Ex-Bush press secretary McClellan endorses Barack Obama
This just in: Scott McClellan, President Bush's former press secretary, announced Thursday that he is endorsing Barack Obama for president.
McClellan is the second former Bush administration official this week to come out in support of the Democratic presidential candidate. Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell announced his endorsement last weekend.
McClellan's news, which he shared during a taping of comedian D.L. Hughley's new show on CNN, doesn't come as a huge surprise. McClellan, after all, drew ire from Republicans earlier this year when he published a tell-all book about his time in White House. The book, "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," was highly critical of Bush and his handling of the war in Iraq, which McClellan called "a serious strategic blunder."
The former aide told Hughley he planned to vote for Obama because he is the candidate most likely to change Washington.
McClellan became Bush's press secretary in the summer of 2003 -- shortly after the U.S. invaded Iraq. He resigned the post two years ago. At the time, their split appeared to be fairly amicable (on the day that McClellan resigned, President Bush told reporters that he and the outgoing aide someday would be "rocking in chairs in Texas and talking about the good old days"). But McClellan later wrote that he quit in part because he felt deceived by the Bush White House.
Specifically, McClellan accused former administration officials Karl Rove and I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby of misleading him during the investigation into the 2003 exposure of then-CIA operative Valerie Plame.
Our colleagues at the Swamp have more on McClelland's endorsement.
-- Kate Linthicum
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000. A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four.
Johanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the 
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I could give less of a [inappropriate term] who a yo yo wannabe like Scott McClellan endorses! More evidence that Obama is the candidate of the shallow and naive.
Posted by: BigZonie | October 23, 2008 at 07:57 PM
Smart guy.
Posted by: Paul Stewart | October 23, 2008 at 08:12 PM
Aw, Scottie, you big scruffy teddy bear--well, a teddy bear tossed out the window at high speed and left to rot in the dirt. Must be tough to so desperately need a new home, after all your loyal service, spinning those cons, workin' us on the war thing, helpin' the boys with the domestic spyin' and all. No respect, as Rodney would say. No respect at all. Well, thanks, from a fellow liberal, for your, um, very important endorsement at this critical juncture in the campaign. I'm sure it makes a big difference to a whole phone booth full of people.
Actually, it's sorta hard to dislike this hapless, bumbling soul who couldn't seem to realize for nearly four years that he was being worked, if that was actually the case. Except he did such harm to our nation, conning the public with that honest hound dog face, and it'll take years, if not decades, to undo it. So there's that, too.
Posted by: dmw | October 23, 2008 at 08:15 PM
No comment.
Um-m-m. Not so fast.
As babies and designers bags have been accessories for entertainment stars, it is now fashionable for a politician to accessorize themselves with Obama, regardless of party affiliation. Obama is the new accessory close to the White House. Go Obama Go.
Posted by: Angela | October 23, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Why do all these highly esteemed public officials continue to side with Barak Obama? Haven't they heard Sarah Palin's Hate filled rhetoric on Barak's supposed past? Is there nobody listening to the VP choice of John McCain? Why is she not being taken seriously?
Posted by: Sarah The Parrot | October 23, 2008 at 08:52 PM
If Obama does win he will be one term and done ala Jimmy Carter! In fact Obama is the 2nd coming of Jimmy Carter!
Posted by: steve rodriguez | October 23, 2008 at 08:57 PM
Oh..Oh...I don't think Obama wants an endorsement from this guy. He's nothing but a cheap guy.
Bush made him rich and gave him a career when he had nothing and he betrayed Bush. This kind of man is very dangerous! Both Bush and Laura said nothing but good things about him.
His endorsement isn't very encouragning for Obama, wait and see, soon or later, he will write a dirty book about Obama. I personally dislike people who are not loyal and don't have principles like him.
Posted by: Sam | October 23, 2008 at 09:14 PM
There is a very old saying
"When the Gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.
VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
Posted by: VJ Machiavelli | October 23, 2008 at 09:29 PM
Yet another fine example of the LA Times attempting to be the mouth piece of Obama.
Posted by: Steve D | October 23, 2008 at 11:03 PM
I did not vote for Bush. I think he will go down in history as one of the most ineffectual presidents of all time. Two persons in his administration who could have made a difference by stepping down and taking the high road when they had positions of power in the Bush WH were Powell and McClellan. Neither did. Both are now backing BHO. Food for thought.
Posted by: Maggie | October 23, 2008 at 11:33 PM
A fraud endorsing another fraud...that's so Washington D.C.
Posted by: Superpower | October 24, 2008 at 12:59 AM
Love the ad hominem attacks! If you have something credible to say about the candidates or those that endorse them, back it up with evidence. Otherwise, you look like a bunch of crybabies who cannot get their way. Scott McClellan and Colin Powell were both loyal supporters of the Bush Administration. After they discovered that the policy positions they endorsed (as part of their job) were not so wonderful, some of you label them as having no credibility. I did not hear anyone trashing either during the run-up to and immediately following the invasion of Iraq. Now that they come out endorse the candidate of the OTHER party, you label them as traitors who are free of rational thought. I would love to see some rational discourse here instead of emotional outbursts.
Posted by: LB Centaur | October 24, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Do you think McClellan's endorsement will change anyone's vote though?
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/35453/I-will-be-voting-for-Barack-Obama
Posted by: BaxterJ | October 24, 2008 at 10:05 AM
See there are some republicans that can reach across the isle!
The smart ones!
Posted by: Phil | October 24, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Finally Republicans for Obama! Yea!!!
Posted by: ssharpeone | October 24, 2008 at 12:14 PM
The ship deserting the sinking rats!!
Posted by: anfrankel | October 25, 2008 at 07:12 AM