A member of the Draft Clark Yahoo! online forum replies to a Kerry supporter
santabarbaraforclark.com
I respect John Kerry and would support him should he win the nomination. However, there is a reason I have chosen Wesley Clark over Kerry.
First of all, people seem to think that serving as an elected official trumps every other kind of experience. I simply do not think that is true– certainly not in the case of Clark. He chose public service as a teenager, and chose to perform that public service in the U.S. Army, devoting 34 years to protecting and serving his country.
He didn't spend all 34 years in combat, directing wars, or inspecting tanks. He spent most of that time training other men and women and looking out for the interests and well-being of the thousands of people under his command. He was one of the few high-ranking Army officers to try to address openly the problems of suicide and domestic abuse. He understood early that a post-Vietnam, all volunteer force expected and deserved the same things that most Americans want: adequate pay, healthcare, decent living conditions, quality education for their children, and the expectation that pensions and benefits would be sufficient for them after retirement. There is not one "domestic" issue that Americans face that Clark hasn't dealt with in the ranks of the Armed Forces.
There is not one Senator or Congressperson who has the experience or the clout of Wesley Clark abroad. We desperately need someone to reroute our foreign policy after the Bush administration debacle. He is that man.
In the Pentagon, Clark was the Joint Chief's staff officer in charge of strategy and planning. His job was not just to react to current crises, but to anticipate and plan for contingencies around the world. What better experience could there be in today's dangerous geopolitical climate?
Would Wesley Clark have better, broader experience if he had left the Army for a career in law or business, and then snagged a Senate seat 10-15 years down the line? I think that's ridiculous. He couldn't possibly have broader credibility over so many issues if he had spent his career any other way.
There's not one other candidate, who can challenge him in any given category – including personal integrity, sheer intellectual brilliance, or the ability to lead. That's why we support Clark over Kerry. I'm afraid you will be preaching to the wrong choir, [name witheld for privacy reasons]. May the best man win.
With respect,
Selena Frye
Louisville, KY |
