OPINION & EDITORIAL
Real Leadership: Wes Clark
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by Adam Diederich
Friday, January 30, 2004
George W. Bush is taking this country in the wrong direction. He has lied, divided, and misled, and he wants to do it for four more years. And make no mistake about it — in running for reelection, Bush will attempt to wrap himself in the American flag.
Wes Clark — war hero, four star general, NATO commander, Rhodes Scholar, progressive, and leader — has the credibility and experience to not only neutralize Bush on foreign policy but to defeat him. Not often is the Democratic Party given a candidate with progressive values, unparalleled foreign policy credentials, and the Southern (electable) background of Wes Clark. I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity.
Other Democrats criticize President Bush’s inept foreign policy, as they should, but not one of them has the credentials and real foreign policy experience that Clark does. Like John Kerry, Clark is a Vietnam War hero, recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. But in addition to these accolades, Clark is a four-star general. He led and held together a nineteen nation coalition to stop the ethnic cleansing of over a million citizens of Europe. And he also successfully negotiated the Dayton Accords to bring peace to Bosnia. Others can talk about foreign policy, but Clark is the candidate with the real experience. Bush will attempt to run on foreign policy, but General Wes Clark can, and will, defeat him.
Clark’s foreign policy vision is what the Democratic Party needs to defeat George Bush. It is credible, and it is progressive: multilateralist, utilizing international institutions, and relying on force only as a last resort. Clark’s experiences, knowledge, and goals will kick Bush out of the White House, restore America to a position of international respect and credibility, and keep us safe.
In addition to the foreign policy experience and credibility necessary to defeat George Bush, Wes Clark has proposed a slate of domestic policies and goals that will provide for and protect this nation’s social welfare. A true progressive, Clark has been endorsed by such figures as Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, activist and filmmaker Michael Moore, and former Senator Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day.
Clark is pro-affirmative action, pro-choice, and pro-alternative energy. He will provide health care for all American children. He will repeal Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans, and he will reform the tax code so that a family of four making under $50,000 annually will pay NO federal income taxes.
But above all else, he believes firmly in the sanctity of public education. As such, he will fully fund Head Start, offer universal pre-school for four-year-old children, fully fund (and evaluate) No Child Left Behind, and provide a $6,000 Universal College Grant to cover the first two years of college tuition at most public institutions.
And while Clark may receive criticism for being a relatively new member to the Democratic Party (he was registered as an Independent throughout his 34 year military career), he has held and acted upon his progressive values throughout his career of public service. Clark advocated and followed through on his convictions to provide quality education and health care for the men, women, and their families under his command. Clark is not a talker; he is a doer. And Clark is not a career politician; he is a proven leader.
Millions of Democrats across the country espouse the sentiment “anyone but Bush” and cite electability as the most important characteristic in their nominee. Others seek a candidate who shares their progressive values and has the record and ability to put them to work. Wes Clark is the candidate for both of these groups.
While Clark’s policies and beliefs make him one of the most progressive candidates, his background and military service make him the most electable. Realistically, the 2004 presidential election and the future of this nation will come down to a handful of swing states and the potential of the Democratic candidate to compete in the South. Clark is that candidate.
Wes Clark has the foreign policy experience to neutralize Bush’s supposed strength and reveal his failures. Wes Clark has the progressive values to mobilize the Democratic base, as well as the credentials to appeal to moderates and independents. Wes Clark has the Southern roots to compete and win in a traditional area of Republican strength. Wes Clark is the candidate that scares the life out of Fox News, Karl Rove, and George W. Bush.
And above all else, Wes Clark is the candidate who will bring to this country real, proven leadership. Clark will beat Bush. And Clark will give this country the future it deserves.
To learn more about Students for Wesley Clark, visit them online at http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~badgersforclark/.
Adam Diederich (ajdiederich@wisc.edu) is a sophomore majoring in Political Science and History. He is a member of UW Students for Clark
