Breaking news: Who says Senator Obama isn't considering Wes Clark as his running mate? Um, would you believe the Obama campaign?

by Ken

When I wrote in my Friday post on the Democratic vice presidential mess that "I still don't understand why retired Gen. Wes Clark isn't being considered," a commenter asked, "Who told you Clark ISN'T being considered?" I could only reply that everything I've heard indicates that the general is pretty much persona non grata in the Obama camp.

Now Steve Clemons is reporting on his Washington Note blog that General Clark has been told by the Obama people that there's "no reason" [but see UPDATE below] for him to come to the Democratic National Convention:

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 as well as by the director of WesPAC that he would not be attending.

Clark was informed by Barack Obama's people that there was "no reason to come." [Again, see the UPDATE below.]

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.

Am I the only one who's, well, flabbergasted?


LATE-AFTERNOON UPDATE

Steve Clemons now reports that he has removed the quotation marks around "no reason to come" in his second paragraph. I was always a bit troubled by the (lack of) sourcing for this statement. Steve now suggests it was his sources' (twice-repeated) "shorthand" for the sense of the Obama campaign's message. He has also added an 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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