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

[pennyfortheguy]

Beyond the cadre of pretty-faced Journalism majors at MSNBC, who cares? Another tempest swirling in vintage '80s bong-water. Pshaw upon the pseudo uproar of the moment. Hillary's debuting another line of pant suits.

[milo9]

Still can't get over the failure of the Neo-Con agenda?

[pennyfortheguy]

I couldn't give a ratf*ck about that either. I'm a fatalist and it appears Rome's teetering upon the brink.

[whathehell]

Who cares?

How about the soldiers who watched their buddies die for a lost cause? They were fighting because they believed in the propaganda. They care, and the destruction of the whores of PNAC can't begin soon enough.

[Opus007]

You what the sad thing is? Over the last 7 years we have progressively set the bar for the Bush Adminstration lower and lower. Can you imagine the OUTRAGE if a Democratic president was this incompetent. and dishonest? I applaud Scott McClellan for writing this book. It could not have been easy knowing tht he will be facing the full wrath of the GOP>

[Rumplestiltskin]

I missed the polygraph url.

[clintfatigue]

Scott - in my book, you are a hero. Thank you for coming forward and sharing the truth with us. There is no doubt that you expected a sh*tstorm to follow. There are so many BS arguements being thrown at you right now, but they are all hollow because, when one deals with the truth, that is all that matters. Rove looks silly as he scrambles defensively, Perino looks like she could really use some medication, Fleischer was always full of hot air anyway and he certainly knows the truth. It honor you for the courage
you have displayed. You are a true patriot.

[Witchitalineman]

I like this young man. Good for Scott McClellan. It's just too bad he was sucked in my this bunch of swines!

[nonconformist2]

Outstanding interview of Scott McCellan by Keith Olbermann. He interviewed him in depth for the full hour.

[MIKEBC]

POOR NEO CONS, THE TRUTH HURTS, I SURE HOPE SCOTT DOESN'T FLY ON ANY SMALL PLANES LIKE WELLSTONE DID.

[nonconformist2]

The right wing pundits are trying to discredit McCellan by calling him bitter and disgruntled. Maybe he is, maybe that was his motivation for the book. I don't know. But does it matter? It doesn't make what he says not true. What should matter to the American people is not whether he is disloyal, or why he didn't speak up sooner. Obviously he is a flawed vessel. But it is not uncommon for important truths to come from flawed vessels. I notice that most of the right wing pundits refuse to refute the actual claims made by McCellan. Instead they try to distract by attacking his character. This is common practice for defense attorneys. I used to work in Plaintiff's employment law. Whenever a claim was brought alleging discrimination or harassment, the employer would naturally paint the employee as "disgruntled" "bitter" and "incompetent" Funny that the pundits for Bush use the exact same words.

[TimeJumper]

I completely agree. This administration’s modus operandi has always been to discredit and destroy anyone who conflicts with their version of reality.

[rockyroad]

Chuck,

Journalism 101,

Your job is to report the facts in an impartial way. Your job is to unearth the facts, in any legal manner. Follow the money. . . do not believe nor let officials placate or intimidate you. You job is not to win friends, but to inform people. If you doubt, disagree. If your gut says no, shout no.

We have lost journalists to corporate ownership of the media and the incest that spoils among media conglomerates, lobbyists and politicians.

Welcome Charlie Gibson, the poster child.

[nonconformist2]

Amen.

[lainey]

Thank you Mr. McClellan for telling the truth as you see it. Although I have not read the book, I have read the bits and pieces that have been on TV. I am interested in learning more. While many say that it is easy to write such a story after you left, I say that it would be just as easy to remain silent. From what I have read, money doesn't seem to be your driving force . I believe that your intention was to awaken our minds and hearts about this administration and to call us to our senses about the upcoming elections. We must call on our leaders and our media to do a better job.

[Decipherer]

It's too bad, really, that McClellan didn't start telling the truth until now. What his timing shows is that he is an essentially lame, opportunistic and cowardly person in way over his head. Nothing new about his attempt to make hay while the sun shines -- in another year, this "tell all" memoir would never have seen the light of day.

The only, and I mean only, upside to this latest sordid example of self-serving ex-public "servant" behavior is if it finally wakes us all up to the insane mendacity of the Bush administration and why anything -- anything -- they say is a lie unless proven otherwise.

Foremost in my mind is making sure that Bush and Cheney do not lie us into war with Iran.

Meanwhile, let;s see how Scotty-boy does under oath as a witness before the House Judiciary Committee.

[kfdan]

More rats deserting the sinking ship! I fully agree that ... Bush press secretary is "getting savaged for saying what everyone knows to be true."

We all know that Bush lied to the American people and the world, desecrated the Constitution and invaded Iraq over oil. End of story!

[nonconformist2]

Unfortunately it is not the end of the story for two reasons:

1. They are now trying to lie us into war with IRAN
2. McCain wants to take up the mantle and run with it.

[ContraEgoiste]

3. We have a TRILLION and HALF debt for this war, some that we borrowed from the Chinese and haven't even started paying for the interest.
4. Patriot Act still there.
5. Habeas Corpus still gone.
6. Out of the half a million Iraqi civilians that we killed, what percentage of their families are ready to join terrorist groups seeking retaliation.
7. The country is nearly bankrupt.
8. The military is in bad shape.
9. 29,000 wounded and 4,000 dead.

[karela]

Scott McClellon should comfort himself that he is doing exactly what another famous republican defines as patriotism.
http://www.crisispapers.org/Editorials/patriotism.htm Theodore Roosevelt said that patriotism means to stand by your country, not the president or any public official. Thanks for speaking up Scott. It took some time to sink in and realize that you were being used to promote half truths and un-truths, but better late than never. We need to make sure that we aren't suckered again to the toll of hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis and Americans---none of whom were involved in 9/11. We were played for suckers to fulfill somebody's agenda. It may be that Bush was not in on it, but one way or another, it happened on his watch. No one person, president, VP, or anyone else, is more important than America as a whole. Our standing has been ruined in the world and we are more hated and more at risk than we were before we started this war. We need to take a good, hard look so that it won't happen again.

[MissingAmerica]

McClellan quit, he was not fired. He would gain nothing by writing a book of lies. On the other hand, this administration has proven itself to be corrupt and treasonous. I congratulate Scott McClellan on having the courage to come out with the truth. We have been fed nothing by lies by this administration, and now we have proof. It is time to begin impeachment proceedings.

[GiannaX]

I 100% agree!!

[andvoodoo2]

"We have been fed nothing by lies by this administration" and McClellan held the spoon.

[spicegal]

Scott McClellan may have done Bush's bidding at one time, but I believe he has redeemed himself by speaking out. We should be supporting him. Scott's story is credible because it validates so many others who were also fooled by this administration, and then got thrown under the bus. Now, if only Colin Powell would spill his guts.

[Pammy1151]

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people that are able to post on here when actually in fact they are also able to be inhuman at the same time. Can't people just take people as they are and for what they do without demonizing them or trying to figure out what their deep seeded ugly motives might be. I would hate to rent space in some of you peoples minds.

[andvoodoo2]

People like you are the reason Bush and Co. will never have to pay for their crimes. And, people like you ensure that more people like Bush and Co. will screw this country even further into oblivion just as soon as they can get another Bush-type back into the office of POTUS.

BTW, your application would have never gotten past the receptionist in my brain.

[conscioushope]

Pammy~

It is one thing to be kind and generous toward others.

It is a totally different thing to be naive to the point of allowing "deep seated" ugliness to become more malignant and even evil.