Clarke Asks Anti-Bush Group to Pull TV Ads (MOVEON.argghhh says NO!)

Yahoo! News ^ | 3/31/04 | Ted Bridis - AP

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites)'s former counterterrorism adviser complained Wednesday about the use of his name and comments critical of Bush in a new broadcast advertisement from a political group supporting Democratic candidate John Kerry (news - web sites).

Richard Clarke said he instructed his lawyer to ask the MoveOn.org Voter Fund to pull the ad, which Clarke said was created without his knowledge or permission. The group said it rejected the request.

"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."

The campaigns director for MoveOn, Eli Pariser, said the group did not question the legality of using the quote, which he said was presented fairly and accurately.

"This is a public statement that Clarke had made," Pariser said. "We think it's important to get what Clarke has to say out there."

Clarke's attorney, Robert B. Barnett, couldn't be reached immediately for comment; his office said he was traveling.

The advertisement by MoveOn.org accuses Bush of "shamelessly" exploiting the September 2001 terrorism attacks against New York and Washington. It includes two audio excerpts from an interview with Clarke that CBS aired on "60 Minutes" on March 21, the day before Clarke's book, "Against All Enemies," went on sale.

In the interview excerpts, Clarke said it was "outrageous" that Bush was promoting his response to the terror attacks because "he ignored terrorism for months when maybe we could have done something to stop 9-11."

A spokesman for CBS said the network didn't know about the ad.

"CBS News was unaware that MoveOn.org was using CBS News copyrighted material without permission and to advocate a point of view," spokesman Kevin Tedesco said. "We are exploring our options."

Clarke's scathing criticisms of the Bush administration's response to terrorism provoked an extraordinary response by the White House, which derided Clarke's assertions as false and irresponsible.

Clarke — whose closest friend is a top aide to Kerry — has sought to deflect charges that his complaints were politically motivated, pledging last week during congressional testimony not to accept any job offer from the Kerry campaign.

Clarke said it was unclear immediately whether he can legally demand that MoveOn stop airing the advertisement against Bush, since it includes remarks he made in a national news broadcast.

"The point is not whether they're acting illegally, but I certainly want everyone to understand they are acting without my permission and distorting my message," Clarke said.

___

On the Net:

MoveOn's disputed ad: http://flash.moveon.org/pac/images/clarke.mpg

[Patrick1]

"I don't want to be used"...LOL

[OXENinFLA]

"I just don't want to be used,unless I'm getting paid for it" Clarke told The Associated Press.

[BlkConserv]

Go MoveOn.org, go! I'm actually rooting for you guys will I get flamed here?

[sarasota]

Tough break, Clarke. You're already on board the sinking ship and it's too late to disembark.

[ambrose]

he has nothing personal against Bush, he just wants to sell his lousy book... that's how he justifies all of his lies.

[grobdriver]

"I just don't want to be used," Clarke told The Associated Press.

TOO LATE, YOU IDIOT!

You thought you were just lining your pockets... but surely you knew the Dems were using you like a paper towel?

[dirtboy]

This is the case of a whore calling the sluts promiscuous.

[Bigg Red]

...unless I'm getting paid for it...

**
Ah, beat me to it!

[boxerblues]

Not when they have Clarke out there whining to stop it

[freeperfromnj]

Gee, I wonder if he knows Bob Kerrey was Al Franken's first radio guest today. You know, the new Bush bashing liberal radio show that opened their very first show by saying their purpose was to take down Bush.

[finnman69]

This gets better and better by each day.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

"...I don't want to be used."
Whore.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I'm trying hard to make this not a partisan thing

BWAHAHAHAHAH!

[Reagan Man]

Justified guilt by association and a poor job at covering his partisan political arse.

[grobdriver]

Ah, beat me to it!

Buncha itchy trigger fingers around here...

Ahhh... Freud food...

[Quilla]

I'm trying hard to make this not a partisan thing....

I'm speechless.

[Fawnn]

...but surely you knew the Dems were using you like a paper towel?

I thought they were using him like that softer, more absorbant paper. (Except, they display theirs instead of flushing it away.) ;)

[CFC__VRWC]

This is about as believeable as Clarke's smarmy "apology" for 9/11 ("The [Bush] government failed you! If only they had listened to me! Waaaah!"). Message to Dickie Clarke - give it up, ass munch. Your credentials as a self-serving Rat poliical hack are firmly established. Your attempt to look "bipartisan" here is doing nothing except making you look like even more of an idiot.

[NormsRevenge]

Thank Ye Kindly!