Keep Clarke out of it...for now

Richard Clarke objects to MoveOn.org using clips of him in an ad. MoveOn replies that it's their right under the First Amendment to use the clips.

I assume MoveOn does have the right to use the clips. But I think it's bad politics. Clarke says:

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."

Yes, and using the clips also hurts MoveOn's own cause. It plays into the Bush administration's attempt to portray Clarke as someone who acted out of partisan interests. I'd rather that MoveOn waited until the issue has played itself out before reinforcing the idea that Clarke is out to get the Bushies.

(Thanks to Zoltan Majdik for the link.)