Nominee's Background:
Joseph Maxwell Cleland (born August 24, 1942) is an American politician of Georgia. Cleland, a Democrat, is a former U.S. Senator and critic of the Bush Administration. Cleland also served in the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for valorous action in combat, including during the battle of Khe Sanh. While in Vietnam on April 8, 1968, Cleland was severely wounded while attempting to pick up a grenade dropped by another soldier. He lost both legs and part of one arm in the accident.
Cleland served for several years in the Georgia state legislature, and became an advocate for affairs relating to veterans. He was the administrator of the United States Veterans Administration under President Jimmy Carter, a fellow Georgian, from 1977 to 1981. He then served 14 years as secretary of state of Georgia from 1982 to 1996, working closely with his future Senate colleague, Zell Miller. Cleland ran for and was elected to the United States Senate in 1996. The Democratic nomination became available because of the retirement of Sam Nunn. He was defeated while running for a second term in 2002 by Representative Saxby Chambliss. Voters were perhaps influenced by perceptions that Cleland had moved too far to the left in supporting his party's platform, or perhaps by Chambliss ads which featured Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, ads which Cleland supporters claimed questioned his patriotism -- though his opponent denied any such insinuation.
Though Cleland's disabilities have given him many hardships, he has managed to adapt and function with relative normality in life and politics. Many people have said that they have been inspired by his struggle.
Cleland was originally appointed to serve on the 9/11 Commission but resigned shortly after, claiming that the Bush administration was "stonewalling" and blocking the committee's access to key documents and witnesses. During his time away from politics, Cleland taught at American University.
In 2003, Cleland began working for the presidential campaign of Massachusetts senator (and fellow Vietnam veteran) John Kerry, who later won the Democratic nomination. Cleland often appeared at campaign events with Kerry, and was considered by many to be one of his most important assistants, partly as a symbol of the sacrifices made by soldiers for wars. He went to Bush's Texas ranch to deliver a swift boat ad complaint, but the event failed to have much impact. On July 29, 2004, Cleland introduced Kerry at the Democratic National Convention, making a speech just before Kerry's speech.
He has been rumored to be considering a run for Georgia Lt. Governor in 2006 against Democrats Greg Hecht and Jim Martin, with the possibility of facing the probable Republican nominee Ralph Reed, although currently such a scenario appears to be unlikely.
Cleland is author of the books Strong at the Broken Places and Going for the Max!: 12 Principles for Living Life to the Fullest. He holds a B.A. in English from Stetson University and a Masters degree in American History from Emory University. He holds honorary doctorate degrees from both institutions.
Nominating Speech:
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Progressive Criteria:
The Defense Department will:
Recognize that as the most powerful country, the US must lead in international cooperation;
Instill and preserve a high level of compliance with all treaties such as the Geneva conventions;
Remember that the USA is a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
Will not manage Defense as either a jobs or a corporate welfare program;
Work to restrain the international arms trade and reduce arms and nuclear proliferation;
In keeping with our desire for a world of law, will work to make sure that our armed forces get no preferential treatment such as immunity from the International Criminal Court or the land mines ban;
Strictly limit privatization and outsourcing of military duties.
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