Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) is a serious and well-respected lawmaker. Despite being an unwavering Democrat, even Republicans begrudgingly respect his work on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The fact that Levin is mad at Howard Dean probably won’t help the former Vermont governor in Michigan (home to early caucuses next year) nor on Capitol Hill.
The Armed Services Committee, on which Levin is the ranking member, has been wrangling for months over the Bush administration’s nomination of Maj. Gen. Robert Clark as a lieutenant general (no relation to Wesley Clark). After lengthy deliberations, the committee recently approved Clark’s promotion.
Howard Dean issued a statement blasting the committee’s vote. Echoing the concerns from several gay rights groups, Dean said he was “greatly disturbed” by the committee’s support for Clark.
Here’s the story: In 1999, a private at Fort Campbell, Ky., was beaten to death by his fellow soldiers when they discovered he was gay. Robert Clark was the commander at the base and was therefore investigated for alleged negligence after the murder. An Army inspector general’s review exonerated Clark.
Dean issued a statement criticizing the committee for approving Clark’s nomination despite his “disastrous record.”
Unfortunately, Dean’s statement included two serious factual errors. First, Dean said the committee was approving Clark’s nomination to “serve in the 2nd highest position in the U.S. Army.” This was incorrect. Next, Dean said Clark did “not even meet with the parents” of the slain soldier. This, too, was wrong.
Sen. Levin found Dean’s statement to be off-base.
“I’m disappointed with Governor Dean’s shoot-from-the-hip reaction, which is full of factual inaccuracies to a tragic, complex incident the committee has conscientiously struggled with for a year,” Levin said.
I guess we won’t see Carl Levin endorsing Dean anytime soon.