A Challenge to Clark Supporters - Democratic Underground

Tom Rinaldo

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Wed Dec-31-03 06:05 PM
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A Challenge to Clark Supporters

Can we make a special effort to be civil with the supporters of Howard Dean? And can we give credit to his grassroots movement for accomplishing extraordinary things in this campaign?

I am not at all surprised that most Dean backers believe Dean is the man who can beat Bush, because they, along with their candidate, have already accomplished the seemingly impossible. They have taken the relatively obscure former Governor of a small New England State and propelled him into a formidable front runner and commanding force in the National Democratic Party. Why wouldn't they believe that they have a chance to carry Dean to victory over Bush in November? I'm not sure that they are wrong either. I just believe that the National electorate and Democratic Primary voters are not all of that analogous, and I believe Wes Clark is both the Democrat most likely to win the General Election, and the best man for the job. So I disagree with Dean supporters, but I have more in common with them than there are differences.

Two candidates have taken most of the heat in flame wars and attack threads, Dean and Clark. That makes those of us who support both men quick to get irritated. I think most Dean supporters will agree that Wesley Clark has run a clean campaign, and that he has generally (if not exclusively) stuck to the high road. I think some Dean supporters will even agree that most of the shots taken in the competition between Dean and Clark for the nomination have been taken by Dean against Clark, though they may not agree that they were "unfair".

So here is my basic point. Wesley Clark has tried hard to stick to the high road in his campaign, shouldn't we do the same in supporting him? It is part of what makes Wes Clark stand out as a candidate. We shouldn't be engaged in anything on his behalf that might deny him some of the fruits of that positive and disciplined effort. I would hold ourselves to a higher standard, his standard if at all possible.

This is more than just another appeal for goodwill between Democrats. This has a bearing on the race for the nomination. I believe, at this stage, that there is only one man, Wesley Clark, who is positioned to really unite most of the party behind him while winning the nomination. I don't think Dean can, though he may well win anyway. I know Kerry, Gephardt, and Lieberman would all, to varying degrees, have great difficulty winning the active loyalty of a great many Dean supporters. Other than Clark, of course, no one else has any real chance of securing the nomination (in my opinion). Dean's grass roots supporters are a powerful and wonderful force. Either by backing Dean as their chosen candidate, or another Democrat if Dean loses, they can and would make a huge difference in determining the outcome of November's Election.

The fact that Clark has NOT typically alienated Dean supporters is significant, and a real asset to him as a potential nominee. Yes there are some who seem to detest Clark in Deans camp, but they are a small, though vocal, minority. Clark has "earned his stripes" as a man most in the Dean camp could work for, through the tone of his campaign, the stands he has taken on issues, and by demonstrating that he too understands the importance of a grass roots movement, and is capable of working closely with one.

Unity can not be imposed on the Democratic Party, not this year anyway. Feelings are running strong. We can count on each others votes but not much else. For Clark to win the nomination, more and more people will need to see Clark as the man who can pull the party together this year, and to a large extent, that means appealing to those who support Dean. Not by heavy handed efforts to "convert them", but by giving them the respect that they have well earned through a remarkable campaign. I think we need to follow Clark's lead in this regard.