Billionaire Soros Gives Financial Boost to General Clark

[babylonsister]

http://www.nysun.com/article/41564

Billionaire Soros Gives Financial Boost to General Clark

By JOSH GERSTEIN - Staff Reporter of the Sun
October 16, 2006

A billionaire investor who spent more than $25 million to defeat President Bush in 2004, George Soros, is giving a financial boost to the political fortunes of a former four-star general, Wesley Clark, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and is poised to mount another bid in 2008.

Mr. Soros gave $75,000 in July to a political group led by General Clark, Wes-Pac, according to a report filed yesterday with the Internal Revenue Service.

It is the largest known gift from Mr. Soros this year to a political organization affiliated with a contender for the presidency in 2008.

Spokesmen for the two men did not return calls last night seeking comment on the donation.

In April, Mr. Soros hosted a fund-raiser for WesPac at his home in Manhattan. General Clark also serves on the board of a nongovernmental organization supported by Mr. Soros, the International Crisis Group.

Last year, Mr. Soros gave the legal maximum of $4,200 to Senator Clinton's re-election campaign. According to a report filed Federal Election Commission, some of the money, $1,250, was later refunded. No reason was given.

[CarolNYC]

1. Soros

I met Mr. Soros at that fundraiser. He was a truly gracious host. He's a good man with a lot of money, committed to using it to doing good, very concerned about the state of the world and our future. No wonder the Republicans hate and fear him so much.

It was also obvious he has deep admiration for General Clark. That was nice to see.

[Cosmocat]

3. They had this on C-Span this morning ...

They do the break ins every half hour to Chuck Dodd's magazine, and Dodd made note of this today ... I came on to note this to the board ... I got turned on to Wes when I found DU, and this absolutely made my day ...

[blm]

4. How did Chuck Todd play it? He usually spins anything he can against Dems.

.

[Cosmocat]

6. Neutral ...

Just made note of it, as much as I could tell ... Didn't do the hate Soros thing ... It breaks the Hilliary is the democratic party meme, so it was unchartered waters ... These guys just don't know what to do with the general ... They can't fathom that there is life outside of their vaccum ...

[CTyankee]

2. Soros strikes me as a very smart man

I feel vindicated in my early support in 04 for Clark. I always felt that he's the one that could win. Glad to see that Soros obviously feels the same way!

[WCGreen]

8. You know Clark was pulling up until he appeared on the

DAily show and kind of tanked...

He wasn't quite ready fro prime time...

HE is now, though...

[FrenchieCat]

9. Here's an interesting post I ran into by accident!

Three of the half dozen drivers that we’ve encountered so far in Kosovo have expressed their admiration for the United States. I’d pass this off as an attempt to get a bigger tip, except in one case the driver – a kid barely 21 – took his remarks a couple of steps further.

“I love America,” he said. “I love Bill Clinton. And Wesley Clark, you know Wesley Clark?”

I said that I did, but even though the name sounded familiar, I really didn’t. Checking later, I discovered that Clark was the U.S. Army general who, during the 78-day bombing of Serbia, served as the military head of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), carried the title of Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

“I like this man,” the cabbie said. “I have poster this big” – at this, he made a large square shape with his hands – “of him.”

And our current president? The young guy sounded like Kanye West.

“I don’t like Bush,” he said. “He is bad man.”

http://www.spokane7.com/blogs/moviesandmore/archive.asp?postID=4136

[WCGreen]

11. Cool.....

[Cameron27]

16. Well that brought tears to my eyes.

How wonderful to have someone actually admire us for something....and of course that something is Wes Clark.

[FrenchieCat]

29. but this line....

“I love America,” he said. “I love Bill Clinton. And Wesley Clark, you know Wesley Clark?”
I said that I did, but even though the name sounded familiar, I really didn’t.

Illustrates Wes Clark biggest problem....most people really don't know who he is, explaining why he polls so low....

and with the corporate national media refusing to cover anything he says......he's got a long climb...cause the national media is fawning on all of those Democratic potentials that ain't got shit to shit about shit, more or less...while ignoring all that Wes is saying, which is plenty!!

Media Buzz is the national corporate media's way to control who gets to run. That's why they are not our friends.....EVER!

[Cameron27]

37. Oh crap

I totally missed the last part of that.

I don't know exactly what will draw the media to cover Wes. He's certainly laying the bushco out & shooting em down, plus, you're right, he's got a well thought out plan in answer to the media's forever wail "but WHAT will the democrats DO about whatever....sunspots for all they care.

It's too early for this, but I'm already getting royally pissed, and I know it's only going to get worse.

Maybe his son can get some interest started. I saw him on The Young Turks video and I loved him, although he was a bit provocative.

Oh hell, back to focusing on congressional seats.

[Eurobabe]

5. That's because WES-PAC

has been going gang-busters for Dem candidates in '06.

No small wonder. Clark has a perpetual boot up the ass of this administration.

[robbedvoter]

17. Exactly. The "boost" is to Dem candidates in this election

Unlike others, Clark is not hogging attention on his ambitions for 2008, but working tirelessly to help dems in THIS coming elections. Siris as a smart man, simply picked the most effective PAC to support.

[snowbear]

43. What a guy!

~~ ~~

[FrenchieCat]

7. Doesn't surprise me. Soros became rich understanding a good

investment when he sees one.

I think giving to Wes Clark is about as smart a way to make your money work for you than anything else that one could invest in if trying to "help" Democrats in politics.

I give to Wes Clark quarterly....and enjoy sitting back and watching my money go to work for me. The returns are much greater than if I invested with any of the other political leaders, say like that "Warner" pac!

[CTyankee]

14. I'm even more convinced now of my support for Wes

I knew in my gut Wes was a top notch candidate. He's smart, likable and military which makes him more accessible to white males. As much as I love John Kerry, we simply must stop nominating Eastern establishment types. Soros knows that Wes would make a great president (and that we will need such a great president once Bush gets through with us in 08). He's putting his money on a good bet.

[lyonn]

19. "Smart Money on Wes", I like that

Being a Deanie it is important for me to say that Clark came on my radar during the pres. primaries. Since he was military there were doubts that he may not be pres. material. Since then I think he is perfect under the current world situation. He could be electible due to the fact that quite a few Okies voted for him during the primaries. That tells me that he can get those undecided type!!

[Crunchy Frog]

10. Good for Soros.

I'm very pleased to read about this. :)

[Auntie Bush]

12. Wow! My heart skipped a beat when I saw this post.

It's not only financially good for Clark and other Democrats with whom he'll share the $75,000...but the donation is so large it should get attention and publicity showing how much Soros trusts General Clark.
And Soros is known for his ability and intuitive powers to make good judgements...not like someone else we know. He knows a good man/deal when he sees one! Go Clark Go! :bounce: Thanks for posting. :patriot:

[AtomicKitten]

13. Always glad to see Soros money flowing.

eom

[abburdlen]

15. a new meme?

Last week Warner drops out from the '08 race, this week Soros gives WesPAC a sizable donation...
We're it any other political figure there would be all sorts of stories coming out that Wes was the new anti-Hillary candidate.

But since it's Clark I'm sure the pundits will find a way to continue the blackout.

[FrenchieCat]

18. Remember that with Pundits.....they either attack or ignore Wes Clark.....

there is no middle ground on that one.

They will continue to talk about Obama/Times cover; Edwards/Populist (who likes war, but never mind all of that); Clinton/Money/ShooIn; Bayh, fighting chance since warner gone; Gore/maybe/maybe not; Kerry mulling another try;

But when it comes to Wes Clark....well they say, who's Wes clark? :shrug:

[windbreeze]

21. That's because he scares the hell out of them...

He has more brainpower in his little finger than all of them put together have in their whole bodies....there simply is NO competition...NONE...
windbreeze

[Auntie Bush]

22. They probably have orders from the White House to NEVER

mention Clark if they know what's good for them. The big Mogul media giants know Clark would win if he got fair coverage and they wouldn't want a Dem in office to deny them their unfair tax breaks.

[abburdlen]

35. Not all pundits

I seem to recall seeing one http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2881887&mesg_id=2881887">pundit on the internets who was quite impressed with Clark.

[FrenchieCat]

36. Now, that's funny.......

At the time, that thread was just a cheeky joke....
but now, come to think of it, pundits ARE jokes.....

so touche.....

Sincerely Yours,

MEPundit!

[robbedvoter]

20. Remember, Soros is Satan to them - they project on him the Scaife

aura. The association of the two names was meant to tar Clark - the only way his name is to be mentioned in the MSM as per memo. I am so used to MSM fixing primaries, it's not even funny.
They don't need Diebold there - sheep will follow the media. I saw several good candidates (Gifford, Tasini) obliterated by media silence in NY elections, besides what they did in the presidential ones to ever hope that a good candidate would ever be picked to run against BFEE. They pick the losers. Always. Sheep follow.

[FrenchieCat]

23. I realize that this news was only put out there to attempt to associate

Wes with the Liberal rif-raf from the left --Last time they reported widely on Madonna and Michael Moore's endorsement......now they are reporting on Soros contributions to him......

But yet, the national media doesn't seem interested in reporting what Wes Clark is actually saying. This makes the corporate media punditocracy obvious to me!

[PeaceProgProsp]

24. Soros made the donation last July.

[FrenchieCat]

25. and the media just found out about it......so for them "it's news".......

without analysis!

[robbedvoter]

26. It only shows how sloppy their reasearch is!

They missed this juicy tidbit.
I remember when the NYC tabloids were after Clinton - every title had numbers in them : how much he gets paid for speeches, how much the rent for his office is, how much the tax payers have to shell for his secret service protection....You know, trying to make him into Leona Helmsley...
I'd be curious to compare any of these with Poppy - except book sales, of course....
It's a common tar method - just look how they call Lamont a millionaire all the time.

[David Zephyr]

27. Yes!

Yes indeed!

[Dr Fate]

28. Soros needs to buy a television network if he really wants to help.

Seriously.

[FrenchieCat]

30. What's up with Gore's television enterprise? Is it reporting on our

elections? I kinda stopped watching, cause it was a bit too abstract for me. :shrug:

[Dr Fate]

31. I have no idea. It was not a news channel either way...

We need a NEWS channel- one that allows Democrats equal time.

If I were Soros, I would start a channel with an "Equal time" concept-whereby DEMS and REpubs get equal time when it come to editorials and debate/interview shows. There would also be an equal amount of DEM hosts & pundits.

We dont need a "Liberal version of FOX"- we just need equal time to get our facts & our framing into the echo chamber.

Soros needs to start a television network if he really wants to put a dent in the process.

[FrenchieCat]

32. I understand about Soros, and yes it would be great if he did something

like that,.....but I'm curious to know why Al Gore DIDn't do a "news" channel...since he spent the money anyways. I don't understand that whole thing. Why go into the television business but not give us what we could have used! :shrug:

[Dr Fate]

33. I love Gore- but my take is that he was worried about GOP/media framing.

He stated "I am not going to start a Liberal version of FOX"- then proceeded to go ahead with his dull channel.

He SHOULD have started a "Liberal version of Fox" over what he wound up doing.

I think he probably did want to start a news network-but he was worried that any exclusives or breaking stories would be spun as "Liberal propaganda" by the conservative media. I cant prove it, but this was my instinct.

We would be better off if we did not worry what the media was going to say about us and just go ahead and fight. All he had to say was "Unlike the other channels, my network will indeed allow Democrats equal time- we will show their press conferences and give their press releases and responses a fair hearing. If telling the truth and giving equal time is 'Liberal', then so be it..."

Who knows- but I dont know a soul who watches his new channel. If he had a news network, I would be tuning in daily.

[pnorman]

34. I, a Kucinich supporter, was initially ambivalent towards Clark.

But on another DU thread, I came across this speech of his: http://securingamerica.com/node/1602

He's certainly not a galvanizing speaker, but his passion and sincerity certainly comes through. Later in that same thread, it was mentioned that some of Noam Chomsky's books were spotted in the General's bookshelf. THAT certainly got my attention!

pnorman

[CarolNYC]

38. hey pnorman

I love Dennis. I supported him for the nomination in '04 before I found the Draft Clark movement....I must say that it took me some time to get over the hurdle of Wes being a military man before I could fully jump on board but I found, through lots and lots of research, that he's not your typical military man...or at least not what I'd thought a typical military man to be. I'm finding out every day how much I'd generalized when it came to the military and how wrong I was about some of it.

Anyway, I admired both he and Wes during the primaries for saying what they thought and standing up forcefully for what they believed in without fear of how it would look or whom they might alienate. I still admire them both greatly.

BTW, I do think that Wes is a galvanizing speaker...but, you know, different strokes and all that.

[pnorman]

39. After these past years, "galvanizing" is no longer very big in my books.

That speech I cited was really the first time I had ever heard him. And remember, I was approaching it with considerable built-in scepticism. I see no reason to recant that phrase, but I'll be looking forward to his next speeches, and will no doubt be more enthusiastic.

Ms. CarolNYC, we're not only reading off the same page, but off the same paragraph.

Kind regards, pnorman

[CarolNYC]

41. I hear ya, pnorman...

Good to be reading the same paragraph with you.. :)

Take care, Carol

[Clarkie1]

40. Soros is a very smart man who spends his money most wisely. nt

[snowbear]

42. I love how Soros calls him: General "Vez-lee" Clark...

Gotta love that Greek accent!

He's had his eye on "Vez-lee" for a long time.. If the General takes the plunge.. ... General Clark will have the campaign's finance advisor and lead contributor all covered with one person!

:patriot: ~~ ~~ :patriot:

[Califooyah Operative]

44. Money Well Spent! nt

[Phrogman]

45. Gore/Clark 08?

Dream team!

[Adelante]

46. Thank you for posting, babylonsister

Happy news :)

[IA_Seth]

47. Thanks for the heads up....

and a kick for Wes!