; neatly compacted into one rare and remarkable man.

“We feel we strengthened our Democratic party”

“We feel we strengthened our Democratic party.”

Pat Hudson
Richmond, Virginia

I became an active Democrat after being a grassroots supporter for the Draft Clark 2004 Campaign for President. When General Clark dropped out of the race, he asked his supporters from all over the country to become active Democrats in their communities and states. To a person, our Clark supporters in Virginia followed his suggestion and by doing so, we feel we strengthened our Democratic Party. We recently worked to elect Democrat Tim Kaine as our new Governor.

General Clark remains a definite inspiration for us as we continue to make real progress electing Democrats at all levels in this mostly red state.

“It's about what's best for our country”

“It’s about what’s best for our country.”

Maria Wells, Boothwyn, Pennsylvania

Wes Clark believes in everyone, uniting us all, lifting everyone up. These are Wes's values, and these are my values. And Wes doesn't merely share my values. He challenges me to live those values. This isn't about him. It's not about his supporters. It's about everyone uniting to get our country back on track.
It's so easy in these polarized times to fall into the “us vs. them” trap. We do it all the time. And then Wes Clark is there, in person, or on his blog, or in an email, keeping us honest and reminding us that it's all about what's best for the country and the world, and not just about us or him.

“…His continual hearkening back to traditional American values”

“…His continual hearkening back to traditional American values”

Stan Davis Lakewood, Colorado

I've never chosen my candidates for their positions or programs. I choose them for their values and how they think. I want to have confidence that when new circumstances arise, their decisions will be based on solid principles - principles with which I agree.
It was his continual hearkening back to traditional American values as an analyst on CNN which first attracted me to him, on top of his eloquent articulation of what America is all about.

"I don't think that either side serves itself well by labeling...”

“I don't think that either side serves itself well by labeling...”

Mitch Dworkin
Dallas, Texas

Gen. Wes Clark, in my opinion is best qualified to truly unite this country after years of bitter partisanship and he has always made this a top priority. During his presidential primary campaign he said, “And that's why I'm running for President - to return America to the core ideals of our democracy: personal liberty; service to country; respect for others; the right to criticize and correct the government - in time of war, especially. Debate, dialogue, discussion, disagreement, dissent - that's not wrong - that's not unpatriotic, that's one of the highest forms of patriotism and love of country, and we need to say it."

Throughout his speeches and televised remarks, there is a consistent pattern of the theme of uniting our citizens and our country by putting a stop to the divisive nature of verbal attacks. On one of his recent (November, 2005) television appearances, Clark said "I don't think that either side serves itself well by labeling...I think there's been quite enough name-calling done... Let's stop the labeling...Stop the adjectives. Stop the guilt by association, and go to the facts..."

This is what I think has to happen in order to even begin to solve the many problems we are seeing now at home and abroad and I do not hear anyone else talking about this nearly as much as Gen. Wes Clark is!