Seems like the organizers of the "RALLY TO STOP IRAN NOW" have decided that they don't want any American politicians to attend their rally at the United Nations in New York City.
Here is their latest statement:
STATEMENT FROM THE ORGANIZERS OF THE RALLY TO STOP IRAN NOW
From The National Coalition to Stop Iran Now
(New York, Sept. 18, 2008) --- The purpose of “THE RALLY TO STOP IRAN NOW” on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, is to protest the presence of Iran’s President Ahmadinejad at the United Nations, and to oppose his nuclear weapons program. We take most seriously his threat to wipe the United States and Israel “off the map” and believe the world leaders gathered at the United Nations must act with resolve to prevent a nuclear armed Iran that would be a threat to this country, Israel and the world.
For this reason, tens of thousands of people of every faith and ethnicity are expected to hear messages from prominent religious and civic leaders, including Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and Israeli Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik. In order to keep the focus on Iranian threats and to ensure that this critical message not be obscured, the organizers of the rally have decided not to have any American political personalities appear.
This is from an article on Ben Smith's blog that you can find here.
Looks like Clinton was invited, then they invited Palin, Clinton dropped out, McCain urged Barack Obama to attend, he offered to send Rep. Robert Wexler but then the whole thing got a little too political for the group.
Ben Smith speculates that this came down to the decision to invite Sarah Palin:
The Obama campaign in turn offered to send Congressman Robert Wexler of Florida to the event, but the appearance that the non-partisan group was aligning with the Republican ticket put the group and its president, Malcolm Hoenlein, under heavy pressure from Jewish Democrats, including members of the conference, members of Congress, and the liberal group J Street, not to give Palin a platform, sources said. Hoenlein told the McCain campaign that he would have to rescind Palin's invitation or cancel the rally.
Wonder if the press will be discussing this today, I've heard nothing so far....