Reply #32: If you didn't WATCH Dean's appearance on MTP, Why SPEAK about it?

[Kucinich04]

I swear, a lot of you people are obviously remarking on Dean's interview solely vis-a-vis this media report. Don't we know any better than taking THEIR word, after all this time? Even if it is Reuters (which I find FAR more fair than AP, myself), there is no substitute for actually 'being there', is there? If you weren't watching, you ought to abstain from comment. Honestly.

Dean did not 'attack' Clark in this interview. I just watched it, then came online to see what the press and my fellow DU'ers were thinking about it. I am (obviously) a Kucinich supporter first, but I'm up in the air about my second choice, and right now I hold Dean and Clark tied at second, followed by Kerry.

At *this* point, Dean's credentials of being an Anti-war, Anti-Bush, outside-the-beltway, stone-cold Democrat FAR outweight Clark's claims to the same. I'm not 'anti'-Clark, not at all, and don't think Dean is either. But I'm still waiting to see somebody prove that Clark was against the Iraq War, before it started, on other than tactical grounds - this is critical to me in deciding which candidate to back right now. So far, I've not seen enough proof of 'who' Clark really is, and for that reason, I cannot support him as my front-runner. I'd accept him for VP, but thats the limit for me right now. But that could change...

Dean's comments about Clark were nothing out of the ordinary for a Primary Race, he said nothing that would jeopardize their later ability to run as a team. I'd have preferred it if Dean had caged some of his accusations in a more questioning tone, more like "Mr. Clark is going to need to show a skeptical American People that he, a General, is truly an Anti-War Democrat, and not Johnny-Come-Lately posing as an Anti-War Democrat just because its the cool thing to be right now". But right now, after hearing SO much ass-kissing from the Dems in DC ever since November 2000, I'm just happy to have Dem running who isn't afraid to say what he really feels, and be ready to back his arguments with facts.

I have to say, I really hadn't heard Dean speak at any length; aside from a few quick soundbytes, and hearsay in the form of reports (media and DU) from his various appearances, but he was quite excellent on MTP just now. Despite the jerkoff interviewer (forgive me for not knowing that guy's name, I'm sure I should by now), Dean rarely wavered, always had a reasoned comeback, and he never missed a chance to justifiably attack the GOP and Bush. You could tell he's been already been asked all these same questions concerning his past 'changes of heart', and has his responses down cold. The subtly hostile (obviously probing for weaknesses, trying to catch Dean in a lie - I bet this dude interviewing him would NEVER have interviewed Shrubby with this accusatory tone of voice!) questions concerning his past support for NAFTA, the WTO, 'siding' with Newt over raising the retirement age and cutting the Medicare budget, etc, were defended (I thought) very well - he simply admitted he has changed his mind!

Personally, I found this common sense honesty refreshing. I respect people who are willing to admit they were wrong about supporting something when the facts on the ground turn out to be different from the initial assumptions, particularly if they brought up the potential issues way back when. Kerry clearly did so re: the IRaq War, with his comments from the floor just prior to voting "Yes" on the resolution to allow * to use force. I think this willingness to be flexible in your views is critical. One of the biggest reasons I hate the Pubbies so much is because they always consider their initial opinion and hardened dogma more important than the developing facts. There is nothing wrong with honest changes of heart, so long as one is not simply flip-flopping to pander to their audience. I don't beleive Dean is doing that, but I'm more than willing to entertain it if somebody has an argument to the contrary...

Bottom-line: Dean/Clark would make an AWESOME ticket. Dean and Clark supporters should not be *fighting* each other, anymore than the men themselves should. I don't think they ARE. This is all normal primary politics, nothing Dean said was over-the-top. He spoke to real 'unknowns' about Clark that exist, and Clark needs to come out and make these 'knowns' before ANY of us support him over Dean, AFAIC. I also think Dean knows Clark needs to clarify some of these issues before he can choose Clark as his running mate. He may be testing Clark to see how he reacts to his statements...