Wesley Clark vows to curb illegal immigration if elected president (Fires salvo from right at Bush)

AP ^ | Jan 31, 2004 | BETH FOUHY

[nwrep]

Wesley Clark pledged Saturday to "get our balance right" by stemming illegal immigration while allowing immigrants to earn citizenship over time.

Appearing in this military community near the border with Mexico, the retired general said, "We are going to control our borders, going to work with the government of Mexico to stem what's going on down there because we have to."

[nwrep]

but something about killing a house full of innocent women & kids just to get one nutcase preacher, sorta bothers me.

I meant just putting tanks on the border.

[Djarum]

Bush stole issues from the Dems, and they in turn steal issues from him. This will be interesting.

[EGPWS]

Wesley Clark pledged Saturday to "get our balance right" by stemming illegal immigration while allowing immigrants to earn citizenship over time.

While holding a damp finger in the wind.

[ovrtaxt]

Clark's living in a fantasy world and playing to emotions. The only way to seriously change the immigration situation is to totally deny any government assistance to non-citizens, and penalize employers who break the law. The 'anchor baby' thing has to change too, but it would take a constitutional amendment if I'm not mistaken.

No way he's going to propose a reduction in government, just more federal money for border control, a potentially bottomless pit.

[EGPWS]

Bush stole issues from the Dems, and they in turn steal issues from him.

Moocho political savvy on Dubya's part IMHO.

[gwbiny2k]

This is exactly what scares me about Clark...he will say
ANYTHING to get votes. Total whore. Like when he told the
feminists..abortion is just fine 1 minute before delivery!

Then after receiving flack, he changed his position.

Clark is UNSTABLE, without core valuse, switches parties
and position more often than I change underwear.

[joesnuffy]

A campaign promise by an elitist globalist wannabe...whose former commander says
has character issues...?
A Promise worth nothing...

[B Knotts]

Yes, he's setting himself apart from the rest of the pack on an issue no one really wants to touch.

Now, you could also view it as a desperate and/or disingenous move, but I still think it's politically smart.

[zook]

A month ago, after Bush announced his plan, wasn't Clark Bar-Sinister one of those saying that Bush's plan didn't go far enough?

[EGPWS]

Advice to Clark: Change your ways.

Do you want him to win the Presidency??

[Peach]

Ditto regarding the anti-Bush bandwagon. Not letting the facts get in the way of their opinions.

[B Knotts]

I don't care for Clark, either, but I was just pointing out that he is making a smart move in this particular case, as it will get him some media traction, in all likelihood, simply because the rest of the Democrats won't even go near the issue.

[Welsh Rabbit]

I agree, and I fully expect Savage to endore him tomorrow.

If so, it will make for some interesting lurking on DU...

[.cnI redruM]

Here's a tin-foil-hat special. Maybe Kerry and Clark have a deal. Clark runs as Ross Perot and torpedoes Bush in the South by running to his right, Kerry finds ways to hook Clark up with money or fame.

[AmishDude]

This would have been smarter if he had done it after the proposal. Now Arizonans will see it as opportunism and Democrat primary voters won't be terribly attracted to it anyway.

You know, I've given thought to the following: If we accept the premises that (1) the Clintons do not want Kerry to win the presidency and (2) Clark is the Clintons' sock puppet, then it stands to reason that Clark may make a third party run.

[LADY J]

Isn't there one reporter out there who would ask these clowns HOW they would do the things they say?

What's the point of having these candidates tell the crowd and the press anything at all without some questioning involved.

Just once - I'd like to see them tell us - not WHAT they will do - but also HOW they intend to do it.

[Djarum]

Moocho political savvy on Dubya's part IMHO.

Bush is savvy, while Clark is merely "holding a damp finger in the wind." Why is that?

[Peach]

Good find, seamole.

The naivety of people to believe Clark might actually stem illegal immigration is astounding.

[MamaLucci]

You could see this one coming a mile away.