Clark enters N.H. race with patriotism campaign theme
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By Maeve Reston Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Sunday, September 28, 2003
post-gazette.com
DOVER, N.H. -- One needed only to drive past retired Army Gen. Wesley K. Clark's first New Hampshire campaign rally on the steps of Dover's City Hall yesterday to get an earful of what the central theme of his campaign will be in the four months before the New Hampshire primary.
There weren't any hip new tunes playing as the crowd waited for the newest face in the Democratic presidential race to appear. Not even top-40 hits.
Instead Clark's "New America Patriotism" -- a freshly minted campaign theme -- seemed to be blaring from the loudspeakers: the crowd of some 300 supporters bounced along to "This land is your land," "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and "Glory, Glory Hallelujah," as they waved American flags and anti war posters.
Finally the first-time candidate appeared and seemed almost at a loss at how to drown out the shouts of "We want Clark!" to begin his speech. He held up his hand: "You said you wanted me, well, you got me."
And before long he was off, telling supporters about his 34 years of military service and his opposition to the war in Iraq, and his concern that the administration of President George W. Bush has jeopardized American freedoms.
"I've seen a new kind of American Patriotism in this country, it's not just about American flags," he said. "It's about more than just protecting our borders, it's protecting our rights.... It's a new kind of patriotism that recognizes that in a Democracy we're founded on dialogue, we're founded on discussion, we're founded on disagreement, and even dissension and it's not wrong -- It's the highest form of patriotism."
While there were a number of New Hampshire voters in the crowd who had just come to listen, there were also die-hard Clark supporters -- many who were opposed to the Iraq War and determined to see Bush lose in 2004 who drove from Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York, and New Jersey.
Joyce A. Miller, who recently lost her job as a telecommunications worker, to help Clark win over primary voters. "I don't recognize America the way it is now and I would like to see America the way it was before Bush," said Miller, of East Orange, N.J. who became a Clark supporter early this year.
"I'm very encouraged by what he has to say. He's a military man and a smart guy. I'm supporting him with my money even though I'm unemployed, I'll support him with everything. I think he's Superman."
Mary A. Heth of Orleans, Mass., who is a publisher of a guidebook in Cape Cod, drove three hours to hold a sign telling Clark to kick "the bullies" out of Washington.
"I'm so offended by our government, I feel like this country is headed off a cliff," she said. "This is the first time I've donated money to a candidate.... I feel like Clark can build bridges, he listens to people."
Clark faced a tougher crowd Friday night in Henniker, N.H. at his first town hall meeting hosted by New England College, which was standing room only with some 300 people in attendance. Many said they were impressed by Clark's answers on questions about foreign policy ranging from the conflict in Liberia -- he would have gone in sooner and used a larger force -- to the threat of North Korea -- he believes America should be negotiating directly with the government and not through China -- to the war on terror -- he believes there should be more of a focus on finding Osama Bin Laden than on waging war in Iraq.
But many New Hampshire voters leaving the town hall meeting Friday night, who are accustomed to meeting candidates three or four times before deciding, said they also wanted to here more details about what Clark would do to create jobs and improve the economy.
"I'm fascinated by the perspective of someone in the military who is critical of the war in Iraq, as I am, but who is wearing a different lens," said Mary-Chris Duncan, a guidance counselor from Bradford, N.H. who is a Democrat. "I liked him and thought he was very honest, but I want to hear more specifics."
New England College political pcience Professor Wayne F. Lesperance said the Clark event was better attended than those for any of the other candidates this year.
"Clark comes to the race with a lot of energy," Lesperance said. "He's plain spoken and there's a certain sense about him that's he been around the world and dealt with weighty issues. There's the same kind of electricity that there was with [Arizona Sen.] John McCain... "I think there's a lot of interest out there."
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