When talking about why he chose to run, Clark said after Sept. 11, “I saw what this administration was doing and I couldn’t stand it.”

He accused President George W. Bush of what he called a “bait and switch” for attacking Iraq when Osama Bin Laden was the real enemy. Clark accused the Bush administration of falsifying a connection between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda.

The theme of Clark’s speech was that more communication and care are needed between those in high positions of power and those in lower positions.

“We need a leader in the White House who will listen to and learn from the American people,” he said.

He previewed his plan for a health care system and asked for feedback from those attending the event. Clark said he wanted the American health care system to focus on preventative treatment.

Clark responded to questions by talking about 43 million people without health care.

“It’s a scandal and I’m going to fix that,” he said.

He said to fix the problem he would have medical professionals determine what should be covered by insurance, make sure insurance covers “the right things” and open the Congressional health care package to all citizens.

Clark insisted preventative care was the way an American health care system should go.

“Medicine is about more than administering drugs and doing emergency surgeries,” he said. “What we have to get Americans involved in is the wellness concept.”

However, Clark said a national health care system, like those in Canada or England, would not be the best way to go in the United States. He said the United States probably has the world’s most innovative health care system, but distribution of medicine is not equal. Patients in the inner city, he said, do not get the same benefits as patients in the more affluent suburbs.

All children need preventative and diagnostic care, and under his plan, that would be provided, he said. With health care reform, the United States would have “all the benefits of the Canadian system and all the virtues of an American system.”

Several supporters and those who wanted to learn more about Clark came to the crowded room at MATC to hear his speech and offer their opinions.

“I want to see how (Clark) differs himself against the other Democrats because right now they seem all muddled together,” said Jesus Manzano, an MATC student.

“I have been waiting for someone like this since I became aware of the political process many years ago,” said Kathy Falk, a Clark supporter.

Sophomore Daniel Suhr, campaign director for the College Republicans, said Clark has neither the grassroots work nor the “democratic credentials” to win the party’s nomination.

Chris Lato, spokesman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, said their main goal is making sure “the Badger State supports President Bush in 2004.” Lato said the party is still waiting for a real leader to emerge from the nine Democratic candidates.