McClellan gets blowback from White House
Some former colleagues of White House press secretary Scott McClellan greeted his tell-all memoir today with a mixture of sadness and betrayal.
In his book, "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception,'' McClellan says that President Bush manipulated public opinion through a "political propaganda campaign'' to justify going to war in Iraq.
"To give credibility to such an outrageous accusation that mostly was coming from the left wing of the Democratic Party is really disappointing," former White House counselor Dan Bartlett said on CNN today.
He said McClellan was not privy to many important discussions about the war.
"All I will say is that there is an enormous amount of disappointment among those who are closest to Scott," Bartlett said. "This is not the Scott we knew. Maybe that is our fault, maybe this is a new Scott. It's almost like an out-of-body experience, quite frankly."
McClellan's predecessor as White House press secretary, Ari Fleischer, chimed in on Fox News Channel: “There's just something about it that doesn’t make any sense, and I say that because Scott never once approached me publicly, privately, to express any misgivings.”
“I would think if he harbored such deep feelings about things he wouldn't have and shouldn't have accepted the press secretary job in the first place.”
"He was the press secretary at a time when the war in Iraq started to go very badly, he had issues inside with staffers who deceived him,” Fleischer continued. "There are some legit issues that Scott raises, but the point he makes about the President and the war in Iraq, that's the part I just don’t understand.”
Fleischer said parts of the book don't sound like McClellan.
“It’s got his name on it and Scott knows that and he said the chips will fall wherever they may, that's what he told me yesterday, but on principle and on policy this doesn’t make any sense to me because if it did, I think Scott would have expressed it privately and repeatedly.”
Like many disgruntled employee when fired they can't hold back their frustration and anger so they decided to believe in their own feeling of suspicion.Scot t McClellan is diagnose with this type of disease.
There some other jaw-dropping quotations from the book that have yet to be reported!:
* "George W. Bush wouldn't have gotten to where he is if he hadn't had a famous father."
* "George W. was never a top-notch soldier."
* "Dana Perino? Not the sharpest knife in the drawer."
* "The well-being of the average American is not at the top of Dick Cheney's list of concerns."
* "It's quite possible that George W. Bush will not ultimately rank as one of the our top thirty presidents."
* "Despite what some people have said, President Bush did not want black people to die in New Orleans. However, he did hope they would not relocate to any areas of Texas that he likes to frequent."
More of the article here: http://www.236.com/news/2008/05/28/mcclellan_shocker_more_revelat_6791.php
Damage control all over again for the corrupt Bush administration, as the talking heads start repeating their mantras on Fox....
But Its futile, because their reputation is beyond repair. We can only hope that our economy isnt.
Oh how the US media are covering the "Is he telling us the truth?" angle now! But the media were never so skeptical to even ask about truth when they helped the administration beat the drums of war. Back then, it was "The President makes decisions. He’s the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and the media type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Just put ’em through a spell check and go home."--Stephen Colbert
Back then, it would have paid to tune out US media almost entirely and rely on the international press.
The only surprise about this story is that anyone is surprised by it. It has been obvious policy of this administration from the beginning to deceive and manipulate the American public. Under Roves influence and the total lack of competence of most American news media we have allowed ourselves to be led down the garden path time and time again. I cannot adequately describe my disgust with our so called pundits and the way they have brown nosed themselves in order to gain access to the so called news this administration distributes.
Of course they feel betrayed! He stopped lying for them!
Of course they feel sad! He told the truth and made them look bad!
What's the big deal? It's not like anybody trusted them last week? Maybe a little less this week... So what?
The truth always come out eventually. Bush lied to America.
Considering that the case for war (WMD, nuclear program, ties to al-Qaeda, 9/11, Democracy blooming in the desert, greeted as liberators, quick cheap and easy war, etc.) has been proven entirely fraudulent, whatever his personal motivations are McClellan's not telling us anything that isn't already confirmed fact.
This is like the Casa Blanca response "we are shocked shocked to find out that someone actually said this" when the deception has been known and reported widely since the beginning of the Iraq fiasco. C'mon- don't play the innocents now!
We really ought to know more about who is behind this book. If we are going to have such treacherous people serving a president, who would want to be president. Our government is going to pot because some people value money over integrity.
QUOTE from INTREPID: We really ought to know more about who is behind this book. If we are going to have such treacherous people serving a president, who would want to be president. Our government is going to pot because some people value money over integrity.
Yeah, Intrepid - people like our President !
When will you lemmings stop defending our Liar President ?
I love the White House's catch-22. If you're on the left and criticize the Bush administration, well obviously not credible: you're only saying that because you hate them. If you're on the right and criticize the Bush administration, you're obviously not credible: you're only saying that because you hate them.
I wonder just who the white house would consider credible enough to criticize the white house? Oh yeah, nobody, because the everything the Bush administration does is perfect.
I wonder if McClellan has addressed the issue of why he didn't speak up, or why he kept his job, or why he didn't resign on principle? I haven't read about it, so I guess not. Until he does, I think we need to remain suspicious of his motives (partially money, no doubt) and his claims.
But, to be fair, let's hope he doesn't get the Vince Foster/Mary Jo Kopechne/Marilyn Monroe treatment; these are people who purportedly paid the price of crossing big name Democrats.
Isn't it amazing how the only requirement to suddenly make someones words unquestionably true, is if they are an attack on Bush? Of course if this book were to support Bush in anyway, then the person writing it would be expected have evidence, proof or something to back his words up.
But an anti Bush book must be true, simply because it is anti Bush! I am sure we will see people refer to this book soon in Congressional hearings, as the definitive bible on what is true!
Is there even one reasonable person left who doesn't hate the Bush administration for lying to and betraying America?
Is he saying anything about Bush that is shockingly new? No. The only reason it's shocking is because it comes from his circle. The president has a 90% disapproval rating...for some reason.
Bush should never have been president, just like Hillary should not be president. Job skills don't transfer through genes or marriage. Dubya clearly had a drive to best his father and we have paid for it to an obscene degree. Now here comes Bill and Hillary--Bill making up for the many years he cheated on his wife and Hillary wanting the chance to be better than Bill. People! The presidency is no place for this!
People
He wasn't fired, he voluntarily resigned!
McClellan book is dynamite.. but the Iraq mission was accomplished.. The mission or Iraq was wasn't about WMDs, Democracy, not even oil... it was all about Israel and the NWO.
http://joeland7.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/is-modern-israel-in-bible-prophecy/
http://joeland7.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/the-new-world-order-religious-and-political-conspiracy/
I hope his book sells a million copies
More people will come clean to clear their own conscience. I`m sure Scott McClellan is now sleeping much better at night.
I'm glad at least someone in this administration was willing to say the truth. This administration can't accept blame for anything and tries to discredit anyone who questions them or tries to counter them. I'm not trying to Bash Bush directly, I think he does the best job he knows how to do and thinks what he does is in the best interests of America, even if it involves lying and a propaganda campaign to get there. Unfortunately he doesn't have good ideas and is ruining the country in many ways and weakening the position and destroying the reputation of the office of the president.
It has been clear for a long time that Bush and the cronies lie about Everything.
McClellan is just trying to cover his own action, in the event that the war criminals are actually held accountable.
World Peace.
It has been clear for a long time that Bush and the cronies lie about Everything.
McClellan is just trying to cover his own action, in the event that the war criminals are actually held accountable.
World Peace.
Dan Bartlett: "It's almost like an out-of-body experience, quite frankly."
That makes sense. For someone who was so close to centers of power to tell the truth, it has to be an out-of-body experience. Better late than never, Scott.
This would be hilarious, if not for the tragic loss of blood, treasure, and the promise that was America.
It's that point in the sitcom where the dumb guy is just about to "get it" that he's been a huge horse's ass yet again. But since this is reality, there's not going to be a big sound-effects BOING and a laugh track.
The Republicans and all their beltway and media enablers are not going to suddenly put on their "Home Alone" face and scream, "My God -- we really have been war criminals, terrorizers of our fellow citizens, and election thieves!!"
If it ever got through to them how long and deeply they have been deluding themselves, they'd either commit mass suicide or impeach and remove bushcheney in less than a week.
At least with the second option we could begin the Redemption of Our National Soul. (Without it, we will remain a pariah, war criminal nation for generations to come.)
--
Why are people surprised by this book. Most people seem to think that Iraq war was based on fabricated reasons. Let us be honest to ourself and start praying for more than 4000 American soldiers and 100s of thousands of Iraqis who lost their lives.
We need a transparent White House and not a Fortress. I hope the next President is able to get us out of this mess and rebuild America's image around the world.
We need an America where people in the world look up to us and not look down on us. God Bless America
Of course Bush is puzzled, Scott wrote something that the president didn't want known. It was written by someone who Bush had assessed as more loyal than honest. The president prides himself on detecting loyalty. Bush can't believe he misjudged Scott McClellan.
I would really love to see EXACTLY how the publisher "tweaked" McClellan's original words. Even a few changes here and there could made a world of difference in the tone of this book.
The real "story" here is how the left will twist and distort someones words to fit their own agenda.
The real "story" here is how the left will twist and distort someones words to fit their own agenda.
Posted by Really Curious May 29, 08 09:52 AM
Unbelievable. "Twist and distort" is EXACTLY what Bush & Co. have been doing for years. And when someone from the inside finally has the cajones to call them on it, he gets accused of being dishonest.
It is amazing how "Really Curious" believes that the "real story" has anything to do with the left. The real story here is that the critics were correct all along in their assessment of this train wreck of an administration.
Really Curious sounds like one of those brain dead chicken hawks who loves everything about the Bush administration, including that none of his children has to die in this stupid war. I bet you dollars to donuts this clown never had a uniform on.
What I want to know is why Bush is not brought on on war crimes charges.
PLEASE.....it's all about making money. You want to make money, write something that people want to read. The guy is just another DC hypocrite
It is incredible... reading thru these comments, I find it absolutely incredible how people are so willing to blame President Bush or republicans or democrats for everything. We only know what is fed to us by the media and congress. We can certainly trust them! Right... with their pork, their personal retirement fund, their annual pay raises, their million-dollar homes, etc. Gone are the days when the media believed in reporting only facts backed with solid proof! When are we, the PEOPLE, going to wake up and vote out the corruption in Washington? I guess it is better to lay the blame on one person or one party than where it really belongs... Everyone in Washington is to blame!
Scott McClellan finally had his fill with the lies and deceit presented to him by Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld and Bush.
Now all the Bush men are using the same words to discribe Scott McClellan,
(We are Puzzled, not the Scott we knew), Rove orchestrating evenyone responce again.
Good for Scott, he can sleep well again. Hopefully Tony Snow will come to the same conclusion as he unknowingly passed on the lies of the Bush Administration to the press and the people of the United States and the World.
good job, Rick....i can't stand the right vs. left - vs. you vs. me. It gets old. People think because you're democrat or republican you are responsible for the actions of that party.
Rick from Ohio got it right 100%...everyone!
Scott McClellan reminds me of that dishonest and deciple of Jesus Christ that betrayed the Lord for money and kissed the Lord in the cheeks.This is a lesson for the next Administration is to select the most intelligent,honorable and trustworthy employees to serve this nation with the highest degree of honesty and integrity.The Government of the United States is a model to all the nation of the world but there seems to be some lack of screening and proper evaluating of employee to find out who is up to the standard to work in the White House.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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