What would Wes Clark do?
By Doris Lane, A Wes Clark Democrat
I've actually had this question asked by John Edwards's online supporters, since the Edwards campaign hired, fired or didn't fire, rehired or didn't have to rehire a blogger, since the blogger Amanda Marcotte wasn't fired; before accepting Amanda's falling on her sword for John Edwards, a development only yesterday in this unending saga.
What would Wes Clark do? As if something about Wes Clark can rub off on John Edwards, for better or worse. I tell them I don't share a brain with Wesley Clark, although it would be a good brain to share, and I can but imagine what he might think or do.
I imagine he would have known before hiring the feminist Pandagon blogger for his campaign what it was she blogged about; he would take responsibility, even in the unlikely event he had not known what she blogged before she worked for him, for that staffing decision.
I can't imagine he would permit a Dem-bashing wing nut bigot like William Donohue to abuse his staff or dictate his campaign actions; nor would he credit the Catholic League with representing all Catholics or the Catholic Church; or fail to call a coordinated right wing attack, a coordinated right wing attack.
I imagine, as a man of faith himself and as a constant gentleman, Clark would not care for the style of Marcotte's criticism of Catholic doctrine; he would say so.
As a soldier, I don't imagine frank language hurts his sensibilities.
As a cultured man, he might recognize strong, but satirical writing when he sees it.
As a political philosopher, he might recognize that Marcotte meets an obligation, as a feminist political blogger, to criticize an institution that involves itself in the politics of reproductive rights. (All. The. Time.)
As a warrior, to my mind, he would respect that fight.
He would understand, I imagine, that faith and reason, (most Catholics make practical adjustment to dogma all the time in their personal lives), is not irreconcilable, and while words may hurt a little bit, they are not bullets to be avoided as if your life depends on it.
I imagine he would say that even a lapsed Catholic atheist lesbian feminist (horrors!) has the right to make a living and not be hounded from her job by someone who opposes her on her political views, personal life choices or spiritual path.
As for those of us who blog unpaid for Wesley Clark, who do it for the love of the man, the respect for the leader, the concern for what has become of our country; and this is not my imagination, but my firm belief, he would no more think he could tell us what to write than he would dry himself off with an American flag after a swim.
Also not imagination, but my firm belief:
The right wing's hypocrisy about its own bigotry that drives its mean machine against Democrats and liberal democracy, would not get a free pass from Wesley Clark, but full credit for what they have done to lower the level of civil discourse in this country for the past fifteen years or longer.
But most important, as a great champion of civil liberties, agree or not agree with the blogger's personal opinions, Wesley Clark would outright defend her Constitutional right to express them.
My fellow Democrats, the Edwards supporters with whom I interact on liberal discussion boards, don't have to accept my flights of imagination, but my beliefs about what Wesley Clark would do are based on his actions, and so I offer this comparison.
Edwards on an outspoken leftist writer he hired for his 2008 blog:
The tone and the sentiment of some of Amanda Marcotte's and Melissa McEwan's posts personally offended me. It's not how I talk to people, and it's not how I expect the people who work for me to talk to people. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but that kind of intolerant language will not be permitted from anyone on my campaign, whether it's intended as satire, humor, or anything else. But I also believe in giving everyone a fair shake. I've talked to Amanda and Melissa; they have both assured me that it was never their intention to malign anyone's faith, and I take them at their word. We're beginning a great debate about the future of our country, and we can't let it be hijacked. It will take discipline, focus, and courage to build the America we believe in.
Clark on an outspoken leftist writer and film-maker who endorsed him in 2004:
I will tell you this: that Michael Moore has the right to speak freely. I don't screen what people say when they're going to come up and say something like that. That's his form of dissent, and I support freedom of speech in this country, and I would not have characterized the issues in that way... I will tell you this about Michael Moore, though. I think he's a man of conscience. I think he's done a lot of great things for ordinary people, working people, across America. And I'm very happy to have his support. He's free to say things, whatever he wants. I'm focused on the issues in this campaign and how to take America forward.
When I consider why I am a Clark supporter, rather than an Edwards supporter, this is a big one. They came for Amanda yesterday; today they come for Melissa. Are you on the list? When you consider who should be the next President of the United States, imagine who you might need on your side when they come for you. Who will speak for you when they do? Who will be your champion when they come?
Update: Another one bites the dust
