He may not like it, but he has inserted himself into the political process. Further, since his statements are part of the public record (you know, by writing a book and all and appearing on TV and such), I don’t think he has any recourse: Clarke wants anti-Bush ads bearing his name pulled
President Bush’s former counterterrorism adviser objected Wednesday to the use of his name and critical comments about Bush in a new broadcast advertisement from a political group supporting Democratic candidate John Kerry.Richard Clarke said he instructed his lawyer to ask the MoveOn.org Voter Fund to stop broadcasting the ad, which Clarke said was created without his knowledge or permission. The group said it wouldn’t pull the ad, and one outside legal expert said the ad was clearly permissible under U.S. copyright laws.
“I just don’t want to be used,” Clarke told The Associated Press. “I don’t want to be part of what looks like a political TV ad. I’m trying hard to make this not a partisan thing but a discussion of how we stop terrorism from happening in the future, keep this on a policy issue. I don’t want this to become any more emotional or personal than it has already.”
First, while strictly-speaking he hasn’t been “partisan” he certainly has been political, so this comes across as a tad disingenuous. Second, he worked in Washington for thirty years and he is surprised by this? He should have expected it.
April 1st, 2024 at 4:27 am
He’s only pissed because there is no royalty check.
April 1st, 2024 at 1:38 pm
Shoot, that’s almost an O’Neil: “I never realized that my statements and opinions would be taken and used by someone else to press an agenda!” (Remember O’Neil talking about the book written by that other guy about his story? He didn’t like some of the things it said, as if he didn’t even think to review it)
April 1st, 2024 at 6:10 pm
I finally saw the commerical on CNN today. The commerical was….wrong. Taking his words out of context in a disembodied way. I would have been more confortable with the commerical if they showed Clarke giving testimony instead of just his voice with a backdrop of President Bush. Did Clarke open himself up to this: yes but it was still disconcerting.
After Sean Hannity’s little stunt today, I am waiting for the moveon.org ad saying he now supports Kerry.
April 2nd, 2024 at 8:28 pm
Do you think that since Clarke has given up on any job in a Kerry administration, now he’s going to be nice to Bush? In the slim hopes of being his Vice President? The man is delusional you know!