General Wesley Clark on CSPAN2

November 10, 2007

Transcript to follow

Retired four-star general joins Mahoney on campaign trail

October 18, 2006
By MICHELLE SHELDONE | TC Palm

A retired four-star general and former presidential hopeful traveled coast to coast in Florida Tuesday for Democratic congressional candidate Tim Mahoney and promoting national security.

General Wesley Clark, a Vietnam Army captain turned NATO supreme allied commander who had been instrumental in the Dayton peace talks that ended the Bosnian war, said the country is on the brink of a national disaster.

"We didn't have to go to Iraq," Clark said in rallies held in Charlotte and Palm Beach counties Tuesday. "It's a war we chose to go into. And then we didn't put enough troops in. It's a failing mission despite the courage and sacrifice of the men and women in uniform."

Mahoney, at the rallies, called himself one of the first to state publicly that President George W. Bush should rely on diplomacy and multinational forces in Iraq, and replace American peacekeepers with Muslim peacekeepers.

"My new opponent came out and accused me of trashing the president," Mahoney said of Republican congressional Candidate Joe Negron. Bush confidant James Baker in the meantime recently made a suggestion similar to that of Mahoney, the Democratic candidate said.

Jennings aims for the middle

Democrat seeks moderates' support in Republican district

October 18, 2006
By DOUG SWORD and JEREMY WALLACE | The Sarasota Herald-Tribune

With an apparent lead in her campaign for Congress, Democrat Christine Jennings is rolling out the moderates.

Over the past two days, Jennings has had a trio of moderate, or at least semi-moderate, Democrats visit Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties talking about agricultural issues in the rural part of the 13th Congressional District and on national security in the coastal areas.

They aren't household names, with the exception of retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a 2004 candidate for president.

But they also aren't John Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat Jennings invited to Sarasota late last month.

On Monday, Jennings met with citrus growers and cattle ranchers in Arcadia, bringing along Rep. Stephanie Herseth, a South Dakota Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee.

On Tuesday at Port Manatee, the message was national security, featuring possible 2008 presidential candidate Clark talking about port security and the Bush administration's troubles in Iraq. Former U.S. Rep. Tim Roemer, D-Indiana, a member of the 9/11 Commission, talked about America's failed diplomatic efforts to combat terrorism.

Nation needs Mahoney, retired general says

Wesley Clark, Mahoney call for 'diplomacy' in Iraq

October 18, 2006
By GREG MARTIN | Staff writer | Sun Herald

CHARLOTTE HARBOR -- The United States is on the "brink of a national security disaster" and needs more Democrats like Tim Mahoney in Congress to change the course of the Iraq war, said retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark Tuesday.

"You can't 'stay the course' if you're in a ditch," said Clark, a four-star general who commanded NATO forces in the 1998-99 Balkan war.

Clark talked about the U.S.'s "failed strategies" in Iraq and in combating terrorism during a campaign stop for Mahoney. About 60 people attended the event, held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5690, 23204 Freedom Ave.

Mahoney, an entrepreneur and cattle rancher from Royal Palm Beach, is running against Republican Joe Negron, a Stuart attorney, for the District 16 seat.

Mahoney said he looked at the "data" on Iraq and the pursuit of Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden from the perspective of a business person.

"The facts show we have engaged in a number of failed strategies," he said.

He suggested President George W. Bush "do what his dad did -- go to the region." He was referring to the first President Bush's creation of a coalition that included Muslim nations in the 1991 Gulf War.

General Wesley Clark campaigns for Tim Mahoney in Charlotte County

Wesley Clark, Mahoney call for 'diplomacy' in Iraq

October 17, 2006
By Nicole Oliverio | Wink TV News

CLARK: “I'm here for Tim Mahoney, and he's going to be your next congressman.

A four-star general visited Charlotte County Tuesday to campaign for Democratic congressional hopeful, Tim Mahoney.

Mahoney faces Joe Negron, the Republicans’ replacement candidate for Mark Foley, for a seat in congress, representing Florida's 16th district.

Mahoney focused on national security, the need for diplomacy, and the importance for democrats to regain control in the house.

Mahoney says Foley is not a factor in this election, but Charlotte Democratic voters say they think otherwise.

“Over the past several weeks, this campaign has taken on a completely different dimension. It's national,” said Mahoney, a businessman who now finds himself in the national spotlight.

Now, a Democratic candidate who several weeks ago wasn't considered a threat is now leading in polls.

Mahoney was up against former Congressman Mark Foley, but says the recent scandal has no place in his campaign.

“We were never focused on that,” said Mahoney. “We're not focusing on it because the people in the district don't care.”

But some Charlotte County residents do care.