General Wesley Clark on The O'Reilly Factor

May 9, 2007
transcript by Reg NYC

(plays VoteVets ad)

Bill O'Reilly: Now that ad was paid for by VoteVets.org, which says it's non-partisan, but a study of its PAC shows 93% of VoteVets donations go to Democrats. With us now Fox News military analyst General Wesley Clark, who is on the board of advisors of VoteVets.org . You know, I understand the dissent, and the General, certainly a patriot, has a right to say whatever he wants. I wouldn't have done it. You got guys over there in bad situations right now. Congress is debating what to do about the situation. I wouldn't have piled on like the General did. Am I wrong?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Bill, I think you're wrong. I, I think-

Bill O'Reilly: You would've piled on?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Absolutely.

Bill O'Reilly: Yeah, piled on-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Look, this policy has been a mistake. We should never have invaded Iraq, but the American people supported it. And guys like John Batiste, who did a great job in the United States Army. He was a fine Division Commander. He was there on the ground. He saw it. He tried to make it work, and then he realized in perspective that the problem is not the troops. The problem is the policy and the strategy.

Bill O'Reilly: Right. But the problem is the troops now. Put yourself in a Company Commander's shoes, because they watch Fox News. They're watching us right now. And you see this, and your guys, you're trying to keep your guys' morale up, and you're trying to get your guys to perform in very, very difficult circumstances, and this stuff comes on. I don't think this is right. I, I really feel it's wrong. You got to look out for the guys first. I don't think Batiste is looking out for the guys. I think he's looking out for politics.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I don't think so. I think the most important thing John Batiste can do to look out for the troops is to try to get them a strategy and policies that work and make their sacrifice meaningful.

Bill O'Reilly: But that's already in play. If it wasn't in play-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: It's not in play.

Bill O'Reilly: Sure it is. Congress is debating it-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: It's not in play.

Bill O'Reilly: -right now. What do you think they're doing?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think there's a big debate going on, and I think John Batiste's voice is very welcome in that debate. He's been there. He's seen it, and-

Bill O'Reilly: Alright.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He's a very credible source.

Bill O'Reilly: It's a legitimate point. I'm not going to condemn the General. He's, he's a patriot and braver than I am, but I would not have done it. Makes me queasy.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: That's his sense of responsibility.

Bill O'Reilly: Okay. You. I got a bone to pick with you.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You do?

Bill O'Reilly: You bet. You bet. George Soros donated 75,000 dollars to your WesPAC.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You brought this up the last time.

Bill O'Reilly: And we didn't have time to get into it. Do you know how radical left this guy is? Do you have any clue about how radical left he is?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Listen, George Soros is, he's, he's an embodiment in many respects, Bill, of the American dream that every person aspires to. He came to this country. He's done a lot of good. Do you know what George Soros' foundations have done in Eastern Europe? Do you realize how-

Bill O'Reilly: He does some humanitarian work.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -how much great- No, not humanitarian work.

Bill O'Reilly: Yeah?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Democratizing work.

Bill O'Reilly: Well, okay.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He put millions-

Bill O'Reilly: He's a convicted felon. He's a convicted felon in France.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -And millions, and millions of dollars in.

Bill O'Reilly: He's a convicted felon in France. He ruined the British pound by selling it short. He's- And let me ask you this. Do you stand for euthanasia? Are you a euthanasia guy? You believe in that?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Because someone gives you money on a common cause doesn't mean-

Bill O'Reilly: 75K.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -you endorse all their political views.

Bill O'Reilly: 75K.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: But here's what I do stand for.

Bill O'Reilly: You don't, euthanasia-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I, no. Here's-

Bill O'Reilly: You don't believe in that. Do you?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: No. I've never endorsed euthanasia.

Bill O'Reilly: Okay. Legalized narcotics?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: But here's, here's the point.

Bill O'Reilly: Legalized narcotics?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: But here's the point, Bill.

Bill O'Reilly: You're not going to answer me?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I don't think that's the relevant question.

Bill O'Reilly: Sure it is.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: No, it isn't.

Bill O'Reilly: This guy gives you-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: No, it isn't.

Bill O'Reilly: -gave you 70,000 dollars-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Let me tell you something. People from all over the spectrum- And if a Republican had given me 75,000 dollars, I would've taken it also.

Bill O'Reilly: You're gonna- Okay.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: And I wouldn't have quarreled with the Republican's view.

Bill O'Reilly: David Duke gives you money, you're going to take his money?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I wouldn't have taken David Duke's view.

Bill O'Reilly: Alright.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Is David Duke a good Republican? I'm not sure.

Bill O'Reilly: Well, you wouldn't have taken David Duke's money, but George Soros says we need de-Nazification in this country and compares the Bush administration to the Nazis and you're taking 75K from him.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I can't defend everything George Soros says.

Bill O'Reilly: You can't defend anything he does.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: But let me tell- Oh, yes I can.

Bill O'Reilly: No you can't.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I've seen the work he's done. He's made a huge impact in the world. He's trained thousands and thousands of democracy workers. He's put his personal reputation and his personal wealth behind it. He's made a difference in the fall-

Bill O'Reilly: Are you an open border guy?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I'm.

Bill O'Reilly: You want the open border? You want everybody coming in here?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I'm in favor of democracy in Eastern Europe and George Soros has put his money-

Bill O'Reilly: Eastern Europe.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -into it.

Bill O'Reilly: I'll tell you what.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Not only there, but he's supported other groups that have helped around the world bringing American values-

Bill O'Reilly: I'm going to have my guys-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -in a realistic way, Bill.

Bill O'Reilly: I'm going to have my guys FedEx, because I know you're travelling abroad, FedEx you a package of who this guy really is. I don't care what he's done-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Bill, that's-

Bill O'Reilly: -in Bulgaria.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Listen.

Bill O'Reilly: It doesn't matter.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Listen to me. That's character assassination.

Bill O'Reilly: You bet it is.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I'm not interested in character assassination.

Bill O'Reilly: You- No! It's facts.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I'm interested in-

Bill O'Reilly: It's facts.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -advancing American values.

Bill O'Reilly: Not character assassination. Oh!

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You're going after a guy-

Bill O'Reilly: American values?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You're going after-

Bill O'Reilly: Euthanasia? Legalized Narcotics?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: About freedom,-

Bill O'Reilly: Open borders?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -democracy, freedom of the press-

Bill O'Reilly: That's false!

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -open and free speech.

Bill O'Reilly: That's false. This guy is-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He is in favor all of that, and he's helped put his money there.

Bill O'Reilly: This guy is undermining the country abroad-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He's put his money there.

Bill O'Reilly: -wants a one world government. I mean, this is as radical as it goes.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I don't see any one world government guy.

Bill O'Reilly: There is a more- There isn't a more radical person in the country-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I've talked to George Soros.

Bill O'Reilly: -than him. You took, you took 75K from the most radical individual in the United States of America.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You're just going after somebody.

Bill O'Reilly: You bet!

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: And it's personal, and it's wrong.

Bill O'Reilly: Not personal!

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You ought to look at his results.

Bill O'Reilly: Results for what !?!

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I don't have to defend his views! I can look at the record of what he's accomplished-

Bill O'Reilly: No!

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -in Eastern Europe.

Bill O'Reilly: General, you are a patriot. Y- it's who you associate with that people are going to judge you by.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I'm associating with you.

Bill O'Reilly: Well, that's because you're getting paid to do it.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I'd be here even-

Bill O'Reilly: He gave you money.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I'd be here with you even if you didn't pay me.

Bill O'Reilly: Aw, General, you're trying to charm me. You're wrong on this guy.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I would be. No.

Bill O'Reilly: This guy's dangerous.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think you're wrong on it.

Bill O'Reilly: He's dangerous.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: He's not. He's a legitimate voice-

Bill O'Reilly: Yeah.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -in the United States of America.

Bill O'Reilly: Moveon.org, you like them? You think they're good?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think they've had a legitimate role to play.

Bill O'Reilly: You do?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: They've been a big voice.

Bill O'Reilly: You like that character assassination. You like them going in and, and cutting everybody up? You think that's good?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You like the Swift Boats?

Bill O'Reilly: Aw, Swift Boats. Don't divert the thing.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: No. No. That's the question. Do you believe in that kind of character assassination?

Bill O'Reilly: Lisen, I was on of the- No! I was one of the big critics of the Swift Boats. I was one of the big critics.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well-

Bill O'Reilly: I'm not hypocrite here. But you're-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I, I think, I think

Bill O'Reilly: But you're on the wrong side of the street here.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think, Bill, you've said a lot of things-

Bill O'Reilly: You're on the wrong side of the street.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I think you've said a lot of things that are very, very personal. You ought to be looking at the issues.

Bill O'Reilly: We back up every one of them.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: You ought to be worried about- Let me tell you some thing. You ought to be worried about where this country's headed-

Bill O'Reilly: I am.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -with its policy in Iraq.

Bill O'Reillly: I'm worried about George Soros-

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Let me tell you what I'm worried about.

Bill O'Reilly: -giving guys like you 75,000.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I'm worried about every one of our soldiers and their families over there who haven't had a decent leadership and decent policy.

Bill O'Reilly: I'm worried about them too.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -coming out of the White House in four years.

Bill O'Reilly: I'll agree with you in that. I'm worried about them too.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: And George Soros and people like him are putting the money in it to try to change that policy.

Bill O'Reilly: Alright. Always spirited, General. Thank you for coming in.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Good to be with you.

Bill O'Reilly: Alright.