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Clark vows to strike back
if his patriotism is questioned
Manchester Union Leader ^
| December 21, 2003
| AP
Posted on 12/21/2003 5:45:00 AM PST by billorites
DERRY - Moments after praising his opponents in the Democratic Presidential race as worthy running mates, Wesley Clark said, in no uncertain terms, how he would respond if they or anyone else criticized his patriotism or military record.
"I'll beat the s--- out of them," Clark told a questioner as he walked through the crowd after a town hall meeting Saturday. "I hope that's not on television," he added.
It was, live, on C-Span.
Clark was responding to a rambling question by a man who referred to then-candidate George Bush attacking Sen. John McCain's commitment to veterans in the 2000 primaries. The man asked Clark if he would take the offensive if Bush or any of the other Democrats questioned his trading military caps with a Bosnian general who now is a war crimes suspect, or cited critical comments about Clark by former Army brass.
His campaign was quick to say Clark was speaking rhetorically, and would come out strongly against anyone who challenges his patriotism or military service.
"General Clark is a military man and a fighter," said the campaign's national spokesman, Bill Buck. "He'll stand up to President Bush or any of the administration's chicken hawks that attack his patriotism, military record or his commitment to veterans, which is one of the reasons why he will beat George Bush."
Buck balked at commenting on whether Clark was including "the other Democrats" in his response, and refused to comment when asked if Clark regretted making the remark.
The campaign's traveling press secretary, Jamal Simmons, was with Clark at the time, and said he heard Clark's answer but not the question. He called it "an unscripted comment from a blunt-spoken leader."
"If anyone tries to question Wes Clark's character, integrity or his commitment to this country or its security, they're going to be in the biggest fight they've ever had," he said.
Earlier, in front of the audience, Clark was asked who his vice President would be. He said he was not ready to choose, but suggested he could consider any of the candidates in the Democratic race.
"There's such great talent in the Democratic Party," he said.
In other comments, the retired general said the announcement that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi will allow international weapons inspectors into his country and will halt his weapons programs shows diplomacy, economic sanctions and cooperation among allies can make major changes.
He gave Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain most of the credit.
"It's a program of squeezing Libya that's gone on for more than a decade," he said. "The Clinton administration was very much involved with this.
In a slap at Bush, he said "it shows that you don't need to use force to get your way in world affairs."
Clark also said Bush could have done more to prevent the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
"This is the way it works in the Navy," Clark said. "If you're the captain of a ship, and it runs aground, they only ask two questions: Did it run aground, and were you the captain? If the answer is yes to both, you're fired."
Clark did not say Bush could have prevented the attacks, but he said the Clinton administration warned Bush about the threat of the Al Qaeda network and that Bush should be held accountable for not focusing on the warnings.
"His priority was to break the ABM treaty with Russia so he could invest in missile defense," Clark said. "He wasn't paying attention. He didn't do his job as commander and chief."
Clark also said if he is elected, he will resume the intense search for Osama Bin Laden, mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks.
"We'll form a U.S.-Saudi joint force," he said. "We'll go the mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan. We'll run Osama bin Laden out of his sanctuary," he said.
TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; clark; essword; profanity; sword; wesleyclark
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"I'll beat the s--- out of them,"Beat the sugar?
Beat the stuffing?
Beat the senses?
Beat the ...?
To: billorites
I'm not necessarily questioning his patriotism.
I AM questioning his competence / manhood.
2
posted on
12/21/2003 5:46:58 AM PST
by
martin_fierro
(Lord of the Pings)
To: billorites
Note to Wes Clark: I QUESTION YOUR PATRIOTISM!!!
3
posted on
12/21/2003 5:47:56 AM PST
by
Saundra Duffy
(For victory & freedom!!!)
To: billorites
Stories in conservative newspapers and magazines have been written that despite doing a Lexus-Nexus search, they were unable to find ONE Bush administration official who has questioned the patriotism of the left.
We all question the left's patriotism, and correctly so. But the Bush administration has NOT done so.
It's just a talking point by the left that goes unchallenged by the lamestream media.
4
posted on
12/21/2003 5:50:10 AM PST
by
Peach
(The Clintons have pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
To: billorites
Beat the ...? I'm sure it's that same "s..." which famously floats, as witness Clark's career.
5
posted on
12/21/2003 5:53:06 AM PST
by
Grut
To: Saundra Duffy
Note to Wes Clark: I QUESTION YOUR PATRIOTISM!!! Me too. Bring it on!
6
posted on
12/21/2003 5:53:22 AM PST
by
Aeronaut
(In my humble opinion, the new expression for backing down from a fight should be called 'frenching')
To: billorites
Does this idiot think Gadhafi would have done a freaking thing if we hadn't gone into Iraq?
7
posted on
12/21/2003 5:53:42 AM PST
by
sticker
To: billorites
It is not that Clark is not patriotic. From his record it is clear that he needs leadership. Under the direction of Bill and Hillary, did we get Waco? He is again under their supervision.
People should question if he will be free to act on his own, if elected.
Clark is an example of the Peter principle except he was not promoted above his ability, he was rewarded above his ability.
8
posted on
12/21/2003 5:54:08 AM PST
by
paguch
To: billorites
"If anyone tries to question Wes Clark's character, integrity or his commitment to this country or its security, they're going to be in the biggest fight they've ever had," he said.
For a sixpac of keystone light and a couple of loose cigarettes I know a six ft.four biker i could hire to beat this twit silly. as he has no character nor is he patriotic. instead clark is pathetic,ill at ease around the american flag, and cant abide all of us little people he claims he's going to help by screwing us out of more of our paychecks and killing off whats left of our constitution.
9
posted on
12/21/2003 5:55:18 AM PST
by
suzyq5558
(Deenie has no claim to national leadership. but he does claim lots of theory conspiracies!)
To: billorites
These dems are starting to seem more like the kids from South Park than any Disney drwafs. We need Hillary! to start yelling about F***** Jew B*st*rds again, and Rev. Al to start yelling about White Interlopers, and that should ensure Dick Gephardt or Joe Lieberman a win on the clean language ticket.
10
posted on
12/21/2003 5:55:47 AM PST
by
jocon307
(The dems don't get it, the American people do!)
To: billorites
Clark on 9/11:
"This is the way it works in the Navy," Clark said. "If you're the captain of a ship, and it runs aground, they only ask two questions: Did it run aground, and were you the captain? If the answer is yes to both, you're fired." These Dems are immolating themselves at a shocking pace. Dean and Clark have already proven their unsuitability over and over, and it's not even election year yet.
I'm beginning to think Gephart might get the nomination. That's what I'd do if I were them. He's the only remotely safe, non-controversial choice they've got. Far from being the "safe" candidate, Clark is proving to be the looniest of the lot!!! And that's saying something.
11
posted on
12/21/2003 5:55:58 AM PST
by
Jhensy
To: billorites
General Shelton and former Secy of State Cohen have already questioned his integrity. Is he going to beat the s--- out of them?
12
posted on
12/21/2003 5:56:15 AM PST
by
gaspar
To: billorites
It's his sanity I question.
13
posted on
12/21/2003 5:58:36 AM PST
by
zook
To: billorites
Clark MEANS it.
Candidate Clark's victims of his strike at Waco.
Candidate Clark's victims of his strike in Yugoslavia.
14
posted on
12/21/2003 5:58:56 AM PST
by
Diogenesis
(If you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us)
To: billorites
Their
policy of appeasement is questioned, and they deflect with the claim that we're "questioning their patriotism".
Sad.
If they can't keep vigilance after 9/11, they didn't have enough before 9/11.
15
posted on
12/21/2003 5:59:35 AM PST
by
ChadGore
(http://www.howard-dean-sucks.com)
To: Jhensy
He actually said that? I missed that little gem. Hhhmmmm....I guess he thought FDR should have been fired on 12/8/41? Waddanidjit.
To: billorites
"
Wesley Clark said, in no uncertain terms, how he would respond if they or anyone else criticized his patriotism or military record."
Lord knows he would never respond meaningfully if terrorists attacked our country, but hey, if he wants credit for having the guts to attack President Bush, why, I'm sure his constituency would be happy to give it to him.
To: billorites
"I'll beat the s--- out of them,"
Do we all recall the hullabaloo over Bush saying to Cheney privately which the press had to bring lip readers in to translate, referring to someone in the crowd, "He is a first class ***hole." So far in this campaign, we have heard the "f" word from Kerry and now the "s" word from Clark....Where is the outrage?
18
posted on
12/21/2003 6:00:28 AM PST
by
Toespi
To: billorites
"It's a program of squeezing Libya that's gone on for more than a decade," he said. "The Clinton administration was very much involved with this. Apparently the Clinton administration was involved in everything--- except 9/11.
To: billorites
Clark also said Bush could have done more to prevent the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. "This is the way it works in the Navy," Clark said. "If you're the captain of a ship, and it runs aground, they only ask two questions: Did it run aground, and were you the captain? If the answer is yes to both, you're fired." Unless the previous captain removes the rudder and jams the throttle at all-ahead full. That's more analogous to what we have here.
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