"He Understands Us Better And Won't Forget His Roots"

LITTLE ROCK - The Lawton Constitution and the Norman Transcript became the second and third major Oklahoma newspapers to endorse a candidate in this year's Democratic presidential primary Sunday. Like the first major Oklahoma editorial endorsement - the Native American Times on January 1st - the Lawton Constitution and the Norman Transcript endorsed General Wesley Clark. The McAlester News-Capital & Democrat announced today that it will endorse Wes Clark in Monday's edition.

"Clark is from Arkansas and he knows what Oklahomans and military communities are all about. Simply put, he understands us better and he won't forget his roots," the Lawton Constitutioneditorial reads. "Three of the other candidates are from New England, and their values, ideas and environment - like their annual snowfall accumulation - are different from most Oklahomans."

The Lawton Constitution also commends General Clark's outstanding leadership in the international arena, highlighting his ouster of Serb tyrant Slobodan Milosevic and victory in Kosovo without losing a single American life. "The retired four-star general would bring a new perspective to the on-going war on terrorism, even ending the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan sooner rather than later," the editorial reads.

The Norman Transcript emphasizes General Clark's domestic vision and exceptional foreign policy experience. "General Clark's proposal to turn America around has five, measurable initiatives," said the Transcript endorsement. "They include family income growth, preventing deaths and illnesses caused by a polluted nation, one million more students enrolled in higher education, two million children lifted out of poverty, and health insurance for the 30 million Americans who are uninsured."

"He told a Tulsa audience Wednesday that he couldn't stand by and watch the country he fought for unravel before his eyes," the Transcript editorial continues. "He believes that Saddam Hussein was a possible threat but the war in Iraq was ill timed and conceived poorly. If elected, his 34 years of military service will strengthen America's resolve to exit Iraq and restore our nation's credibility among world leaders."

The McAlester News-Capital & Democrat highlights Wes Clark's economic policies. "Clark has a three-part plan to help those of us in rural America compete and thrive in a changing world," the editorial reads. "The general says he will devote $100 billion over two years to enhance job creation through investment in local infrastructure and job creation tax credits. Clark says he will work to cut taxes on working families. In fact, under the Clark tax plan, families making up to $50,000 a year will pay no income tax. That's a solid tax plan which will help real people, not just the privileged few."

The editorial also emphasizes Wes Clark's rural education policy. "Clark understands that our local schools are vital to the health of our communities and he says he will protect them from consolidation. He promises help from the federal government to ensure schools have the funds they need to stay open."

"The endorsement of these newspapers demonstrates General Clark's momentum throughoutOklahoma," said Oklahoma State Director Jessica Vanden Berg. "The people of Lawton, Norman and McAlester gave General Clark an overwhelmingly warm reception when he visited there this weekend, and these endorsements show that they truly share his strong values of family, faith, patriotism and inclusion."