The General Takes the Pulpit
by ms in la
February 4, 2006
This account was edited slightly, full report available here .
Listen to General Wes Clark at the "Take the House Back" Rally (13.3 MB), Los Angeles CA 2/4/06Introduction by Stephanie Miller, host of nationally syndicated progressive talk radio
The United Methodist Church of Hollywood is huge, gothic, and glorious - sunlight filters in through intricate stained glass clerestory windows, enormous vaulted ceilings tower overhead, topped off with elaborately carved wooden truss beams, gracefully pointed arches frame the windows and doorways, The spectacular setting created a fitting frame for Wes.
An estimated 400-500 excited Democrats filled the pews.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the uniformed, returning vet son of Candidate Russ Warner
I leaked a few tears pledging allegiance to OUR flag with Wes standing before me reciting the pledge as well. At the end "with Liberty and Justice for all"-- the entire crowd, as if on cue, spontaneously took the word 'ALL' and shouted it in emphasis. It was powerful.
Bubbly and charming - Stephanie Miller of Air America took the stage and commandeered the crowd with a surprisingly tight and roaring comedic opening.
In a quiet moment, Ms Miller took a beat and solemnly announced-- I am here today for three words...
General Wesley Clark
(crowd erupts in applause)
Her first introduction is John Heaner, local Dem party chair, who gave a stirring warm up "Take Back the House" speech and brought each of the candidates forward to rousing cheers...Francine Busby was infectiously enthusiastic and clearly poised to get the vacant Cunningham seat left open through his admittance to taking $2.4 million in bribes...the Republican way. Michael Webber, the indefatiguable, spoke as well and took the crowd yet another notch into its anticipation.
THE INTRODUCTION
Sincerely humbled by being chosen to introduce Wes, Stephanie likened it to Carrot Top introducing Ghandi!
She rattles off his key resume points, at "Rhodes Scholar", finishing with "former candidate for President of the United States" bringing on huge applause and whistles.
She looks to Wes and flatly says-- "I don't know General....sounds like there's a groundswell to me..." Then she introduces him at last and again, the applause and shouting goes on forever....the crowd up on it's feet.
Right off the bat he asks the Vets in the crowd to stand up and be recognized. A good group representing all ages rises to warm applause and cheers from an appreciative crowd. I'll bet it felt better than a magnet on a bumper.
When discussing his writing of the Real State of the Union speech, Wes confesses that the exercise left him feeling so saddened... The church quieted to dead silence as he went on.
"WHY?" His voice dropping with an edge of pain in it..."WHY are we here?... I came to recognize that millions of people all over the world, they believe that America's beacon of hope is dimming-- they believe our star is setting, they believe America's time is passing...WHY?? Why, When we are the greatest country in the world?-- OUr Bill of Rights- that set the standards for the whole world....WHY?, When we save the world from tyranny, Why? When we have the most incredible Constitution...WHY? Why is our day passing? WHY?"
Each successive "WHY?"--some whispered, some pleaded-- was more plaintive than the previous...it was the soft sound of Wes's heart breaking as he pondered these questions, and we all broke along with him in the pews.
Has a full Church ever been so quiet I wondered?
Wes had taken his already riveting public speaking skills to a new level-- he was preaching democracy. Preaching ethics, preaching the Constitution, values, and America, with a passion to rival any of the best of them. I have not seen him this powerful to date, relishing more than ever the rhythms of working the room from the podium.
Next he concluded how the blunders of the current administration had turned sour our vast good faith and reputation in the world, from Iraq to Katrina, listing the fatal errors that dragged us into this pit and plundered our national pride. He categorizes how the world sees America now and what they hear from us--
"Osama Bin Laden wanted dead or alive, Bring em on, Old Europe, You're either with us or against us--They see the carnage and destruction, the waste, the misuse or our men and women in uniform.-- They hear us talkin' tough....but they don't see real leadership."
There was much more rabble rousing party rallying and advice for the grassroots, (always Country before Party, get the uninvolved into politics, the Party of Service and equal opportunity, Save the Constitution...preserve our rights, Congress needs to do their duty, and don't be shy about National Security discussions) But the key moments to me were the pleas to take back our country, so heartfelt and so urgently expressed.
"For America to be safe....We've got to make more friends than enemies"-- Wes Clark
