And It's Got To Be... Gen. Wesley Clark

Barack Obama may announce his running mate this week, or he may wait until we get closer to the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Wesley Clark might be the best choice to ensure Obama's election.

Some may feel Obama must choose Hillary Clinton to ensure his election. They think this would be the dream ticket. The announcement that Hillary is speaking the second night of the convention, however, effectively tells the world that she is not the VP pick.

If Obama chooses a southern white male, as a core group of party leaders believes he must, would John Edwards survive the sexual scandal attacks, valid or not? Some want Al Gore, but I just can't imagine him giving up his newfound happiness and authenticity to play second banana again.

When I look at the entire field of presidential hopefuls in the Democratic primaries, the process of elimination for "electability" leaves Clark as the one clear choice.

Yeah, I know, some believe Clark probably was taken off the short list because of his quip that being a prisoner of war in Vietnam does not automatically qualify John McCain to be president. Logically, Clark made an accurate statement. Emotionally, his comment raised a lot of hackles. yet let's look past that one faux pax to consider Clark's actual qualifications.

Retired general Wesley Kanne Clark more than offsets any voter concerns about Obama's lack of experience in foreign policy and national security.

Born in 1944, a generation before Obama was born in 1961, Clark was valedictorian of his class at West Point. He won a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he earned a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He then graduated from the U.S. Army's Command and General Staff College with a master's in military science.

Clark spent 34 years in the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom for such assignments as commanding Operation Allied Force in the Kosovo War while serving as the Supreme Allied Commander for NATO from 1997 to 2000.

Clark ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 with the Clintons' support, winning the Oklahoma primary before he withdrew to endorse the eventual Democratic nominee, Senator John Kerry. Four years later, Clark ran once again for president and withdrew in 2007 to endorse Senator Hillary Clinton. When Clinton dropped out in 2008, Clark endorsed the presumptive Democratic nominee, Barack Obama.

Let me offer ten reasons for Barack Obama to pick Wesley Clark as his vice president:

1. Officially, Obama says the main criteria for his vice presidential pick are that the person must have integrity, independence, vision, a useful "knowledge base," and the ability to help him govern. Clark meets all of these criteria.

2.Unofficially, Obama knows that if he does not pick Hillary as his VP, he will need a "friend of Hillary" whom Hillary's supporters can rally behind. Clark meets that criterion.

3. Obama knows that he's weakest among middle-aged educated women, so he needs a VP candidate who can appeal to them. Clark meets that criterion.

4. Obama needs a white male who appeals to voters in the southeast and southwest, the voters that may resist electing a black man. Clark meets that criterion.

5. Obama needs somebody who appeals to independents, moderates and even crossover conservatives nationwide. Clark meets that criterion.

6. Obama needs somebody older than himself because his base of voters in their 20s and 30s is not enough for victory. Clark meets that criterion.

7. Obama needs somebody with military credentials that match or exceed the military credentials of John McCain. Clark meets that criterion.

8. Obama needs somebody with impressive experience in foreign policy and dangerous international conflicts. Clark meets that criterion.

9. Obama needs somebody trusted by intelligence agencies and yet who has openly opposed the use of torture in the war on terrorism. Clark meets both criteria.

10. Obama needs somebody whom voters see as capable of being the president and commander in chief (just in case). Clark meets that criterion.

Please appreciate that I am not Obama's biggest fan (especially since he voted to extend warrantless wiretapping and to effectively support offshore oil drilling). Further, I am wary of any military man having control over our atomic arsenal. Yet I am a "practical idealist" in politics. Since I want Democrats in the White House to make the next Supreme Court appointments, since no one has proposed a better option, I invite Senator Barack Obama to select Gen. Wesley Clark as his running mate.

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Judah Freed is an international media and politics journalist who publishes Media Visions Journal. He is the author of the award-winning book, Global Sense, inspired by Thomas Paine's Common Sense to renew hope in these times that try our souls.

Comments

[marybanilow]

Number 11... and number one:
He opposed the war in Iraq. How can you overlook that?

[tbadger]

"I agree with everything you say except I don't believe Clark made a faux pas by challenging McCain's credentials for the presidency."
- EXACTLY! The only thing being a POW qualifies you for is how to vote on the anti-torture bill and he got that WRONG! Add that with the votes against various veteran's benefits bills, and the McCain is a complete bust on incorporating any of his experiences into rational judgement.

[afanofwesclark]

check out the work I'm trying to get publicity for that's about undoing all of Bush's support...and why Clark was and still is the best man to replace him. A WWII vet who read it told me, "You made me feel guility for not paying closer attention to Clark in 04!"
You can read it at www.stoplittering.com/theswitch.htm

[allonfla]

OK. I haven't followed his career and I didn't know who he was until this year(I only started following politics when Obama won Iowa). What I have seen I like - he has a face you can trust. But, BUT can someone tell me why he dropped out so many times other than to support another candidate? and what possible things can be used against him? What he said about McCain won't be a problem and I don't believe the Obama camp cares. But what could be used against him? This is a serious question so if the author or someone knowledgeable can answer, I would be glad.

[schicklett3]

Jim Webb is the man for the job.

[zoe13]

agree - clark is the best choice all around and i really hope he is asked to be VP, though the talking heads have counted him out.

[greginwva]

I like him myself along with Joe B and most of the people we usually mention in these threads.

[go4dan0]

I HAVE VOTED IN EVERY ELECTION SINCE 1956 AND STRONGLY SUPPORT WES CLARK AS BARACK'S VP. I EMAILED THE KERRY CAMPAIGN MULTIPLE TIMES TO SELECT CLARK. IF HE HAD KERRY WOULD HAVE WON. I HAVE CALLED AND EMAILED THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN TO SELECT WES CLARK. HE IS A WINNER!

DANIEL

[JLee]

There are a lot of good choices out there, and Wes Clark is certainly an attractive option (in many senses of the word). He'd be even better if he were a better attack dog, but judging from his not backing down in the recent firestorm he's improved since 2004. Biden, Webb, and other figures serve as very effective campaign surrogates in any case.

This thread is going to be flooded with calls for Biden/Bayh­/Kaine/Seb­elius/etc. etc. soon, so I won't add to that. Instead, on a tangent: It always seemed to me the veep character in ABC's short-lived Commander in Chief (the one with Geena Davis as President), General Warren Keaton, was very much an earthier, more twangy Clark. The mention of him as a VP candidate brought that to mind. America may not get its first woman prez this time around, but it would be an interesting case of life imitating art if the VP part of the show came true. Hey, and if not Commander in Chief, life could still imitate '24.'

[oxfdblue]

I have had the pleasure and honor of hearing Gen. Clark speak in person on about five occassions. I've been able to have a short conversation with him at one of those events.

The man is simply brilliant. His resume is impeccable.

The only fault with your column is you do not even touch on his accomplisments as NATO Supreme Commander and the executive experience of that position- it is far from just a military post.

[Yasmine]

I AGREE.....­..........­..GENERAL CLARKE IS GREAT.
he had the courage to say the truth about McCain 's war prisoner not tqualifying him.
BESIDES he has no job now so it is beter not to choose any other Dem who have a sposition

[DonnaZ]

Thanks, I've arrived at the same conclusion. I wouldn't trust every military person with the "red button" and I wouldn't most non-military people with the "red button." I would trust Wes Clark...he doesn't like wars. He said that bad things happen when you have wars.

Last. Last. Resort.

[guitrock]

I agree with everything you say except I don't believe Clark made a faux pas by challenging McCain's credentials for the presidency. Unless the Democrats stop whining about each other and show the courage they need to challenge McCain's judgments and readiness for the presidency, they risk a defeat in November. Fortunately, McCain is a terrible candidate and Obama may still pull it off.

Clark is the man. I've been for him since he entered the political area in 2003. He's the straight shooter and the perfect man to take the offensive that Obama needs in the general election.

[obamagirl1968]

I completely agree! I think that it showed incredible courage to speak out and question McSame's war record, especially from someone who can run rings around him. Gen Clark will do just fine.

Obama/Clark 08

[westcott]

Couldn't have said it better.

I hope someone on that vetting committee reads this and understands the implications of running against a McCain/Ridge ticket!

Wes Clark is absolutely the best choice.