Not Your Sweetie

Rangel, others endorse Clark in Harlem - 12/11/2003
By Robbedvoter [Add to my Buddy List]
Posted to New York City (Firsthand Accounts) on Sun Dec 14th, 2003 at 05:59:13 AM EST


It was a full room - reporters, cameras, supporters. One section was reserved for Harlem veterans - a general amongst them. Another had other groups representatives - including - sorry Joe - a lot of orthodox Jews in full regalia.

Rangel showed up to warm up the audience and started talking about this historic moment . He joked about reporters asking him why did Dean & Gore come to Harlem. "I thought they had told the cab driver to take them to Harvard" If they wonted to come and see Harlem all they needed to do was call" He then talked about the crisis we are where bush's secretary of DOD doesn't even know if we are winning or losing. He pointed to one veteran: this is the guy who shot the first German plane in WWII - I'd tell you some war stories myself - but this guy is here"

He explained that he knew we needed Clark the first moment the former governor of Texas climbed in that uniform. (Turns out he actually called Clark then). If Clark runs against him, I guarantee you he won't climb in an uniform again - "with all due respect to the Texas Air Guard and whatever it is they do"

Clark finally showed up - Rangel did his formal endorsement in a rouseing speech - that contain some of the previous stories. Got several standing ovations.

Clark had trouble starting - we wouldn't stop cheering him. He enjoyed every minute of it then he opened with: "They ask me if I favor draft. I never got drafted until Sgt Rangel drafted me. In a perfect Rangel voice he told us how he demanded him that he presents himself for duty to the American people

There was another bush, running against another Rhodes scholar from Arkansas and he was whining about "the vision thing" We now know what this bush's vision is: back to the past: Iraq war, Kennedy's space program...I believe our best days are ahead of us"

After the rousing speech, he took questions from reporters. WNBC's Gabe Pressman asked him if the dean thingy is a done deal. "IN the words of the Tuskeegee men "We just got our afterburners lit here in Harlem"

I am a navy man, Pressman(who has a Clark button in his pocket) said.

Some of my best friends are from navy" - Clark retorted without missing a beat

So would you use the famous words of.... and say :"We've only just begun to fight?

Clark: I'll use the words of another Navy man: "Damn the torpidos, full speed ahead" But really, I am an army man, he added - and we say: "Put the pedal to the metal, we're moving out!

A second reporter wanted to know why Dean is not good enough. "I am not a specialist in Dean - but let me tell you this about Bush....and launched into a powerful attack.

There was another question about No Child left Behind which he handled beautifully - "it's just that: an act" and Andrew Kurzman got snipy and asked for Clark's credentials with African Americans - good question, bad tone. Clark gave him a good answer - talking about the integrated army, affirmative action - his brief in support of the Michigan case.

The other endorsements followed - congressmen, Councilmen - state senators - mostly minorities - blacks, hispanic, Jewish - it was a beautiful group standing besides him.

After that, I gave Clark the button I describe in my previous entry and got hit with that lethal smile - it reminded me of Gingrich's comment: "After Clinton's charm offensive on me - I need to go into detox". Well, I migh need it, but I simply refuse to do it
So, kids, as Rangel said:

"When your kids and grandkids ask you, 'What were you doing when this country had the preemptive strike for war we shouldn't be involved with? What did you do to change the course of this great nation?' You'll be able to say, 'I endorsed and I won with General Wesley Clark,