McClellan Hearings May Be Required, Say Congressmen

***UPDATE***

Think Progress reported this afternoon that White House spokesperson Dana Perino told reporters Friday during a press conference that the White House could possibly stop McClellan from testifying before Congress:

QUESTION: Could the White House block him from testifying, if he wanted to testify? Or how does that work?

PERINO: Conceivably?

QUESTION: Yes.

PERINO: Hypothetically, which I'm not supposed to answer a hypothetical, yes, I think so. The law would allow for that. But by saying that, I'm not suggesting that that's what would happen or not happen.

McClellan himself told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Friday that he'd be "glad" to testify about the Bush White House. That and he doesn't see himself apologizing to George Bush any time soon:

"I don't need to ask for any forgiveness from him because my comments are sincere and honest ... it was tough getting to the conclusions I drew, but they were absolutely the truth from my perspective."

The Politico says House Judiciary Chair John Conyers is considering a hearing on the McClellan book to determine the real facts surrounding the Valerie Plame scandal.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) said today that he plans to begin discussions with former White House press secretary Scott McClellan regarding his participation in a congressional hearing.

"I find Mr. McClellan's revelations about attempts to cover-up the Valerie Plame leak extremely troubling. Particularly disturbing is McClellan's assertion that he was specifically directed by Andy Card to 'vouch' for Scooter Libby after the investigation had begun, which, if true, could amount to obstruction of justice beyond that for which Mr. Libby has already been convicted," said Conyers.

---
Florida Congressman Robert Wexler wants Scott McClellan to testify before Congress on the events in his book.

Former Bush spokesman Scott McClellan should testify under oath on Capitol Hill about his explosive new book in which he sharply criticizes his old boss, a Democratic congressman said Friday.

Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Florida, said McClellan, who served as the president's press secretary before leaving the White House in 2006, would be able to provide valuable insight into a number of issues that the House Judiciary Committee is investigating.

Comments

[Zankee]

If i leave this life without a "goodby"..­, I did not leave.., I was just "pronounced' dead....Gr­asshopper.­...

[Boboday555]

"Party of Personal Responsibi­lty"...Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha...that'­s as funny as an AWOL Coward referring to himself as a 'War President!'

[AxelDC]

It's nice to see the White House's concern that Americans have complete scrutiny of how it acts in our name. Since when does the President have a greater right to privacy for public acts than do American citizens from the prying eyes of US government officials.

Bush seems to believe that the best functioning American government is one that functions completely in the dark, while uncovering the most private lives of ordinary citizens.

[only1Demvoter]

Hello Everyone : I do not know whether or not this has been posted here yet, today ? Regardless of Scott's testimony, or if the White House can or may attempt to block his potential testimony.­..

MoveOn.org posted this petition this morning. Have you seen it yet ??

http://pol.moveon.org/mcclellan/o.pl?id=12768-8090811-Jyvl2P&t=3

It is my firm belief that Scott should NOT be able to reap a fortune for confessing his, and the Bush Administrations illegal activities ! Help him to find the REST of his conscience, and donate the proceeds from the book sales to a worthy cause... Such as a Veterans Association !

Any thoughts ??

Thank You Fellow Posters for your time, your input, and consideration.


More to follow. -ralph

[LiberalBuzz]

I am a member of Moveon but I told them I disagree, Scott DID NOT start the war and there is nothing wrong with him making money off of telling the truth.

Every organization can get holier than thou and Move on has definitely gone into Holier Than Thou with this silly petition.

As far as I am concerned Scott has finally shown the courage needed to go against the criminal slime, machine that is this presidency. Make all you can Scott!

[wesinohio]

I agree completely.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Agree, Liberal. I used to be a member of MoveOn, but when they decided to not remain neutral in the presidential primary, I resigned my membership. They've gotten a bit grandiose lately.

[Boboday555]

In the face of all his crimes, George W. AOWL is somehow still loved down in the Confederate States. Showing once again that parts of America arent really American!

[abluevoice]

Of Course he should be put under oath to testify before Congress. He is finally the "smoking gun" the spineless Democrats need to expose and validate further the corruption of the Bush Whitehouse and Cheney and Rove, especially in the outing of a CIA agent. They should put Fitzgerald under oath too and find out why Rove slipped through the cracks of his investigation that nailed Libby.

McClellan was inside as you can get to Bush and the corruption and his finding of his conscience is a bonanza for the Democrats. His book is EVIDENCE. Right now He is like the only eyewitness to a murder, and needs to be used as such in the prosecution of the Bush White House for their possible criminal lying on Iraq and obstruction of justice in the Plame case.

Wake up Democrats of influence: Hillary, Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Boxer, Feinstein, Feingold, Conyers, Gore, Kerry. You should be shouting to the media and voters, at every chance. "What more proof do you need that we we're and are now right, that Bush and Cheny and Rove are corrupt liers and con men that put this country's best interests second to their "permenant campaign self interest" and abuse of power." Lets get these guys and not let them walk away free in Jan.

[Zankee]

McClellan has no secret service protection. Stupidity, is to the farmer that does not protect his "Golden Goose".... Protection should be his companion till the eggs are laid.., sleeping on the ground if necessary.­...

[thisoldbroad]

Zankee.. that statement is a bit creepy.

[collprof]

The Democrats have heeded your 'wake-up' call and have solved the MI/FL debacle. In time, when the Dems win the presidency in a landslide crushing of McBush policies, and take over that will be the fitting end to Rethuglicanism we've all lived with since Newt's Contract with America.

We can all thank Bush 43 for the position the Democrats are in today. We will continue to thank him as the Dems take the covers off of all the hidden decisions made during bush's regime of torture, outing cia agents, rendition, warrantless wiretapping, throes of insurgency, and ultimate responsibility for the worst foreign policy decision in the history of America.

Why destroy Bush who will destroy himself. He is tettering on tottering again and as we all know the first step in 12 steps is admitting that one has a problem. Bush now questions whether he really did injest that coke while his father was in power. What will he do when January 20, 2009 rolls around as he rides down Pennsylvania Avenue, for the last time, and experiences the scorn of the American People? Who will pay $50,000 to hear him talk the nonsense we are witnessing now? He can't even fill a good sized bathroom for McSame.

It will be a generation before any legit GOP candidate emerges from the dark side. We are living the complete destruction of Reaganism and the only thing that will save the party of Lincoln will be the resurrection of 'hisself'.

[Boboday555]

Everything the Bush regime does shows they hate America!
Free Speech becomes Free Speech Zones.
Habius Corpus is done away with.
Warrants?
"WE NO NEED NO STINKING WARRANTS!"
Eminanat Domain is not just for the US government anymore...­nope, private bussinesses can scoop up your home and use it themselves.
AWOL Bush and his clueless supporters have more in common with bin Laden and Hussein than with George Washington.

[Boboday555]

The GOP:
"We're the party of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILTY which is why we prevent everyone from speaking openly about George W. AWOL's laughable regime!"

And neo-cons wonder why the world now sees them as the biggest terrorists on the planet!

[Zankee]

As they are.., so shall they "be"....Gr­asshopper.­...

[Boboday555]

President AWOL invaded a nation on lies in some misguided attempt to be seen as a worthy President instead of the worthless one we all know him to be?
I'm puzzled...­this is not the "President' the founding fathers had in mind.

[LawrenceL]

To paraphrase David Byrne, "This is not my beautiful president. This is not my beautiful (White) House."

And regarding Iraq..."Ho­w did I GET here?"

[Zankee]

The "money changers".­., who trade in flesh for worldly posessions­....Grassh­opper....

[LawrenceL]

That the White House and its sycophants are criticizing not the substance of what McClellan said, but his "disloyalty," tell us all everything we need to know.

When you can't contest the charge, attack the witness. Oldest defense lawyer trick in the book.

And to Mr. Bush's defenders: since when did loyalty to the president become more important than obligation to the truth, to the American people, and to America itself?

For Shame!

[ProfessorDuh]

They don't want to talk about the substance of what he said, because it is radioactive to them. Every time it is discussed, more people they have duped learn who and what they really are. If we ever reach the point where most Americans understand that, they and their party are finished.

[only1Demvoter]

Lawrence : Since 11/05.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/december2005/091205pieceofpaper.htm


' Staggering ', huh ?? -ralph

[progressiveevangelic]

moveon.org has a petition to sign, DON"T MAKE MONEY OFF OF THE WAR DEAD, MCCLELLEN!

[LawrenceL]

Mr. Bush is already wealthy. Do you see HIM donating his presidential compensation to charity? Renouncing the free medical care and secret service protection he will receive, at taxpayer expense, for the rest of his life?

No, you don't.

So, maybe you should "zip it."

[Raymondf]

What good would a hearing do. McClellen's clames would just be shot down by everyone in the White House press corp.So it would be a waste of your tax payer dollars, not mine though since I don't make enough money to file a tax return.

[ProfessorDuh]

Public hearings would confirm what the few Americans who have paid attention know, and the mass of Americans who have not paid attention do not know - that Bush deliberately lied the U.S. into an endless war of aggression.
And as for the "taxpayer dollars," we're already paying the Congress, aren't we? Paying them to do this.

[Zankee]

It is not the claims.., it's the reactive differences that should be scrutinized and measured to reveal the truth....

Clarity is the "good" that it will do...for now....

[Boboday555]

President Bush's idea of Free-Speech!
What a joke he and his supporters are.

[learnsomething]

There's no such thing as free speech in George Bush's adm.

[Boboday555]

George W. AWOL's PARTY OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ducking responsibilty yet again!
It'd be funny if it weren't so gosh darn traitrous!

[Zankee]

Let's see, what do we have here: A revolution, like what happened in Russia; or, like what happened in France; or.., a misunderst­anding,.. like what happens in the USA....

[TXfemmom]

I cannot remember the philosopher's name, but one commented that every revolution, such as that in the United States, needs a mini-revolution periodically, to dust off the cobwebs and debri which accumulated and cast aside the initial meaning.

God only knows that the Bush administration has subverted our revolution to about as far as it could get from the ideals of the founding fathers.

[guajiro]

I believe it was Thomas Jefferson.
"Thomas Jefferson 3rd President (1801-1809)

Periodic revolution, “at least once every 20 years,” was “a medicine necessary for the sound health of government­.”".