This certainly puts General Shelton's hackjob on Clark's reputation in a different light:
Clark, Edwards Clash Over Adviser
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark's aides criticized opponent John Edwards for getting advice from a fellow ex-general who they say engaged in "mudslinging" about Clark's military record.
Clark's campaign initiated the exchange Tuesday with a letter from communication director Matt Bennett questioning the North Carolina senator's use of retired Gen. Henry "Hugh" Shelton as an adviser. Shelton has said that Clark was relieved as NATO's supreme commander because of unspecified "integrity and character issues."
Cont.
Bennett's letter said he was astounded that Edwards had retained Shelton as a campaign adviser, a choice that "undermines the spirit of civility that you urged your fellow candidates to uphold."
"General Shelton has engaged in precisely the type of politics-as-usual mudslinging that you profess to abhor," Bennett said in his letter.
Shelton, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, criticized Clark in September but would not elaborate what integrity and character issues he referred to. Clark responded that he and Shelton had professional disagreements which became personal.
Bennett said later that the relationship indicates Shelton is "not a credible witness because he's connected to one of General Clark's opponents." His letter complained that Shelton's criticism was not supported by "an ounce of evidence or a shred of substantiation."
[See AP Story for more.]