Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Wes Clark Jr.

Aired January 25, 2004 - 07:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: As we mentioned earlier, General Wesley Clark skipped the Iowa caucuses to spend more time in pursuit of support in the New Hampshire primary. Of course, that is coming up on Tuesday.
We want to talk more about his momentum with his son, Wes Clark, Jr. He's joining us this morning as we also said earlier from Manchester. We're going to try this again, Wes. Thanks for hanging with us.

Let me ask you about that. We know that the general was not in Iowa. He came to New Hampshire quite early to start gaining support there. What has been the success or the progress, if you will, so far?

WES CLARK. JR., GENERAL CLARK'S SON: Well, I mean, for New Hampshire, you know, we're doing good. We're happy though with the results from the Iowa caucuses. I mean, the people elected a war hero and southerner and an outsider. And dad's all three.

COLLINS: But you say you're happy about John Kerry coming in number one. How will General Clark now differentiate himself from John Kerry? I think the public may see them both, as you say, as people with military background.

What is it that the general will do, if anything, differently now?

CLARK, JR.: Well, look, I don't know what the campaign strategy is. I can just tell you when it comes to dad, I mean, you know, they both served in Vietnam, but dad stayed in the military afterwards. And he actually has the physical experience of doing things, instead of just talking about things in the Senate.

I mean, dad's not a politician. That's probably the biggest differentiation between them.

COLLINS: What stands out to you about your dad? Obviously, you know him better than any of us do or ever will.

CLARK, JR.: Say could you repeat the question again?

COLLINS: What stands out to you about your dad, about his characteristics for becoming commander in chief?

CLARK, JR.: Sure. Well, I mean, dad's never really been motivated by anything other than the power of belief. I mean, that's why he does what he does. He's not motivated by money or glory or anything else. He just wants to do the right thing. And I think when people meet them and talk to him one-on-one, that comes through.

COLLINS: Why is it that he has enlisted you a little bit on the campaign trail? I would imagine it's to go after the younger voter a little bit. What is your goal and what have you been trying to do here?

CLARK, JR.: Well, actually, it's not. And he didn't enlist me. I wanted to come out and help. I mean, my wife and I just had a baby a month ago. And we're doing this for our child's future. So I'm happy to go out and talk to folks. You know, I'm 34-years old. So I'm not really going specifically just for the young vote. I'm talking to anyone who wants to listen.

COLLINS: What do you mean you're doing this for your child's future?

CLARK, JR.: Well, when I look at the direction the country's going economically, foreign policy wise, I'm worried about the future. I mean, I don't want my son to grow up flipping burgers or working at Wal-Mart. And I think dad's the surest way to get the economy back on track.

COLLINS: Specifically, how can he improve the life of your child? You say -- are you specifically looking at jobs? Are we talking about education or health care reform or what in particular?

CLARK, JR.: Well, the whole gamut of things. I mean, what dad -- what you do in the Army and what he's been doing for the last 34 years, it's not just about fighting wars. It's mainly about taking care of people. You know, the Army was one of the least respected institutions in America in the 1970s. It was really on the verge of falling apart.

And what dad and another, you know, core group of officers did was they rebuilt the Army. And they did it with stuff like continuing education for enlisted men, child care, better medical care, better pay for soldiers, better housing, affirmative action.

I mean, really, all the programs that the Democrats ever stood up and fought for, dad's actually administered all those programs. And it's made the Army a lot stronger.

COLLINS: So before we let you go, quickly have to wrap here, I'm sure you've heard critics say before that your dad doesn't have the political experience, though. What's your response to that?

CLARK, JR.: Well, hey, look, if the American people are tired of politicians and you want somebody's who's actually going to make a difference, then vote for my dad. If you just want another politicians, by all means, vote for one.

COLLINS: All right, thanks so much, Wes Clark, Jr. coming to us live from Manchester this morning. Appreciate it very much. CLARK, JR.: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired January 25, 2004 - 07:50   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: As we mentioned earlier, General Wesley Clark skipped the Iowa caucuses to spend more time in pursuit of support in the New Hampshire primary. Of course, that is coming up on Tuesday.
We want to talk more about his momentum with his son, Wes Clark, Jr. He's joining us this morning as we also said earlier from Manchester. We're going to try this again, Wes. Thanks for hanging with us.

Let me ask you about that. We know that the general was not in Iowa. He came to New Hampshire quite early to start gaining support there. What has been the success or the progress, if you will, so far?

WES CLARK. JR., GENERAL CLARK'S SON: Well, I mean, for New Hampshire, you know, we're doing good. We're happy though with the results from the Iowa caucuses. I mean, the people elected a war hero and southerner and an outsider. And dad's all three.

COLLINS: But you say you're happy about John Kerry coming in number one. How will General Clark now differentiate himself from John Kerry? I think the public may see them both, as you say, as people with military background.

What is it that the general will do, if anything, differently now?

CLARK, JR.: Well, look, I don't know what the campaign strategy is. I can just tell you when it comes to dad, I mean, you know, they both served in Vietnam, but dad stayed in the military afterwards. And he actually has the physical experience of doing things, instead of just talking about things in the Senate.

I mean, dad's not a politician. That's probably the biggest differentiation between them.

COLLINS: What stands out to you about your dad? Obviously, you know him better than any of us do or ever will.

CLARK, JR.: Say could you repeat the question again?

COLLINS: What stands out to you about your dad, about his characteristics for becoming commander in chief?

CLARK, JR.: Sure. Well, I mean, dad's never really been motivated by anything other than the power of belief. I mean, that's why he does what he does. He's not motivated by money or glory or anything else. He just wants to do the right thing. And I think when people meet them and talk to him one-on-one, that comes through.

COLLINS: Why is it that he has enlisted you a little bit on the campaign trail? I would imagine it's to go after the younger voter a little bit. What is your goal and what have you been trying to do here?

CLARK, JR.: Well, actually, it's not. And he didn't enlist me. I wanted to come out and help. I mean, my wife and I just had a baby a month ago. And we're doing this for our child's future. So I'm happy to go out and talk to folks. You know, I'm 34-years old. So I'm not really going specifically just for the young vote. I'm talking to anyone who wants to listen.

COLLINS: What do you mean you're doing this for your child's future?

CLARK, JR.: Well, when I look at the direction the country's going economically, foreign policy wise, I'm worried about the future. I mean, I don't want my son to grow up flipping burgers or working at Wal-Mart. And I think dad's the surest way to get the economy back on track.

COLLINS: Specifically, how can he improve the life of your child? You say -- are you specifically looking at jobs? Are we talking about education or health care reform or what in particular?

CLARK, JR.: Well, the whole gamut of things. I mean, what dad -- what you do in the Army and what he's been doing for the last 34 years, it's not just about fighting wars. It's mainly about taking care of people. You know, the Army was one of the least respected institutions in America in the 1970s. It was really on the verge of falling apart.

And what dad and another, you know, core group of officers did was they rebuilt the Army. And they did it with stuff like continuing education for enlisted men, child care, better medical care, better pay for soldiers, better housing, affirmative action.

I mean, really, all the programs that the Democrats ever stood up and fought for, dad's actually administered all those programs. And it's made the Army a lot stronger.

COLLINS: So before we let you go, quickly have to wrap here, I'm sure you've heard critics say before that your dad doesn't have the political experience, though. What's your response to that?

CLARK, JR.: Well, hey, look, if the American people are tired of politicians and you want somebody's who's actually going to make a difference, then vote for my dad. If you just want another politicians, by all means, vote for one.

COLLINS: All right, thanks so much, Wes Clark, Jr. coming to us live from Manchester this morning. Appreciate it very much. CLARK, JR.: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com