Gen. Shelton Aiding Edwards, Clark Furious

NewsMax ^ | 11/11/03

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

WASHINGTON (AP) - 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.

Clark responded at the time that he and Shelton had professional disagreements that "became personal."

Edwards has received advice on foreign affairs from Shelton but has not been endorsed by the retired general, Edwards spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri said.

Edwards wrote Clark in response Tuesday to defend Shelton and the candidate's relationship with the retired military leader.

"Whatever your personal views of Gen. Shelton, I'm sure you agree that he is a respected military leader who served our country with distinction," Edwards wrote. "Although Gen. Shelton has not endorsed me or any other candidate, I value his advice as one of our nation's top military leaders.

Edwards noted that Shelton is a fellow North Carolinian who has been a friend and adviser for many years.

No one was available at Shelton's office Tuesday to comment on the Veterans' Day exchange.

Bennett said the relationship indicates Shelton is "not a credible witness because he's connected to one of Gen. Clark's opponents."

Clark and Edwards are competing for the same moderate voters who could be critical in Southern and Western states holding primaries starting Feb. 3, such as South Carolina, Arizona and Oklahoma.

Other former generals - Norman Schwarzkopf and Tommy Franks - have questioned Clark's candidacy recently.

Schwarzkopf cited Shelton's comments about Clark's integrity as the main reason he doesn't think Clark would be well-suited to be president.

[basil]

Aren't you just loving this! Dims are hilarious when they know they are going in the tank.

[paul in cape]

Gen "IRWIN" Clark

[Callahan]

It's fun to watch Clark self-destruct. Remember how Doonesbury spent a week talking about how he was the perfect candidate?

[Shermy]

Edwards has a few cards up his sleeves...

[Archangelsk]

The real question that isn't being asked is why Hammerin' Hank Shelton, a righteous SF soldier, is supporting a Democrat.

[GeronL]

I hardly believe it either. Shelton, a democrat??

[oceanview]

cash is king.

[Callahan]

He hasn't endorsed him. Just gave him advice. How do we know the advice wasn't pro-Bush foreign policy? Edwards is trying to set himself up as the anti-Dean.

[AaronInCarolina]

Edwards has a few cards up his sleeves...

Take it from a North Carolinian... Few people here like him. He's rarely been in the state since being elected, as he started running for president ever since taking office. He wouldn't even carry his own state.

[PhiKapMom]

Edwards came to the OU/OSU football game expecting people to pay attention to him. Didn't see one Edwards sign on anyone at the game.

The guy obviously knows nothing about OU football -- you have to be a Republican to get anyone to wear something on their shirt and then it has to say Go Sooners. Anything else forget it.

Don't know anyone here in Oklahoma that I would call a moderate. We have conservative DemocRATs and very LIBERAL DemocRATs but not much in between. Vast majority of Republicans are conservative here. If he wants the moderate vote, he is in the wrong place.

[Mo1]

Edwards noted that Shelton is a fellow North Carolinian who has been a friend and adviser for many years.

A friend and adviser .. but yet doesn't endorse Edwards