Wesley Clark: The Democrats' man on horseback?

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Will Wesley Clark be the Democrats' candidate to continue the "war on
terrorism," including the battle to forge a stable Iraqi and Afghan
protectorates in the Middle East? The following article highlights his
qualifications for the post. With Bush's popularity and effectiveness
in pursuing the ruling class's war in decline at the moment, the
Democrats have lacked a candidate who could credibly sell the rulers
on his capacity and will to pursue the policy, with whatever tactical
adjustmjents are required.

Clark's qualifications include his leadership in the attacks on the
former Yugoslavia (bombings and economic war against Serbia,
occupation forces in Kosovo and Bosnia, troops in Macedonia,etc.) This
was actually the most successful of the wars waged by the US since the
winding up of the Cold War in making solid gains for the U.S.
imperialists. As a result, Washington and Wall Street strengthened
their hand significantly in the former Soviet Union and across Eastern
Europe, and also reaffirming the military, political and economically
dependent position  of the imperialist allies-competitors.

The Yugoslav war actually represented the high point of the advance
against the Vietnam syndrome (helped along of course by the avoidance
of ground fighting by US troops), with no substantial mass public
opposition and broad acceptance across the liberal and even
significantly into the radical political spectrum.

The demonization campaign against Milosevic was actually more
successful less challenge than the one against Saddam Hussein (both
were reactionary, antiworking-class leaders who were incapable of
organizing a real defense of the nations they misruled).

Of course, Clark's (and Clinton's) success in Yugoslavia, which gives
him credibility as a potential liberal inheritor and continuer of the
Bush wars, stemmed more from conditions at the time than from his
talents as opposed to those of Bush (senior or junior).
Fred Feldman


If Clark runs, all bets are off
================================

By Robert Kuttner Boston Globe August 27, 2003

Wesley Clark has told associates that he will decide in the next few
weeks whether to declare for president. If he does, it would transform
the race. Call me star- struck, but he'd instantly be among the top
tier.

Clark, in case you've been on sabbatical in New Zealand, is all over
the talk shows. He's the former NATO supreme commander who headed
operations in Kosovo, a Rhodes Scholar who graduated first in his
class at West Point, and a Vietnam vet with several combat medals
including a purple heart. He has been a tough critic of Bush's foreign
policy. His domestic positions are not as fully fashioned, but he'd
repeal Bush's tax cuts and revisit the so-called Patriot Act.

More interestingly, Clark is progressive on domestic issues by way of
his military background. Though it is very much a hierarchy, the
military is also the most egalitarian island in this unequal society.
Top executives -- four-star generals -- make about nine times the pay
of buck privates.

In corporate life, the ratio of CEO to worker bee is more like 900
times. The military also has America's most comprehensive child care
system. And, as Clark likes to point out, everyone has health care.
He's also pro-affirmative action and prochoice.

My favorite Clark riposte is on guns. He grew up hunting, in a family
that had more than a dozen hunting rifles. But he's pro-gun control.
"If you want to fire an assault weapon," he says, "join the army." The
NRA can put that in its AK-47 and smoke it.

Clark is the soldier as citizen. Even better, he's the soldier as
tough liberal. Just imagine Clark, with his distinguished military
record, up against our draft dodger president who likes to play "Top
Gun" dress-up. Imagine the Rhodes Scholar against the leader who can't
ad lib without a speechwriting staff. Oh, and he's from Arkansas.

The draft-Clark people have already raised over a million dollars.
Clark's not-yet-announced campaign is the second Internet phenomenon
this year, after Howard Dean's. If he declares, Clark will have lots
of volunteers and donors. Like John McCain, he'd be a terrific draw
for political independents. Except he's a Democrat. The downside is
that it's hard to get into the race this late. A lot of the
fund-raisers and campaign professionals are already committed.

Bobby Kennedy jumped into the 1968 presidential campaign a lot later,
after the February New Hampshire primary, when Eugene McCarthy proved
that LBJ was vulnerable. But that was a different era and he was Bobby
Kennedy. On the other hand, a lot of the support for the existing
candidates is soft, with the exception of Dean's. Some of Dick
Gephardt's own closest backers wonder if he can really do it, and that
also goes for John Kerry, Joseph Lieberman and John Edwards.

This year, just about everyone engaged in Democratic politics has a
higher commitment to the goal of ousting George Bush than to any
single Democratic candidate. Clark could probably peel off a lot of
donors and campaign professionals -- and grow some new ones. And, as
candidates drop out, many professionals will soon be looking for work.

If Clark gets in, Kerry would be hurt the most, because Kerry is most
like Clark. His military record and defense expertise make him the
most bullet-proof of the Democratic field on national security issues.
But, paradoxically, Dean might be hurt, too. Dean has been the
favorite of the antiwar activists and he's also the freshest face.
Clark is an antiwar candidate and a former four-star general and an
even fresher face. As someone who's not an identified liberal from a
conservative part of the country, he'd also pull votes from Lieberman,
Edwards, and Graham.

Who might Clark pick as a running mate? Someone with domestic
political experience: a Western or Midwestern governor or senator.
Maybe New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a former Clinton Cabinet
official and a Hispanic. Or how about Michigan's effective and popular
governor, Jennifer Granholm? Or Illinois Senator Dick Durbin?

Dwight Eisenhower was the last general to make it to the White House.
He could have had the nomination of either party. He decided that he
was a Republican, but he governed as an old-fashioned moderate, and he
was phenomenally popular.

Now all of this may just be an August sunstroke fantasy. We'll soon
find out. And if Clark doesn't get in, he'd make one fine vice
presidential candidate for any of the bunch.

----------------------------------------------------
Robert Kuttner is co-editor of The American Prospect. His column
appears regularly in the Globe.

(c) Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company

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