MR. FLEISCHER....after Scott left the White House, he went on TV shows and defended President Bush and the war. So I dont know what changed so dramatically for Scott in the last few months, several months, that led him to write a book that was so different from everything I saw about Scott personally and privately.
Something changed. And there are parts of this book that just dont sound like Scott. Scott, to me, will always be a friend and somebody who I always relied on. And I dont know what could have led him to have such a dramatic change of heart.
And I talked to Scott yesterday.
MR. CHADWICK: You did?
MR. FLEISCHER: Yeah, and Scott and I remain close. And thats one of the reasons Im so heartbroken about this. Scott told me that this book really did change. And he said this book ended up a lot different from the way it got started. He told me he didnt know if he could write a book like this a year ago.
MR. CHADWICK: So when this story broke, you called him and spoke with him.
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, actually, I called Scott because Scott and I frequently we periodically have kept in touch ever since he left the White House. And when Scott and I, we got together gosh a year and a half ago for breakfast. And I remember talking to Scott about the book and he told me how good it was going to be for President Bush.
http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/28/ari-fleischer-speaks-out-on-mcclellans-book/