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Support: Rep. Charles Rangel
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Rep. Charles B. Rangel Issues Statement in Support of General Wesley Clark's Presidential Candidacy
As a war veteran wounded in Korea, no one knows
better than I the tragedy of war. In Iraq, people are
losing their lives every day. Our troops are in
harm's way, the human and financial costs continue to
rise, and there is no end in sight. I think of my
army unit which went to Korea in 1950. 53 year later,
it is still there.
The decision to go to war in Iraq cannot be
rescinded, but the exit strategy - how and when we
will bring our brave men and women home - is a vital
issue. So far, we have no indication from the current
Administration that they have a plan. Some pundits
have said the U.S. occupation in Iraq may last for
several generations, and it is costing a billion
dollars a week.
That is why I think it is so important that we as a
nation change our direction as well as change our
president.
I agree with former President Clinton that Democrats
are fortunate that we have such a wide selection of
presidential candidates. I cannot believe that the
American people - while we all still feel the pain of
the September 11th attacks - will think that George W.
Bush, no matter how many miscalculations he makes, is
the only person who can be president. We need a
leader who can inspire us to rise above this time of
tragedy and economic gloom and bring hope that the
future will be more secure and more prosperous.
It is clear that Four-star General Wesley Clark can
be that leader.
Wesley Clark is one of the greatest Americans alive
today. During his 34 years in the army, he not only
rose to become NATO Supreme Allied Commander, he also
earned the silver star, two bronze stars and a purple
heart fighting for his country. He commanded the
successful NATO military action in Kosovo that saved
millions of people while keeping allied casualties to
a minimum.
If the Republicans think they have an edge on the
issue of national security, Wesley Clark takes that
off-the-table. No one can challenge the General's
national security credentials or his preparation to be
commander-in-chief. No one can question his
patriotism. And no landing on an aircraft carrier or
appearance in a flight suit can replace a purple heart
and a silver star as a demonstration of service to
this country.
He is a former military man who understands the costs
of war and the necessity of the cooperation of the
international community. He is an American citizen
who knows that you cannot have a world-class economy
and keep jobs in America if we fail to invest in
public education and run up massive deficits.
What has made America great is that we are not afraid
to dream, and to seek to make those dreams reality.
Now more than ever, Americans must not be afraid to
dream and to look forward to better times and better
leadership. Wesley Clark's candidacy makes our dreams
about a better future more realistic than ever.
The General understands that no terrorist, no matter
how dangerous, should deny Americans the right to
their dreams. The current Administration has
abandoned so many Americans looking for a job and
dreaming of a chance to better their lives and their
families. This Administration has used the war on
terrorism as an excuse to deny Americans reliable
health care, decent education and child care,
affordable housing, equal opportunity, and civil
rights. If we cannot afford to help people fulfil
their dreams because we have to continue unfair tax
cuts for the wealthy at the same time we spend
billions on the military, then the terrorists will
have already won.
The dream of Wesley Clark's candidacy is now reality.
I have talked to Wesley Clark and talked to his
supporters. I am convinced that his entry has changed
the political dynamic of the campaign and will improve
the quality of debate on both defense and economic
issues.
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