Clark Says His Dean Joke Fell Flat

WASHINGTON (AP) - A comment by retired Gen. Wesley Clark that seemed to chide fellow Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean for skiing as Clark recovered from Vietnam War wounds amounted to nothing more than an attempt at humor that fell flat, Clark said Sunday.

Clark ended a 34-year Army career in June 2000, shortly after completing a tour as NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe. As a 25-year-old commander of a mechanized infantry company in Vietnam, he was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry and the Purple Heart after being shot four times during a patrol searching for Viet Cong.

Dean, Vermont's governor from 1991 until a year ago, received a medical deferment from the military draft for a back condition. He spent a year skiing in Colorado.

Clark's comment came in November on WNTK radio in Manchester, N.H. ``I didn't have as much practice skiing as the governor did. He was out there skiing when I was recovering from my wounds in Vietnam,'' Clark said.

He was asked about the comment by Tim Russert, host of NBC's ``Meet the Press.''

``Let's put it in context, Tim. I was asked in a radio call-in about having a skiing contest with Governor Dean, and sometimes, as you understand - I mean, politics is easy, but humor is tough,'' Clark said from New Hampshire, where he was campaigning. ``That was an attempt at a little bit of humor that some people didn't laugh at.''

Asked whether he has any lingering resentment about serving in Vietnam, Clark said: ``Oh, I don't feel any resentment of that, no. He made his decision. He'll take responsibility for it.''

The only other of the nine candidates to have served in Vietnam is Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with combat ``V'' and three Purple Hearts as a swift boat captain on the Mekong River. Rep. Dick Gephardt was an officer in the Missouri Air National Guard 1965-71.

The liberal activist group MoveOn.org came under fire Sunday from Republicans over a television ad on its Web site that morphed an image of President Bush into Adolf Hitler.

The 30-second spot was one of more than 1,500 entries for a contest MoveOn.org sponsored to find one that ``tells the truth about George Bush's policies.''

``This is the worst and most vile form of political hate speech,'' Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie said in a statement. He also called on the Democratic presidential candidates to renounce the ad.

Eli Pariser, campaign director for MoveOn.org, said the ad appeared on the Web site with hundreds of others submitted by the public and voted on during a two-week period. They were removed Dec. 31, when the voting period had ended.

The ad shows images of Hitler with text saying, ``God told me to strike at al-Qaida,'' before turning to images of Bush with the words, ``And then He instructed me to strike at Saddam.'' The ad ends with the words, ``Sound familiar?'' on a black and white screen.

Pariser said his group tried to screen out ``ads in poor taste like this one,'' and that MoveOn.org would never consider running such an ad.

``To use Hitler in a way like this is grotesque and outrageous. He was such a heinous individual that it's unseemly to bring him into the American political debate,'' said James Tisch, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

Meanwhile, MoveOn.org will announce its 15 finalists on Monday. Pariser said the Hitler ads is not among them.

A panel of judges, including such Democratic stalwarts as actor-director Michael Moore, campaign strategists Donna Brazile and James Carville and actor Jack Black will select the winner, to be announced Jan. 12.

The head of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and several other prominent women endorsed Clark on Sunday as he restated his support for affirmative action and women's rights during a day of campaigning in New Hampshire.

``I've dealt with presidents all the way back to Tricky Dick,'' said panel chairwoman Mary Frances Berry, referring to former President Nixon. ``When I talk to (Clark) and when I listen to him, I can see him as a president for all Americans.''

If elected, Clark promised a Cabinet that includes ``well-qualified women of every race, creed and color.''

Clark also said President Bush has tried for three years to take away women's reproductive rights.

``As president of the United States, I'm going to stand up for choice, and I'm going to make sure we protect women's reproductive rights,'' he said to applause.

Associated Press writers Jennifer C. Kerr in Washington and Anne Sanders in Manchester, N.H., contributed to this report.

Rank	Location	Receipts	Donors/Avg	Freepers/Avg	Monthlies
17	Missouri	221.00	6	36.83	331	0.67	198.00	14

It's Hardball! "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Hardball! Our first guest tonight is former NATO commander and Democratic Presidential hopeful, retired General Wëslëy Clärk."

"Guten abend, Chris."

"General, let's lay it all on the line. Canadians invade New York, what do you do?"

"Well Chris, I would first consult with our allies to achieve a consensus and plan of action to solve the problem."

"General, the Canadians have secured the American portion of Niagra Falls and instituted free healthcare for all. They're moving down the Hudson. How long do you consult with our allies before you take action?"

"Chris, employing force is not a decision to be made lightly or alone. Our allies must be involved in the process and we can't just decide to go it alone because our allies are taking too long to make a decision. Only through negotiation and thoughtful discussion can we meet the threat. Also, I'm in favor of instituting a national healthcare plan for all Americans."

"General, the Canadians have taken Syracuse and instituted Canadian Football League rules at the University. The Orangemen are protesting the extra ten yards on the field and have taken to the hills in armed resistance. Can you stop the Canadian horde before they reach New York City?"

"Well Chris, I want to say right now that any partisans or irregulars will be caught and tried before an International Criminal Tribunal and recieve harsh sentences of up to five years, which can be reduced to two for good behavior. The only way we can do that, though, is if we give our allies and the U.N. a stake in the process from the beginning. It's that sense of shared responsibility that will enhance our image abroad and stengthen international bonds of friendship."

"Okay, General. You've gone through the U.N. and NATO. You've asked the Security Council to authorize the use of force against the Canadians, but France votes against it, along with North Korea, who's holding the rotating seat. What do you do then? Do you go against the Canadians and liberate New York?"

"Chris, it's not that simple. You see, among those Canadian Forces will undoubtedly be men from Quebec and I'd understand any French hesitancy involving force against them. What I would do in that instance is talk to the French and our other allies about alternatives to force."

"And those alternatives would be what?"

"A Peacekeeping Force, for one, followed by a Stabilization Force. We could send an international force to New York, but only after the Canadians have promised to stop. You see, Chris, we can't view this through an 'us vs. them' paradigm. It's not the U.S. against the world. We are a part of the world and the international institutions that exist to promote peace and stability. We can't act unilaterally against a foe, no matter how dire the need may appear at the time."

"General, can you take a piss without U.N. approval?"

"Chris, there are always important questions to consider. What if the two end urinals are taken, leaving only the middle urinal open? Do I use the urinal or the toilet? What if the only open toilet stall is the handicapped one? These questions can only be answered through consultation with our allies, along with disabled Americans. You see, Chris, my Administration will be one of inclusion, not exclusion. Only by involving everyone in the decision-making process, can a consensus be reached and an appropriate course of action taken."

"I'll take that as a 'no.' Thank you, General, and good luck."

"Danke, Chris."

sgtstryker.com

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