Inside Move: Dems' last-minute casting Politicos try Clark for prexy role (HOLLYWOOD)

VARIETY ^ | Mon., Oct. 6, 2003 | GABRIEL SNYDER

[fight_truth_decay]

Gen. Wesley Clark, the latest Democratic presidential aspirant, barnstormed through Hollywood last week, positioning himself as a rival to Howard Dean as the entertainment industry's favorite candidate. In a whirlwind of plate passing, Clark attended two events on the night of Oct. 1, one hosted by Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson, the other by Norman Lear. The next morning, former L.A. district attorney Ira Reiner, Gil Friesen and Richard Donner hosted a breakfast for the four-star general.

Democrats in Hollywood are looking for a candidate they think can beat George W. Bush. And Clark's combo of being former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, a critic of the war in Iraq and possessor of telegenic good looks make him look like a winner.

"What you're dealing with in Hollywood are people who spend their entire life figuring out how to sell something," says one producer who wrote Clark a check. "And these people are saying to themselves, that's a good pitch."

Dean supporters, however, are unswayed.

Early Dean ally Rob Reiner isn't switching allegiances. On Oct. 1, he was at a Dean fundraiser at Union Station. Earlier that evening, David O. Russell hosted a reception at his home. On Sept. 30 Wil Mesdag, who works with Marvin Davis, hosted an event. On Sunday, a group of young Hollywood execs pitched in to the campaign at Les Doux Cafe.

Chad Griffin, a political consultant who works with Reiner, points to reports that Clark is not a registered Democrat and his admission that he once voted for Ronald Reagan, and questions his qualifications to criticize Bush.

"Being like Bush is the way we lose," he says.

Hollywood, though, is a big town with deep pockets. And while Dean fans may resent the attention lavished on the new kid, there's plenty of support to go around.

Even Lear admits: "Despite everything we read in the Eastern press, Los Angeles is like any other company town. The city's leaders splinter on everything political."

Date in print: Mon., Oct. 6, 2003, Weekly

[cwb]

"Even Lear admits: "Despite everything we read in the Eastern press, Los Angeles is like any other company town. The city's leaders splinter on everything political."

Yeah...the only splinter is over whose more of Leftist and which one can beat Bush.

[Pikamax]

come on howard dean, start swinging!! Hillary is hurting!

[RightWingAtheist]

Early Dean ally Rob Reiner isn't switching allegiances. On Oct. 1, he was at a Dean fundraiser at Union Station

Last time I asked, no one did so, so I'm going to ask again: Could someone please post some appropriate stills from the barf-o-rama scene in Stand by Me?

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[RightWingAtheist]

I might add that David O. Russell was the guy who wrote and directed Three Kings, for which he plagiarized some one else's scripts, and passed it off as being the "truth" about the Gulf War. He fooled a lot of critics, and on Roger Ebert's embarassing, gushing interview with Bill Clinton, the groper-in-chief even praised it as being an "accurate" portrait. (and they say Reagan had trouble distinguishing movies from reality)

[fight_truth_decay]

U.S. Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said: "General Clark has served his country and NATO with extraordinary skill and dedication. His leadership was central to the success of Operation Allied Force, which stopped the killing in Kosovo, and he has been instrumental in bringing stability to Bosnia. NATO is stronger and Europe is more secure because of General Clark's leadership....gloss?

Or

Did the British general Jackson ignored the Clarks'command and refuse to aid Clark in starting a possible armed conflict with Russia in Kosovo ..."I am not going to start your Third World War?"

And when a commander (especially a general) is relieved of his command...is it just a nice way of saying "you're fired!"

Or

Did he retire three months ahead of schedule without an option for another year's extension, said customary for Supreme Allied Commanders Europe?

[.cnI redruM]

>>>>Dean supporters, however, are unswayed.

That's what Clark is up against. Dean's people are committed to their idiot. He's already announced that his supporters belong to him, not to the party.

Dean would ruin the Dem party as a Green Party candidate. Even if he loses the nomination, expect him to set a huge portion of the party agenda.