Clark Offers Economic Plan in N.Y. Speech

[DoveTurnedHawk]

Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark on Wednesday outlined an economic plan that he said would move $100 billion in tax cuts for the wealthy into "job creating funds."

"My job creation plan is a clear alternative to the failed policies" of President Bush, the retired Army general told supporters and reporters in Manhattan. "Tax cuts for the rich have made us poor."

Delivering a 20-minute policy speech at a park along the East River, Clark said he would take the money that Bush gave the wealthy in tax cuts and create three funds: for homeland security, business tax incentives and relief for state governments.

Clark, who declared his candidacy last week, said he would allocate $40 billion for improvement of homeland security and the creation of security-related jobs such as police, fire and the Coast Guard.

Another $40 billion would be earmarked for state governments struggling under federal tax cuts, and $20 billion would be used as tax incentives for businesses who hire new employees.

The plan, Clark said, "will not increase the deficit. It simply moves $100 billion from tax cuts for households making more than $200,000 a year and directs it into job-creating funds that will help middle income and working class families."

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=172909&category=&BCCode=&newsdate=9/24/2003

See also:

http://www.clark04.com/release_02.php

DTH

[zekeson]

Looks great

Am I missing the piece on how it would be paid for?
I find this line, but don't see the other pieces.
Clark's plan will maintain fiscal discipline while creating new jobs.
Don't get me wrong, I like Wes, just don't want us to not be considering how things are paid for.

I love this!

Some ask: `How can you criticize the President at a time
of war?' I answer: `How can you not?'" Clark said.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

2. Paid for by Rolling Back Bush's Tax Cut for the Rich (eom)

DTH

[Vikingking66]

1. not bad, basically the same as the other candidates

Dean, Kerry, Gephardt, Graham, and others have all basically argued for a rollback of the tax cut for: universal health insurance, homeland security money, aid to states, and some sort of economic stimulus.

glad to see he's on the same page.

[robbedvoter]

7. Dean wants to cut ALL taxes (middle class too). Also, Clark

outlined what he'd do with it - which is not the same thing as the other guys. Sorry if all this campaign business is boring ya, but some of us shopped around for a candidate we can support and these differences matter to us.

[zekeson]

13. removed

for some reason I thought, since my comment was first, that your comment was in response to mine - nevermind...

[FauxNewsBlues]

3. Very Shrewd

By leaving the tax cuts alone at the $200,000 level, there can be no accusation of harming even the upper middle class. Even most republicans realize that those making $201,000 a year, who would barely be touched, are not them.

Since the vast majority of the money in this country, is owned by those making over $200,000 a year, slashing those tax cuts, while putting a $5,000 per job credit, will actually give incentives to the economy. This isn't my dream plan, but it is a change in the right direction. It will really impact low wage workers. $5,000 per employee tax break will encourage companies to add jobs in the semi skilled area as it will become cheaper to add people to the pay rolls.

[Renew Deal]

9. The idea is two headed.

Employers get the $5000 break, but the new employee will be paying takes. It would take about 40,000 new jobs for the plan to PAY FOR ITSELF (@ $2500 average tax collected).

[DoveTurnedHawk]

12. I Agree

It's a great plan. Has any other candidate concretely suggested these ideas?

DTH

[boxster]

4. Isn't it funny that Clark

could fund almost his entire $100 billion plan with the $87+ billion that Bush is asking for in Iraq??

Just puts into perspective what all of the cash blown on this "war" could have done for this country.

[dkf]

5. Rolling back taxes on the rich

Aren't some in congress already talking about rolling back the tax cuts to pay for %87B in Iraq?

How much of the tax cut goes to the rich anyway?

[lindashaw]

10. Over $400Billion goes to the upper 1%, Mark Shields said...

[robbedvoter]

6. Here's the text of the speech:

http://www.clark04.com/speech_02.php
Having been there: the man is INSPIRING!
My report on it is here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=395692

[DoveTurnedHawk]

8. PLEASE READ THIS SPEECH

It is AWESOME.

DTH

[cmd]

14. It IS AWESOME!!!!!

DoveTurnedHawk, I have tears in my eyes. For the first time in years I feel proud to be an American.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

17. Isn't It Great?

I was just so thrilled to read it!

DTH

[fabius]

31. Excellent! Clark has substance, in case anybody wondered.

This guy is quite impressive.

I'm still a Dean supporter. But I think we have the best field of candidates in years.

This drives the REpugs crazy because they don't know who to attack. So they end up bashing Hillary by default :7 !

Any of the Democratic candidates would clean Bush's clock in a debate. Clark would positively wipe the floor with him. Guess my Mom was right about him.

I could see any of our candidates clobbering Bush to be frank.

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

19. What a speech!

Clark made some incredibly strong and astute points...wow, I am impressed! I look forward to seeing him in the debate, because I have mostly stayed clear of the Clark threads because I want to get a sense of who he is without too much of a preconceived notion.

The only part from his speech that bothered me was his term "New American Patriotism". To me, the sh*t caused by the Patriot Act and other fear tactics (like being called a traitor for questioning our government) is the new patriotism, and I wish for our country to go back to its patriotic roots, preserved freedoms found in the Constitution. I like his idea of what patriotism is, and should be, just not the name of it being "new".

[DoveTurnedHawk]

20. FYI, Clark Is Opposed to the PATRIOT Act

Thanks for your post!

DTH

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

21. Another reason

to watch him closely tomorrow night. I giggle at how much I love watching these debates. Can you say "junkie"? :)

[RedEarth]

11. This makes sense

This economic plan makes sense. It actually will be able to create jobs and in turn grow our economy. Also, provides money from states that have been struggling and for Homeland security.

I really wonder if b... thought giving tax cuts to millionaires would simulate the economy. Perhaps b... figured they would run out a buy a new car every six months.

This admin has been a f.....ing nightmare!!!!!!

[tokenlib]

15. Promising--he needs strings attached to the $5000 credit..

After Bush's pro-business orgy, any business tax cuts raise red flags with me. The $5000 credit should have strings attached to make sure that they are good secure jobs with basic benefits like health care. Make sure that business cannot abuse the offer-with offering temp or part-time positions to take advantage of it.

Also we need an attack on those corporations who moved mailboxes offshore to evade taxes--that should be a good potential source of revenue.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

16. You're Absolutely Right

That prong in particular needs to be fleshed out more during the course of the campaign. I agree, they need to be decent jobs to qualify. I'd also step down the benefit gradually for the larger corporations.

DTH

[VolcanoJen]

18. Kick!

:dem:

[Donna Zen]

22. Oh I like the step down

But really liked in the speech had no price tag at all. It was the part about companies who are currently receiving American tax handouts and shipping jobs over seas need to be cut off. I know this seems rather protectionist, but if don't make some moves in this direction we'll learn the hard way that third world countries have little leverage. Without that leverage, changing environmental and working condition around the globe will be impossible.

At the risk of sounding paranoid, the direction we are headed in now is very good for the corporate forces. And it kinda makes you wonder if the bush economic team is just unbelievably stupid, or unbelievably cruel. (oh...never mind...)

Benjamin Barber points out that these corporations are already global, what is not global are the laws to reign them in.

[TacticalPeek]

28. "seems rather protectionist"

I beg to differ. As long as no products or services are specified, it would seem to be 'protectionist-neutral', similar to a general corporate tax cut, etc.

But, IANAE.

[Julien Sorel]

23. It was a cautious step, a frontrunner's step.

I wonder if he has internal polls up and running yet, if he knows how solid his status as the putative 'frontrunner' is. If the race shakes up some and he needs something with teeth in it to differentiate himself, this plan won't do it.

Years ago, when I was an eighteen-year old boy and a senior in high school in Little Rock, Cold War tensions were running high. Khrushchev and Kennedy had had a difficult summit in Vienna. We had just been through the Bay of Pigs. We were less than a year away from the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was in that climate that I decided to go to West Point – because I wanted to do something to protect my country. Now, more than 40 years later, we confront a new threat. On September 11, we saw the face of 21st century terror. Since then, I have watched very carefully the actions of the Commander-in-Chief, and they left me with the same thought I had forty years before: I want to do something to protect my country.

Ouch. And the theme is set: 'I want to take my country back,' vs. 'I want to do something to protect my country.' Which line resonates more with the average voter, the average Democrat? In a general election, which message is more likely to win? The answer is another question: how many Americans feel angry and alienated from their country and government?

[AnnitaR]

24. Is his speech on the net anywhere to download?

First of all, I'm a new poster. Lurker for weeks! So, be nice! LOL!

Missed his speech today while I was at work. Sounds like it was a great start for Wes and I would love to see it.

[Julien Sorel]

25. Hi!

I don't think a video of the speech is available yet, but somebody linked to the text above. The text looked pretty good, and he does a good job as a speaker, so I suspect the speech went well. I'm sure it will be up on www.clark04.com before too much longer though.

Again, welcome here.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

26. Welcome!

Glad you jumped in! I think you'll find the Clark supporters here a warm and friendly bunch (except to Clark bashers, that is). :D

DTH

[Maddy McCall]

27. WELCOME AnnitaR!

Welcome to DU :toast:

[AnnitaR]

29. Thanks for the welcome!

Although I must admit I'm a little intimidated here. I feel like a little pre-school kiddie in a room full of Rhodes Scholars.

[Maddy McCall]

30. Hardly!

We come in all shapes, sizes, colors, cultures, and intellects here. And every DU member has a unique perspective to offer DU. Actually, I feel that I have grown in many ways since joining a year ago.

The only Rhodes Scholar that I am concerned about is our man Clark! I finally feel that we can beat the Repubs in 2004.

Again, welcome, and visit the lounge before you leave tonight so that you can meet many of the regulars, who are super great people.

[juajen]

32. Welcome to DU

No pouncing; how about a bouncing?

:bounce: :bounce:

[juajen]

33. This is a very good speech.

A kick for Clark.

:kick:

[AnnitaR]

34. Can someone post this?? Great Article!!

Sen. Clinton Denies Backing Clark
New Yorker Hammers Bush, Restates She Will Not Seek Presidency in 2004

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58006-2003Sep24.html

It's a great article! I was going to start a new thread about it but I don't have enough posts yet.

[robbedvoter]

35. C-Span e-mailed me they were going to have it last night

but me thinks some calls were made and it was replaced with some nice GOP-ers. I'd look for it on Sunday at 6:30 - or any time during the weekend.