Clark Continues to Defend Moore, Drops Nine Points in New Hampshire
By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
January 26, 2004

Democrat presidential candidate Wesley Clark continues to defend liberal movie producer Michael Moore and the comments Moore made about President George W. Bush.

During last Thursday night's debate in New Hampshire, ABC News' Peter Jennings asked Clark about Moore's charge that Bush was a "deserter" for allegedly missing a year of National Guard service during the 1970s.

Jennings exclaimed that this assertion by Moore was both "reckless" and "not supported by the facts."

"I was curious to know why you didn't contradict him and whether or not you think it would have been a better example of ethical behavior to have done so?" Jennings inquired of Clark.

Clark stumbled to answer the question, saying that Moore "has the right to say whatever he feels about this" and admitted that he has "never looked at it" to see if it was "supported by the facts or not."

"I've seen this charge bandied about a lot. But to me it wasn't material," Clark responded.

He added, "And I'm delighted to have the support of Michael Moore."

Talon News reported last week that Moore has officially endorsed the former Army general in his bid for the Democrat nomination for president.

This is the same Michael Moore who has previously asserted that the September 11 terrorists should have orchestrated their attacks for a place where more Bush voters would have been targeted.

Moore commented recently that he would "love to see the debate between [Clark] and the deserter."

Not satisfied with the answer he received to his previous question, Jennings restated the question again in a clear, direct manner.

"Do you still feel comfortable with the fact that someone should be standing up in your presence and calling the president of the United States a deserter?" Jennings persisted in the follow-up.

Clark's answer to this question seemed even more convoluted than his first one.

"To be honest with you, I did not look at the facts, Peter," Clark confessed, seeming to grasp for the words to say. "You know, that's Michael Moore's opinion. He's entitled to say that."

Stating that Moore is not the only one who has called Bush a "deserter," Clark said he's not sure about the accuracy of the statement and does not think it has anything to do with his candidacy for president.

"He's not the only person who's said that. I've not followed up on those facts and, frankly, it's not relevant to me and why I'm in this campaign."

Clark was again given the opportunity to refute the comments made by Moore during an appearance on NBC's ?"Meet the Press" on Sunday.

When asked if he had "any evidence" that proves Bush was a "deserter," Clark maintained his ignorance about it.

"Well, I've never looked into ... those allegations," Clark said.

Clark continued by extolling his admiration for Moore, who has vocalized his hatred for Bush since he was first elected in 2000.

"I will tell you this about Michael Moore. I think he's a man of conscience," Clark said. "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."

On Michael Moore's website, he posts a Boston Globe story from May 2000 as proof of his decision to label Bush a "deserter."

However, even the New York Times reported last year that the story by the Globe was lacking some key evidence that made the story inaccurate.

In fact, the Globe reported on Friday that their original story was wrong and that Clark should repudiate himself from Moore's comments.

"News reports, including some in the Globe, have questioned Bush's constancy as a National Guard airman at the time, but he has not been credibly accused of desertion, a serious charge. Clark should have distanced himself from the remark," the Globe wrote on Friday.

Interestingly, Clark has seen his support evaporate dramatically in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary race since he defended Moore's comments last Thursday. A Gallup poll released on Saturday showed Clark dropped nine points in only three days following the debate.

In an angry tirade posted on his website, Moore ridiculed Jennings and the media for not joining him in his ultra-liberal rant against Bush.

"There are far more important issues to deal with in this election year. Poor Peter Jennings. What was he doing on Fox? All that seems left of his Canadianess is the way he pronounced my name ('Michael Moooore'). The question he posed to Clark was typical of a lazy media looking for a way to distract the viewers from the real issues: the war, the economy, and the failures of the Bush administration. But if they want to really get into the issue of Bush and his 'service record,' then I say, bring it on! The facts are all there, including the empty flyboy suit," Moore wrote.