“Why has America lost 2.7 million jobs? Why has America lost the prospect of a $5 trillion surplus and turned it into a $5 trillion deficit that deepens every day? Why has our country lost our sense of security? And feels the shadow of fear? Why has America lost the respect of so many people around the world? That’s the questions we’re going to be asking and more. Why are so many here in America hesitant to speak out and ask questions?”

So began the presidential campaign of General Wesley Clark, the latest Rhodes scholar from Arkansas to seek the Democratic presidential nomination. Mr. Clark promises an economic policy speech soon, and by then he may take a refresher course on the difference between the deficit and the national debt. But more importantly, if he is interested in winning, he may want to rethink his tactics. It’s a losing strategy to wage a campaign of fear that attacks Americans and portrays our country as cowering and disrespected. It’s not a true portrayal, and people don’t like to hear it, particularly when it reflects badly on themselves and their country. A campaign based on talking down America and Americans won’t get far in a country where patriotism still runs strong.

Americans know, after all, that we are respected around the world in a lot of places where it counts. Americans, after all, may be wary and on alert about the threat of terrorism, but they are not afraid. Imagine if Franklin Delano Roosevelt, instead of stating, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” had wrung his hands about how our country has lost its sense of security and “feels the shadow of fear.” America’s greatest politicians — from Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan — have maintained their optimistic spirit about America and its citizens even in our darkest hours.