Posted on 05/27/2008 3:46:19 PM PDT by byteback
ormer White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan writes in a surprisingly scathing memoir to be published next week that President Bush “veered terribly off course,” was not “open and forthright on Iraq,” and took a “permanent campaign approach” to governing at the expense of candor and competence.
Among the most explosive revelations in the 341-page book, titled “What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception” (Public Affairs, $27.95):
—McClellan charges that Bush relied on “propaganda” to sell the war.
—He says the White House press corps went too easy on the administration.
—He admits that some of his own assertions from the briefing room podium turned out to be “badly misguided.”
—The longtime Bush loyalist also suggests that two top aides held a secret West Wing meeting to get their story straight about the CIA leak case at a time when federal prosecutors were after them – and McClellan was continuing to defend them despite mounting evidence they had not given him the full facts.
—McClellan asserts that the aides — Karl Rove, the president’s senior adviser, and Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the vice president’s chief of staff – “had at best misled” him about their role in the disclosure of former CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity.
A few reporters were offered advance copies of the book, with the restriction that their stories not appear until Sunday, the day before the publication date. Politico declined, and purchased “What Happened” at a Washington bookstore.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
The WORST Press Secy....EVER....EVER!! What an INCOMPETENT BOOB!! Hillary and Media Matters must have FLIPPED him!!
Scott “Deer in the headlight” McClellan???
Now we know he's a shameless opportunist.
Scott you still suck.
LOL, a press secretary for Clinton is now worried about other people’s honesty. Too funny.
These kiss and tell books about an administration before it is over, don’t do us any service IMO. If we’re talking about criminality, that’s differenct, but if we’re talking about how a president chooses to conduct his policies, that’s up to him until he is out of office. Then tell all you want. And let the chips fall where they will.
I wish W had chosen Ann Coulter to be his press secretary.
Yep GWB made some very bad choices for a number of positions, this prick McClellan, Rice, Tenant, Powell, etc...
I blame Bush for hiring this guy. I read somewhere that the only reason he was hired was because his family had backed Bush and he had worked for him on one of the campaigns.
When you watched him, you could tell he was grossly incompetent. At times, the way he spoke and expressed himself made Bush look like Shakespeare.
—McClellan asserts that the aides — Karl Rove, the president’s senior adviser, and Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the vice president’s chief of staff – “had at best misled” him about their role in the disclosure of former CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity.
Another one of those selfless individuals who “retire” from public service and then try to make a buck on it. Thanks Scott, now hit the road, ya backstabbing bum!
Leaving bogus claims in book aside (have not seen it), McClellan was a horrible press secretary. Every time he went in front of the press he looked like he was ready to cry. He could not think on his feet (not as clueless as Obama, but very close).
I would like to know who recommended this moron for the job in the first place.
I hope that GWB has learned that loyalty to incompetent hacks like this isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Has GWB ever publicly humiliated or criticized anyone he has appointed, whether he asked them to resign or not? I can’t think of any examples, yet so many of these people who didn’t do a very good job for his administration end up trashing him.
Exactly. McClellan is a little worm. If it weren’t for W and Karen Hughes giving him his shot at the big time he’d still be riding his mommy’s coat tails in Texas politics.
For a man who is reputed to value loyalty, he sure puts a lot of trust in his enemies, to the point of filling the White House with them.
Thanks McLynnan. I agree with your comments.
And let me add....if somebody wants to know what skills a great press secretary would possess...then take a look at Tony Snow.
I hope that after Bush leaves office that he writes a book and its only topic is what a complete idiot McClellan was (and is).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.