General Wesley Clark at UAW Local 1314 in Huntsville AL

January 15, 2007
Transcript by Melange

You have to understand also, I taught economics and political philosophy. I’ve worked in the civilian side of the Office of Management and Budget in the White House, I’m a businessman.  I have, like, four different businesses. I consult for various different companies and I’ve been around the block a few times. So I’ve got strong ideas.

I believe we need to raise the minimum wage. We need to help small businesses in this country. We need to fix the access to the healthcare system. We’ve got to stop the unfunded mandates, that are running out for the No Child Left Behind Act. We’ve got to raise and enhance teacher pay and morale and performance. We’ve got to get preschool education for every child in America.

In America we’ve got to take a much more proactive role in helping Americans help themselves.  Families need help.  Families need leadership.  Families need an advocate. I’m not talking about someone who hands out dollars or food stamps in a program and who says “Oh, I’m sorry, you don’t meet the criteria for the program.” I’m talking about people who know that family and will stand up and argue for that family. And if the programs don’t work to help our people, they’ll get those programs changed. So, I think we’ve got to really have a broad front program to help this country.  If we don’t, we’re not going to be competitive in the larger, global environment. And ultimately, America’s strength, as General Eisenhower said is not our Armed Forces. It’s America’s economy.  It’s the men and women who work and the men and women who put those companies together and lead those companies. And it’s teamwork. And it’s about teamwork.

I think our labor unions have a vital role in this. Our labor unions have to be strengthened.  We need the ability to do real training,

(Applause)

And real education through the unions.

(Applause)

I think the union movement is the real secret weapon of the American economy. We just have to turn it loose.

Clark says U.S. must talk with Iranians

General says more troops not what's needed in Iraq

January 15, 2007
By SHELBY G. SPIRES | Times Military Writer | Huntsville Times

Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark called for a "surge of diplomacy" instead of American troops to improve the situation in war-torn Iraq during a visit to Huntsville on Monday.

Clark, a Democratic presidential candidate in 2004 who is considering another run in 2008, blamed Iran for supporting insurgents and causing violence in Iraq. Clark called on the White House to find a diplomatic solution instead of sending more troops to the region.

"Why should we be afraid of talking with the Iranians? During the Vietnam War, we had channels of communication with the North Vietnamese and during the Cold War we had an embassy in Moscow," Clark said. "We have always been willing to discuss differences with our enemies.