Former Bush Aide: McClellan Is Getting Ripped For Telling The Truth

In response to his scathing memoir detailing the "propaganda"-filled run up to war and seedy political machinations behind the CIA leak case, Scott McClellan has received withering criticism from his former colleagues. A money grubbing, attention seeking, devoid-of-principles hack has been the description of choice; "this is not the Scotty we knew," the most popular quote.

One former Bush aide, however, is sticking up for McClellan, arguing that the former Bush press secretary is "getting savaged for saying what everyone knows to be true."

Mike Turk served as the eCampaign director for President Bush's 2004 reelection campaign. As such, his tenure corresponded with that of McClellan's. No longer connected to the administration, Turk is now one of the few (if any) voices with connections to that crowd who are saying, quite simply, that the book "What Happened" is steeped in little more than truth.

"After watching McClellan on Today this morning, I think the reception his book received exemplifies the point he was making," Turk told The Huffington Post in an email. "People had high hopes for President Bush to bring America together after his election and after the attacks on 9/11. They felt disillusioned by the Administration's adoption of the 'win at all costs' partisan mentality in this town. I think the bigger point of Scott's book comes from the lessons he learned while playing a part in the permanent campaign. It's an exploration of how that mindset can lead to some really bad choices."

Indeed, Turk notes, he himself has been on the receiving end of Bush-loyalist scorn. After the campaign and his tenure at the Republican National Committee, Turk criticized the party for not fully embracing technological advances. "As a result I'm already on the watch list for the GOP establishment for some of my own criticisms," he said.

Earlier in the day, Turk left a message defending McClellan on the online service Twitter, which was highlighted by Matt Stoller on the site OpenLeft.

And while he has only seen the major excerpts of the book, Turk predicted that, ultimately, McClellan would be looked at optimistically. He suggested the memoir may stand up better to history than the Bush administration itself.

"While Scott's going to weather a fierce storm for writing it, just as Matt Dowd did with his New York Times piece, I think it ultimately will be regarded as a very personal look into the modern political machinery that so many people are sick of," he said.

Comments

[jnratliff]

The one thing you can never do as a good republican is tell the truth.
The truth hurts republicans every time.
After so many years with so many lies and just made up stupid bullshit and truth hurts them deeply.
Voting republican is the same as admitting you are to stupid to be left without supervision you might hurt yourself or others.

[watchingthings]

Truth just does not sit well in bush's influence pedalling and personal scheme of things.

[bayviking]

"Bush is a child of privilege, indifferent to human suffering, energized by a deep cruel streak, dangerously affected by religious delusions, contemptuous of ideas and intellectuals, disdainful of international law, still at large and dangerous as he plans an unjustifiable assault on Iran. Instead of depicting the Iraq War as an act of criminal aggression McClellan does the administration a big favor by merely terming it a "strategic blunder.""

Gary Leupp @ Counterpunch

[mnkors]

Ai you, admirers of Bush, why don't you ask him about his grand-daddy and the foundation of the Bush family fortune? Ever heard about Prescott Bush Nazis connections, about making money on the slave labor at the concentration camps? Ask FOX - they certainly know! And how is it that Bush"s "wild days," as he calls them, did not leave a trace of a single woman he slept with and impregnated? - Here comes his daddy with the CIA connections and destroys any evidence of the (documented) cocaine possession, the desertion from the military duty in Alabama, and such. Recently male-prostitutes frequented the WH. Bush even gave a passionate kiss to one of them - and this picture is widely known. - Any curiosity from the pious FOX? And from you, the ardent supporter of W?

[glesslib]

I have watched three McClellan interviews. The media are really giving it to him. He made them look bad by pointing out that there were complicit in deceiving America.....as was he, no matter how you slice it.

The media types know they ran scared from this White House. Now, they are embarassed that the public is being told just how major their rollover was. So, they kill the messenger. Trouble is, there are lots of other ways to get the news now. Unless they can retreive a little of their credibility, fewer and fewer people will be watching and reading.

A mea culpa on the part of the major networks would be a good start. Wonder if they have the courage to admit their mistakes?

[nightwind928]

The media admit their mistakes???? Now that's asking a lot. They are great at pointing out the mistakes of their competetors or even inventing some if they can't find any real ones but they all have the process of CYA down to a science. As for people watching, they will ALWAYS watch and many will always believe.Because the news isn't news anymore on most channels ( P B S and a couple of others are the exception) it's entertainment. Just a platform to sell pharmecuticals at supper time to the masses. The real content has taken a back seat to the snake oil sales anyway on the major networks. We learned that way back when the Bush administration said "No flag draped coffins can be shown coming back from the war zones on the news" and the media said "Duh...o.k. boss, anything you say".

[seawolf77]

I had a girlfreind once tell me she couldn't remember if she had ever been sodomized before. She said that when she was young she went to some pretyy wild parties though.

[Orikinla]

Any dummy can write a book on how President George W. Bush and his goons lied and misled America into one of the dumbest wars in history.

The Downing Street Memo and Ambassador Joseph Wilson have already shown us the facts, so any dummy writing another book on it is only desperate to fish in the troubled waters and make money from the political hoax of Dubya.

Writing best selling books on the falsehood of the mission to Iraq is medicine after death.

If President George W. Bush had been impeached in 2005, thousands of American soldiers would have been saved from dying in the war in Iraq.

In fact, I condemn all the office holders in the American government for misleading America into a wrong war in Iraq.
From the messenger who filed the classified lies of the Weapons of Mass Destruction to the President who told the lies, they are all guilty. And the innocent blood of every American killed in the prosecution of the war in Iraq is in their hands and the Law of Harvest awaits them and their children, because what we sow we shall surely reap now or later.

The only book on the war in Iraq that deserves to be read is the book written by those who have been there and not armchair critics who are cowards who are only speaking after the FACTS have been revealed years ago.

Who is fooling whom?

[glesslib]

As citizens, we had a duty to oppose this war. A War On Terror. Who ever heard of such a crazy premise? A war to end terror....A war that can't be won until the last terrorists is gone. What about the one who was born last night? Or the crazy who just quit taking his meds and has decided he is on some mission from God? The entire premise was always absurd.

We can blame the media, we can blame our government. We continued to watch all their patriotic jingoism.....I've still got the same inept U.S. representative and drunken Republican Senator I always had. Why, as citizens, didn't we throw these jerks out? Why didn't we demand better coverage of the war?

It's great to blame others, but as citizens of a democracy, we had responsiblities, too.

[thecanadian]

Naturally anyone who steps away from a political career is questioned about statements, books and behind the scenes activity. It is sad that today in politics, the MSM ATTACKS rather than questions the truth about statements. They don't engage in responsible reporting. They accept the ongoing political attack machine in smears and more smears. A good example example of that fact is the so called "Keeping Them Honest" disgusting show on CNN with MCclellan . Was that supposed to be a fact finding interview. No it was this weak sickening attempt to question the validy of statements made in this book. Notice nothing was attacked more than the section where the author said "that the msm didn't do their job"? Why didn't this 360 excuse for an anchor, push and question more about about the war - other comments in the book?
I submit that they were only trying to get their own self interest looked after. The 360 programme was about defending itself not really caring about the other Bush criminal activity. Anderson Cooper is one of the worst excuses and the best example of CNN's hypocracy and weakness.
You want truth - you won't find it their. They are boot lickers.

[badinko]

although we all wish people in the media and administration would have come forward earlier, like when it could have made a difference "runup to the war", he has to be given some credit for at least coming forward.

It is difficult to for a man to realize the dream he though he was building is really a charade, especially when being so immersed in communicating that dream.

I don't blame him for much, he is a press secretary, not a cabinet holder, not a policy adviser. He had his beliefs and concerns, but absent direct knowledge, which a press secretary does not usually have, he could not come out so strongly against his boss. Although this admistration is crap, there must be some respect for chain of command.

He resigned, he reflected, he wrote the book, he edited it, he deliberated over it, he published it. Regardless of how much money he makes, he did something no other press secretary has dared to do.

Before you bash him, bash all the cowards that jumped ship much earlier and still tote the administrations line of garbage, or the people in the admistration that know its garbage and do not resign. At least McClellan said something.....and it may lead to real hearings.

we would be worst off if he didn't speak. Thank you Mr. McClellan for finally doing what is right.

[mathme]

"Downing Street Memo and Ambassador Joseph Wilson"

Very, very excellent points. It's sad and odd that the MSM let both of these things go-- the substance of them at least-- and ultimately went soft on the liars and criminals. Now a liar and criminal comes forward and THIS is the evidence they grasp? Of course, they're more interested in the drama than the facts, but it's very convenient that this time the drama and the facts are so tightly entwined.

[Dee33]

The next book will be written by Bush himself. He will confess that Dick Cheney made him invade Iraq.

[mathme]

Dick Cheney will write a book blaming Clinton and say that people who didn't vote for Bush in 92 are to blame for the terrorist attacks of 01. "If only," he'd lament, "I had stood up in 1992 and told the people that if they didn't vote republican that there would be terrorist attacks then this current fiasco could have been avoided. I feel, that in some small way, I am partially responsible for some of the mess that we're in today. For whatever part I may have played, I would like to apologize-- however, an apology would just embolden the terrorists, and their acceptance of my apology could be in the form of a mushroom cloud."

[seawolf77]

That is great . I forgot about Blame-a Bill-itis that every Republican suffers from. Probably congenital. Look it's got genital in it. For sure they suffer from it.

[nightwind928]

In any scenario like this the first question one needs to ask is "Who profits?" Are we to believe that after chanting the Bush mantra for years this guy is suddenly having an attack of conscience? Or could it be that now, seeing the end of the Bush dynasty on the horizon and with nothing to lose (anyone associated with Bush will be poison for the foreseeable future) he figures to publish a "tell all" book that will guarantee him a few bucks to fade into obscurity with. Perhaps he sees a way to somehow vindicate himself from the mess he helped perpetuate and polish his image. It's a thin disguise to distance himself from the negative legacy that those in the Bush machine will forever leave behind. There are no "startling revalitions" in this book. It's just another example of a Bush rat leaving the sinking ship. Why the media frenzy?

[NtFourSale]

I never heard one outright denial.
Just puzzled non-denial denials.

[ObamaLover]

This is a great example money can buy some ones integrity.
sad, really...

funniest thing is all the left wing nut jobs that used to bash this guy, and call him a liar... are now believing every word he speaks, and want him on their shows and blogs..

politics... better than the comedy channel.

[jbd]

The White House was lying, Scott was sent out to lie. Eventually he realized that being a company man is not noble when the motives and results are as inept and evil as the Bush Administrations. When the Bush term ends, he, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Lieberman, Limbaugh and Bill Kristol should be driven out into the middle of Bagdhad, given a helmet and rifle, and kicked out the door and told to go accomplish their mission.

[mathme]

"used to bash this guy, and call him a liar... are now believing every word he speaks"

I do find this to be a little strange; the problem is that his new stance lines up well with credible sources that we "nutjobs" read and heard in the past whose analysis and revelations have fit reality far better than Scotty's former lies. It's not like Scotty dog is the first person to have said most of the things that we have heard from his book, but he is the latest and closest insider to have said them.

[richardgordon]

I have seldom seen the media or the Republican's savagely attack somebody as they have Scott McClellan. For some reason they think that McClellan is being "disloyal" to the Bush Administration. That he is a "Judas".

And this is where the ethics of "loyalty" get distorted to the point of meaninglessness. To my mind the Bush Administration is little better than other secret societies like criminal gangs such as the Mafia. Criminals demand the code of silence to enable them to operate with impunity. The general good of society, in their eyes is unimportant. They victimize not only individuals through cowardly means, usually in packs so that there is no possibility of retaliation. They instill fear though intimidation and their objective is completely contrary to the public good but benefiting a small segment of top members. Yet, the betrayal of such unethical people is greeted with withering scorn and ridicule.

To my mind Scott McClellan should be treated as a hero. He is finally tearing down the last veil of secrecy that has protected a corrupt and inept Administration. His book may make money but only because it reveals some very important truths, by an ultimate insider, about an Administration that has not cared one whit about America, its future or its people.

[bigkay]

Scott McClelland is a HERO !The news media is owned by corporate America and the American people are fed a stream of propaganda -CANCEL -cable it is 1984. Why pay outrageous cable bills to be fed this crap?

[rcozad]

I have a thought....put both Rove and McCellan under oath and have them testify before Congress! Oh ...I forgot Rove refuses to go under oath! Hymmmm!

[ObamaLover]

it's strange his version of the "truth" is different than all the others.... including the ones that were actually IN the meetings he was not,,,,, but he knows what happened in those meetings.
This is a prime example you only believe what you WANT to believe. If you are a Bush hater,,,, everything in this book is true. If you are a clinton hater, everything in dick morris's book is true...

[realpolitic]

I do not agree at all. Your argument is that everything is perception, which is always what Fox News tries to sell us. The account by McClellan is backed by so many other objective journalistic sources. Everyone knows this administration rushed into Iraq and buried any sources that said it may be difficult, like General Shinseki. Morris lies every night on Fox News and does little to bolster any credibility. No one takes Morris seriously except a few on the far right.

[NursePatric]

We know that a small group of political operatives were assigned by the Prz and VP to manipulate the Press and the A. people into a war with Iraq by inventing stories and using reports that were known to them to be discredited already. We know that the prz, VP and Cabinet all knowingly repeated those lies to the A. People over and over. What more do we need to know? Who wouldn't want to distance themselves from this Administration -- I expect coming clean early is a wise choice. Those lying murderers may be going to jail soon.

[coollbreezz]

Thank God for McClellan - Bush and Chaney should be impeach, Rove and other White House officials prosecuted for crime against humanity. ...But there is a conspiracy and the media is also a part..The mission in Iraq was accomplished..The Iraq war wasn't about WMDs, advancing democracy, on even about oil..Phillip Zelikow , a Bush adviser and a member of the 911 commission said "Iraq war launched to protect Israel" yes the Iraq war is all about Israel and promoting the NWO agenda.
http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=23083
http://joeland7.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/is-modern-israel-in-bible-prophecy/

[martykz]

Yes, protect Israel for Rev. Hagee and his mission to convert all the Jews to Jesus on Doomsday. Bush went to war in Iraq to evangelize the Middle East for Christ. It is what Jesus would have done! Thus the dangers of a faith-based foreign policy. Also, Saddam Hussein allegedly tried to assassinate is father.

[Jezreel]

It took a lot of soul searching and possibly the sacrifice of a political career for McClellan to do what he's done. I believe he's telling the truth because the Repubs are not denying the facts of his book. Instead they are attacking him personally. It's always better late than never. Whenever you're ready Scotty, welcome to the Dem Party.

[ResidentChimp]

McClellan is getting ripped for lying. Geaorge Soros pad him off and he knew that President Bush only hired him out of pity and he wasn't going to get another job anytime soon, so he sold out to the Dems. Now the pandering MSM can't wait to get him on their shows and listen to him lie.

[realpolitic]

Wow, Resident Chimp you broke it down very skillfully. I guess then McClellan was wrong when he said that we rushed into Iraq, that the administration is in permanent campaign mode, and that Scooter Libby and Karl Rove were involved in the Valerie Plame outing.

Wow, next you will tell us that Bush is a physicist in his spare time.

[steamboat]

George Soros is indeed the biggest investor in the company publishing McClellan's book. And Scott was very angry the Bush crowd endorsed Perry for Governor of Texas instead of his mom.