Former press secretary Scott McClellan turns against President Bush

On accepting Scott McClellan's resignation as his press secretary two years ago, President Bush predicted that he and the outgoing aide some day would be "rocking in chairs in Texas and talking about the good old days."

But maybe their days in the White House together weren't so happy after all.

Next week will bring the publication of McClellan's 341-page tome, "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception." It is described by Politico's Mike Allen as "surprisingly scathing."

He quotes McClellan as saying....

...Bush "veered terribly off course," was guilty of a "failure to be open and forthright on Iraq" and relied on "propaganda" to sell the war.

The ample serving of harsh criticism from McClellan comes as a surprise to many.

Although White House reporters sometimes felt he was uncomfortable in his press secretary role, McClellan was considered one of Bush's Lone Star loyalists hired by former communications director Karen Hughes for the Texas governor's office and the 1999-2000 campaign.

McClellan was rarely used as an on-camera campaign spokesman and served as assistant in the shadow of former press secretary Ari Fleischer. At the time Bush naming him the official press secretary surprised many of his colleagues, who felt he was in over his head at times.

Maybe McClellan was embittered by the likelihood that he was bamboozled by Bush's top strategist Karl Rove and Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who was the vice president's chief of staff, about the disclosure of the identity of former CIA operative Valerie Plame. (Libby was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice last year in the case.) 

McClellan pointed to a confidential meeting Rove and Libby held "at a moment when I was being battered by the press for publicly vouching for the two by claiming they were not involved in leaking Plame's identity."

Only later, McClellan said, did he realize he had been "deceived into unknowingly passing along a falsehood" about their involvement.

While McClellan writes that "I still like and and admire President Bush," he doesn't do his old boss many favors in the book. On the war in Iraq, he is particularly stinging. McClellan calls the decision to invade Iraq "a serious strategic blunder."

"No one, including me, can know with absolute certainty how the war will be viewed decades from now when we can more fully understand its impact. What I do know is that war should only be waged when necessary, and the Iraq war was not necessary."

--Stuart Silverstein

Photo Credit: MSNBC

Comments

[keith]

just trying to sell a book, make some money.

[IonaTrailer]

The Bushies have lied, cheated and stolen the life's blood of this country from the beginning. They threw the election, with the help of the Republican appointed Neo-Cons in the Supreme Court. (Clarence Thomas, for instance - this guy is the male 'Harriet'). And because Americans are so pitifully uneducated, they didn't understand that it was UNCONSTITUTIONAL for the court to interject itself into the electoral process. THEN - they sat around while the Republicans INVADED a sovereign country. (It was all Saudis that drove into the Twin Towers, but we didn't attack Saudi Arabia.) But we sure diss-ed the French for pointing out the illegality of our actions. Then we sat around in front of the boob-tube every night eating snacks while this administration has plundered our economy. And why? Because THEY are making money doing it. Americans are so poorly educated and fat and full of television bullsh*t you could sell them anything. It's pathetic.

[John Doe]

I would rather know about the Bush administration's miss deeds than not to know. They ran a PsychOps on the American public. Just to get the Military Industrial Complex our tax payer dollars. And please notice how much the price of gas has gone up during the Bush administration. Bush's Big Oil buddies are getting filth rich at the little guys expense. This NOT the government I want.

[DT]

The Whitehouse is puzzled??? McClellan at least had the integrity to come forth and admit what most Americans already knew about Bush & his GOP. I'm not surprised at all to hear about this Bush, Cheney , Rove & GOP corruption that has screwed over this nation for the last 7 years. Also...it will come as no surprise that the White Houses only response to the book will be to take cheap shots that accuse McClellan of being disgruntled or disingenuous. Since they have no moral compass or integrity to stand on...and since the record of Republican corruption and treachery against the USA these last 7 years speaks for itself...they really do not have a leg to stand on in their defense against the content in McClellan's book. If Dana Perino and others loyal only to the Bush Crime Family and the Republican Party had any sense, they would simply keep their mouths shut and quit accusing McClellan of being a disgruntled person. The more you complain about McClellan’s book, the more obvious you make your own sins against the USA.

[RB]

The American Way......Lie, cheat, and steal, while in power, and then write a book, and sell the movie rights!
All the while selling your country to the highest bidder...i.e.....oil barons, war profiteers, etc.
Our government should be held accountable for what they have done...but no, we are a bunch of cattle being let to the butcher. America has lost it's back bone and you, me, our kids, everyone will suffer for being idiots! I guess we get what we paid for........ Wait until all the RATS jump ship, and write their crap, and blame it on everyone else, while they knew and supported the sham. I don't need to buy the book, we all knew they were covering it all up, and this jerk Scott knew it, and now wants his share. They should all be arrested and charged with treason. Whats wrong with America and what will you do to change it? I'm guessing nothing! Get off your arse and do something!!! Have a nice day. RB

[BLUE247]

This is Bush's legacy: 9/11, Katrina, The Iraq War, high gas prices, an economy on the verge of collapse, hundreds of thousands dead from any combination of the above. Kind of pales in comparison to Bill Clinton being impeached for getting a hummer in the Oval Office.

[Elaine]

They should post a warning ..."Reading this book may be hazardous to your health". I know it will certainly make me sick.

[Janine Lee]

Thanks, Scott McClellan - but why didn't you write just after you left the White House? Maybe you could have saved a few soldiers' lives -- not to mention Iraqi civilians.

In addition to your book, I highly recommend "The Bush Tragedy" by Jacob Weisberg. He makes a strong case for
W's lifelong Oedipal conflict with his wiser, more moderate father. Weisberg also couches his analysis as analogous
to Shakespeare's Henry IV, in which the same father-son dynamic plays out.

[Peter Dimitriou]

To all who Bash McClellan for his book, here is one by Vincent Bugliosi of Helter Skelter fame, go ahead and bash him I dare you. Impeach Bush now and all his War Criminal friends and shut down that lame propaganda organ of the Extreme Right called Fox news before they do any more damage. 6 years go I was ridiclued to the point of physical threats by the extreme Right Wing of the Republican party, but I'm still here to laugh in all your faces, I was right then and and I am right now get used to it. Save Democracy Impeach him now and prevent Bush from absconding to Paraguay, where his family has
a safe haven already set up and which has no extradition treaty with the United States. stop him now!!! slap the cuffs on this War Criminal!!!! Ground Air force One do not let him get away. If America let's him escape
We will all regret it.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/159315481X/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

[ernest vogt]

Fatuous, complacent, ill-educated america elected probably its worst president. Sad commentary on american life and values.

[Charles Rogers]

I read all the angry at Bush/Cheney opinions. Nothing there that I have not believed from the get-go. I hope, at least, it causes American voters to elect a democrat president, solid fillibuster-proof democrat house and senate in November to drastically change the direction of America. Any politican that voted for the Iraqi war should be defeated, dem or repub. We need leaders, not sheep to represent us.

[silly people]

How would anything coming out of the White House, McCain campaign, or Obama campaign NOT be political propaganda? Scott McClellan and John Q. Public are expecting to hear someone say "let me tell you why I shouldn't be President"? Its politics, of course there is propaganda.Equating taxes with stealing is propaganda. Saying taxes help create economic fairness is propaganda. we live in silly times.

with that in mind, let the conspiracy theory nut jobs post away....i'll even get you started - THAT EVIL BUSH STARTED THE IRAQ WAR TO RAISE OIL PRICES AND MAKE MONEY FOR HIS FAMILY.
...or if you prefer the version from the 3 years ago THE WAR WAS SO AMERICA CAN CONTROL THE OIL IN IRAQ.

[jim jaffe]

proof again that no one loves you when you're down. what's intriguing is that the Administration was successful for so long in maintaining a common front and discouraging leaks. now there sees to be a determination to balance that with these endless tales outa school as everyone explains (a) that's true things went terribly wrong, but (b) it wasn't their fault. talk about a falling out...

[lordflashheart]

For those of you that feel that McClellan's book doesn't reveal very much, you might want to check out the parts that have been overlooked:

http://www.236.com/blog/w/jay_dyckman/revelations_in_scott_mcclellan_6781.php

[Ara]

So... this seems to be the new trend in Washington: Bush administration official leaves office, waits a year, then publishes a kiss-and-tell book.

Is it because they were not brave enough to do the right thing when it could have made a difference? Is it because they were threatened with reprisals if they went public while still employed by the Administration? Is it because they figured they could keep their job and bank on the publicity later?

Either way, something is very broken in our governmental system...

[Dr. Chuck]

In his new book, former Bush spokesperson, Scott McClellan, asserts that the Iraq war was a mistake. He goes on to state that wars should only be waged as a necessity, and, in his opinion, the Iraq war was not a war of necessity. Further, he claims that the American press was complicit in the process by not asking President Bush the very tough questions one would expect from a free press, when there are plans being made for a war.

I can remember making a similar statement to Philadelphia Inquirer columnist, Trudy Rubin, who responded that the press had done enough and that they had asked tough questions. Of course I disagreed, but this further demonstrates how the liberal press is unable to hold itself accountable for being on the wrong side of an issue.

My guess is that now, given McClellan's strong condemnation of the media, and its role in the Iraq war, we will have a serious discussion about how all media, liberal and conservative, did not do its sacred duty of holding the most powerful person in the United States of America accountable for his dumb choices and costly actions.

Maybe now that Mr. McClellan has stated that the American press was complicit in Bush's decision to go to war, Trudy Rubin will listen. After all, he looks like the kind of person who can make such a claim.

I'm looking forward to reading McClellan's book What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception

[ST by LAX]

McClellan should be ashamed of himself. Yes all the members of the Bush administration should be gone down the line to be made accountable. No one in the Bush administration should rightfully receive money for book deals that detail the crimes committed against the United States. Personally, I voted for the other guy, twice. The current Bush administration is the last remaining legacy of Ronald Reagan. Even from the grave the Gipper is still screwing us over.

[BJ]

This book is just a confirmation of what most everyone already knew. That "weapons of mass destruction" was not the real reason for this war.

The real reason is... simply, OIL. Irag has the largest supply of oil in the middle east. Read the book, "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" (EHM), by John Perkins. It's all there!

BUT, the real issue here is... the PRESS AND MEDIA. They are certifiably "p****d that the Bush administration was able to USE them to advance their goals and played them like a fiddle.

So NOW, the same P&M are trying to get back, by being able to dictate the nomination process, and GETTING OBAMA nominated. Thinking that he can win the election.

What they were not able to foresee is, the toll this race was going to take on the candidates themselves, AND the role the supporters of each candidate would take!

Now, it appears that the candidate that CAN win over McCain, Hillary, will not win the nomination! Instead, the P&M chose OBAMA, who will LOSE to McCain in November. Poetic justice? Irony? Sad sad sad.

[Dr. Banks]

McClellan's mother was not supported in her desire to run for governor of Texas and this is his family's payback. His comments about the content of many meetings where he was not in attendance is troubling. How did he know what was said by Rove to Libby in private meetings? Was he spying on them? Is there proof of the dialogue of these coversations.
A shame. When Pres. Clinton, Mrs. Clinton, John Kerry and all the other democrats told us of their certainty that Saddam had Weapons of Mass Destruction, I believed them. After all, these public servants had long histories of truthtelling. But it turned out they lied. Democrats lied and people died.

[Grapost]

Nixon and Staff = Watergate Crooks & And Convicted

Ford = Pardoned Nixon = The Fix Was In - Crook

Reagan & Staff = Treason - Sold Arms To The Enemy - Iran Contra - Staff Charged And Ready For Trial

Bush Sr. = The Fix Was In Again: Pardon All charged in Iran-Contra To Avoid Convictions

Bush Jr. - The Fix was In again: Stole 2 Elections - Started Illegal War - Added Signing Statements To Laws.- Politicized all branches of government - Encroached on Constitutional Rights - Enacted vast coverup of lies on Iraq War and attacks on it's critics. And On And On. Continued Criminal acts and policys.

Want more of the same? Vote Republican. Vote McCAIN!

[OD]

The White House and its friends are now saying that as Press Secretary, McClellan wasn't privy to all the important meetings, and that as Press Secretary he really didn't know what was going on.

So my question is, why then should any of us listen to Dana Perino? Why should we believe anything we ever heard from Tony Snow? According to the White House, these people's words are simply meaningless, because they're in no position to know what's really going on.

Why does Dana Perino even bother speaking, then? Why does the White House have a Press Secretary to explain policy to the media, and thus to the American people, when the Press Secretary apparently isn't told what the real policy is?

[saint peter II]

the idea that someone owes a public employee a level of loyalty above that which is owed to the public is so far off the charts that only the likes of a James carville would salute it. the giving out of public jobs carries with it an obligation to do ones best - period. this conception that a public official who gives out public funded jobs has some kind of moral lock on those who accept public employment is the underlying principal of the very worst kind of personal politics and the public poorly at the best of times. it is a profound misunderstanding of the relationship of all public employees to the public where the interests of the public always subsume the interests of those who hand out the public jobs and money. the Clinton's via gov Richardson and now the white house via McClelln have put the cart before the horse to advance their personal interests rather than those of the public, no news there as politicians have long had a hard time differentiating between what's theirs and what's the public's. when someone such as caravel calls Richardson a Judas for supporting obama one can only wonder about his relationship with the Clinton's for certainly they were in a position for along time to dispense favors to caraville in the expectation of loyalty, but again we have public employees dispensing the "proceeds" of their office to secure better treatment, that's just plain crooked and the whole loyalty tp0public employed people being of a higher order that the loyalty owed to the public is a crock, fill with what you want.
www.saintpeterii.com

[dan]

I think Scott has provided ample proof about what was going on in the White House in time of Crisis. Like many others believe, the war in Iraq is baseless, a waste of resources and a Bush personal vendetta for a failed mission led by his father. The US military could have been better used in Afghanistan where the true and eminent danger is. Bush assassinated Saddam, but still can't find Bin Laden. The multi hundred billion dollars war could have helped the true fight against terror, may be some US homeowners, and definitely and great US economy.

[Clyde]

What is this about: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ The almightly dollar, of course.

Now, McClellan, do something honorable for a change: donate the profits from your damn book to charity.

[Ken Adams]

This is great stuff. Too bad not more people are interested in how much of a liar the president is, and how he's deceived the country. Al Gore spoke about this in depth in his book, The Assault on Reason. Many have reported on the dishonesty of Bush, now an insider is confirming what many have known for years.