McClellan rips into Cheney

Scott McClellan, the former White House press secretary who told Congress last week that President Bush had betrayed his own values, is getting huge crowds during a West Coast book tour. Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat wondered why 800 showed up to hear the McClellan rap. No matter why they are coming, crowds hear McClellan still stirring it up against his former colleagues.

During a speech last night before the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, as described by thinkprogress.org, McClellan said Vice President Dick Cheney had "a terribly negative influence over this president." He even suggested some titles Cheney might consider for his own memoirs, including "The Lies I Told" or

"I Upped Halliburton's Income -- So Up Yours."

McClellan, who was asked to leave the White House in 2006, also offered potential book title ideas for other top aides he criticized during his congressional testimony last week. For political guru Karl Rove: "The Lies I Told to Whom and Why." For former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who was sentenced but never jailed for lying to prosecutors in the Valerie Plame CIA leak case: "Well, Pardon Me."

After the speech at the Fairmont Hotel, McClellan told reporters he might register as a Democrat and vote for Barack Obama in the fall. "I haven't made any long-term decisions," he said.

Not that he's bitter or anything.

-- Johanna Neuman

Comments

[Leslie]

As many of us assumed at the beginning, the Iraq invasion had more to do with making money than protecting the nation from "evil doers".

[cody mccall]

Wouldn't surprise me if old Scott gets an IRS audit and 'Swiftboating' any day now. Then look for Fox News to 'reveal' that it was Scott whom Sen.Larry Craig was signaling in that airport bathroom. And Robert Novak will report is was really Scott who leaked Valerie Plame's identity. You can follow all the latest 'news' about Scott and other disloyal Bushies on the new 'conservative' blog 'backstabbingweasel.com'.

[Agnostic Free Thinker]

I'm glad that a Bushie Jr. White House insider is confirming what many average citizens thought about the lies and deceit perpetuated by the Bushie Jr. administration. Junior should have been impeached and removed from office a long time ago -- and Cheney should have gone with him.

[BJones]

It is so great that Scott McClellan is now coming clean about some of the lies that the administration has told on so many fronts. Too bad he did not do this at the time that these events were happening. Instead he acted as the mouthpiece to help sell these lies as truths and in turn helped to get us into an unjust war, and protect people who sold out one of our own CIA operatives ( which is TREASON by the way) . Now he is profiting from these lies and his part in selling them with his book and speaking engagements. If he had a conscience or any regret about what part he played in this then why not just come out with it, rather than sell it. Even as he stepped down from his post as press secretary he stood on the White House lawn with Bush talking about what great friends they were.

This guy is just one of the many scumbags that currently hold a place in the President's administration.

[Jamie]

gee...how embarrassing for Scott McClellan....it seems money made him stay quiet and now money is making him talk and change from Republican to Democrat.
Doesn't he do anything for simple honor and integrity? I wouldn't trust this guy's answer on ANTHING.

[YEE]

Scott McClellan is my hero. He should do a joint book tour with General Colin Powell. Powell tried to tell the truth, but he was silenced every time by the Drunken Marksman.
.

[NEOCON]

"gee...how embarrassing for Scott McClellan....it seems money made him stay quiet and now money is making him talk and change from Republican to Democrat."

When did Scotty say he's a Democrat? This is the problem in America today... you have to be labeled either a Republican or a Democrat? Both parties have destroyed this country, look at all the spending on both sides ("you vote for my bad bill and I'll vote for your bad bill!")

Massive debt but the Treasury Cooking the BOOKS, Democrats giving Amnesty to the Bush Cheney Regime, TRILLIONS for war and Empire building. We move closer to Fascism by the GOP and Socialism by the Democrats... Who wins? Government ----Who Loses? The American People.

For Once, do some critical thinking, and pragmatic reasoning... so many examples of comments typed faster than they think. Please Educate and investigate yourselves... American ignorance is showing once again!