“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.