Dean Says He Did Not Offer VP Slot to Clark

[Killarney]

So, somebody's lying it seems. Don't know who.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=564&e=9&u=/nm/20031222/ts_nm/politics_dean_dc_3

[Toucano]

1. The plot thickens! n/t

[dave29]

2. or maybe nobody is lying

and the media is making a mountain out of a mole hill. Dean may have asked whether or not Clark would consider being his runningmate, but I doubt he asked him to actually be his running mate. Why it even matters at this point, I'm not sure.

[shance]

8. Exactly.

Why is this being made an issue?

Sounds as though at the most there may have been some feeling around on the issue, but no concrete question addressed about the position.

[Padraig18]

3. Ehh... huge non-story, IMO.

Dean said what he said, and Clark heard what he heard. 1-1--- a tie.

Next! :shrug:

[andym]

4. Good publicity for both!

[SahaleArm]

7. Tells you what sells - sadly it's not policy papers n/t

[demnan]

5. Did you read the entire article?

There was nothing conflicting in it.

Clark, appearing on Sunday on ABC News' "This Week," said he met with Dean in early September and the vice president's slot "was sort of discussed ... and dangled before I made the decision to run."

This doesn't mean he was formally asked. You can meet with someone and discuss a possibility without asking outright. Jeez!

[SahaleArm]

9. I think Dean is sticking up for Trippi more than...

he is responding to the statement from Clark. Stephanopoulos proceeded to trump up Clark's answer before asking for Joe's response putting him on the spot. Joe looked a bit uneasy in that interview.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. We'll see.

If Clark and Dean were the only two people in the room, we will never know the truth. If Clark had others witness the conversation, they will speak out, I'm sure.

[BootinUp]

10. Not a biggie

I mean words can be taken different ways. I think they both have a basis for what they said. On the other hand I do believe Dean was trying to keep the General from going head to head with him, and to me that equates to making an offer. Either way you see it, it doesn't hurt anybody at this point IMHO.

[Padraig18]

11. It's a huge non-issue.

:shrug:

[BJ]

12. No, nobody's lying.

If you'd temper your partisanship with a careful reading of the text the last two paragraphs fairly well tell the story:
Clark, appearing on Sunday on ABC News' "This Week," said he met with Dean in early September and the vice president's slot "was sort of discussed ... and dangled before I made the decision to run."


Clark said he told the former Vermont governor he was "really not interested in even talking about it."

Doesn't read like anything of any substance was seriously offered by anyone to anyone.

Does it?

[Maximus Darius]

13. Clark "Silver"

[dsewell]

15. The newest DU icon?

The great "Freedumb Fighter" by Lalo Alcaraz.

[Jerseycoa]

14. Clark on CNN

Just said the offer was made as much as an offer can be made before there is an actual nominee. He said he has not made an issue of it until now, and is now doing so only because the Dean campaign has been selling the Dean/Clark ticket. Clark's putting that to rest.

[mikehiggins]

16. Don't know, don't care. Let Clark and Dean argue it out between them

Let's us put a moratorium on all this "tit" for "tat" debating on DU where it literally does no good whatsoever.

We aren't going to win this election by ruling the roost at DU, no matter who our candidate is.

[clarknyc]

17. Well said.

Thanks.

[Clark Can WIN]

18. Depends on what your definition of IS is.

Or something kinda like that.

We all know and they both admit to meetings in September right before Clark declared.

I believe this: Dean is a savy enough politican, and had the acumen and intelligence to know that Clark was probably going to be the ONE canddiate who may finally stand between him and the nomination.

I think Dean probably was hoping to head off this threat at the pass, so to speak.

Dean may have said something "encouraging" like.......

(in the calm Dean voice)
"You know Wes, I think you're a great asset to the Democratic party. I understand your trepidation about getting into the ugly politics of a presidential race considering what it might do to your family.... But I have to tell you general, any good Democrat would be happy to have you on their side and that includes me......... I understand if you don't want to run but if I'm nominated I'd like to think you would at least consider being my running mate."

A conversation like this would fit both of their definitions "technically".

Of course Howard can't offer a VP postition. He doesn't have a single vote or the nomination. But ya notice he hasn't said anything like......... running mates, possible VP, nothing of that nature was discussed? Ya notice Trippi qualified his usual shitload with " I was not present "?

[robbedvoter]

19. Let's go to the videotape:

Newsnight November 12 with Wolf Blitzer substituting for Aaron Brown
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0311/12/asb.00.html

BLITZER: You told me a few months ago that you would seriously consider him as your running mate.
DEAN: I think that's true. He would be, certainly, on anybody's short list. He certainly has the ability to do that.

So, we know who lied.
We also know that HD has holes that need plugging.
http://bestofblogs.forclark.com/story/2003/12/22/13729/055
And that you guys won't misuse Clark's good name for this purpose.
All in all, a good thing.