Full Version: Potty-mouth redux
Oops!, turns out that candidate Wesley Clark was a little too honest when responding to a question. While I would like to quote Clark's line from the article, I don't wish to run afoul of our moderators, so please click on the link for a more sufficient explanation as to Mr. Clark's foul-mouthed remark heard live on C-SPAN.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.hts/nation/2312399
Questions
1.)What do you think of Clark(or other candidates) cursing in public?
2.)Would you choose not to support Clark because of this?
3.)Is this an election year ploy? Gotta look like "dirty harry" to appear tough to the voters?
4.)Should "prudes" not worry about this since we aren't electing a Pope?
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.hts/nation/2312399
Questions
1.)What do you think of Clark(or other candidates) cursing in public?
2.)Would you choose not to support Clark because of this?
3.)Is this an election year ploy? Gotta look like "dirty harry" to appear tough to the voters?
4.)Should "prudes" not worry about this since we aren't electing a Pope?
1. I've read your link, and I think the question was slightly provoking. I don't react much to his use of words, but if his tone was overly angry, I might have some second thoughts.
2. I don't think it would have much effect. If he had a habit of being frequently bad-tempered, that might sway me.
3. I kind of doubt it. Probably just his normal way of speaking. Neither military people nor people running for office tend to be shy and retiring. You have to expect a certain amount of salty talk from such people.
4. I don't think it's a big issue, but other people might be strongly offended. It's certainly their right to reject a candidate on such a basis if they wish.
2. I don't think it would have much effect. If he had a habit of being frequently bad-tempered, that might sway me.
3. I kind of doubt it. Probably just his normal way of speaking. Neither military people nor people running for office tend to be shy and retiring. You have to expect a certain amount of salty talk from such people.
4. I don't think it's a big issue, but other people might be strongly offended. It's certainly their right to reject a candidate on such a basis if they wish.
QUOTE(nebraska29 @ Dec 21 2003, 10:14 AM)
Oops!, turns out that candidate Wesley Clark was a little too honest when responding to a question. While I would like to quote Clark's line from the article, I don't wish to run afoul of our moderators, so please click on the link for a more sufficient explanation as to Mr. Clark's foul-mouthed remark heard live on C-SPAN.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.hts/nation/2312399
Questions
1.)What do you think of Clark(or other candidates) cursing in public?
2.)Would you choose not to support Clark because of this?
3.)Is this an election year ploy? Gotta look like "dirty harry" to appear tough to the voters?
4.)Should "prudes" not worry about this since we aren't electing a Pope?
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.hts/nation/2312399
Questions
1.)What do you think of Clark(or other candidates) cursing in public?
2.)Would you choose not to support Clark because of this?
3.)Is this an election year ploy? Gotta look like "dirty harry" to appear tough to the voters?
4.)Should "prudes" not worry about this since we aren't electing a Pope?
I think nothing of candidates cursing in public. Life is not G-rated. Sometimes there's no truer way to express your feelings than the use of the f- or s-word. I wouldn't choose not to support a candidate, or choose the leader of this country, based on their use of a "profane" word.
I think the idea of it being an election ploy is ridiculous. As conservative as America seems right now, it would be completely counter-productive to use language that would offend the majority of them.
I don't think prudes should even consider this whole exchange, but they probably will and they're free to do so. I believe the language someone uses has zero to no effect on how they can function as a president.
Clark's response was mild in comparison to the language used on TV and in the movies...and to the F word that Kerry used recently during a Rolling Stone interview. I am no fan of Clark's, but he was responding in a one-on-one conversation which was not aimed at the general public.
I tend to be pretty profane and rude and crude... more often than not 
... but I am also considerably cerebral when necessary... I know how to use the big words 
However... I think that the importance here (for me) is not his profanity but the threat that he made. If his patriotic integrity is without fault then why is he worried? Is what he said necessary? 
Oly.
Edit: Didn't pay attention that his comment was one on one... except there were reporters and a camera around?
... but I am also considerably cerebral when necessary... I know how to use the big words However... I think that the importance here (for me) is not his profanity but the threat that he made. If his patriotic integrity is without fault then why is he worried? Is what he said necessary? Oly.
Edit: Didn't pay attention that his comment was one on one... except there were reporters and a camera around?
This is such a non-issue. In the lead-up to the 2000 presidential campaign, candidate George W Bush used the f-word seventeen times during the course of one interview with Tucker Carlson for Talk Magazine (though only three instances were included in the edited version in print). This was the interview in which he shamelessly mocked Carla Fay Tucker's plea for clemency on death row, which I found far more obscene than his foul language. In any event, it didn't seem to hurt his chances any and - hmmn - didn't seem to create much of a ripple in the "liberal media" at the time either...
As can be seen by one of the current quotes in my signature, our illustrious president hasn't cleaned up his act much since his election, either (that line was shouted into Condi Rice's office). I guess some usage of foul language is worse than others.
As can be seen by one of the current quotes in my signature, our illustrious president hasn't cleaned up his act much since his election, either (that line was shouted into Condi Rice's office). I guess some usage of foul language is worse than others.
I think Clark let slip a mild metaphor in the common vernacular. The spirit of his message fits with this expression, so I don't think it hurts him politically.
Besides, he wasn't aware the camera was on him. He needs to be aware of this to make it politically. Bet the lesson sticks with him.
I like Clark a great deal, but he is in a different league now. He will learn quickly for the next stab at politics. I wish him the best but don't expect much this time around.
Although he would make a great running mate and future presidential candidate.
Besides, he wasn't aware the camera was on him. He needs to be aware of this to make it politically. Bet the lesson sticks with him.
I like Clark a great deal, but he is in a different league now. He will learn quickly for the next stab at politics. I wish him the best but don't expect much this time around.
Although he would make a great running mate and future presidential candidate.
QUOTE(AuthorMusician @ Dec 22 2003, 06:28 AM)
Besides, he wasn't aware the camera was on him. He needs to be aware of this to make it politically. Bet the lesson sticks with him.
It's not a deal-breaker per se, but it's just one of the reasons why i don't see him as worthy of consideration at this time.
This exchange between Chris Matthews and Wes Clark in the first week of December has more sway with me:
QUOTE
Matthews: General, do you think Osama bin Laden, if we catch him, when we catch him, should be tried here at the U.S. or in The Hague, the international court?
Clark: I would like to see him tried in The Hague, and I tell you why. I think it's very important for U.S. legitimacy and for building other support in the war on terror for trying them in The Hague, under international law with an international group of justices, bringing witnesses from other nations. Remember, 80 other nations lost citizens in that strike on the World Trade Center. It was a crime against humanity, and he needs to be tried in international court.
Matthews: Well, 3,000 Americans were killed here. Do you believe he should be held exempt from capital punishment, because if you send him to Hague he will be. They don't have capital punishment at The Hague.
Clark: I think that's a separate issue. I think that's a separate issues.
Matthews: No, it's a key issue, because the sentencing limitation, they do not execute people at the Hague.
Clark: I think that you can adequately punish Osama bin Laden, and you've got to look beyond simple retribution against an individual. You have to look at what's in the long-term security interest in the security in America and you have to look at how we handle the war on terror from here on out.
Matthews: But doesn't life in Holland beat life in a cave?
Clark: Not in a Dutch prison. Chris, they're under water, they're damp, they're cold, they're really miserable.
Clark: I would like to see him tried in The Hague, and I tell you why. I think it's very important for U.S. legitimacy and for building other support in the war on terror for trying them in The Hague, under international law with an international group of justices, bringing witnesses from other nations. Remember, 80 other nations lost citizens in that strike on the World Trade Center. It was a crime against humanity, and he needs to be tried in international court.
Matthews: Well, 3,000 Americans were killed here. Do you believe he should be held exempt from capital punishment, because if you send him to Hague he will be. They don't have capital punishment at The Hague.
Clark: I think that's a separate issue. I think that's a separate issues.
Matthews: No, it's a key issue, because the sentencing limitation, they do not execute people at the Hague.
Clark: I think that you can adequately punish Osama bin Laden, and you've got to look beyond simple retribution against an individual. You have to look at what's in the long-term security interest in the security in America and you have to look at how we handle the war on terror from here on out.
Matthews: But doesn't life in Holland beat life in a cave?
Clark: Not in a Dutch prison. Chris, they're under water, they're damp, they're cold, they're really miserable.
uhh....really?
QUOTE(http://citypaper.net/articles/081000/cov.cover2.shtml)
Can wives or girlfriends spend a night in the prison? Of course.
Hans shows us the conjugal visit bedroom. If my husband were here we would check in. It resembles a small, pleasant hotel room with a double bed. "We had to soundproof it," laughs Hans. "They made so much noise."
Hans shows us the conjugal visit bedroom. If my husband were here we would check in. It resembles a small, pleasant hotel room with a double bed. "We had to soundproof it," laughs Hans. "They made so much noise."
he also thinks the White House is out to get him:
QUOTE(http://www.foxnews.com/story/0 @ 2933,95714,00.html)
"The White House actually back in February apparently tried to get me knocked off CNN and they wanted to do this because they were afraid that I would raise issues with their conduct of the war," Clark told Newsradio 620 KTAR. "Apparently they called CNN. I don't have all the proof on this because they didn't call me. I've only heard rumors about it."
...and the White House "urging" him to make a link between Saddam and 9/11.
More recently, he got tripped up on an interview with FoxNews' David Asman & got confrontational when his own words where thrown back at him.
point is, this guy hasn't learn to think on his feet.
This whole "controversy" reminds me of what Pablo Picasso said when someone asked him what he thought about man finally landing on the moon.
"I don't know, I don't care and it doesn't interest me."
"I don't know, I don't care and it doesn't interest me."
The importance of this issue is that by choosing if it is important or not, we are remolding the image of the perfect candidate for office that we all envision....at least those of us who cynicism hasn't grabbed a hold of yet. Yes, we've all cussed and so has everyone who has ever sat in the oval office(except for maybe William Henry Harrison who died before he could have reason to cuss) At the same time, when will this stop? Will it now be okay to refer to one's opponent in a derogatory manner?
A lot of these candidates have spent much of their own money and have little to show for it. Kerry and Clark use these words in an attempt to get the media's attention ("hey...remember me?!"). And while this has worked, it hasn't garnished them positive respect overall.
BTW, hello everyone, I'm new here.
BTW, hello everyone, I'm new here.
Seems to me like a smart man like Wesely Clark should no better than to speak like that on TV. It is as reprehensible as it was when GWB said the F word...Just because Dubya did it it's okay for Clark and Kerry to do it...I think not.
CP
should no better than to speak like that on TV. It is as reprehensible as it was when GWB said the F word...Just because Dubya did it it's okay for Clark and Kerry to do it...I think not.CP
Cursing does not bother me. I remember when Bush called someone an @$$&0!# when he didn't know the mic was on....it wasn't the word that he used that made him seem like such a jerk but the sneaky way he used it. Smiling and waving to people while badmouthing them under your breath is low in a different way.
But I wasn't offended by Kerry, Clark, or Bush for using bad words...maybe if this were Kindergarten it would matter more.
But I wasn't offended by Kerry, Clark, or Bush for using bad words...maybe if this were Kindergarten it would matter more.
1, I dont prefer that candidates use cursing. I especially don't like it when people use the vulgar f word.
2, I'm not supporting Clark, period
3, I think it is a ploy
4, I think in a state (Michigan?) has outlawed cursing in public.
2, I'm not supporting Clark, period
3, I think it is a ploy
4, I think in a state (Michigan?) has outlawed cursing in public.
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