2008 Woodie Awards
Clark announced as Mock Con Spring Kickoff speaker
Dana Statton
Issue date: 4/3/07 Section: News
The secrecy of the past two weeks culminated with the announcement of General Wesley Clark as an honored speaker at this year's Spring Kickoff. The former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and retired four-star general signed a contract to speak in preparation for the 2008 Mock Presidential Convention.
General Clark will be speaking about the presidential climate, his experience with Iraq, and what direction he thinks the country is heading.
After graduating first in his class from West Point and receiving a Rhodes scholarship, he served for 34 years in the military. He held key command and staff positions around the world including command of the 1st Calvary Division, the largest division in the US Army. From 1994 to 1996, he worked for the J-5 Division of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, where he helped negotiate the agreement that ended the war in Bosnia.
"He is unique because he is a Democrat with vast experience and perspective on issues that concern us right now. He's not a 'rah,rah' democratic speaker," said Logan Gibson, the speakers chair for Mock Convention.
The Speakers Committee meets weekly. Each person is given 2-3 potential speakers to research and reports on his or her progress. Committee members include Hunter Branstetter, Taylor Lawch, Bill Larson, Ashley Cooning, Natalie Murphy, and Laura Secrest.
According to Gibson, Virginia is an increasingly purple state and the need for Democrats to campaign strongly puts Mock Con in a favorable position to get engaging speakers.
"We're looking for name recognition and a strong stance on issues that are vitally important right now," said Gibson.
General Clark does indeed have a strong stance on current issues. He has extensive knowledge on military strategy because he served as the Commander in Chief of the US Southern Command and headed all US military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean. After that he simultaneously command US military forces in Europe and all of NATO during which he led Operation Allied Force and helped stopped the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.
General Clark will be speaking about the presidential climate, his experience with Iraq, and what direction he thinks the country is heading.
After graduating first in his class from West Point and receiving a Rhodes scholarship, he served for 34 years in the military. He held key command and staff positions around the world including command of the 1st Calvary Division, the largest division in the US Army. From 1994 to 1996, he worked for the J-5 Division of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, where he helped negotiate the agreement that ended the war in Bosnia.
"He is unique because he is a Democrat with vast experience and perspective on issues that concern us right now. He's not a 'rah,rah' democratic speaker," said Logan Gibson, the speakers chair for Mock Convention.
The Speakers Committee meets weekly. Each person is given 2-3 potential speakers to research and reports on his or her progress. Committee members include Hunter Branstetter, Taylor Lawch, Bill Larson, Ashley Cooning, Natalie Murphy, and Laura Secrest.
According to Gibson, Virginia is an increasingly purple state and the need for Democrats to campaign strongly puts Mock Con in a favorable position to get engaging speakers.
"We're looking for name recognition and a strong stance on issues that are vitally important right now," said Gibson.
General Clark does indeed have a strong stance on current issues. He has extensive knowledge on military strategy because he served as the Commander in Chief of the US Southern Command and headed all US military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean. After that he simultaneously command US military forces in Europe and all of NATO during which he led Operation Allied Force and helped stopped the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.
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Jeff Miller
posted 4/13/07 @ 6:23 PM EST
This is very disappointing news. What you fail to mention in your Public Relations release is that this gentleman has had very questionable if not insane conduct during the last several years. (Continued…)
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