Clark Flys Under National Media Radar For Dems In 06
Submitted by Tom Rinaldo on October 14, 2006 - 4:23pm.
Wesley Clark
Ever since Kerry was denied the Presidency, Wes Clark turned his focus to the 2006 Congressional mid term elections. I had the honor to briefly be on a group phone call with Wes Clark early in the Summer of 2005, and Clark was already heavily stressing the importance of these elections back then. Here are some of the things he has done to help shape 2006 for a Democratic victory:
Clark helped recruit strong Democratic challengers in States and districts that typically went Republican, candidates like Jim Webb and Eric Massa and many of those now known as "the Fighting Dems". Clark did this for several reasons. First and foremost he knew that Democrats could no longer afford to cede supposedly safe races to Republicans, we had to make Republicans defend districts that they normally took for granted. There are several reasons that Clark saw for that. 1) Clark overall believes in Dean's 50 State strategy, and the only way to ever implement that is to begin to implement it now. 2) Clark foresaw that Bush Administration policies in Iraq and elsewhere were likely to be exposed as disastrous prior to the mid term elections, therefor credible Democrats had to be "pre deployed" so to speak, to be in a position to take advantage of that when it happened. 3) Clark knew that, following their 2002 and 2004 playbooks, Republicans would try to win in 2006 by stoking fear in the public, stressing Bush's "War on Terror ", and calling Democrats weak on National Security and unwilling to protect America from our enemies. To counter that Clark helped recruit strong Democratic veterans who held positions sharply counter to Bush's on Iraq and National Security in general; Men and women who, unlike Bush and Cheney, actually risked their own lives to protect our nation from our enemies.
Clark then provided crucial early support for those candidates, and others who sought his help. In some cases Clark shared staff resources with them, and sometimes he backed them in primary battles, as he did with James Webb. Those who have been active Clark supporters for awhile know of another way in which Clark helped these men and women, who were often first time Democratic candidates. He strongly urged his supporters to become active in their campaigns, and many honored that request and took it upon themselves to do some of the essential nuts and bolts work; to help set up candidate web sites, to do advance candidate support work on the ground for campaign events, to work at helping refine campaign talking points, to help stage local fund raisers, to write letters to local newspapers, and the like. Like I said, below the radar.
Next Clark sought to energize those campaigns on the ground where they actually are being fought. Rather than centralize campaign fund raising through his own political action committee (WesPAC), so he could then act as a king maker doling out funds to those who came looking to him for support, Clark asked his supporters to directly support those candidates, and he prominently maintained information about them and links to their campaign web sites on his own site -www.securingamerica.com Why take that route? In my opinion to encourage direct ties and loyalty between Clark's key supporters and those whom he endorsed, rather than dilute that connection by inserting himself in the middle. Clark then took it a step further. Rather than hold major fundraisers for WesPAC to fill WesPAC's coffers so that WesPAC could write checks to Clark endorsed candidates, Clark down played fund raising for WesPAC. Again, why? This is pretty straight forward, Clark instead committed to a grueling schedule of appearing in person in districts scattered across the nation, often far outside of the major media markets that attract national press pick up coverage.
Usually those appearances by Clark included guest speaking at or actually hosting a fund raiser for those candidates inside their own home districts. Doing it that way builds excitement at the local level, it creates local press coverage, the only type of coverage that most of these candidates are ever going to receive. Doing it that way brought major potential donors into direct contact with the candidates themselves, potential donors who may never have met those candidates personally had they not wanted the opportunity to attend a local event with General Clark present. This is the slow detail oriented way to help little known candidates compete in seldom covered races. The highly centralized manner would have been less grueling on Clark personally. Hosting high profile big ticket fundraisers for his own PAC would have perhaps taken less time, and it would have been more visible to inside the beltway pundits and power brokers. A more centralized approach might have done more for Wes Clark's national profile, but it would have done less for the local profiles of the men and women Wes Clark pledged to support.
Finally Wes Clark has got the Democratic Party's back against Republican assault attacks that Democrats won't keep Americans safe. And once again, much of this too is under the radar, because Clark does much of his work in this regard as a commentator on FOX, not exactly what most Democratic pundits like to spend their evenings watching. But just ask those men and women running for seats in previously safe Republican districts and States, candidates who Wes Clark is directly supporting, how they feel about Clark's appearances on FOX. The voters they have to reach in order to pry loose enough votes THAT WENT TO REPUBLICANS IN 2004 to put them over the top to victory, most of them watch FOX, and so they watch General Clark lay out a sharp line of attack against George Bush on national security, a line our candidates can then drive home to their local, frequently Republican leaning voters.
None of Clark's work on behalf of Democrats is literally invisible, you can see ample reports about all of this on Clark's own web site. It is of course right out there in public for anyone to see, if they look, but most beltway pundits have tunnel vision. If it's not being talked about by Chris Mathews and Tim Russet, if it's not being written about in the New York Times and the Washington Post, it almost doesn't exist. They aren't reading the local press in Alabama where Clark has most recently been campaigning, but the voters in those Alabama districts do.
So these folks at "Unofficial Edwards Central", to fight against peaking too soon, are pointing out all the reasons why Bayh, Clinton, and Feingold will be stiff competition to Edwards in 2008, but they fail to notice Clark also. He must be "too below the radar" for them also, lol.
Well whether or not Clark is competition to anyone in 2008, I couldn't be prouder of what he is doing for Democrats in 2006.
And what so many of his supporters, answering Clark's call, are doing as well!
Eyes on the Prize! A little bit more than 3 weeks to go!
I ran across a neighbor who is way cool and progressive, except that it turns out he likes JRE. AAAUUUGHH!
Here in New York State Jonathan Tasini kind of likes him, even though Edwards did sponser the IWR - Tasini accepts his apology. Why? Because Edwards is talking about some important domestic issues related to poverty and Unions.
Those are important issues for Democrats to discuss and there is absolutely no point in not giving Edwards credit for raising them. Clark will have to talk about those issues more also if he runs in 2008, though I know he already is takling about them during his travels on behalf of other Democrats, it's just that the media never reports on that.
But in my opinion Clark is doing the real heavy lifting for our Party right now, facing down the Republicans on their favored turf, and Clark continually strongly advocates reasonable Democratic alternatives to the Republicans fear based and ultimately dangerous security initiatives months before other Democrats pick up on them and get media credit for their new "three point plans" and the like.
Personally I will give Edwards credit wherever he earns it, and Edwards does earn credit sometimes. Though he obviously benefits by the national media fixation on him I won't blame Edwards for that, any politician worth his or her salt would seek that if they also seek higher office.
But Damn, I'm proud to be a Wes Clark Democrat! It is my pleasure to explain to anyone who will listen why I feel that way. No need to attack any other Democrat in the process, especially before these mid term elections.
And I'm learning to swallow my dislike for JRE and give him credit for his work on poverty issues. But I point out that we're going to have to trump the GOP on the security issue in order to win, and that the next President is actually going to have to deal with the damage Bush has done, so we're going to need someone with STRONG foreign policy and national security creds. And that there's nobody better than Wes Clark when it comes to that.And (I just had a generous thought I need to remember to include) JRE is still young enough to get some more seasoning and run again after the international thing is back under control so he can better apply his talents.
Should Wes Clark run in 2008 ( I believe he will ), he has moved himself into great position. He has taken on all the hot issues, he has gone into the enemies camp and done well and he has one hell of a grassroots following. I would like to see him announce early so he can get a jump on the fund raising. I look for Kerry and Edwards and most others to annouce next month after the election.
We have to help Wes Clark's endorsed candidates win this election day. Election Day 06 is the first 2008 Presidential Primary.
The media will take all the credit no matter who wins what on election day.
I just looked at the Generals schedule. Monday night 6:30 to 9pm he will be
helping Chris Murphy, in his fight against Nancy Johnson, at an event in Litchfield (NW corner) Ct. 11 hours later it breakfast with vets in Florida at 8:45 am. That's the first of 5 events in Fla. that day.. Wes has held alot of democratic arms up high with his. Hopefully they will remember to do the same for him.
You are right on the money, a big November meens a big 2008.
We must rally the vote the last 72 hours and get our people
to the polls.We need to work our butts The next 24 days and keep the pressure on. In Ohio, were I live Sherrod Brown is in a dog fight with Mike Dewine. We are in full court press mode, we must win big in November.
Run the Dem vote up in Youngstown (like we'll be trying to here in Cuyahoga county) to offset the red areas downstate.
I HATE the new DeWine commercial, USING that woman whose son (I think?) died in Iraq. It's a cheap shot.
Susan,
We sure could use Wes up here in the next couple of weeks to give Sherrod that last push over the top. Strickland looks great, I dont know if you saw my post about the GOP pulling Blackwells TV ads, but thats great news. Keep the heat on in Cleveland, and lets win this thing for Sherrod next month.
Well...I've sent some strong suggestions to the Brown campaign, but I don't know that they ever followed through on their end. Wes doesn't just drop in on people uninvited.
I know a lot of people would like to see him here in Ohio. For some reason, things just haven't been working out.
I hope you've cross-posted this at DU, Daily Kos, the DNC blog, and about anywhere wles you acan think of.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
BE THE CHANGE you wish to see in the world.
If not us, WHO? If not now, WHEN?
I initially wrote this as a reply to a Clark related thread on Democratic Underground. Then I put it here. I am holding off on Kos for now, or on making it its own DU thread, because I don't have time to babysit a thread in the outer world until I get home from my work trip Monday night. I'm hanging around CCN a little more now than usual because I am stuck working on a computer day and night, and bored stiff, lol. But I am already taking more time away from work than I can afford and it looks like I now have an all nighter coming up to catch up, plus another night with only about 5 hours sleep!
So anyway, if people think this is a good Diary to bring to Kos, we can prepare for that in advance maybe. I think it would be most powerful if a number of Clarkies were ready to post brief mini reports about the work we each are doing to get our candidates elected, shortly after it went up there. And of course if we want to get real exposure for Clark's 06 efforts, it would take a number of people standing by ready to reccomend shortly after it got posted, otherwise almost certainly it would fall off the front page quickly since things are moving fast there lately.
Just give the word, and I'll post the link to 12 Yahoo! groups.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
BE THE CHANGE you wish to see in the world.
If not us, WHO? If not now, WHEN?
I have been talking to a lot of progressive friends lately, and have been more and more verbal in my support for Clark, and the reasons for it--which beyond the considerable merits of the man himself, focus on the longterm benefits to the Party in overcoming its longstanding image as weak on security. I am finding that these arguments are getting considerable traction with people that are not already committed to other candidates, which is of course most Democrats.
I have already decided to pull my arguments together into one really well-written (I hope) diary at Kos, accentuating this core issue, in the hopes of attracting commentary and attention. But I planned to wait on posting it until after Wes announces, for maximum impact.
I am TOTALLY interested in such a plan. If we do so, we should definitely coordinate on topics. I would love to prepare the rgument as per above--concentrating on "REBRANDING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY". If it came to light at Kos that it was coordinated, it would probably reflect well on the will and discipline of our community. In fact, hell, let's make it overtly so. We can even call ourselves some sort of "task force" or something.
Please sign me on. My preferred email now is
.
Paul
What do you think? Good idea, or bad?
This particular piece is fairly time sensitive, so if I post it on Kos etc it should be early next week. That doesn't mean these themes couldn't or shouldn't be revisited periodically within a larger context.
I think these type arguments, that discuss how the Democratic Party is framed in the minds of the public, are gaining some traction, and I am encouraged to read about your discussions with others recently along these lines.
My other most recent effort to hit on some of these themes before is here in my CCN blog:
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/8654
I would love to read more of your writing along these lines, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that here.
Rather than carpet-bombing Kos and similar places, all chiming in at once, we should engage in serial bombing -- well timed and spaced out blogs with basically the same message. A new blog should appear every couple of days to keep the heat turned up without any "cooling off periods."
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
BE THE CHANGE you wish to see in the world.
If not us, WHO? If not now, WHEN?
I was thinking of we had a somewhat coordinated campaign, with a number of us each posting one diary every two days or so, with a modicum of coordination of theme--but each of them nonetheless a personal testimony, with a lot of heart and conviction. Personally, I think it would have maximum impact to do so after Wes declares, with some forethought as to how we should spin off that event and maximize the impact of his announcement. We could have some prepared pieces in the can before the announcement, and then create more after the event to draw upon the themes Wes brings up himself.
By the way, I am already planning to take time off work to go to New Hampshire for Wes some time in late 2007 (I live in Maine), because I think the early caucuses/primaries will of course be decisive in establishing Wes as a first tier candidate. I have never felt as compelled in my life to be involved personally in politics, because of who Wes is, and what he means to our country in this dark but hopeful time. I really believe that the CCN community is, like me, fervently dedicated to this man and his cause. I see us as an all-volunteer army, with the best possible leader. That's why I think of this idea in sort of military terms.
My suggested name for this project: "CCN Blog Force"
Yes, it's a good idea, but not a good idea to be discussed in a forum as public as this one. It can't be seen by the outside world as an orchestrated program.
But, overall, I do beliveve in a top-down message (such as talking points), but allowing the grassroots to innovate and to be creative in implementing and spreading the message. That's why the Clark Movement is organizing state by state with volunteers stepping up to coordinate.
For more, please contact me privately.
Oh...where are you located?
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
BE THE CHANGE you wish to see in the world.
If not us, WHO? If not now, WHEN?
As long as were transparent about it? And it came from the CCN grass roots, NOT from the campaign leadership? I think to do otherwise is somewhat disengenuous.
I think it would be an impressive display of our motivation as an activist group. Isn't that supposed to be a desirable thing in politics?
Oh, and I live in Central Maine--Waterville, specifically. Like I said before, I would really like to help out any way I can in New Hampshire as well.
...that is the problem, Paul.
For help in Maine, Paul, be sure to contact Dave Sumner (Davesep1964 @ yahoo dot com).
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
BE THE CHANGE you wish to see in the world.
If not us, WHO? If not now, WHEN?
They will come in very handy in the 2008 race.
The only way Bush will catch Bin Laden is if he goes to his ranch in Crawford Texas and looks in the guest bedroom.
Hi Tom
The paper copy of last Friday's USA Today mentioned Wes as a possible 08 candidate. Here's the link online for the article:
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20061013/a_warner13.art.htm
In the paper copy of this article, tho, they had a little box inserted listing "Other Possibilities":
Democrats exploring 2008 presidential runs:
Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana
Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware
Former NATO commander Wesley Clark of Arkansas
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York
Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut
Former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina
Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts
Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico
Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa
It was at least something. I find the USA Today follows our General pretty closely off and on. It's a good paper to have his name in.....lots of people read it. :)
He is going into states where the party is weak. I think he spent 2 or 3 days in Kentucky, and 3 days in Alabama. This works right into Dean's 50 state strategy. The pundits in Washington don't see this but the people who are the nascent Democratic party in these states do.
An interesting sidelight. The Edwards people are afraid he is peaking too soon.