North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party :
Delegation Announces General Wesley Clark as Keynote Speaker for Democratic NPL-Convention
Former Supreme Allied Commander and Presidential Candidate to Speak in Fargo
March 9, 2006
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy announced today that General Wesley Clark will be the keynote speaker at the 2006 Democratic-NPL Convention in Fargo.
"This year the North Dakota Democratic Convention will host a lifelong soldier and public servant," the delegation said in a joint statement. "General Clark’s dedicated service to our nation is an inspiration for all North Dakotans. He believes in, and fought for, the democratic values that America was founded upon — the values of honesty and hard work. These are the values so many of us in North Dakota share."
A Rhodes scholar and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Clark, 62, served in the United States Army for more than 30 years. During his service, Clark held various posts around the world including Commander in Chief of the U.S. Southern Command, and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO — a position once held by President Eisenhower. As Supreme Allied Commander, Clark led NATO forces in the conflict in the Balkans, where the United States was able to halt ethnic cleansing in Kosovo without the loss of a single American life.
A four star general, Clark retired from the military in 2000.
In 2004, Clark, an Arkansas native, ran for President of the United States as a Democratic candidate. He crisscrossed the country stressing the importance of building a safer, stronger America for our children. His campaign launched him to national prominence before he returned to the private sector in February 2004.
"The people of North Dakota have a lot at stake in what happens in Washington, DC," Clark said. "The war in Iraq and the veterans it’s producing demand attention. Healthcare, education, trade and agriculture policy impact our lives everyday and we need to make sure that the politicians are serving our common interests not the special interests. I trust the North Dakota delegation — Kent, Byron and Earl have earned that trust with their hard work and integrity."
The Congressional delegation will be joined by Clark at the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Convention, which will be held from March 31 to April 2, 2006, at the Civic Center in Fargo. The three-day event will highlight the leadership of North Dakota’s Congressional delegation and the state party. More than 700 delegates will gather to nominate candidates for several elected offices, including: Agriculture Commissioner, Tax Commissioner, Secretary of State, Public Service Commissioner, Attorney General, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate.
"General Clark has served our nation with bravery and integrity," the delegation said. "We are honored that this decorated war veteran will stand with us in Fargo as we begin the fight for an even greater future for both North Dakota and our nation."