Wesley Clark to endorse John Kerry

[TheDonkey]

**breaking**

FOX News has it one TV now.

Edit: Link
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/02/12/politics1435EST0674.DTL

CNN Inside Politics will have Clark as a guest @ 3:30 east.

[Beetwasher]

1. So, the Kerry scandal lasts what? Like 2 hours...

Bwhahahaahahaha...

[progressivebydesign]

3. It's still going..

.. and it's being investigated by other news organizations. It's not dead yet. Clark endorsing Kerry makes me a bit.. nauseous, actually. Corporate politics as usual. I feel sorry for Edwards... he may have the best chance of all, but the corporate DNC and DLC will have none of that.

[Renew Deal]

8. Actually Edwards is corporate DNC adn DLC

Search www.ndol.com

[AP]

24. Dan Schorr says DLC hates Edwards 'cause he's anti-NAFTA.

Dean was a member of the DLC and that didn't mean that they loved him, right?

Well they invited Dean, Lieberman and Kerry to present to their members last summer, but they left Edwards off the guest list.

Hmmm.

He and Kucinich are also the only two anti-corporatocracy candidates running.

[TheDonkey]

9. keep hoping

:puke:

Some DUers attempt to take down JK is just out of control.

[Beetwasher]

10. It's Being Investigated?

You believe that because Drudge said so?

The whole thing is total nonsense and it's now dead in the water...

[Nicholas_J]

23. Clark was the source for the entire allegation

Based on the same claims being made in 2000 by Chris Lehane.
Clark made an "off the record statement" the three reporters that Clark made it too work for the sources that the Drudge Report states are investigating it. Clark then drops out shortly after he makes the statements. Two days later, Clark endorses Kerry.

This Drudge story is dead, not only dead, I think people are waiting for Dean to bite on it, attakc with it, and then have the allegations disproved. Will all but end Deans campaign.

[boxster]

5. Damn right. If Clark gets out there immediately, the story on Kerry

mostly dies. Better yet, it looks ludicrous and like the obvious smear attempt that it is.

And hopefully, the dumb "It's Lehane" chant on DU should stop, thank God.

[democratreformed]

14. I'm sorry but it probably was Lehane ON HIS OWN n/t

[Nicholas_J]

26. Not Lehane since these stories have only

been picked up by Drudge and one other right wing source, lets quite them:

First from World Daily Net:

Commenting on the Drudge story, Craig Crawford of the Congressional Quarterly said the allegation is something Wesley Clark campaign secretary and former Al Gore adviser Chris Lahane "has shopped around for a long time.

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=37089

But it was released by Clark:

In an off-the-record conversation with a dozen reporters earlier this week, General Wesley Clark plainly stated: "Kerry will implode over an intern issue."

http://www.drudgereport.com/mattjk1.htm

Clark makes comments to press, winthin days Clark drops out of race, within days Clark endorses Kerry. Unusual behavior, wouldnt you say?

[mouse7]

16. Lehane IS NOT Clark

Chris Lehane has been doing whatever the hell he wanted for a long time. I think there is a good chance that Lehane did this without Clark's permission, and Clark may be doing the endorsement out of guilt for the story coming from his "camp."

Lehane should never be allowed to work in primaries for Dem candidates again. I hate even allowing him to be used in general elections, but I, wrong or not, we have to fight fire with fire against the GOP dirty tricks squads.

[Nicholas_J]

27. It was Clark who spread the information

To a dozen reporters earlier this week. I think Lehane gave the info to Clark, and Clark bit before verifying anything, and then Clark drops out, only to endorse Kerry two days later. Think this report will be more problematic fo the other candidates than Kerry, as Lehane was also using this same info in 2000 as a reason to not put Kerry on Gores short list for V.P.

It was Clark, but I dont blame him personally for being vicious doing it. I think he was gravely misled by Lehane, and found out something about the story tat resulted in him dropping out, and then endorsing Kerry.

[Jersey Devil]

2. Well, that would make the Drudge story even more bizarre

Clark leaking the adultery story and endorsing Kerry? Something does not add up.

[Beetwasher]

6. Sure it adds up

Drudge is a twisted hack who just makes shit up...

[Jersey Devil]

11. Well, yeah, I thought of that too

That's why I think everyone should calm down until we really know if there is any story at all. Rove would love to have all the Dems going at each other's throats and planting a suggestion that is was Clark who dropped the dime on Kerry would be just the thing, wouldn't it?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

15. Bingo!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. Bingo!

[TheDonkey]

22. yep yep (nt)

[TheDonkey]

4. Found a link from a LBN thread

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/02/12/politics1435EST0674.DTL

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jmaier]

25. Yes

He recognizes that the party is moving behind Kerry and that a candidate without national security credentials is going to get shredded in Nov.

He made a commitment to keep taking the fight to Bush and working with Kerry (who will be the nominee) is the best platform for achieving his oust Bush goal. Pretty simple, really.

[MoonAndSun]

12. I can't wait for this to all play out....

the Clark comment about Kerry and an intern was confirmed by one of the bloggers, dailydos??

So what is going on here?? Why is he endorsing Kerry now? Feeling guilty or supporting Kerry thru a tough time??

[maddezmom]

13. maybe the blogger didn't have his/her facts straight

:shrug:

[democratreformed]

18. Maybe the blogger has a vendetta with Clark as well n/t

[stickdog]

33. Or maybe not?

or probably not?

[in_cog_ni_to]

17. This sucks.

I cannot STAND Kerry! I will NOT vote for him....unless Wes is his VP. That would be the ONLY way Kerry can get my vote. shit. I hate this.

[boxster]

32. Come on, in_cog, remember what the General said....

This is all about getting Bush out of the White House.

Wes is a realist, and he knows that this is pretty much a done deal for Kerry anyway. I believe that Wes was sincere when he said that he will do whatever it takes to get rid of Bush. He's hoping that adding his voice to the likely nominee will be viewed as a display of unity within the party.

[TheDonkey]

20. Wes came out with the endoresment very quickly after

pulling out.

[annxburns]

21. Ya know ...

... maybe Clark did say it ... but so what? He thought it was OFF THE RECORD. And maybe he said something like "They are going to throw all sort of dirt at Kerry - including that intern thing". If all the campaign people knew about it then everyone would of been talking about it. Obviously Kerry's people knew about it and knew that they "could handle it".

I love however that Clark is refusing to be smeared and at the same time making Drudge look like an ass.

[Maddy McCall]

28. WooooHoooooo!!!! EXCELLENT NEWS!!

I knew this was coming! Look at my posts from last night!!!


GREAT NEWS!!

[jmaier]

29. You called it!

I'm very impressed. I honestly thought he'd take a break and then get behind the nominee. It's pretty clear that he was dead serious about not fading away and continuing to take the fight to Bush. This endorsement keeps him in the media hammering away at the real enemy.

[stickdog]

34. perhaps something forced his hand?

nah.

couldn't be.

:eyes:

[jmaier]

36. I can't imagine how he could have been coerced

He is on record as saying he will do anything to ensure Bush is defeated. This appears to be his first post-withdrawal move. Interesting and I didn't see it coming. Probably should have.

[returnable]

30. Here's one Clark supporter...

...who applauds the news :toast:

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[stickdog]

35. Maybe DU should program a Drudge Scandalbot next?

[Skip Intro]

37. So disappointing

I thought better of Clark.

*sigh*

[spooky3]

38. I'm glad he did not give a scoop to Judy Woodruff.

He told her (just now) that he will be going to Wisconsin tomorrow and is looking forward to seeing Kerry there. But he did not confirm nor deny that he will be endorsing Kerry.