Obama Campaign: Clark Not With Us

Update: According to a source at the Obama campaign, General Wesley Clark was not acting as Obama's surrogate when he made the remarks on Face the Nation. "He was with Senator Clinton's campaign, but has not taken a position with our campaign," the source said.

When asked if General Clark had been sent on Face the Nation by the campaign, or went under his own steam, the source said, "Face the Nation booked him."

In response to the furor over General Wesley Clark's remarks on Sunday's Face the Nation, and the McCain campaign's denunciation of same, the Obama campaign has just released the following statement: (via email)

"As he's said many times before, Senator Obama honors and respects Senator McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by General Clark," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

Senator Obama also referenced the incident, without specifying Clark, during today's speech on patriotism in Independence, MO:

:

For those who have fought under the flag of this nation – for the young veterans I meet when I visit Walter Reed; for those like John McCain who have endured physical torment in service to our country – no further proof of such sacrifice is necessary.

And let me also add that no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides.

Well, that should put an end to that.

The McCain campaign also held a conference call to announce the formation of a "Truth Squad," including "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" member Col. Bud Day.