ClarkCast 026 - Take The Hill: Claire McCaskill
September 20, 2006
transcript by Reg NYC

Announcer: Over the next 2 months. Wes Clark will be campaigning with dozens of candidates across America in critical races to help Democrats Take the Hill and take control of Congress. Wes Clark along with Democratic candidates across America will campaigning hard to convince voters that the Democratic Party is the Party that can protect America. No amount of distortions, lies, or swiftboating will stop them from speaking out.

During this final stretch run to the November mid-term elections, we'll be bringing you ClarkCasts from the campaign trail, giving you Wes Clark's first-hand account of the issues and great candidates in the most important races of this election cycle. WesPAC and Wes Clark are proud to present to you our Take the Hill ClarkCast series.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK:

Well, this is Wes Clark calling in, and I'm in- It's Tuesday, the 19th of September. I'm in Missouri today. I was in St. Louis. I campaigned with Claire McCaskill at a, at a veterans march throughout the state. It's gone on for several days. This is the fourth stop on it in St. Louis, and I was there for the rally. They had about 100, 150 people in the room. A lot of them were veterans. A lot of them were supporters of Claire, and she was introduced by a man named Kenny, a former Marine who has, who lost an eye and had other injuries suffered at the siege at Kai San in Vietnam in 1968. Kenny's a great guy. He's done a lot for veterans, and he's been coordinating Claire's veterans efforts throughout the state. And, and I, and I was able to speak with, with the group after, after Claire McCaskill and Kenny spoke.

I think Claire McCaskill's got a great chance to win. She's very poised. She's very capable. Boy, she gave a tough attack on Jim Talent, her, her Republican Senator rival, and Talent deserves it. He's got a terrible record of taking action for veterans. He received failed grades from the Disabled Veterans in 2004, 2005. He's twice rejected mandatory funding for the VA. He's voted to increase Tricare fees, and he voted seven times to protect tax breaks for the wealthy instead of healthcare for veterans. I don't think a guy like that should be in Congress, and he certainly shouldn't be wearing the American flag lapel pin and proclaiming his patriotism. Because if he is really a patriot, he'd believe in those who served.

I was very glad to campaign for Claire today. I did make some remarks talking about the importance of, of Congress following through on its duties to hold the Executive Branch accountable and offering comments on Veterans Affairs, and I believe that someone was there who, who recorded the remarks. I just want to say I think, I think Claire McCaskill is a very, very impressive candidate. I think she's got a very good chance to take Jim Talent down. It's a matter of support. She's got the right policy positions. She's got an effective campaign staff. I think she's going to be very impressive, and I look forward to being at her inaugural in January.
Thank you.