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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So, what will Obama do? Post guards at the door to keep Clark out of the convention center? This sounds pretty darn farfetched.
We talk about low-end voters being on the Republican side, but I sometimes wonder about the Democrats.
After the fiasco in Iowa, you need wonder no more about the Democrats...sorry, I couldn't resist...I'm just not that strong.
Now this does surprise me, we must be missing something here. Obvious more goes on behind the scenes that we have no knowledge of. I try to view various blogs to get an idea what people are conversing about, Clark name is rarely mentioned on the conservative blogs like Biden & Byah. It could mean even the conversatives might fear these two more as a VP for Obama. Just a thought, I really don't know. I guess we will have to stay tuned.
This is a mistake. Obama ran a great campaign during the primaries, but seems to have lost his way. Wesley Clark should absolutely be part of the convention, as the VP nominee. Terrible decision!
Don't count Wes Clark out yet. There may be a very good reason why he has no as-yet scheduled speaking spot at the convention. His articulation of the Georgia situation on TV yesterday was nothing short of spectacular, and the Russian confrontation has put him back front and center in contention.
Agree with you 100% - stellar interview!
Something's up & I hope that it's what I've wanted:)
This is a HUGE oversight on the part of the Obama campaign.
Did Senator Obama's office wax lyrical on why and how this decision to exclude General Clark was made?
I can tell you that the General is widely admired and strongly defended by many veterans and troops and I am sure they would also like to understand what General Clark did to deserve this kind of treatment.
A BIG Mistake... one he may not recover from!
Regards
oh please!
Bayh is handsome. Barack is handsome. Lots of people expect handsome leaders, especially at White House level.
Clark would be a better president than Barack. He did support Hillary--is that a problem?
Clark has no "charisma". He is nice looking and articulate, but has no sex appeal to average people.
The Barack campaign is a charisma campaign.
But if Barack chooses Clark after all, or Biden, I'll give him more credit than I do now.
But
Speak for yourself. I think Clark is a handsome man with plenty of charisma.
I agree with you, zann, AND I agree with Mariel in that General Clark would be a better president than Barack (and than Hillary, and than mcC, of course) and than anyone.
With his military credentials I was diffinately hoping for the V.P. spot for Clark.
The thing is, military credentials is not what Obama needs most. What he really needs is a comprehensive and viable strategy to reverse US policy in Iraq and end the civil war there by promoting and facilitating a sustainable POLITICAL settlement amongst the warring Iraqi factions - the only hope there is for a withdrawal of US forces without leaving a failed state behind.
Last time I checked, no military person has one of those. In fact, the only person on the face of the planet who has developed and honed such a strategy is none other than Senator Biden. And so, it will be Vice President Biden with Special Portfolio on Iraq or we may as well prepare our collective psyche now for a McCain administration.
With Obama's lack of tenacity so far in this election: I'm not certain that he will not give the Clinton' his delegates at the convention!
Who's Clinton?
VERY disappointing. I really hate it if this becomes another election where I have to vote for the lesser of two bad candidates. And I have been a big supporter throughout the primaries.
I hope this isn't true. Wes Clark would be a really good VP. Maybe the problem is that Obama can't just ignore him like he could some unknown from Indiana. Clark's statement months ago means nothing. It was true, and it's not going to be a factor. Someone had to say it. If Obama goes with some unknown quantity, he's going to lose this election.
Interesting that Arianna says this, today:
'In fact, what I'm really hoping is that Obama will use this downtime to regroup, recharge, and come back ready to relentlessly make the case to the American people that McCain isn't "ready to lead" on national security. Voters trust McCain on the war on terror; Obama needs to show them every day why they shouldn't.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/obamas-vacation-assignmen_b_118253.html'
I thought at the time that Dems would be smart enough to pick up and run with Wes' analysis, and make it a major part of the campaign. Any hope for that?
elleng, you got to be kidding. With all that is at stake in this election, including protecting a woman's right to choose pursuant to Roe v. Wade with very certain Supreme Court vacancies, you would not vote for Obama because he will not make Clark part of his administration??? McCain is dying to bomb Iran and get us into another war with his famous unbalanced temper. He supports Bush's tax policy which has made us fiscally unstable. You prefer Bush's third term because Obama will not put Clark in his administration? Your decision is extremely dangerous to America.
Please note that I am registered in DC; not risk to Dems there.
I do appreciate your concern, and share it about 'pink' and 'light blue' states.
Seems like there's more to Clark than the general public may know. As a Democrat, I was 'star' struck by General Wesley Clark in 2004. It would be interesting to know how much respect he had as a NATO commander or if he was thought of as a 'career opportunist.'
Regardless, Obama has many other ex and current military folks supporting him.
This is a completly incomprehensible decision.
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