Clark vs The Facts
CLARK ON MILITARY FAMILIES
Clark Claims:
Clark Claims Military Personnel Do Better Under Democrat Administrations. "I think there's a fundamental difference between Republicans and Democrats on this issue, because it's simply true, the Republicans do like weapon systems and Democrats like people. And so, I can tell you, and I would speak for anybody up here, when we take this government back in 2005, we're going to look after pay." (Wesley Clark, CNN's Democrat Candidate Debate, Phoenix, AZ, 10/9/03)
But Fact Is:
President Bush Has Provided Historic Increases In Military Compensation Over Clinton. Under former President Clinton, military pay decreased an average of almost 2% per year relative to Consumer Price Index. Since President Bush took office, military pay increased an average of 5.2% per year relative to Consumer Price Index. ("Military Pay In Comparison With ECI And CPI," Department Of Defense; "Defense Spending Highlights," CQ Almanac, 2000, pp. 2-29 - 2-46)
Kerry Voted Against Military Pay Increases At Least ELEVEN Times. (S.1087, CQ Vote #397: Passed 62-35: R 48-4; D 14-31; I 0-0, 9/5/95; H.R.2126, CQ Vote #579: Adopted 59-39: R 48-5; D 11-34; I 0-0; H.R.1530, CQ Vote #399: Passed 64-34: R 50-3; D 14-31; I 0-0, 9/6/95; H.R. 1530, CQ Vote #608: Adopted 51-43: R 47-2; D 4-41; I 0-0, 12/19/95; S.1124, CQ Vote #5: Adopted 56-34: R 42-3; D 14-31; I 0-0, 1/26/96; S.1745, CQ Vote #187: Passed 68-31: R 50-2; D 18-29; I 0-0, 7/10/96; H.R.3230, CQ Vote #279: Adopted 73-26: R 50-3; D 23-23; I 0-0, 9/10/96; S.Con.Res.18, CQ Vote #72: Motion agreed to 54-44: R 2-40; D 52-4, 3/24/93; S. Con. Res. 18, CQ Vote #73: Motion Agreed To 55-42: R 2-39; D 53-3, 3/24/93; H.R. 1335, CQ Vote #98: Motion agreed to 51-49: R 0-43; D 51-6, 4/1/93; S.Con.Res.18, CQ Vote #46: Adopted 69-30: R 31-12; D 38-18, 3/23/93)
Lieberman Voted Against Military Pay Increases At Least THREE Times. (S.Con.Res.18, CQ Vote #72: Motion agreed to 54-44: R 2-40; D 52-4, 3/24/93; H.R. 1335, CQ Vote #98: Motion agreed to 51-49: R 0-43; D 51-6, 4/1/93; S.4, CQ Vote #26: Passed 91-8: R 52-3; D 39-5, 2/24/99)
Gephardt Voted Against Military Pay Increases At Least Once. (H.R. 1530, CQ Vote #865: Adopted 267-149: R 209-17; D 58-131; I 0-1, 12/15/95)
KERRY ON VETERANS' HEALTH CARE
Kerry Claims:
Kerry Claims President Not Addressing Veterans' Health Care. "We have 135,000 veterans waiting six months to see a doctor for the first time just to get their prescription drugs." (Sen. John Kerry, CNN's Democrat Candidate Debate, Phoenix, AZ, 10/9/03)
But Fact Is:
"President's FY2004 Budget Is The Largest Annual Increase For ... Veterans Affairs Ever Requested ..." ("The President's Budget Briefing Book, FY 2004," The White House, 2/3/03)
President's FY 2004 Budget Proposal Fixes Six-Month Waiting Period, Which Exists Due To Rapid Growth Of Low-Priority Veterans. "In this budget, the President proposes to refocus attention on VA's core medical care mission of providing needed services to veterans with military disabilities, low incomes, and special needs such as spinal cord injuries by charging other lower-priority veterans in the system an annual enrollment fee and increased drug co-payments. Lower-priority veterans have grown from two percent in 1998 to over 31 percent of VA enrollees in 2002. As a result, 236,000 veterans now must wait six months or longer today for an appointment - a situation that will be eliminated with this budget." ("The President's Budget Briefing Book, FY 2004," The White House, 2/3/03)
American Legion National Commander Called President's 2004 Budget "Substantial Request And A Good Sign From The Administration." (The American Legion, Press Release, 2/4/03)
FY2004 Budget Proposal Increases Discretionary Funding 7.4% From FY2003. (Department Of Veterans Affairs, Press Release, 2/3/03)
FY2004 Budget Proposal Provides $2 Billion Increase In Veterans' Health Care Funding.(Department Of Veterans Affairs, Press Release, 2/3/03)
President's FY2003 Budget Requested $1.2 Billion Over FY2002 Veterans' Medical Care. (U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee Website,
http://rpc.senate.gov, Accessed 3/4/03)
KERRY ON OVEREXTENDED MILITARY
Kerry Claims:
"We Have Overextended The Military." (Sen. John Kerry, CNN's Democrat Candidate Debate, Phoenix, AZ, 10/9/03)
But Fact Is:
Kerry proposed Massive Defense Cuts Of Billions Of Dollars And Numerous Key Programs Throughout His Career. (S. 1580, Introduced 2/29/96; S. Con. Res. 13, CQ Vote #181: Rejected 28-71: R 2-51; D 26-20, 5/24/95, Kerry Voted Yea; S.1163, Introduced 6/24/93; S. Con. Res. 18, CQ Vote #73: Motion Agreed To 55-42: R 2-39; D 53-3, 3/24/93, Kerry Voted Yea; S. Con. Res. 106, CQ Vote #73: Motion Agreed To 53-40: R 38-1; D 15-39, 4/9/92, Kerry Voted Nay; H.R. 2707, CQ Vote #182: Motion Rejected 28-69: R 3-39; D 25-30, 9/10/91, Kerry Voted Yea; S. Con. Res. 29, CQ Vote #49: Motion Rejected 22-73: R 1-39; D 21-34, 4/25/91, Kerry Voted Yea)
CLARK ON HIS IRAQ POSITION
Clark Claims:
Clark Claims Iraq Position "Very Clear." "I think my position on Iraq has been very, very clear from the outset." (Wesley Clark, CNN's Democrat Candidate Debate, Phoenix, AZ, 10/9/03)
But Fact Is:
October 2002: Clark Indicated His Support For Use Of Force Resolution And Said He Would Advise Congressmen To Vote For It. "Retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark said Wednesday he supports a congressional resolution that would give President Bush authority to use military force against Iraq, although he has reservations about the country's move toward war. Clark ... endorsed Democrat Katrina Swett in the 2nd District race. He said if she were in Congress this week, he would advise her to vote for the resolution, but only after vigorous debate." (Stephen Frothingham, "Gen. Clark Supports Swett, Raises Concerns About Iraq Policy," The Associated Press, 10/9/02)
August 2003: Clark Ducked Question On How He Would Have Voted On Iraq Resolution. CNN's BOB NOVAK: "So you would be the same as Senator Kerry and Congressman Gephardt? You vote yes, but then you start dancing when a few -- when you have some casualties in Iraq? Is that fair?" CLARK: "I'm not dancing. I'm not dancing one bit. I'm telling you exactly what was wrong with that resolution. That resolution was a carte blanche to the administration to go to the U.N. and then do what they wanted." (CNN's "Crossfire," 8/1/03)
One Day After Becoming Candidate, Clark Says He Would Have Voted For Use Of Force Resolution. "'At the time, I probably would have voted for it [Use of Force Authorization], but I think that's too simple a question,' General Clark said. A moment later, he said: 'I don't know if I would have or not. I've said it both ways because when you get into this, what happens is you have to put yourself in a position -
on balance, I probably would have voted for it.'" (Adam Nagourney, "Clark Says He Would Have Voted For War," The New York Times, 9/19/03)
Two Days After Becoming Candidate, Clark "Would Never Have Voted For War." "'I never would have voted for war,' Clark ... said during an interview with The Des Moines Register. Reports published Friday quoted Clark as saying he probably would have supported the resolution." (Thomas Beaumont, "Clark Says He Wouldn't Have Voted For War," The Des Moines Register, 9/20/03)