Scott McClellan: White House Wanted Me To Stay Silent (VIDEO)

Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan spoke out for the first time since excerpts of his new memoir set Washington abuzz, saying on NBC's Today show that he was answering a "higher loyalty" than his affection for President Bush: "loyalty to the truth."

Video of the segment is below, and here are some highlights via Politico:

"The White House would prefer that I not talk openly about my experiences," he said in a lengthy, at time combative interview with anchor Meredith Viera. "These words didn't come to me easy. ... I'm disappointed that things didn't turn out the way we all hoped they would."

He added: "I have a higher loyalty ... than my loyalty to my past work. I have a loyalty to the truth."

Asked if he'll ever talk to the president again, McClellan said: "I don't know. I certainly don't expect it any time soon. I know this is a tough book for some people to accept."

McClellan's book, "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," has provoked a furious counterattack from his former colleagues, who call it "sad," "puzzling" and "pathetic."

McClellan accused Vice President Cheney of failing his boss. "In a number of ways, he has not served the president well," McClellan said. "Part of it is the secrecy and compartmentalization ... in the White House."

And McClellan said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, when she was White House national security adviser, gave in too often to Cheney and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"I felt that too often she was too accommodating ... of the other strong personalities on the foreign policy team ... and too deferential to those individuals," he said.

Former presidential counselor Dan Bartlett, following McClellan on "Today," said McClellan had used "very inflammatory words" like "propaganda," with "not a lot of evidence."

"He never communicated to us that he had these personal misgivings," Bartlett said. "There's not a lot of specific evidence about the most explosive charges."

Comments

[LeftVetPatriot]

You were such a bad liar, Scotty.
Like... WHO KNEW?

You've just picked the scab off, Son.
Ain't seen nuthin' yet.

[olivia]

After all this how can he support McCain for president?

[gotalife]

Nothing new in this book.

We already knew w is a pos.

He is cashing in.

Don't buy his book.

[Wiredwilly]

Americans have become cowards. The Neocons should be in JAIL , not writing books. Hundreds of thousands, both American and Iraqi have DIED. Not Bin Laden, not Saudis, not Bankers , defenseless Iraqis who had nothing to do with 9/11 whatsoever. For God's sake will SOMEBODY watch the Aaron Russo Video on YouTube, " Rockefeller reveals 9/11 Fraud to Aaron Russo" and put 2 + 2 together.

[NoLove4HillaryAnymore]

I am surprised they did not do the Vince Foster on you before you spoke out...to tell you the truth, you got some balls and glad to see you standing tall and talking about it. Thank you for standing up for the truth and I truly believe you that you have been deceived by the administration not on all things but on the major controversial ones.

[Korinthe]

"There's not a lot of specific evidence about the most explosive charges."

Really? In the most secretive administration in U.S. history, there isn't a lot of specific evidence? Ya don't say! Love that turn of phrase, by the way, "specific evidence" Sounds like a pretty specific parsing of words, that bit, eh?

[coonce]

Why is it that when an ex-employee writes a book about the administration - the President is always the one NOT being SERVED correctly?

McClellan, Powell, O'Neill all wrote about the admin but always PRAISED or FELT SORRY for the President.

Either the President is DUMB person or he had NO control of his own admin. Either way - it's no wonder our country is where it's at today.

[miatch]

so true. Like, isn't his first and most important job being able to select good and varied advisers, listen to their opinions, and then make smart choices?

[swift goat pet for truth]

No, it is to find people who agree with him, and make decisions on all the evidence he hears.

[Strywever]

You didn't think the President was running the country, did you? I think McClellan's take is right -- the President has been used by much craftier people. Of course, that doesn't excuse him one iota.

[billrott]

My only request to Mr. McClellan is the following:

DONATE YOUR BOOK PROCEEDS TO THE FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN SOLDIERS IN IRAQ AND TO THE INJURED SOLDIERS THAT FOUGHT IN THE IRAQ WAR

If Mr. McClellan is telling the truth, the fact that he did not speak up when he should have and instead continued to push what he called "propaganda" resulted in the destruction of many many lives and families. The least he could do is not attempt to profit off of such actions.

[suzyhein]

anyone who spoke up was fired. bush was single minded. it wouldn't have mattered.

[spqesq]

My only request is that he testify and show his "higher loyalty to the truth" at the Hague and in the inevitable criminal proceedings that flow from this administration in years to come.

[Chandidevi]

Do not judge this man; you were not in his position. He did a wonderful thing by coming forward at this time, knowing full well, he would have to stand up to criticism such as yours. He knew what was coming, and he came forward anyway. My hat is off to Scott McClellan. Now get ready for the s--t to fly. This administration has no integrity/ethics. It is wrong of you to criticize him and then tell him what to do with the proceeds. Who the hell are you?

[biglover]

I agree with Chandidevi. Who are you to tell people what to do with their money. This man has a family to feed. You go Scotty. At least you didn't wait until after the election.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Get real.
He's a republican.

What has the last 7 years been about?
(Hint: making money off of disposable people)

[1PALady]

I can respect you just for telling the truth

[suzyhein]

i agree. im so irritated at everyone for being so hard on this guy. he sounds intelligent and sincere and i thank him for having the courage to tell the fuc5ing truth ANYTIME.

[spqesq]

I'd respect him more if he told the truth when he was lyeing and protecting his boss.

[suzyhein]

have you never had to distance yourself and reflect on something to realize the real truth of the matter? furthermore the fact that he stayed and believed in the president makes his revelations much more powerful now.

[mollysgran]

No one would have listened then. W's supporters had to see more deterioration before they would listen. Remember what happened to whistle-blowers in the earlier years of this administration. The timing of the book is much better NOW.

[Norsky]

Gumby123. Do you have these attack/talking points written down or memorized? Just wondering.

[nerakami]

Why in God's name should he have gone public back then? We CRUCIFIED the Dixie Chicks when they spoke out against Bush...... so having seen all that.... no he would not have gone public.

[suzyhein]

and he would have been fired like every other person who dared to question the king.

[2008WakingFromaNightmare]

Scotty better watch out, news is that Georgie has given Laura the keys to the pick-up so she can run him down when she sees him on the street. He probably ought to be a little suspicious about that hunting invitation from the Dick too.

[whatchamean]

Yep Scott, you won't be getting any Christmas cards from Bush and Cheney this year.
Throw him on the heap of people who have tried to tell the truth about their experience.
Clarke, O'Neill, Kuo. We liberal kooks who been screaming this since 2002 might feel a bit
vindicated but the damage has been done. We have had criminals in the White House and
enablers in the media.

[snseattle]

Current and former White House staff keep repeating "he never told us he had these misgivings­..." or something to that effect. Can someone tell me why that has anything to do with his making them public? Would you tell your boss these things when you still worked for them?

I t;hink McClellan should have 'gone public' at the time he knew these things, but that is a separate issue.

Why should it matter what he told to anyone at the White House and why would we believe the White House story anyway? Their argument seems like a playground response. Why not trot out the facts (haven't had time to make them up?) and prove he is wrong instead of giving the equivelant of "did not" as a formal response? Because, "did too" is the truth, eh?

[AlleyCat1]

Why do interviewers such as Ms. Viera never let a person finish answering a question? Are they so in love with the sound of their own voice that they can't stand to cede talking time? Seems that way to me.

[suzyhein]

ditto. i thought she felt like she had to appear tough on him. but it is transparent.

[escapee]

She did seem a bit hostile at times. We should be praising this guy for putting himself so far out on a limb.

Our media sucks, BIGTIME!

[ometep]

Cowardly? No more cowardly than you Meredith and the mainline media outlets for going along with the Cheney/Bush plan and worldview.

[bigironal25]

The real cowards are the media for their lame excuses for reporters.­Last night I watched David " May I have this dance, Karl" Gregory on Hardball trying to defend himself and I wanted to puke. This guy just makes me sick . So much so, that I don't watch Race For The White House, ever. Rachael Maddow Should have her own show and Gregory can spend more time at the White House, practicing his dance moves!