In other words: A discussion of The Bush Administration
Wouldn't it be something to hear a political candidate to talk about the true treasure of America, the true importance of calm political discourse? Wouldn't it be something to hear a candidate speak of ideas that make you realize there is a spark of intelligence behind the words? Isn't it pathetic that we hear nothing of that from the President?
Here is Clark on the Bill Maher show (full transcript here)
MAHER: Okay. [applause] I’m just – I’m just wondering, of all the people who has the credentials to say, “liberal” is not a bad word, I’m wondering if I could get you to say that.
CLARK: Well, I’ll say it right now.
MAHER: Good for you.
CLARK: We live in a liberal democracy.
MAHER: Right.
CLARK: That’s what we created in this country. [applause] That’s our—
MAHER: That’s right. Thank you.
CLARK: That’s in our Constitution. [applause continue] Let me follow on this, okay? I think we should be very clear on this. You know, this country was founded on the principals of the Enlightenment.
MAHER: Right.
CLARK: It was the idea that people could talk, reason, have dialogue, discuss the issues. It wasn’t founded on the idea that someone would get stuck by a divine inspiration and know everything right from wrong. I mean, people who founded this country had religion, they had strong beliefs, but they believed in reason, in dialogue, in civil discourse. We can’t lose that in this country. We’ve got to get it back. [applause]
MAHER: Thank you.
CLARK: I’d like to follow that. Can I follow that?
MAHER: Yes.
CLARK: Because, you know, a lot of people have said, “What are you interested in? Why would you even consider running?” And they say, “Isn’t it just about Iraq?” It really isn’t. Iraq is part of it. I think the foreign policy has serious problems.
MAHER: Right.
CLARK: But I think the economy and the way the administration has dealt with the economy has serious problems. But more fundamental than that, it’s about what kind of country we want to live in. I think this nation wants open, transparent government. I think it likes a two-party system. I think it likes to hear reasoned dialogue, not labeling, name-calling and hateful politics. [applause] And I think 2004 is the election that voters have to put that back in.
- rob 1:40 PM - [PermaLink] -
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