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Army General endorses Fawcett for Hefley seat
July 20, 2006
Vic Vela | Cañon City Daily Record
COLORADO SPRINGS — A former Air Force lieutenant colonel received a little help from high Army brass here Wednesday as a Democratic Party big gun stopped by to throw his support toward a congressional hopeful.
Retired Four-Star Army General Wesley Clark officially endorsed Democratic 5th Congressional District Candidate Jay Fawcett for the open seat being vacated by retiring Republican Congressman Joel Hefley.
Speaking with Fawcett at The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), Clark cited a “meltdown of leadership” in the White House and the need to “stand up to” Republicans in Congress as reasons why he feels the country needs a change.
“The administration and the Republican Congress are leading us down a road to failure and you can see it in the headlines in the Middle East every day,” Clark said.
Clark, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and potential 2008 presidential candidate, criticized some members of the Republican Party for politicizing the military by deeming Democrats weak on defense and implying those who were against the Iraq War as being unpatriotic.
“That flag is our flag, and we fought for it,” said Clark, pointing to a U.S. flag hanging near the podium. “It does not belong to the Republican Party.”
Fawcett, a 20-year Air Force veteran, believes that if in fact Republicans are attempting to paint democrats as bad choices to combat the war on terror it will backfire come Election Day.
“I think the politicization has run its course,” he said.
Clark said the former Air Force Academy cadet’s military experience and smarts will serve the country well during times of conflict and decision making.
“We went to Iraq for a war we didn’t have to fight and it was wrong,” Clark said. “I think Jay is smart enough not to risk thousands of American lives and spend billions of dollars for no reason.”
Clark dismissed certain perceptions that the Democratic Party is without a unison voice when it comes its position on the Iraq War.
“There’s widespread agreement,” he said. “Turn it over to the Iraqi’s and start bringing our troops back home.”
Fawcett released a “Global War on Terrorism Policy” Wednesday as he and Clark made stops in Boulder and Colorado Springs to raise money for Fawcett’s campaign.
Fawcett is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for the 5th CD seat. Six Republicans are vying to face Fawcett in November. Each party’s primary is Aug. 8. Fawcett is trying to become the District’s first Democrat elected to U.S. Congress.
