Reply #10: Lets clarify WHAT is important .....

[Trajan]

We vote for Political PHILOSOPHIES ..... not personalities, per se ....

IF : Wesley Clark proclaimed himself a Republican, but then went on to promote public education, job training, fair taxation that placed the greatest burden on those who benefit most, and the least burden on those who need the greatest help, implemented a foreign policy based on an internationalist worldview that sought and received international consensus, working together with the other nations of the world to suppress wrongdoing in the world, supported child care and transportation assistance for those seeking work, supported a SOLID social security fund that maintained solvency through our lives and beyond .... supported Head Start, public funding of college education for those who cannot afford tuition, foos stamps for those who are hungry, higher minimum wages and health care for those who need it ....

Yeah: .... IF Wesley Clark (or ANYONE else, for that matter) declared himself a Republican, and ALSO supported those policy initiatives, then I might consider voting for Wesley Clark, the republican .....

THe problem is: .... Wesley Clark, though his public declarations of support of SOME of those initiatives, provides insight into his own political proclivities by voicing support for themes that are NOT endearing to those of the GOP persuasion ....

One might ask: .... IF Teddy Kennedy declared himself a Republican, without changing his suport of liberal policies, would Republicans vote for him ? ....

Would Democrats vote for Tom Delay if he changed party affiliation ? ...

No ....... we wouldnt ....

A man is free to associate with ANY party he chooses: ... it doesnt mean he FITS into that party's general worldview .....

From what I understand, from what I've heard: .... Wesley Clark is as Republican as Bush is 'compassionate' ...

He doesnt have to overtly declare a party affiliation for us to know he is a progressive .....

Even having said that: ..... I dont think I can vote for him of he declared GOP ..... I will NOT vote for that party ....