Edwards criticized by Clark team for retaining Hugh Shelton

[ResistTheCoup]

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/7237890.htm

Clark Blasts Edwards for Shelton's Advice
WILL LESTER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Wesley Clark's campaign aides criticized rival presidential candidate John Edwards on Tuesday for using retired Gen. Henry "Hugh" Shelton as an adviser, saying it proves Shelton's recent criticism of Clark is not credible.

Clark's communications director Matt Bennett wrote Edwards that he was astounded that the North Carolina senator had retained Shelton as an adviser. "This choice undermines the spirit of civility that you urged your fellow candidates to uphold," said Bennett's letter.

Shelton, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in September that Clark was relieved of his assignment as NATO commander because of "integrity and character issues," but he refused to elaborate.

>snip<

[mzmolly]

1. Oh my goodness, Edwards is looking for dirt on Clark...

He's not as kindly as it seems huh? That southern accent and talk of 'daddi in the mill' is charming though. ;)

[Lefta Dissenter]

4. I guess he's not looking to be

Clark's VP, huh?

[FrenchieCat]

2. Now, that is disgusting.....

Gives me a whole new outlook on Edwards....he just dropped below zero. Guess he is desperate for foreign policy and military advise?
I guess is even more unexperienced than I thought!

[Mz Pip]

3. Clark is ahead in SC

I doubt Hugh Shelton gives a rat's ass about Edwards. He doesn't want to see Clark go up against his precious Shrub and if using Edward's helps, he'll do it. I'm surprised that Edwards is so naive.

MzPip
:dem:

[ResistTheCoup]

5. Good point

I thought Edwards might make a good veep for Clark but he's off the list for me now.

Clark's Communication Director wrote this letter to Edwards today:

http://clark04.com/press/release/071/

For Immediate Release
Date: November 11, 2003

Clark Communications Director questions John Edwards retaining Hugh Shelton.
Honorable John Edwards
Edwards for President
PO Box 300034
Raleigh, NC 27622

Dear Senator Edwards:

I'm simply astounded that you have retained General Hugh Shelton as an adviser to your presidential campaign. This choice undermines the spirit of civility that you have urged your fellow candidates to uphold. Just this September, you said: "We need to be really careful that our anger is not directed at each other." Maybe you should share that advice with your own campaign team.

General Shelton has engaged in precisely the type of politics as usual mud-slinging that you profess to abhor: he initiated what has become a smear campaign that the Republicans have gleefully taken up. And his character assassination was the worst type: General Shelton leveled charges about "integrity" and "character," and then refused to back up his charge with an ounce of evidence or a shred of substantiation. Attacks like these have no place in campaigns, or in any public discourse. You should insist that General Shelton either repudiate his attacks or come forward and provide proof for what he said.

>snip<



Viet Era Veteran for Clark
www.positiveblasphemy.blogspot.com

[dusty64]

11. Naive or worse.

I never was a big fan, but figured he could be of use doing something.

[54anickel]

6. The more I see of Clark, the more I like him

All of that talk in the media just before he first entered the race made me a bit skeptical, but I kept thinking he must of bucked the system a bit to get all these military types undies in a bind - probably my kind of guy.
Bucking the system is something we need right now! This type of crap reaffirms my positive feelings on Clark. Still undecided - leaning to Clark or Dean.

[leetrisck]

7. If Shelton were running for president, I wonder

who would speak out against him. I really like Edwards but this bothers me a lot - guess you can look at it this way - adviser versus the real thing.

[Mz Pip]

8. I'm sure

if Clark were running as a Republican somewhere Shelton would be all praise and smiles for Clark. I'm sure Shelton is pissed that Clark came out on the Dem side.

MzPip
:dem:

[deminflorida]

9. Well, I thought Edwards might make a good running mate....

for Clark, but that just blew that theory out of the water. I hope the Dean and Clark camps can stay close during the primaries. There seems to be a whole lot of disturbing Mud-Slinging going on among Democrats. Everyone needs to remember the GOP goal is to divide and conquer.

[newyawker99]

21. Hi deminflorida!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[CWebster]

10. Yikes, that's nasty

I knew Edwards had it in him. Clark should be on his guard.

[stevedeshazer]

12. Oh my goodness gracious

Someone dared criticize General Clark? Why, the nerve! That bad, bad man.

[Spazito]

14. Criticism is one thing, smearing is another....

Shelton smeared using words without context, he hid behind his "medals" rather than critique.

[VolcanoJen]

13. You know, I'd expect Rove to retain Gen. Shelton.

But not John Edwards. I thought he was on our side... electing a Democrat for President.

I can't even express my disappointment in Edwards, a candidate whom I have supported from the beginning, both with hard-earned money and hard work. I'm just, well, disgusted by this news.

What is he thinking? What is he trying to do?

:-(
Jennifer

[Flying_Pig]

15. The only person Edwards cares about, is Edwards. He's so

shallow, I cannot believe he has any support. Does being a trial lawyer, and one term in the Senate, qualify one to be president? I think not. Something else is at play here, and I'm not sure what it is, but it stinks. Shelton is a BFEE MF'er, and for Edwards to retain this war-mongering creep, is an afront to all Democrats, and those who supported him. I am begining to think he and Lieberman are actually trying to hand it to Bush, ala Zell Miller. Maybe not, but something is REAL strange here.

[AP]

20. That spin won't work.

Shallow? Cares only about himself?

His career and his switch to politics don't really support that image. He has a skill for being able to digest facts, and put them together in a way to which a majority of people are receptive, and which leads them to do the just thing. He's taken that skill to higher and higher levels to help more and more people in less and less time.

It's hardly shallow.

If you have a candidate you like MORE, then fine. But it's hard to justify your enthusiasm for someone else with hatred for Edwards. If there's any rational reason for not liking Edwards, it's because he doesn't have enought of whatever quality you think is more important (military service? time in Washington?). It's hard to justify it be saying he has bad qualities.

[surfermaw]

17. Well, My My My...Clark wasn't very considerate

When he tried to stop Edwards from having his time, when Edwards announced. Now truthfully Clark, didn't did he?

Again my friends, Edwards is looking to the south, and he very much knows what he is doing...

[tabasco]

22. I agree

This diminishes my opinion of Edwards.

[Donna Zen]

16. Shelton is the problem

Imagine that you work for a boss who has the same doctorate as you except from a lesser school. You bust your but on this job. Now, while you disagree on a product line, you manage to gain the attention of the CEO and the deal goes through. Guess what? The product is a winner. Praises--well sort of--except the boss who didn't want to grant you decision in the first place, manages to get you retired early.

Years pass_you start over, and just when you apply for a new job, a dream job, you score the interview, up pops your old boss. The one who has already busted you once, and he goes into the board interviewing you and tells them you were a dishonest employee. He adds that while your resume looks great, it doesn't tell the whole story. No, he doesn't want to talk about it, because it wouldn't be proper.

A week passes: The old boss is spreading this stuff or having his drinking buddies spread it for him, when you discover that the ol boss has both a friend and his brother who are after the job you want.

Would you be pissed off? Would you feel a need to say so? Would you want to punch someone's lights out?

NOTE: Shelton did not go to West Point. Now that means shit to me, but apparently, in the E ring it means you can piss further.

Question: If Edwards is such good friends with Shelton, why didn't he speak up? The point the letter made was that if Shelton is so great discussing military policy and they are so close, then why did Edwards vote reflect Clark's position not Shelton's. And then the follow up, since this was a policy question, why didn't Edwards speak up about the personal smear?

[TAH6988]

18. I think

you have no idea what being a West Point grad means in the E-ring.

[GreenGreenLimaBean]

19. Sounds like good news for Clark

This instantly blunts Shelton's criticism of Clark and makes him
look bad. As far as Edwards is concerned, he should go back to the
private sector and use his skills to take down some more out of
control business practices.