Obama to General Wesley Clark: Your Services Not Needed
General Wesley Clark is not attending the Democratic National Convention. I was told by General Clark's personal office in Little Rock that he would not be attending.
He was informed by Barack Obama's people that there was no reason to come.
General Clark has been given no role of any kind at the convention.
Rubbing salt in the wound even more, the "theme" of Wednesday's Democratic convention agenda is "Securing America."
Wesley Clark's PAC also happens to be called SECURING AMERICA.
This is a mistake in my view. There are a lot of perspectives and competing agendas about how to direct America's next national security posture -- and General Wesley Clark should be one of the top tier names and personalities at the table.
Clark is loved by the netroots -- and I'm sure that they would hope that the Obama campaign will revisit this decision to exclude General Wesley Clark from the entire Democratic National Convention ageda.
-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note
Update: I have reconfirmed with General Wesley Clark's office that he has not been asked to play a role at the Democratic National Convention. His staff have told me that while his schedule remains tight, he would rearrange his schedule to help play any constructive role on any days of the convention if asked.
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Can someone tell me why?
Count me in too. I have to hear an explanation for this.
Yet another brilliant, (NOT), move by the Obama bunglers. He lost his religious forum to McCain as well. After 17 trillion in donations, (trillion, billion, what's the difference), he is going to lose. How sad.
Lost the extremist forum, you mean? People who are actually religious should be well aware where Bush and McCain stand on religion, faith, morality, the law...you know, things their religions espouse. Those who fall for the legerdemain of the GOP are hardly a religious forum, but rather a non-representation of a religious community that has left them behind.
Wanna bet?
How did he lose a conversation about faith? Did God send you the score card?
Amen, Heavenhelpus.
He had the courage to meet an audience predisposed against him, to respond to their questions with honesty and intelligence -- no pandering, inflammatory lines about meeting OBL at the gates of hell -- and you call this a loss? When is McCain 'joked' his way through most of that forum -- and had to stop himself with "seriously, but if I could be serious for a moment" enough times to convince me that he does NOT take our lives and issues seriously at all.
I'm sorry for you. Clearly, you are an easily frightened individual who seeks comfort from domineering personalities who barely conceal their power-lust in the illusion of protectionism. Now THAT is sad.
Yup.......
One thing I notice about O's campaign is that they seem to not be very smooth with relationships within the party.
How do you know, were you in the room? Have you looked at who has been announced so far as speakers at the Convention? He doesn't have to agree to any of this. He could pretty much dictate who he wants on the podium. He's put his primary advisaries in the limelight. I think he's been very accommodating to those who have said some pretty hurtful things about him. Unless you were in the room, how do you know whether he's "smooth with relationships within the party"?
Mr. Clemons
Since you have an in with the General's office. Has he been vetted? You can tell me, I won't tell a soul. Promise.
THE VEEP IS SOMEONE WHO CAN WORK WELL IN CLOSE QTRS AND BE A TEAM PLAYER WHO WON'T GARNER THE ''SPOTLIGHT''. REAGAN REALIZED THIS WHEN HE WEN'T WITH GHW BUSH OVER THE POSSIBEL ILL FATED IDEA OF FMR PRES FORD IN SOME KIND OF SOUPED UP VEEP ROLE IN THE 1980 ELECTION. RECALL HOW QUALE NEVER REALLY HELPED BUSH AND OFTEN WAS OFF THE RANCH WITH FUNNY STATEMENTS. ALSO VEEPS HAVE NOT BEEN PRES SINCE BUSH 41. A VEEP SHOULD BE A THOUGHTFUL WELL REGARDED PERSON THAT WILL WORK HARD AND BE THERE FOR THE TOP OF THE TKT IN THE CAMPAIGN AND IN OFFICE. TOO MUCH TIME I GUESS FOR THIS UNENDING VEEP STAKES SPECULATION. IT'S SIMPLE PICK A GOOD QUALIFIED PERSON WITH NO BIG BUG-A-BOOS AND BEGIN TO BUS,TRAIN,PLANE ALL OVER THE USA LIKE YR BEHIND AND THE VOTE IS TOMORROW!
Turn off cap lock. This is unreadable.
Couldn't have said it better. It hurts the ears and strains the eyes.
Is there something wrong with your computer? If not, please lose the eye offensive caps.
Clark is an opportunistic triangulator, nothing more.
You have a moralizing view of Wesley Clark you are not someone who has any interest on what is the correct pick for this ticket but one of an over blotted view against Wes Clark.
Your opinion an advisements can not be trusted and that is my opinion!
Mine too.
Agreed.
If true, this is extremely disappointing.
The unfriendly tone doesn't even make sense, especially when Obama is going overboard for so many other (less worthy, imo) Hillary supporters.
I'm suspicious that some of his advisers bad-mouth Clark (I'm thinking particularly of Nunn who I can't stand, don't trust, and consider a Republican. I hate when Obama talks about Nunn as a valued adviser because I see him as a snake in the grass.
Clark, on the other hand, seems to be a man of integrity and courage. He's said a lot of things to help Obama -- even after they threw him under the bus with the (accurate) POW comment.
I hope this isn't true.
I think you may have nailed it and got us closer to the truth behind this puzzling, offensive move. This otherwise irrational behavior on the part of the Obama campaign stinks of meddling and/or arrogance. You're dead on about Hillary. In light of her and Bill's treatment, this is really confusing.
Sam Nunn? Please. What does he need that old dixiecrat for anyway?
I guess his advisers want their people in, screw getting the best man for the job. Well, his campaign is run by play-dirty Chicago operators and their currency is cronyism. I'm disgusted that he has allowed it to become so insular so fast. What a waste, I'm very disappointed in the man and in the campaign. I gave him too much credit. He shouldn't treat an honorable, well-regarded man who supported him like this. Just what should we all make of this in regards to Obama's character?
Obama better take his head out of th bubble, face the reality that he has lost his lead in the polls because of this streak he's been on and turn this behavior around before he loses this election.
Chill everybody! Have you ever seen Obama intentionally be vindictive? Not once. There's more to this story so don't jump to an illogical conclusion.
If some of these people didn't jump to conclusions, they would get no exercise at all.
(stop blocking my comments whats up with that)
Listen for a few minutes and you tell me if this guy is not the next VP
http://www
Thank you
No, thank you. Interesting how Wes mentions Barack.
We're being setup for surprise VP txt mesg !!
Please let jumperpin be right, please let jumperpin be right, please let....
Telling a VP candidate that there is "no reason to come" doesn't comport with Obama's style in handling issues around the VP pick. If he were being eliminated, it would be more likely that Clark himself would come out and say he'd decided against remaining in contention for the VP spot. That's what Webb did. This is such a violation of protocol and a departure from the way the Obama campaign finesses things, it just doesn't make sense. Unless it's a feint, of course.
keep on clicking your ruby slippers..
There's no place like home, there's no place like home.....
Clark for VP would send me somewhere over the rainbow.
smoke in your eyes......
This makes me suspect that Clark may in fact be the VP choice.
Sadly, the Obama people don't do that. They're not very manipulative at all.
But this is just rude. And disappointing if they have any idea of how popular Clark is with many progressives (whom they need to throw some bones to, too, now and again).
precious but silly....
So he is not the VP...I didn't expect he would be...hold onto your hats people...y
Pathetic.
If this is true, I wish I knew why. There must be a reason. I don't understand why they would do that.
clark is a big clinton supporter. he must have pi$$ed off obama camp.
then why is he not pissed off at bayh and rendell - that is just nonsense.
Clark made nationwide headlines (or at least big print) by saying that being shot down doesn't make someone a good potential President, or something like that. This was interpreted as demeaning to McCain, who does in fact have some credentials beyond having been shot down.
This was an unfortunate blunder by Clark.
He didn't say McCain didn't have any other credentials. (And he certainly expressed extensive respect for his service...
He said (in response to a question about it) that being shot down isn't something that is a qualification for being president. Which is simply, obviously, true. It has no bearing on the job of PRESIDENT at all.
He also indicated that being a POW didn't give McCain any military or foreign policy expertise--as is often the impression.
That, too, is completely true and neither a put-down of McCain or at all (imo) controversial. The only reason it had legs in the MSM was because Dems are completely, utterly inept at spinning a story back against the Republicans.
Too bad Clark had to take the fall for something that shouldn't have been any problem at all--the truth.
Honestly, that's in the rearview mirror by now, it's small potatoes, and there have been worse gaffes since, it wouldn't warrant this type of extreme reaction, it just doesn't fit. For the record, if you watch the interview, Clark was clearly goaded into saying that by the wraith that hosts Face the Nation. Not to mention that what he said happens to be true and doesn't slight McCain's service at all, but it made a good B.S. soundbite. The petty things and non-issues that can bring a person or a campaign down in this day & age, it boggles the mind.
Gen Clark should be VP just for calling out Mccain lack of expience
Sorry to hear this!
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