Regardless of who wins the Democratic Presidential Nomination we will need a stellar, one-two punch ticket, to win in the fall.
I want to advance here for consideration and to build public support to name to the ticket, former General Wesley K. Clark for Vice President. After all, with the issue of Iraq and with a former Vietnam P.O.W. seemingly the apparent Republican Presidential nominee, what is a better counter balance as well as someone who is appealing in so many ways.
The hope and idealism I read in posts from Senator Obama's supporters is the same way I feel about General Clark. Here is a man whose record includes not only being a Supreme Allied Commander, 4 Stars in the U.S. Army, and the fact that when he took our troops into battle in the Balkans, he emerged from that engagement without ANY casualties. But you also have a man comfortable saying Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a horrible plan and should be lifted. As well he supports Civil Unions and if faith communities allow it, marriages, for all couples in a meaningful relationhip. Here is a man who said today very emphatically that women can fight just as effectively as men in battle and praised the role of women in our armed forces as well as society. Here is a man with a Tax Reform plan that would save money for middle class families and redistribute tax collections so that the ones with the most in society pay a more fair share while the least in society have more disposable income to invest back into the financial system.
I know Wesley Clark the man as well personally. This is a man who hired me, personally, to work for his campaign. No, I was not the campaign manager or a higher up, but a grunt working in the field office. But General Clark cares as much for his staff in the field as he does for his high priced advisors. There is a common sense of equality with this man that is inspiring and refreshing.
Politically, General Clark's story is just as inspiring and diverse as Senator Clinton's or Senator Obama's and as hero-laden in it's passages as anything John McCain can speak about. John McCain was a P.O.W. who didn't abandon his men. Few know that General Clark was injured badly in Vietnam and he didn't abandon his family and relearned how to walk after he was injured.
In fact, see for yourself AMERICAN SON at : http://www.youtube.com/...
At the end of the day it's about a balanced ticket and about having the best candidate on the ticket. If it's Senator Clinton, having a running mate who you know personally, who endorsed you and worked hard for you showing loyalty, and who comes from the critical South and from a state you could win....General Clark is the choice.
If its Senator Obama, having a running mate who came from the netroots like you, who has a balanced life story thats just as inspiring, who is also one of your main primary rival's most outspoken supporters and who could unite them to the ticket, and who comes from the critical South and from a state you could win....General Clark is the choice.
Finally, either way with General Clark, you have a man prepared to take the Presidency without any on the job training, who shares the values and concerns of the bulk of the Democratic Party, and a man whose integrity in unquestionable.
At the end of the day, I think it's clear, we need to Draft Wesley Clark for Vice President!