General Clark draws a crowd
seacoastonline.com
By Jack Loftus
PORTSMOUTH - There was little room to maneuver on Saturday afternoon as Democratic presidential candidate Gen. Wesley Clark visited the South Church after a short walk through downtown Portsmouth.
Before the retired Army general’s arrival, supporters were seen breaking out additional chairs, and the second-story balcony was filled to capacity with additional supporters hoping to hear the candidate speak during his campaign stop.
Every pew was filled and the rear aisles were packed with people shoulder to shoulder as Clark made his way into the church to greet supporters and speak on patriotism and family values, and to mention the names of a few potential running mates.
When asked who he believed would make a strong vice president, Clark answered, "Any of the other candidates in this race," in addition to Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who also made the list of potential running mates.
During his remarks to the crowd, Clark touched upon several issues that fell under categories like patriotism and family values.
"Patriotism, to me, is using American forces to protect America, but only when absolutely necessary," Clark said. "Patriotism, to me, is pulling together after 9/11 and going after Osama bin Laden. George Bush went after Saddam Hussein without connections (to bin Laden). This country is still owed an explanation as to why we went to war in Iraq."
Clark continued, "Now that we’re in it, we’re going to do the best we can to support our men and women ... who are doing the best they can, but the country asked them to do the wrong thing."
The four-star general promised that if he is elected president the nation will continue to field the strongest military in the world, but that international law, diplomacy and working with America’s allies will supersede the use of force, which would only be used as a last resort.
Clark then shifted his political gears to family values, something he said "the other political party" has given "the entirely wrong definition."
"You can’t have family values if you don’t have jobs. You can’t have family values if you can’t get to the doctor’s office," Clark said.
Another contributing factor to the breakdown of American values is the fact that higher education costs have risen 28 percent during the Bush administration, Clark said, adding that personal income has not increased along with these costs.
"The only people I know whose income has gone up over four years is Halliburton," he said, alluding to the major corporation Vice President Dick Cheney formerly ran. "George Bush has priced kids out of school."
In support of family values, Clark pledged that, during his first term as president, he would provide a $3,000 family income raise, in addition to higher education grants for students in their first and second years of college.
"I have one more value," Clark said. "Everyone has equal rights; people not born on an equal playing field need to be helped up to that level.
"We need leadership that is not just good enough for re-election, but leadership that is good for the country," Clark said before handing the microphone over the public for the "conversation" portion of the afternoon.
It was during this conversation period that the name Hillary Clinton made its way into Clark’s list of running mates for the presidential ticket. Also making the list was Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla.
Clark also pledged to win back the House and Senate for Democrats, cautioning that "it will be a very tough fight," but that he has the experience other candidates lack to accomplish the job.
"I won’t talk about other candidates ... but if you want a lawyer, get a lawyer; if you want a doctor, get a doctor; but if you want a leader, then get a leader," he said.
"I’m running not because I’ve been scheming and plotting to climb the political ladder; I’m running because I think the nation is at an incredible crossroads," Clark said. "We’re bogged down in Iraq, the world is angry about our unilateral position ... we have a foreign policy that is not sustainable. We need to help Americans help Americans, and then we can help Americans help the world," Clark said. |
