IN FIRST TWO DAYS OF HIS CAMPAIGN, CLARK FLIP-FLOPPED ON IRAQ RESOLUTION

“It is only fitting Hillary Clinton would run an ad with someone that has a stance on Iraq as inconsistent as her own. If Wesley Clark didn’t know what he was talking about with regard to Iraq in 2003, there is absolutely no reason to believe he does now.”

-Danny Diaz, RNC Spokesperson


As an interesting side note: Why would Hillary run an ad featuring someone that skipped the caucuses in 2004?


IN FIRST TWO DAYS OF HIS CAMPAIGN, CLARK FLIP-FLOPPED ON IRAQ RESOLUTION



On First Day Of Campaign, Clark Said He “Probably Would Have Voted For” Iraq Resolution, Then Changed His Vote To “Never” On Next Day. “‘At the time, I probably would have voted for it [the resolution], but I think that’s too simple a question,’ General Clark said. A moment later, he said: ‘I don’t know if I would have or not. I’ve said it both ways because when you get into this, what happens is you have to put yourself in a position - on balance, I probably would have voted for it.’” The next day, Clark said, “‘I never would have voted for war,’ … during an interview with The Des Moines Register.” (Adam Nagourney, “Clark Says He Would Have Voted For War,” The New York Times, 9/19/03; Thomas Beaumont, “Clark Says He Wouldn’t Have Voted For War,” The Des Moines Register, 9/20/03)


CLARK CLAIMS HE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE ADVISED CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE TO SUPPORT IRAQ RESOLUTION



October 2002: Clark Indicated His Support For Use Of Force Resolution And Advised Congressional Candidate To Support It. “Clark said … he supports a congressional resolution that would give President Bush authority to use military force against Iraq … Clark … endorsed Democrat Katrina Swett [for Congress] … He said if she were in Congress this week, he would advise her to vote for the resolution …” (Stephen Frothingham, “Gen. Clark Supports Swett, Raises Concerns About Iraq Policy,” The Associated Press, 10/9/02)

October 2003: Asked Why He Told Congressional Candidate To Support Resolution He Claims He Opposed, Clark Claims He “Didn’t Even Know What Was In” It. “[W]hy did he tell the AP that he supported the congressional resolution authorizing force, and, further, that he would have advised Swett to vote for it had she been in Congress? … ‘Because I wasn't following the resolution and I didn't even know what was in the resolution,’ said Clark.” (Scot LeHigh, “Clark’s Scrambled Message On Iraq,” The Boston Globe, 10/24/03)


But Congressional Candidate Says Clark “Spoke With Great Knowledge” On Resolution. “[2002 Congressional Candidate Katrina] Swett said … ‘At that time, frankly, he spoke with great knowledge about Iraq and the upcoming vote … My impression is that he knew more about it than most of us.’” (Nedra Pickler, “Swett: Clark Knew Facts Of Iraq Resolution,” The Associated Press, 10/24/03)