A Few Clouds and 89° F

When her husband brought up the idea of running for president, it stirred Gert Clark's maternal instincts.

"I knew Wes could do the job. He would be excellent in the job," she said Friday. "But I thought it would be very difficult on the family. My son was newly married and his wife was having a baby."

"My son realized his life might be turned upside down," she said. "But he said, 'I think I can deal with this. Dad's got to do this. I want a better world for my child.'"

"It was a family decision," she said. "Once we made the decision, we're doing it 3,000 percent."

And that, in short, is how Gertrude Margaret Kingston Clark found herself in Orangeburg on Friday, as the guest of honor at the formal opening of the Orangeburg office of Clark for President.

In brief remarks, Clark said her husband's campaign is grounded in patriotism, faith, inclusiveness and increased opportunities for employment and education.

The tiny office at the intersection of Dantzler and Boulevard streets is one of five Clark campaign offices in South Carolina, which will have the South's earliest Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 3.

The fact that the campaign opened an office in Orangeburg "shows you how important we think (the area) is to the campaign," Gert Clark said.

Area residents are encouraged to visit the office to pick up literature or talk to campaign workers, said Cabe Franklin, one of four people who will be based at the office full-time until the state's primary.

Orangeburg area voters "know they've got a role to play in choosing who the next president of the United States is going to be," Franklin said.

When asked if voters are put off by the number of candidates, Franklin said he had not gotten that impression.

"The people I've been talking to are not saying, 'Oh, no, there are nine people running.' They know a few people's names. They know (Wesley) Clark; they know (John) Edwards; they know maybe one or two more names; they're narrowing it down already as to who they're going to research."

Others have already decided to support Wesley Clark.

"Well, he's definitely not an empty flight suit, is he?" asked Patrick Corbett of Neeses.

"I believe he's a man of principle and high moral standards. He is definitely the man to do what needs to be done with the mess in Iraq. We're there. We need to finish it, but we need to do it in the right way. We need to be very careful about what we do in the future. Wesley Clark can handle that," Corbett concluded.

Diane Cheeseboro said Wesley Clark's appeal stems from "the fact that he's open. He doesn't seem to have any secrets that he's not sharing with the people. And I think his military background has a lot to do with it as well."

Wesley Clark's military career might make him a little more popular among men than women, "because men relate more to the military," but the gender gap disappears quickly "when you get to know him, see him and understand him as a person," Gert Clark said.

She should know, having been married to him for 36 years. With the divorce rate so high, what's their secret, anyway?

"When you're first married ... you either pull apart or you pull together," she said. "We pulled together and learned to rely upon each other, and that's what we've done for our entire marriage."

While Wesley Clark was pursuing his military career, Gert Clark was involved in community and volunteer work, often involving underprivileged youths and children.

That involvement continues today, through the Boys and Girls Club of Little Rock, Ark., which she explained develops character, citizenship and skills in children who "need a hand up," and the Discovery Museum in Little Rock, Ark., which provides interactive, hands-on experiences for children.

That's right. After living in dozens of places around the globe, the Clarks decided to settle down in the South. "Part of my heart is definitely in the South," Gert Clark said.

While in Orangeburg, she made a private visit to a child development center on Russell Street that benefits from Head Start money.

"What a great place!" she said. "This place is fabulous! I can see a lot of love there, and individual care. The children seem happy and healthy. I think the environment there is productive. It's heartening to see the happy faces! These programs are really important. They're teaching children to get a head start in life."

Later in the day, she visited two Orangeburg area retirement communities, Morningside and The Methodist Oaks, before returning to the Charleston area to address a group of African-American church women.

Today, she plans to address a forum scheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Allendale-Fairfax High School. At least three presidential candidates plan to attend the event, which is open to the public and is sponsored by the Democratic party organizations in Bamberg, Barnwell, Allendale, Hampton and Jasper counties.

You must be logged in to comment.