Does it matter what side you put the clock on?

I was always told that black chooses, but then I went to one tournament where I was black, requested it on my left side, and the kid flat out refused. I didn't want to make a big deal of it, but could i have gotten the TD and forced the kid to put it on my left?

You are correct; black chooses.  Should've bitch-slapped that whiny little nitwit and then put the clock where you wanted it.  

Yes

"The clock goes here, on my right, because I am bigger and stronger and tougher and meaner than you are, and I said so, and what are you going to do about it?" 

Yes, black gets to choose the side.  At some tournaments, all clocks must face a certain direction (e.g. the aisle) so you may have to switch sides of the table instead.