McClellan: Bush Should Have Fired Rove After Plame Leak (VIDEO)

President Bush broke his promise to the country by refusing to fire aide Karl Rove for leaking a CIA agent's identity, said Scott McClellan, the president's chief spokesman for almost three years.

"I think the president should have stood by his word and that meant Karl should have left," McClellan said Sunday in a broadcast interview about his new tell-all book, a scathing rebuke of the White House under Bush's leadership.

McClellan now acknowledges he felt burned by Rove, Bush's top political adviser, and I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff. He said Rove and Libby assured him they were not involved in leaking CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity, and he repeated those assurances to reporters.

In fact, Rove and Libby did help leak Plame's identity, as confirmed in a later criminal investigation. Libby had resigned by then, but Rove remained in office and eventually stepped down on his terms in August 2007.

"I think the president should have stood by the word that we said, which was that if you were involved in this in any way, then you would no longer be in this administration. And Karl was involved in it," McClellan said.

White House press secretary Dana Perino declined comment Sunday.

Keep reading here.

Watch McClellan on Meet the Press:

Comments

[sleek]

Republicans lie, lie, lie because they can.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO PENALTY for lying to the public. None.They don't go to jail, they continue to raise money and they even get re-elected President of the United State. And all of it based on a policy of lies and deceit.

Get them deposed or in court or in front of Congress -- that's the only way to deal with them.

[teacake]

Only if we have a strong and un-corrupt congress!

[blueskybigstar]

We need to have a law against politicians lying about finances, policy, and reasons to go to war. Otherwise, millions more will die, millions more will be refugees, and we will continually experience different Vietnams.

[BUMbO]

In court or in front of congress, this administration has proven time and time again that they will lie to the American people. Republicans = liars, more so than any other political party. People should hang their heads in shame for voting this dishonest crew into power.

[RSU]

"Republicans lie, lie, lie because they can."

Yet, you are willing to believe Scott McClellan (a Republican) at the drop of a pin or the turn of his coat.

ha ha ha ha ha

[leftcoastindy]

Because he is obviously telling the truth.

[nyboomer]

Not because they can. It is because truth gives them ulcers.

[booker52]

I believe Bush said he was involved. Does that mean he should resign as well????

[WorkingClass]

Of course he should resign. And he never should have hired Rove in the first place. No decent human being would hire Rove.

[TocinoHumano]

Yes.

[leftcoastindy]

I believe Bush said he was involved."

Do you have a link to that? Its pretty rare if he actually admitted anything or told the truth.

[Indubio]

Of course Perino declined to comment. In this matter, there is really nothing to say except what McClellan has already made clear. Bush should have summarily fired Rove and Libby. That Rove was able to escape the administration in a travesty.

[realpolitic]

Bush should have fired Rove and Libby and then Cheney and himself. I would respect Bush if he would have just said: "I am not up to this job and will return to my ranch to cut shrubs. I am putting the country in danger through my incompetence."

[bmermaid]

If Bush had that kind of integrity, he would have resigned himself.

[sowhatdemos]

shrub doesn't even have the compassion to admit this war was a mistake to keep MORE KIDS FROM DYING in his little war game. Other people have been cleaning up his messes his entire life. He has no honor, no integrity, no class. I've read thart he used to enjoy blowing up frogs with firecrackers as a child. Speaks volumes, doesn't it?
Besides, Rove knows where the bodies are buried.

[charon]

Soldiers are dying to protect Bush's pride and reputation. Literally.

[teacake]

Integrity and Bush are oxymoron!

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Sepuku, rather.

[editor]

Looks like its some serious Jailtime for Karl Allowedtogetawaywithanything

[buddhistMonkey]

In six months, Rove will no longer be able to claim executive privilege. I can't wait, because then it's "game on."

[LAWTON]

I seriously doubt the Democrats will do anything about this criminal administration . Hell many of them have supported Bush and his mob and are getting off his wagon because it's election year!

[jnratliff]

well this presidents word or the word of anyone in this republican party is not worth shit!

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

It is an amazing juxtaposition to compare honorable behavior to the actions of the shrub and his cronies. The two never meet.

These people are treasonous, lying, machiavellian, devious scum.

[realpolitic]

When McClellan states emphatically that Bush should have fired Rove when Rove leaked the name of a CIA agent then McClellan is making a false assumption: He assumes Bush is a moral man and he is not. Rove, in the leaking of Plame's name to journalists, was simply doing what Bush hired him for and that was to protect the president and smear and destoy all those who got in the way of the Bush agenda. This role explained Rove's very existence.

In fact, Bush just did the opposite of way McClellan thought would be right: Instead of firing Rove, Bush pardoned Scooter Libby. Thus, the conspiracy was complete and Libby was now given his reward for not speaking out and implicating Rove and perhaps Cheney. It is all a circle of deceit and destruction of any honor of the office of the presidency.

This incident alone is far more important than a president who has an affair with an intern. When one considers all the other Bush scandals, such as the firing of assistant attorney generals for prosecuting Republicans, this administration is knee deep in muck and mire and conspiratorially gaming the system.

[sawdustinhershoes]

Of course, I emphatically agree. These people are so out of bounds, it's worse than any movie. They exemplify the concept of absolute power corrupts, absolutely. They must really live in a very isolated and rarified environment to believe that their arrogant actions would go unreported. They Live in their powerful, insular world and believe they can and should control the world through "coercive democracy". They feel entitled. True madmen.

[realpolitic]

Hi, sawdust. I left some comments for you on the other thread under the article by Matt Cooper. Anyway, even Paul Bremer who was the "viceroy" so to speak of Iraq for awhile said he could not believe how careful and sycophantic administration bigwigs were around Bush, as if they did not want him to hear any bad news. I think Bush is a deeply insecure man who can not tolerate the slightest criticism, which he defines as anything besides total sycophancy.

Anyway, his kingdom is still standing for now, although the American people are disgusted. Hopefully, we are disgusted enought to reject McCain, although I think he has more inherent decency than Bush. I have always believed the countless illegalities and shenanigans of this administration rests on a house of cards. Right now they have an attorney general protecting them. When one person with inside information comes forward and testifies to the illegalities, perhaps in regard to the assistant attorney general firings, the whole house of cards will come tumbling down. it may be the torture memos. The dam will break eventually. One person in the administration just has to find religion. Thanks, Sawdust.

[1differentdrummer]

History is judging the w WH as lower than Nixon's, and that's saying something.

[realpolitic]

Yes, of course. John Dean, who was Nixon's white house counsel, wrote a book about the Bush administration whose title was "Worse Than Watergate." These guys make Watergate look like a teaparty.

[ShotgunDick]

"In fact, Bush just did the opposite of way McClellan thought would be right: Instead of firing Rove, Bush pardoned Scooter Libby."

In fact, Bush commuted Scooter's sentence. If he had pardoned Scooter, then Scooter could have been called upon to testify about Cheney's and Bush's role in the outing of Plame.

[realpolitic]

Yes, thanks for catching my error. Could not Libby be called to testify after receiving a pardon, though? I mean, Bush will probably eventually pardon him before he leaves office.

[DRaymond]

I don't blame Scottie for feeling strongly about this. You may remember the news conference where he stated over and over about how Bush was determined to get to the bottom of it and that anybody involved would have no role in the administration. In fact Bush already knew (or easily could have found out by asking the people he was almost constantly in contact with anyhow) and had every desiere to hide behind executive privlidge and obfuscation.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Who among us did NOT think it was a Bush/Cheney/Rove operation all along?

Puleeze.

[BrickSykes]

We should all remember that the Karl Rove's of the world are first class, mealy mouthed liars. Notice that when Scotty asked Rove if he was involved in any way, Rove answered ANOTHER QUESTION! If Scotty asked him if he "mentioned Valerie Plame's name", he would've answered yet another question. He didn't answer that 'he was not involved in any way', he answered 'did you mention Valerie Plame's name!' See what I mean?

Same with Scooter Libby. They all learn how to effectively "Double Speak" to cover up their involvement. That is why they are referred to a "Lying Chickensh*ts!"

IMHO, of course....

Brick

[exflatlander]

I think it'sMoveON that has suggested that McClellan, as a former spin meister, donate his book's proceeds to charity. Forget which one. Katrina victims? Iraq veterans? That another Bush operative should be profiting from his involvement in the destruction of American democracy is unconscionable. While it's time he come clean on his role in deceiving the public, his disingenuous " I asked them if they were involved..." statement is laughable. Like asking the fox if he had anything to do with the disappearance of the chickens.

[speakingtruth2power]

Isn't the firing of Rove expecting Dumbya to do the honorable thing?

It is what he promised to do when the Plame story first came out!!!

[ResidentChimp]

The biggest weakness of President Bush was in keeping incompetents around for sentimental reasons. He should have fired McClellan before he came to Washington. The question that the Obaqma pandering press refuses to ask is why McClellan never spoke up or resigned in protest during these times when he felt the Bush Administration was so wrong. The answer is simple: The unemployable McClellan sold himself to Soros for money. He will soon discover the difference between working for a man of Principle, like President Bush, and an unprincipled Marxist, like Soros.

[Gasparilla]

Bush = man of principle. There goes your credibility.

[drkazmd65]

Well,... unless that 'principle' is looking out for number 1 - you would be correct Gasparilla.

One can have principles,... but have bad ones.

[ann1]

I applaud Mr McClellan for having the guts and conviction to come forth with the truth. I don't care how long it took him to do it. If you've never been in his position don't be so quick to criticize him. If you've been paying attention to what he's been saying it's clear that he held the Prez in the highest regards, he looked up to the Prez. Yes it can be quite painful to find out the person you thought the world of is not so great of a person. Again, I applaud him, I tilt my hat to him, I thank him. Job well done Mr McClellan!

[LexLuthier]

Thanks Ann. Most, including those in the administration say he did it for the money. I think he did it as an act of conscience.

[ResidentChimp]

You applaud anyone who stabs America in the back. There haven't been anyone who came forward and substantiayed any of the drivel McClellan wrote. And I would think by this time everyone would already know that Joe Wilson with the help of Armitage leaked Plame's name. And as the illiterati here at HuffPo prove time and time again; why allow the facts to get in the way of our far left agenda. That the Plame investigation never prosecuted any one for outing Plame shows that no crime had been committed.

[JustADumbFireman]

"man of Principle". Ha! That's REALLY a funny one, Minnesota Mike! (By the way, we haven't seen your satire for quite some time. Everything OK?)

[macungieman]

....and those principles are??

[realpolitic]

Wow, residentchimp is in bizarre right-wing fantasy land, a place where the more complicated something is the more easily it is explained. Resident complains Bush kept around too many incompetents, I hope you are including Bush himself in that statement. He is the most incompetent and deceiving at all. He plays the role of being an easy-going loser, but really he is one.

[MACS]

.
Bush encircled himself with incompetents because he hates anyone smarter than himself. That includes bugs bunny..

[brighterside]

Heck, i'm still waiting on irrefutable evidence linking Bin Laden to the 9/11 attacks, as what the Bush administration stated publicly.

When was the last time he actually carried out a promise?

[realpolitic]

Who bin Laden?

[kuate]

In his own words, Bush does not get too concerned about Bin Laden. All of his concern is in securing his oil tycoon buddies get their hands on the Middle East oil.

McCain has admitted the Iraq war was due to oil..... God damn all those who decided to go kill, maim, and destroy iraqi citizens just for their country's oil.

[ResidentChimp]

I would think, as a terrorist supporter, Osama's word would be good enough.

[helonias]

So Georges word would have ever mattered.

They are consider almost as pesky as facts and truth to Bushco