Of this whole Scott McClellan affair there is one fact that particularly stands out to me. In order to raise the argument that Scott McClellan may be disgruntled, the mainstream television media is pointing out that he was "forced out" of the White House back in April 2006. My question is, why didn't the mainstream television media tell us that at the time?
I remember back around that time Bush's new chief of staff Joshua Bolton told the White House staff that if they were going to be thinking about leaving in the near term they would do well to make the decision "now." Then there were a few people who left, among them McClellan. At that time, if one read the blogs or dug into the analysis pieces it was discussed that Bolton was forcing some people out. There's nothing wrong with that. He had been given authority over staffing hiring and firing. But why did the mainstream media have to be complicit in protecting the concocted story of McClellan deciding to leave the White House on his own? Why can't mainstream television media level with the American people and report what is really going on instead of towing the line? Is it some sort of loyalty to Scott McClellan and his face-saving departure that he and the White House seemed to orchestrate at the time?
Sure, that's nice but it's not "doing their job" and now it has sort of backfired given that now he's written this scathing book and his unhappiness with the way he was let go is being mentioned by some as a possible motive. I'm sure that for most Americans this is new news and to me that's inexcusable.
Lastly, given Scott McClellan's role in selling the war to the public and his criticism of the media not having done it's job of asking the tough questions, I think he should go to work for the public by becoming an uncompromising, hard-hitting investigative journalist working to expose the same sort of deception he was a part of. Given the lives and treasure this war has cost the country isn't it the least he could do? He should do the work pro bono and donate the proceeds of his book to the cause of starting to make amends. Sure, it's nice that he's stepping up by telling the truth. That's something more of this administration's past and current members should do. But it's not enough. Shouldn't that come with hard consequences? Instead it's coming with book sales!
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Denigrating him and coming forward with only snarky prose seems to be the practice of Bush and his surrogates (Rove, Cheney, et al.). Let's worry less about McClellan's motives and more about our own hesitancy in standing up to hold our elected representatives and their surrogates accountable.
Consider this book a mixed blessing - it may be the catalyst that leads us to discover the truth and keep it from happening again.
And specifically who are so many of you upset with in this matter? Take responsibility - did you do everything you could to help stop the war or any of the other cover-ups? I didn't and I accept accountability and promise to do better. Because, when all is said and done, we have the government we deserve.
B4B
Repugs don't let your puppets grow up to be writers
Don't let 'em tell stories and sell them old books
Make 'em be spinners and liars and crooks
Repugs don't let your puppets grow up to be writers
They'll never stay quiet and they're always amiss
Even with CIA love
Writers ain't easy to love and they're harder to scold
And they'd rather give you a chapter then diamonds or gold
Beltway seat buckles and old worn Guccis the right seems to write away
And you don't understand him and he won't die young
He most probly won't fade away