releases: https://web.archive.org/web/20140221012317/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/gen-clark-refuses-to-respond-to-vitter-on-free-cell-phones

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https://web.archive.org/web/20140221012317/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/gen-clark-refuses-to-respond-to-vitter-on-free-cell-phones Gen. Clark Refuses to Respond to Vitter on Free Cell Phones 2013-12-13 2013 2013-12 Republican House LA David Vitter V000127 web.archive.org     legacy Gen. Clark Refuses to Respond to Vitter on Free Cell Phones In a third letter, Vitter urges Gen. Clark to agree to free cell phone debate, disclose campaign’s financial supporters Friday, December 13, 2013 (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter today followed up to previous requests to Gen. Wesley Clark regarding Vitter’s invitation to publicly debate Clark’s campaign for free government cell phones. Vitter has also asked Clark to disclose the financial contributors to his advocacy campaign promoting free cell phones. In Clark’s first response, he did not disclose his campaign’s financial supporters nor did he commit to any of the dates Vitter proposed for a debate. Vitter asked Clark at a Senate committee hearing this week too. Click here to read Vitter’s Dec. 10 letter. “General Clark has still refused to come clean about where his campaign funding is coming from,” Vitter said. “I’m ready to debate the fraud-ridden Lifeline phone program publically as soon as he is, but he hasn’t officially agreed to a debate yet. Clark was never a coward in the Army, and shouldn't be a political coward now.” Vitter first challenged Clark to a debate after Clark criticized Vitter’s efforts to end the free government cellphone program known as Lifeline during a visit to Louisiana. Vitter has authored legislation to end the free cell phone portion of Lifeline and cites massive fraud surrounding the program. Clark agreed to a debate in a phone conversation with Vitter. Click here to read more. Click here for the news report about Clark’s first visit to Louisiana and Vitter’s response. Below is a copy of Vitter’s third letter back to Clark. December 13, 2013 General Wesley K. Clark Wesley K. Clark & Associates, LLC P.O. Box 3276 Little Rock, Arkansas 72203 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL Dear General Clark: I'm sorry that you have not responded to my letter from this past Tuesday regarding any financial ties you may have to companies that make money on the free government cell phone program. You specifically committed to answering this important question in writing in our October 8 telephone conversation. Of course, as you and I both know, your one sentence statement at the unrelated hearing on Wednesday did not answer the question in any adequate or precise way. Therefore, I re-ask the question (for the fourth time?): The press report of your last Louisiana visit quotes your spokesperson as saying vaguely that a “public affairs company that represents veterans advocacy groups” sponsored your trip. Who are this company and its financial backers? In particular, do any companies who receive funds from the fraud-ridden Lifeline program financially support this public affairs company, you, your liberal political PAC, or any company in which you have a significant interest? During our October 8 phone conversation, you also committed to meet me for one or more fair, public debates on the issue in Louisiana. I have provided six dates so far on which I'm available, but you refuse to respond. Here are three more: January 6 in Lafayette, January 10 in Baton Rouge, and January 13 in Shreveport. You were never a coward in the Army. Don't be a political coward now. Please do what you promised on the two above points. Sincerely, David Vitter U.S. Senator 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z