Scott McClellan: traitor or hero?

It was supposed to be a forum for former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan to dish Karl Rove, or maybe Vice President Dick Cheney in the leaking of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity.

But in the opening moments of today's House Judiciary Committee hearings, McClellan got slammed by Republican Lamar Smith of Texas, who questioned whether McClellan's book was actually written by his editor, Karl Weber, who, he said, has called President Bush "a clearly horrible person."

Public Affairs, which published McClellan's book "What Happened," said the comment came not from Weber but from his daughter.

Smith also suggested McClellan wrote the book to 1) make money and 2) get back at those in the White House who fired him. "While we may never know the answers, Scott McClellan alone will have to wrestle with whether it was worth selling out the president and his friends for a few pieces of silver."

Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, defended McClellan, saying "character assassination" has no place in the Judiciary Committee.

Then the committee recessed, so members could go vote on a wiretapping law. When they get back you can watch the hearing here or follow updates at latimes.com here.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Ron Edmonds / Associated Press

Comments

[Erich]

Is a traitor to an evil man a hero? Maybe McClellan is both?

[Jim Banton]

little boy McClellan is neither a traitor or a hero. McClellan, in my opinion, represents what is wrong with this country. I'm not condeming or praising Bush, however, I wonder how a man?, McClellan, can profess to be a friend of Bush and then do this? He stated that he just wants the truth to be known. Then why didn't this excuse of a man state the so called truth while in his position?

[Dr. Yehia Badran]

Karl Rove ruined the soul and mind of Bush. He should spend some time and become, officially, an ex-con.

[Rhonda Reid]

HERO

[Ken]

Neither traitor nor hero. If McClellan wanted to be a hero he would have spoken out while still the Press Secretary, regardless of the repercussions.
Bush/Cheney & their entire corporation should be tried for treason & that's just for starters!

[Dr. Yehia Badran]

Karl Rove ruined the soul and mind of Bush. He should spend some time and become, officially, an ex-con.

[r k]

of course, we have been waiting for this.
First step in 'damage control' is to always 'discredit' the source (McClellan)
McClellan's book looks even more honest now.

[Charlie]

Traitor to some. Hero to others. Opportunist...or whistleblower?

What matters is if he's telling the truth.

[PFJ]

Hero! from the illegal telecom domestic spying ops to $5 gas to the outing of valerie plame this president is the most corrupt in history. IMPEACH HIM NOW

[the man]

He just wants to make money

[Richard]

It's amazing how the right wing lunatics like Lamar Smith of Texas can demonize one of their own hero's if they happen to disagree with the words that criticize the mad dog in the White House. McClellan was just simply telling the truth as he saw it. He was closer to the mad dog than anyone else and saw the rabid behavior firsthand. I don't see any supporters of Bush writing books lauding the lies and more lies Bush and his cronies have subjected Americans to for the last seven years. "Off with their Heads and Save America."

[Joseph Antley]

I agree with Lamar Smith. McClellan is a dishonorable hypocrite is just bitter at the administration and saw the chance to make a few bucks off of the other bitter liberals.

[Benny Gultran]

"Then the committee recessed, so members could go vote on a wiretapping law......"

American politics.... you gotta luv it!

[Doug LaPlante]

Good for you Scott! Better late than never.

[Josh]

I wouldn't go as far as to call him a hero, but he's better than all the rest of Bush's admin.

[R. Miller]

All you people talking about Bush being "evil" and "treasonous" are mentally ill.

Talking about "Bush and Corporation", i.e. BushCo, demonstrates you let other people do all your thinking for you.

[Jeff Saeli]

So, Congressman Nadler says character assasination should not be a part of the process. What have the Democrats been doing to Bush and Bush appointees since 2001? It has been non-stop. I wish the Democrats would give up their obsession about trying to impeach Bush; he only has 6 months left in his administration. We would be better served if they worked on the nation's many problems. Once the mesiah, Obama, becomes president, all will be well with the world and there will be no reason to ever have a congressional commitee hearing again.

[bob]

Hero - Could he have spoken out while still the press secretary? Are you really sure? Maybe being a civilian provides him certain protections he is not give as an employee of the mafia.. err I mean bush administration.

What's funny is that it's not so much the content of his allegations, it's widely known how badly the BA has behaved, but his position that makes it newsworthy.

Have you ever looked back on something you did and realized you made the wrong choices? The best thing you can do is admit to them and do what you can to make sure it doesn't happen again.

[Padre]

Scott McClellan is to be commended for finally removing the blinders that kept him--like some misbegotten nag--in the harnesses of Bush, Rove, Cheney and the rest of the criminal gang that has ruined this country during the past eight years! Lamar Smith is nothing more than a lackey of Bush's and Rove's. Perhaps he should be waterboarded to make him reveal his ties to this presidency.

[Charlie]

HERO
Anything Mr McClellan did pales in comparison Mr Bush and his entourage selling the entire country, its future, and thousands of soldiers out. I agree he should have come out with it earlier but he did not.

[Charlotte]

I wish McClellan shared with us what is in his book years ago. How many lives were lost and could have been saved. Bush would have been impeached. Before you label him, think of how many of us have had jobs or are currently in jobs, that we knew our bosses were doing somrthing wrong but kept our mouths shut. The man is in a no win situation.

[oil field worker]

McClelland, GO THE HELL AWAY. You did this for $$$$$$$$$$$$$. Now you have them. Your "fame" will be gone in a month or two and you will be known as a traitor, a "friend" not to be trusted", someone who honors money more than loyalty, a Judas. GO AWAY

[aleks]

Big hero. As Colbert said, calling Bush's lies lies took real balls. Five years ago.

[Michael]

Better late than never. And if a little money encourages the "better" so be it. We should be grateful that a former government official is willing to risk his reputation for revealing his view of the truth and possibly earning a some additional income.

[BOO-HOO]

SCOTT McCLELLAN IS A RAT AND SHOULD WEAR THE MARK OF THE SQUEELLER ON HIS FOREHEAD. THIS MISERABLE EXCUSE FOR A MAN WENT ALONG WITH EVERYTHING BUSH SAID AND DID AND NOW HAS "SEEN THE LIGHT". PLEASE, GIVE ME A BREAK. SCOTT McCELLAN IS A LOSER WHO IS TRYING TO STRETCH HIS 15 MINUTES INTO 30. HE IS THE POSTER BOY FOR THE SAYING " WHEN MONEY TALKS INTEGERY WALKS".