Knowles Continues Parade Of ANWR Opponents
Tony Campaigns with Anti-ANWR Wesley Clark
Anchorage, AK - Tony Knowles announced that Retired General and failed Democratic Presidential Candidate Wesley Clark will be in Alaska campaigning on his behalf this weekend. Knowles and Clark will be appearing together around Alaska, despite the fact that Clark is adamantly against ANWR development.
Knowles has been an outspoken critic of those who have come to Alaska to appear with Senator Lisa Murkowski, including Vice President Cheney and Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, both of whom are pro-ANWR and pro-Alaska. Yet, Knowles seems to have no problem associating himself with a long list of anti-ANWR notables.
As the Voice of the Times noted last week of Clark's ANWR stance, "He's against it. Flat out. His "draftwesleyclark.com" Web site said Clark "opposes drilling in the Arctic Wilderness." This is a guy Tony Knowles brings to Alaska to stand up for his senatorial campaign?"
"After fundraisers with anti-ANWR Sens. Tom Daschle, Byron Dorgan, and others, Tony's willingness to parade around the anti-ANWR Clark really isn't a surprise, but it should be another disappointment to those Alaskans who want to believe Tony's pro-ANWR rhetoric," Murkowski spokesman Elliott Bundy said.
Here are a few things to remember about this failed Democratic presidential contender.
Anti-ANWR, Anti-Alaskan economy: "[Clark] opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; opposes road-building in pristine national forests." (Joan Lowy, "Where Democratic Candidates Stand On Environmental Issues," Scripps Howard News Service, January 29, 2004)
Against President's Bipartisan Tax Cuts. NBC's Tim Russert: "What do you think of the Bush tax cuts? Would you have voted for them?" Wesley CLARK: "Well, I would not have supported them, no." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 6/15/03)
Also like Tony Knowles, Wesley Clark was afraid to admit he was a Democrat:
JUNE, 2003: Hadn't Crossed Partisan Bridge. "I haven't crossed the bridge to becoming a Democrat." (CNBC's "Capital Report," 6/19/03)
JULY, 2003: Wouldn't Declare Party. FOX News' Sean Hannity: "Hey, General, if you run, you're running as a Democrat, aren't you, General? Tonight's the night; come clean. Don't play around." CLARK: "Sean, Sean, look, I haven't made a party commitment." (Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes," 7/17/03)
AUGUST, 2003: Still Not Declared. CNN's James Carville: "General, are you a Democrat?" CLARK: "I've not declared that I'm a Democrat yet." (CNN's "Crossfire," 8/1/03)
SEPTEMBER, 2003: Finally 'Decides.' "I have to say that I'm aligned with the Democratic Party, I like the message the party has, I like what it stands for." (CNN's "Inside Politics," 9/3/03)