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".

[Matthew Smith]

I'm sure you same Republican's weren't saying "Clinton only has six months in office" when you decided to Impeach him

[Icant Say]

I can't say much because of the Patroit Act, But he is a Hero in my world.

[BF2]

Too little too late Scotty!! Where were you and the North American media in 2003?

[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".

at lest some one have guts to speak the truth.
truth shell be set free!
god bless him and other who stand for rightness !

[dave]

at lest some one have guts to speak the truth.
truth shell be set free!
god bless him and other who stand for rightness !

[drd]

Hero.

[Deb]

I did not understand why there is so much fuss with McClellan's book. It is corroboration what was known and suspected by many. He did not say anything that contradicts what others said about Bush/Cheny et al. The whole WH was filled with just liars. Anyone said anything against WH is unpatriotic and enemy of US. This is just pathetic.

[s davis]

This is the most corrupt administration since Warren Harding's. This administration has pursued an unconstitutional power grab; the worst since Nixon and watergate. I think McCellan really was betrayed by Cheney, Libby, and Rove, and he feels very hurt. I'd rather have McCellan working with me than Rove, I wouldn't turn my back on Rove and not expect to find a knife it.

[Dave]

Have any of you even read the book before commenting?

[Anil Garg]

Neither. If people like Scott had confronted mistakes while they were in position of influence, much of what went wrong would not have gone wrong.

I think Timid, Blind, Slow, Clueless are some of the words come to mind when I think of his stay at White house.

I am not defending Bush, but in reality, all the decisions are actually made people around the President. He only agrees or disagrees. The only decision President REALLY makes is what and who will be his TEAM.

In this day, even after I am over 50 years of age, I am struggling to find out who should my children be inspired by President Clinton, who says he never had sex with that woman or President Bush, who says "anyone FOUND" guilty of leak will/may be fired.

I am looking for some thought leader who can show us the AMERICA without the Democrats or Republicans lens.

[Wayne Merchant]

Not a traitor at all! I believe he felt a crisis of conscience and is trying to make amends for participating in mass deception.

The truth shall set you free, as they say. I am so glad he decided leave the dark side. I am not sure this makes him a hero though, but it does take courage. And for those who believe he did it for the money, I believe he is donating at least some proceeds to Iraq veterans.

[Travis]

I think it's interesting how people are complaining that he took so long to come forward. Does that really matter? Would they rather he never come forward? I think it's always good when people decide to do the right thing. People are also attacking the fact that he wrote a book. Can you think of a better way to get information out in a form where you can control what is said and how it’s edited?

I think has a hero for voicing his views. And I think now that the Bush administration is attacking him and the media machine is attacking him, it makes him an even bigger hero. The same thing happened to Richard Clarke.

The Bush Administration has been the worst threat to this country ever. If you don’t know what I mean, then you’re watching or reading too much mainstream media.

[dave]

at lest some one have guts to speak the truth.
truth shell be set free!
god bless him and other who stand for rightness !

[Tom in California]

Whistleblowers are never popular people among those they report. They are likely to be regarded by their former colleagues as snitches or traitors. They're often not admirable people in a personal sense. But whistleblowing isn't a personality contest. The important thing is that truths are brought out into the light.

The truth hurts doesn't it, Congressman Smith? It really hurts. You and your criminal President stand exposed as liars and frauds, by the testimony of one of your own insiders.

[Abby Grace]

A traitor, perhaps, but to what? A traitor is most often defined, in speaking about Washington, as a person who has betrayed his or her country. However, a traitor can also be defined as a person that betrayed a cause, or that betrayed trust.

Perhaps McClellan is a traitor in the sense that he turned against his former employers, breaking the bonds of "Washington" trust between himself and those in the upper echelons of government. Is this a good thing? I'm not quite sure. What is certain is that McClellan's betrayal is providing fodder for news agencies, and it is allowing him to earn a lot of cold hard cash.

A hero? Definitely not. What has his book done other than to turn the wheels of gossip even faster? Has his whistle-blowing given any respite to the millions of Americans suffering from a failing economy? Certainly not. Thanks to this man, in the eyes of the rest of the world the American presidency looks all the more like a fraudulent *boys club*, rather than a legitimate governmental agency. Granted, the shaky image of the commander in chief cannot be attributed to McClellan alone. I would define a hero as someone that saves, someone that preserves. What has been preserved here? Who has been saved?

[Gary]

How in the world did we select Bush twice as a president? This guy shouldn't even be trusted to drive a car.

[George S.]

I approve of what McClellan did, although I do think he should have done it when he was still Press Secretary. It would have had much more weight and credibility.

[John]

It's the wrong question. The question only adds credibility to the "attach the messenger" defense and moves people away from what's important. The important point is if it's true. If so will the congress do anything about it.

[M Stewart]

As I look at these comments it is so evident one of the problems of our country. Very few of these try to be opbjective. They show their emotional basis in the vindictive comments contained within the message. Our country's political process is in need of repair. It will take honest men to fix it and an honest population to support those politicians. McClellan will make money. He may be speaking the truth. The pressure of working for any administration and going against them must be intense. His coming out after the fact is understandable, especially if he has a chance to make money. We should expect our politicians to try and find the truth. Lamar Smiths comments were only meant to distract from that process, which seems to be politics as usual on both sides of the aisle.

[dreamboy08]

An opinion of someone doesn't count as a fact, unless there are actual facts that discredit someone then that evidence can be used against someone to form an opinion. It's also hard to believe that the President's own daughter would be against him..but then again she did attend a naked party at Yale during the spring of 2002..and Bush doesn't approve of nudist activities. So perhaps his daughter is against him.

[ted chyn]

Loyality should be to the States and not to individual which is foundation of Democracy. Even a President should place national interest above personal prejudice and interest. Traitor is individual or group of individual place their own interest above nation's interestr. In this case Neo-cons - Richard Perle, Douglas Feith, Paul Wofowitz who manupilate GWB, Cheny and use US as a proxy leading to Iraq War are REAL Traitors.

[Mister Spak]

Jim Banton:

"Then why didn't this excuse of a man state the so called truth while in his position? "

He did. He was fired for it. If he had stated the truth earlier, he would have been fired earlier.

Like many conservatives, he was a gullible puppet. What's unusual about him is that he has some semblance of patriotism. A more typical conservative would keep spouting the politically correct line to the end, no matter how many CIA spies covers were blown.

[JOHN SHEEHAN]

I would think that Congressman Lamar Smith would be embarassed to use ad hominen attacks on Scott McClellan for blowing the whistle on Bush and Cheney for misleading the American people about the War and the 'outing' of a CIA agent. His job is not to attack the messenger but to determine the truth of the message and to act on it. Ad hominen attacks are the lowest form of argument and usually indicate that the person does not want to deal with the substance of what is being discussed.
Mr. Lamar Smith, the substance of Scott McClellan's message is that Bush and Cheney deceived the American people. You are avoiding the issue when you try to make the issue whether McClellan is being loyal to Bush and Cheney.

[Dean Hoskins]

The Bush/Chaney administration devulging the name of Valerie Plame as one of the highest secrecy level CIA Non-Official Covert (NOC) undercover operatives has destroyed Americas 23 year intelligence effort to stop trafficing in WMD may be the deadliest act of treason in American History!

This unbelieveble event has increased America's vulnerablility to a WMD attack, as our intellegence system in that most important area is COMPLETELY GONE.

This event so completely reveals the horror of the Bush Administration - That they would choose to jepordize all Americans just to carry out political revenge against Joseph Wilson, by naming his wife as a NOC, because Wilson went public with the fact that the story of Saddam Hussein trying to obtain Uranium in Niger is false and that this he communicated this to the White House well before Bush's speech claiming it to be true.

The White House will do everything in it's vast power to cover up Bush and Chaney's direct involvement with spin, misdirection, smoke and mirrors. Republican Lamar Smith of Texas is clearly a part of that. As such, becomes a party to the cover-up conspiracy.

Had the Bush Administration not destroyed Americas 23 year old CIA Non-Official Covert (NOC) undercover operative program specializing in Weapons of Mass Destruction, they may have prevented the dissemination and sale of electronic blueprints for advanced nuclear weapoins designs to some of the most treacherous regimes in the world. * See Fox News story: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,367196,00.html

[John]

Mclellan is disloyal. He can never be trusted again! He bites the hand that feeds him.

[laj82]

Scott is somwhat of a hero I guess, it's good that with this he can somehow redeem himself in some small measure. George Bush is a criminal of the worst kind and Dick Cheny is a monster, what this adminstration has been able to get away with is monsterous, in my entire lifetime 43yrs, every Repuplican that went into the white house was a criminal, never served the country only special interests. This country will never learn nor heal and we will not be forgiven by the world if there continues to be no accountability, George, Karl, Libby, Dick, Rumsfeild and Gonzales are child killers and they do in the name of patriotism.... Richard Nixon, Ronald Regan, George Bush Jr. If Ford or George Bush senior had of got a second term, they would also have been crooks... It is a shame that the most horrible people in our goverment go unpunished while the ones with good intentions get trashed.... Jimmy Carter was a good President who got blamed the the mess of watergate and the end results of the Nixon Ford adminstrations, Ronald Regan should have never looked over by Clinton, This Man Ronald sold weapons to Iran and his cronies are Fox commentators... We are in a sad backward state...

[Mick Russom]

HERO.

Just like Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul.

The rest of the democrats and republicans are really insidious traitors that ALL need to be jailed for treason.

[Arnols]

I would call Scott a latent man of conscience. Mr. Bush et all are the real traitors . Smith is condeming the messenger not the message.

Scott did not lie to the American people nor send Americans to their deaths and others to hospitals all in the name of greed .

The American people and the world were lied to by Rove, Chenny and Bush

[nathan raab]

come on, people. we've seen this before. They did it to Richard Clarke, and now they're doing it to Scott McClellan. So what if he said he was a friend of Bush? I'm sure lots of people were friends of Nixon before Watergate, but no one blaimed them for jumping ship and dishing about it afterwards. Scott McClellan is what is RIGHT with this country, my friends. Someone from the inner circle that decides to value PRINCIPLES above POLITICS should be thanked and praised.

Shakespearsaiid it. "much ado about nothing!

[Al Nelson]

It is amazing to me that the Republicans can only say that they think McClellan is a traitor to Bush. So far I haven't seen any denial attempts about what McClellan purports to be the facts. Therefore I can only assume that the statements made in the book are factual. I think that is the disgraceful thing - not that McClellan is a traitor.

[Don Sears]

It is amazing that when someone speaks up to right a wrong, the only question is how could he do this to his friend. His friend apparently misled him just like he has misled the American people for eight years. It is ok for the president to lie about WMDs in order to further his agenda. I applaud Mr. McClellan for finally realizing that blindly repeating facts that were untrue is wrong. It is also permissible for the President to lie about outing the CIA agent, placing her life in Jeopardy. This was done because her husband criticized the president and his advisors.

In the past Presidents have misused their power to punish reporters and others who have criticized them and their policies. That does not sound like a democracy. What ever happened to freedom of speech?

Our Government always tries to keep us uninformed to protect us. That is the biggest lie yet. Every time they don't want to talk about issues, they claim executive privilege or national interest. I realize that there has to be secrecy but too much of a good thing is bad. Eventually we wake up and find that all our rights have been eroded. The government must be accountable to safeguard our way of life.

[mickrussom]

HERO.

Just like Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul.

The rest of the democrats and republicans are really insidious traitors that ALL need to be jailed for treason.

[tom]

McClellan should have spoken out much sooner about the rampant criminality that surrounded him. But, as the saying goes, better late than never. The criminality of the Bush administration must eventually be reckoned with. McClellan's revelations are one step in that direction.

[Jon]

Yeah, I bet Bush pissed in McClellan's beer during their frat-boy days. Guess this is what Bush gets for appointing a staff entirely composed of dimwit college bro's. Oh and that chick the oil execs wanted in there.

[Rob]

McClellan is a fraud who lied for a living. He only stood up for the American people when doing so brought him a big payday. That being said, I find it funny how republicans aren't debating the facts of the book. They're debating his character.

They might as well be tearing him apart based on his looks.

Maybe Lamar would like to point out that McClellan is dumpy looking. He certainly is, but that doesn't change the facts presented in his book.

Yes, McClellan is a traitor. He's a double-traitor, frankly. He turned his back on his country during his days at the white house, and then he turned his back on the white house when he left.

I'm glad he wrote the book though.

[Lewis B. Sckolnick]

Did I hear someone say "The truth"?

[Brilliant Disguise]

He would have been a hero if he'd come out with these things years ago. But I, for one, appreciate that he finally told the truth about the criminals in the White House. Bush shouldn't be impeached.... he should be jailed. Along with Rove, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and Libby. They are all war criminals and should be forced to spend the rest of their lives in solitary confinement in a federal prison.... and even that's too good for them.

[ignatzh]

Dr. Yehia Badran, you can't ruin something that doesn't exist. He's a creature created for the interests of the neocons, a simple little puppet. To reify him at this point in time is totally counterintuitive, but it did give me a good chuckle.

Scott McClellan is neither traitor or hero, he's an opportunist and obviously exists in a moral vacuum. He's just a rat leaving a sinking ship, albeit a soon-to-be millionaire rat.

[K. Najarian]

Thank you Scott for coming forward. I'm sure it was painful. The Jaycee creed says "government should of laws not of men". No one should be above the law. This wonderful country needs a real cleansing of corporate culture. We want our country back.

I wish Colin Powell had resigned when he knew the war was wrong. The damage the war in terms of human damage and suffering is irreplaceable- it will take us a decade to come out of the damage this administration has done to this country.

I hope more will come forward with information on how our laws were broken. The guilty no matter who they may be must go before Congress and be punished for all of the criminal acts that have been committed.

kgn

[Phil]

I am not a fan of either Bush or McCellan but I know this; depite McClellan's justificaitons I would not hire him. So regardless of what I think of Bush's polotics I think McCellan has earned the title of traitor.

[GHM]

McClellan in my mind is a person that felt Guilty for all the lies he had to tell us because of his job.
He must have gone through hell deciding to write this book for he still really loves Bush.
But being a person who believes many wrongs and dishonesties were being done to him and to the country he felt he had to write it.
To me he not a traitor when he did what he did, he is just a honorable person trying to right the wrong that he did by his lies he was force to tell us.
Is that’s a hero;
well I think so, because he is now a role model for honest people and for our children.
It’s a shame what the Bush Administration are doing and forcing honest people to do harmful dishonest things.
!

[A. Regular Person]

Whistleblowers, as everyone, have diverse motives. It's getting at the truth that matters most to our country. Our Constitution, so far, basically insures freedom of speech and the press. That is about all there is between us and the abyss. This remarkable document, the Constitution, provided us with McClellan and the chance to purge the system once again. This Administration has launched an unending assalt on the Constitution. In their zealous effort to innoculate themselves from blame for future terrrorist attacks they have endangered our way of life far more than any terrorist group could. That is their darkest legacy. They, however, are far from the first Admistration to abuse the Constitution in similar ways. See below a few comments about John N. Mitchell, Nixon's '68 and '72 campaign manager and U.S. Attorney General during the Watergate period. He did 19 months in prison for his actions. Sound earily familiar?

"As attorney general, Mitchell believed that the government's need for "law and order" justified restrictions on civil liberties. He advocated the use of wiretaps in national security cases without obtaining a court order (United States v. U.S. District Court) and the right of police to employ the preventive detention of criminal suspects. He brought conspiracy charges against critics of the Vietnam War, and demonstrated a reluctance to involve the Justice Department in civil rights issues."

[Sheila]

Hey R. Miller -

Lying about going to a war for money is about the most heinously unethical thing a leader can do.

Then take that lie for war and get the propoganda machine fired up with patriotic zeal and messages that the war is the "christain good" thing to do and practically Christ-approved and then you have pure evil.

Bush and company were evil to go to war in this context and propogandize as they have done. There is no two ways about it.

[wjsexton]

It is not a sell out to tell the truth when public servants abuse their obligations to the public who elected them. I kinda wonder what Lamar Smith is thinking about, the actions that have been taken by this administration have been at best despicable. I don't think they are so stupid or that the information they had was that flawed, it does not work when you have the information adjusted to fit an acceptable outcome. If Scott McClellan was part of an administration that cared or even understood the struggled of the common man the market for his book would not exist. The current leadership in America has no respect for anyone including themselves their ego and greed have blinded them to the conditions that are developing for all but the ultra rich. We need change and we need to drag these arrogant creatures out of the darkness and shadows into the light of truth, all of them.

[Jason Cole]

There are all kinds of people in this world. Perhaps he's a greedy bad person, maybe he had some reasons we don't know yet to wait and tell now. I believe what is chiefly of importance here is weather the content of what he is saying now is true or false. If he is spreading lies, he is clearly nefarious and will be remembered as someone befitting of this administration. If however he is telling the truth, it backs up what lots of other folks have been saying for years about the President, Cheney and Rove; not only are some or all of them responsible for leaking top-secret information, but they are clearly warmongers who have sold our country's soul out for oil and ideological nonsense. Soon the healing will begin.

[GHM]

McClellan in my mind is a person that felt Guilty for all the lies he had to tell us because of his job.
He must have gone through hell deciding to write this book for he still really loves Bush.
But being a person who believes many wrongs and dishonesties were being done to him and to the country he felt he had to write it.
To me he not a traitor when he did what he did, he is just a honorable person trying to right the wrong that he did by his lies he was force to tell us.
Is that’s a hero;
well I think so, because he is now a role model for honest people and for our children.
It’s a shame what the Bush Administration are doing and forcing honest people to do harmful dishonest things.
!

[Bret]

Johanna.....did you completely forget that Richard Armitage finally admitted that it was he who leaked Valerie's Plume's identity to the press? Not Scooter Libby or Dick Cheney. That is completely irresponsible journalism to continue the proven false implications that it was Libby or Cheney.

[Greg]

McClellan is a good representation of the American public who has become so apathetic as to not clamor for accountability of the White House for the many deceptions, lies and loss of life of our American forces Their flagrant abuse of power is shameful only slightly less shameful then how we stand by and let it happen. Writing a book about this event is not the same as actually doing something to stop it while he was in the White House.

[Ralph]

It doesn't matter anymore. The USA is becoming a third world country. Take a look around you: roads with potholes everywhere, cities ruined, poor education, crime everywhere, poor public transportation, millions without medical insurance... while the guys in Washington keep voting to throw our money at a very very stupid war. It's going to take years to recover from hurricane George and we only have us to blame. After all over 80% of the population supported starting the war.

[Ahsay]

What this is still on the radar? It must be a slow news day, because anything in America that is older than six months is forgotten. That's just the way we dumb Americans are. It's been used against us for decades and if you think the Clinton/Bush dynasty did it all your mistaken. We really need to change the diaper in this nation, it's beginning to stink, it's going to be messy and it's got to be done for the health of our future. Let's get together and vote in large numbers to stop the abuses in our governments. Let's change all the Senators and Congresspersons and start fresh, I'm sick of all the corruption and nonsense in our government, let's do something radical and freshen the air!

[Jim]

What a non-article. Scott McClellan came out, some guy said some nice things about him, some other guy said some nasty things about him, and then the committee recessed.

Republicans are idiots, plain and simple. They are incapable of even approaching this with any kind of honesty or impartiality themselves, as if it is somehow impossible for McClellan to voice his conscience. What a joke. Even if he *is* doing it for money, the possibility remains that he is being honest.

But hey, maybe the right wing blowhards enjoy being wrong about absolutely everything. Perhaps they pride themselves on being indignant, even when evidence of deviance within the administration is utterly incontrovertible. Best of luck with that, you imbecilic lapdogs.

[RTH]

Wow! People who still think Bush/Cheney have been good for this country! You have to wonder where the educational system in this country went so wrong to produce such a lack of critical thinking skills. Or maybe these Daddy Warbucks are heavily invested in oil or armaments or are just enamored that freedom lovin' partriots can still fly 6000 miles and have carte blanc to kill people of color.

[danny]

98% of America has no clue what has really gone on in Iraq. CNN, MSNBC, NY Times, LA TImes, etc have all spent 5 years playing up the angles they would have you believe. They are dead wrong and are horrible excuses for "journalists." They are political pundits masquerading as journalists. I have been to the Middle East 12 times and have talked to thousands of soldiers there. Almost to a man, they have a far different tale than the one with which Americans have been brainwashed. Bush has made several mistakes, but I would love to see what everyone's opinion is of him if in the decades to come the region undertakes a "Democratic Domino Effect." If it does happen, it will be one of the greatest achievements in modern world history. McClellan is a poor excuse as a man. Weakness (for not standing up sooner if what he writes is true), back-stabbing, and self-serving opportunism are not honorable traits.

[Ricky Pompeii]

He is neither a traitor nor a hero. The more we learn about the Bush administration, the more corrupt we find it has been. Although his book may be tactless for betraying past friendships for money, he was not the first to betray. Members of the Bush administration bent and broke the rules over the last seven years and didn't care about hurting people like McClellen. Why should he care about hurting them? I hope that books like this one help to make the public and the media force the government to be more accountable for their actions. Time will tell whether McClellen's decision to make some fast money on this book will ultimately put him in a better position. Has he closed more doors than he has opened?

[Gene]

The messenger, hero or villain, is not the issue here. The issue is the information from a source deep inside an administration (remember, these guys supposedly work for us) that is loath to let the truth come out. WMDs, Valerie Plame, re-election dirty tricks, thousands of dead GIs...where is the national outrage? We are a middle-class country too afraid of jeopardizing our status quo lifestyles to speak out against an administration hell-bent on doing what it wants. We got the government we deserve. Now let's all bend over and assume the position...

[Mark Epps]

HERO!!!!!! The Bush administration is a bunch of criminals. Down with Bush and his evil gang. Lairs, the whole of them.

[David Kirby]

So Scott, how many dollars from the proceeds of your tell-all have gone to the veterans and their families? ... Anything less than 100% clearly makes you a hypocrite and reinforces Lamar Smith's pronouncements.

Hypocrisy clearly has a new face and it's yours to be etched in the memories of young people now going through the educational system and one day become this nation's leaders.

[JohnC]

It's hard when someone comes along saying that 62 million Americans have
the distinction of voting for the worst president in anyone's memory, maybe
in the history of the nation.

"How could I have been so stupid" is not an easy question to answer. Ah, just
forget it, go have a beer.

[David Kirby]

So Scott, how many dollars from the proceeds of your tell-all have gone to the veterans and their families? ... Anything less than 100% clearly makes you a hypocrite and reinforces Lamar Smith's pronouncements.

Hypocrisy clearly has a new face and it's yours to be etched in the memories of young people now going through the educational system and one day become this nation's leaders.

[Michael]

Scott is definitely not a traitor. The traitors are the President and Vice President for continuosly lying and deceiving the country. Scott knew that he would be thrown under the bus just like everyone else that disagreed with this administration, and as most people in the Bush administration he was under the spell of power. He also knew that any public dissention would be him fired (aka asked to resign) and no one would have been there to even ask the difficult questions.

As to friend of Bush, I don't doubt it. Remember the saying, friends don't let friends drive drunk. A friend doesn't always agree with the other, but tries to do what is right. And he knows, that when the investigation gets going he will be the fall guy because this administration will never except responsibility.

So in conclusion, what choice does he have. State the truth and be called a bad friend, or wait till he is thrown under the bus. I know what I would do!

[Mark Rome]

I laughed when I saw the banner at the top of this page, Countdown to Crawford. Bush is not going to live in Crawford, the ranch was nothing more than a prop, as has been almost everythign about this administration. Smoke and mirrors, all for show, all fed by ego. Justice will see many prosecuted for the total decadance that has inhabited the white house for the last eight years. Truth, justice and the American way have been trampled, but truth will win out. The question then is do we hold these criminals accountable or will we allow them to abuse the system one more time and let them off. McClellan has said nothing that was not apparent, nothing that is not true and nothing that shocks anyone. what is shocking is that he said it. He is the first of many, the Bush fiasco is unraveling and it will continue to unravel. Watch and see, this is but the tip of the iceberg.

[Clive O]

It's hard to believe that Bush's daughter would be against him as McClellan mentions, however she did attend a naked party at Yale and Bush hardly approves of nudist activities so perhaps his daughter is against him. But how can anyone call Scott a traitor if he's just belaying the facts?

[Rocca]

Scott is only confirming what the American people already knew. Don't shoot the messager!

[jim]

Scott is, of course, a hero to the LA Times. However, setting up a silly dichotomy of hero versus traitor is just a false opposite. Scott is just another Washington power-seeker seeking to hustle his way through a career. Such types exist in the Republican party and the Democratic party.

[Barb]

HERO!!!!
Honestly, you have to give the man credit for stepping up and clearing his conscience. I agree, it could have been done sooner, but the point is, he did it.
He dealt closely with this corrupt administration, and got to a point where he could no longer cover their lies.
BRAVO Scott!!
A traitor?? I think not, and those who believe he is, are the 29% who still believe GW is doing a great job!
I do have the book and am in the process of reading it.

[Mark]

Democrats wouldn't want Scott on their inside. No, they just want to use him (or is it his "bookish greed") for a few weeks, or maybe for an election cycle.

So yes, he is both: hero to Bush haters, and also a traitor in the eyes of everybody who values friendship and loyalty.

[John S]

The better question is "Is President Bush a traitor for outing a CIA agent?"

Bush stood up in front of America and said he'd FIRE anyone involved in the leaking of Valerie Plame's name. At the time he said that he knew HE himself authorized his top staffers to leak it.

That's worse than any lie Bill Clinton or Richard Nixon ever told.

Does anyone here believe for one second Bill Clinton would not be sitting in jail right now if he had outed a CIA agent while Gingrich's Congress was in power?

To criticize Scott for exposing treason (as Bush's own father characterized this crime) is what is wrong with America. A very few people seem to think loyalty to President Bush above the American Constitution is honorable. I've never encountered this particular opinion out in the real world. Only here on the Internet is such a bizarre proposition floated. I suspect many of the se people have been paid to have such a low opinion because among even the most right wing of my friends NONE forgive Bush for outing a covert CIA Agent working on WMD in Iran.

The Bush administration has denied no accusation in McClellan's book. They've only called him names. And here in this blog the names keep flying.

But at the end of the day one name sticks. Traitor. It's going to be stuck to George W. Bush Jr. for eternity.

[Steve]

The COMPLETE truth is, politicians -- whether conservative or liberal -- both presidential and congressional have always skirtted the truth and done what THEY want behind the scenes! Our great GOD the news media has become exteme and lower than dogs at digging and then spitting out ONLY what THEY want us to hear. No president after Eisenhower has been a true man of character! And our Congress is a mess! The main problem here is US - the american people who allow them to sway our feelings and attitudes as they want. And it won't matter too much longer because they are heading us down the SOCIALIST path. The greatest nation of the last 100 years is heading the same way as the Greeks, Romans, Spanish and the British. Because humanity becomes SPOILED and no longer cares for the overall good but cares only for "ME or I". We've lost our backbone people!

[HC]

I've seen him interviewed on TV a few times. First impression, timid little mouse who makes one attempt at establishing a nest egg while there is still a chance that anyone will remember him. He was spineless when he was press secretary, and he is spineless now in his half-hearted criticisms.
The traitor debate is not very interesting. There are lots of rats jumping off this sinking ship, Colin Powell for example. But unfortunately, all of them seem to only go half way, and I'm still waiting for at least one insider to come out in an open, complete, and honestly scathing exposé. Sadly, with the exception of Rove, Cheney, and Rumsfeld, the bush subordinates all seem to be mice, and I think we aren't going to see any of them on Frontline or Bill Moyers divulging any shocking secrets about what went on in the back rooms.

[Nikos Retsos]

Truth is a virtue, and it is certainly not the domain of the scoundrels. And if anyone wants to call Scott McClellan a traitor for telling the truth, then those
people have probably reversed polarities that see scoundrels as heroes.
The lies about the Iraq war have been known to experts, and suspected by the
population at large. That is why it took many years for Bush's public approval
rating to drop below 30%. The American public needed time to digest the conflicting lies about the Iraq war. And Scott McClellan's book was just the
Alka Seltzer that helped with the American indigestion of the Iraq war facts.

Did Scott published his book for a few silvers on his pocket? That is certainly a character assassination effort against Scott by Bush loyalists that try to whitewash Bush's historical legacy by equating Scott with Judas Iscariot. But Scott McClellan has a better mentor on his side: Winston Churchill who said: "True genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous, and conflicting information." Scott McClellan laid out all that "uncertain, hazardous and conflicting information"
in a noble way that cleared any doubt about the conspiracies that percolated the Iraqi war in the White House's back rooms. And for that he is a hero - not a traitor.

Sure some republican hawks in the U.S. Senate may try to mud sling Scott for his veracity that turn out to be embarrassing to them
for their blind support of Bush's unnecessary wars, but Scott is a "genius" according to Churchill, and the genie is now out of the bottle! Nikos Retsos, retired academic.

This whole hearing is a complete waste of time and taxpayer's money. The Valerie Plame issue is a non-issue. She was already outted, she wasn't even undercover anymore and her husband's relationship to the issue is bogus. Why isn't Congress working on something important?

[msgijoe]

McClellan's first loyalty is to the country and not to the Bush Administration regardless of what they would have you believe. He is not a hero. He is simply a man who finally realized what he needed to do. It is up to the rest of us to evaluate his account. I find it more believable than not.

[Jami]

If you witnessed a friend of yours or your boss commit robbery, murder or rape aren't you bound by law and civic duty to come forward? 10 Billion dollars disappear from a tent under Army guard. 4,000+ U.S. soldiers dead. The American econony in shambles... All because a select few in the Executive branch decieved the American people to invade Iraq. And now the guy that spilled the beans is called a traitor, and Judas. It's ironic because if he had not written the book and someone else came out and said McClellan was aware of the shady tactics employed but didn't speak up he'd still be called a traitor, and Judas.

McClellan was duped and lied to by the same people he trusted. Granted he bought into the Bush philosophy, but i'm sure each of us have been blinded by lust of some sort at least once in our life. So, continue to cast your stones and pay $5 a gallon at the gas pump. That's the price we pay for burying our heads in the sand.

[Benny Gultran]

I'm sure that Robert Mugabe and associates are calling those in Zimbabwe who make public his particular 'errors' as being traitors and turncoats. Not only that, Mugabe and his cronies are talented in being just as forceful and convincing, and acting just as hurt and pained over the 'treachery' as what I'm hearing and reading right now from the noble soldiers coming to the President's defence and bearing down hard on Scott McClellan.

I'm not saying that Karl Rove or George Bush are in the category of Robert Mugabe and his trenchcoats, but I AM saying that those who hurl these kinds of verbal weapons against Scott McClellan (in the world's greatest democracy no less) are borrowing a propaganda weapon of choice for the world's despots.

Supporters of the President, VP, and Karl Rove, please, please don't sink to the low level of others. We already saw enough of that stooping when we tried to behave "just like Al Qaeda" with our treatment of prisoners in Iraq. If you're determined to use dictatorial propaganda, please consider leaving the USA and offering your propaganda services to those who can't survive without it.

[bob martin]

its hard to tell where the lies end and the truth starts. i have this feeling its all fucking lies.this is the worst bunch of crooks ever asimulated in one place in the history of the world. scotty should just be happy he got out with his balls intact.is it remrors/guilt or is it money, maybe nothing really matters with this crowd, that is except for money. sleep well . bob.

[jon]

Hero!!!
Like anyone who disagrees, with the GOP, he's personally attacked.
The GOP is so reminiscent of another Party, which gained power in Germany, the last century.
How much I miss people like Goldwater, Ford, Rockefeller, Eisenhower, etc.. the old GOP, that had ideas & not just slogans. Republicans need to take back the Party, from these Fascist goons.

[Liquidity]

The gist of McClellan's testimony, beyond an expression of personal angst, is that the White House has concealed details s in the Plame affair.

But, strangely, he has not revealed any new detail himself. For Democrats and the press, however, McClellans rampant ignorance of any incriminating detail seems perfection in itself, for nothing proves the imaginary crime better than missing evidence to the contrary. McClellan's inability to exhonerate Dick Cheney is perhaps the perfect example. Here I can only note that I have absolutely no awareness of any evidence that Bill Clinton does not regularly have beastial relations with chickens provided by Frank Perdue.

The one thing of which I am confident is that Scott McClellan will not find future employment working for an honorable man, Republican or Democrat.

[TelltheTruth]

I can't wait till the election in November. I predict a landslide victory for O'bama, the likes of which we haven't seen since Reagan beat Mondale/Ferraro in '84. It's coming folks. The Republican party is lost. They have no idea what they represent anymore and the cronyism, lying, win-at-all-costs mentality, has done them in. Goodbye GOP, we hardly knew ya.

[Syd]

I believe Scott will develop Republican amnesia (I don't remember, I don't recall) when the tough questions are asked of him. He hasn't really revealed anything new about the corrupt Bush administration, he just confirmed it.

[wordvarc]

HERO

[zorg]

It's typical for cult members to think the cult is fine until they've been separated for a while. I don't believe McLellan is an opportunist as much as someone far removed from intense peer group pressure. I also don't see anything controversial in what he is saying. All the attacks are on his character, not on his reporting of facts.

[Rodney Lamprey, jr.]

Lamar Smith is the traitor, a traitor to the American people. Lamar Smith says it is better to choose to protect your "friends" rather than speak the truth and uphold the laws of the nation. It is cowards and traitors like Lamar Smith that enable corruption and crime to take place in the Bush administration. Lamar Smith doesn't understand his responsibilities as a member of Congress, citizen, or Christain. Scott McClellan isn't a hero, since he waited so long to tell the truth.

One thing that you can see is that Scott McClellan testified under oath, which Bush, Cheney, and Rove refuse to do.

[wu]

Those who call this man a hero has a very sick mind no matter you are in the right or left wing. The best term is "opportunist". Just look at the timing and his way of maximizing the publicity to sell his book. He knows that the fight between the right and the left can only help him sell the book. The heck with the decency and reputation. Can anyone trust this man for what he is doing? Pull yourself out of the politics and just judge his behavior. Then you can see better.

[El Mugroso]

To McClellan, the terms Traitor or Hero do not apply.

More so, like everyone else, is a Victim of Bush's greed and resultant suffering.

A victim is trying to redeem himself from guilt.

[D Douglas]

Dirtbag.

[John De Friend]

Boy, I am certainly no democrat, but the ad hominem cheap shot assault on McClellan's reputation demonstrates the weakness of the republican "position."

Sad to say it looks like the democratic arm of the republicrat party could run Goofy for president and win...

[jk]

mixed - with real talk of war crimes charges against bush/cheney et al, we see scum like feith, (supposedly) rumsfeld etc, trying to rewrite history with cover up books upon exit. The brave like o'neil, schenseki, darby, epa, nasa scientist, etc are some who speak truth WHILE employed and risk it all. the new fascism seems to follow a Saddam like model, no dissent, obey the program, or resign and we'll find another air force general willing to bomb iran, epa willing to relax standards, fcc willing to payback donors, ag willing to manufacture 3rd rate laws for torture or spying, etc. only then when populated with "don't question follow orders" military men (powell), or sheepish flock of "don't question, all truths come from the pulpit" religious right extremists, then the unitary fascist system is complete.

[Puablo]

He's not necessarily a hero, but as it stands right now he's just being a good person. He saw things he felt were wrong, and while he didn't stand up and stop it - and really would they have listened? - he at least is now able to identify how things happened in hindsight. Sure he's making money off the book, but I doubt he's in it just for the money, nobody would leave that administration and 'sell out' without knowing the repercussions. The fact that he just testified under oath supports that he is serious. Better late than never.

[B Gultran]

I strongly urge our President, Vice President, and associated advisors to continue to RESIST being made to testify under oath at any congressional hearing. They should invoke executive privilege as often as necessary and maintain the silence.

It doesn't take a genius to see why that strategy is so critically important to the higher ups at this moment in time. McClelland was different. There was no real danger or threat for him to testify under oath. He had few beans to spill apart from confirming that he wasn't told the truth (this is nothing knew).

My strong advice to the administration: Stay the course, keep the silence!!!!

[Christopher Marlowe]

The traitor in this picture or screen play is Jenna Bush. However the reasons she's a traitor make her admirable. Brutus is a woman. Scott only reveals this truth. Bush is the grain horder!

[Doug]

Most of the comments made against the Bush admin are from a bunch of mindless, clueless left wing morons, Scott was an idiot and that is why he was fired, most of his book was rewritten by the far left liberal publisher. Bush didn't raise the price of oil, speculators did because they know that the democratic congress will put America in the toilet to satisfy there political agenda. They won't let us drill our own oil which would satisfy our needs. You liberals must think that the president has a lot of power! It is the congress and the senate that runs America all the president can do is veto what they send to him. So blame this crappy economy on the democratic congress, blame the high oil prices on the democratic congress, It is time that Americans pull there head out of there butts on realize you need to deal with congress to get things done. It is time to put term limits on these people just like the president. Do you want to fix social security? Make congress have to live off of it when they reach retirement age. Force them to retire at the age of 65. If they are doing what we as Americans want get rid of them VOTE THEM OUT. Can't you see what the liberals want? they want a socialist government, they want you to be dependent on the government for everything, they want to raise your taxes to pay for more government. Obama is not going to do anything he has no plan to help Americans . He is a Muslim at heart, read his books he is a raciest and always has been. Anyone who doesn't see this is just blind or stupid. He will sell America out to the terrorists, that is the only plan he has. That is why all the terrorist groups what to see him as president. THEY KNOW THIS. So WAKE UP you mindless liberal cronies. Or learn to speak Arabic.

[Nem da no di]

Bush is a real freaking Hero because he is withstanding even though his staffs are shaking up.

Mc-C is a really cowardly Judas who betraying his own Boss to the Pharisee for a purpose of selling books and public speech. This is worst than fostering a wild dog, and it turn out to bite you back.

If he is a hero, he should quit before he stood in from of the Press and lied to the World.

[Harvey]

If he speaks the truth, which most of us had some hint of long ago, then he's a true hero.
Liars do not belong in the Administrative branch of our government.
When the leadership of a nation like ours is corrupt then exposing that corruption takes a true American hero with courage, and conviction, honesty and character.

[pedro]

If McClellan is a traitor, then I say give me more public servants that will commit treason, regardless of whether they serve a Republican or a Democrat. What we least need are partisan zealots and nepotists who consider it their duty to put their bosses over the public good.

[Luke]

He is a traitor but he was used and I think he just found out. On top of that he had nothing but a desire to make some cash. Nothing but a big waste of time but it was funny. He wanted a payday and he got it. Selling out the dollar runs deep in Scott's family so no one will hold it against him that does not already hate him.
God Bless Lamar Smith. Wish I still lived in his district.

[an theist]

What's wrong with McLellan?

Does he not r ealize Bush is an amalgam of the best of Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Harry truman, JFK, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR and Woodrow Wilson all rolled into one?

History will reveal what we cannot see now.

If we all live long enough...

[The Truth]

Bush is awesome. He is just so pure and shiny bright. Filled with the light of a thousand suns. His words drop freely from his mouth so so many drops of sweet dew. When he speaks I tingle inside from his mere tone. When I see him I get a sense of overwhelming comfort and joy. Every move he makes suggests that he will one day be beatified and gain his own place in the pantheon of saints and angels. He is an inspiration to morons, like me, everywhere. To see that one of their own could make it all the way to the White House if simply the icing on the pie.

[Anthony]

What is all this talk of abandoning his "friends"? And " biting the hand that feeds you"? This is exactly the point. The whole good old boy network is exactly what needs to be dismantled here in honor of integrity. I can imagine it would take awhile to see clearly after being emeshed in that bubble.

You don't honor your "friendship" if what they are doing is wrong!

[v racer]

What did he really know? Low man, script reader, certainly no access to really inside stuff that could constitute a conspiracy. By his own admission that he was never told to shade the truth or say something he knew to be false. If he knew anything and said something different, then he did shade the truth and said something he knew to be false. Can't have it both ways. Is he lying now or was he lying then? He is testifying on how he felt about this or that. Read it, no proof only his opnion. Fits the bottom feeder mentality of those who delight in destroying Bush and the rest of the country along with him for personal or political or monitary gain

[Tom]

HERO. HERO. HERO.

I'm stunned that the GOP is trying to protect Bush by attacking McClellan. The GOP has no loyalty to the country, only to their great dictator. This party is morally bankrupt, and out of touch with the country.

[marber]

It comes as no surprise to me that McClellan is viewed as a traitor by the supporters of President Bush. It is NO act of betrayal to point out where a leader has failed. The Bush presidency was and is based on loyalty to the President and not to the nation. If you are loyal to the nation, you expose any incompetence, corruption, malfeasance, and other high crimes and misdemeanors of those in power. Loyalty to the United States of America is not synonymous to loyalty to the sitting president. Loyalty to the United States is exhibited best when one supports and defends the Constitution of the United States of America. Understand the difference?

[Andrew Yu-Jen Wang]

George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney belong in an insane asylum. Bush is comparable to Adolf Hitler. Bush is mentally ill. Bush suffers from narcissism and megalomania. Bush lied, and thousands of people died. Bush is psychotic. Bush is dangerous. The American people should pursue the involuntary psychiatric hospitalization of Bush and Cheney to safeguard against further atrocities. God will judge and punish Bush and Cheney.

Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA