Scott McClellan Should Now Become a Pro Bono Investigative Journalist

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!

Comments

[AuntSam]

Why do we insist on attacking the messenger instead of attempting to either validate or invalidate the message? Why are so few expressing concern about the media's lack of fortitude and investigative journalism at this juncture? What is and what will be more valuable to our country's future - casting aspersions on McClellan or doing what is necessary to ensure we know the truth?
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.

[CaseyBabes]

Denigrating is the optimum tool of politicians, used widely to hide their own weaknesses.

[HoneyBearKelly]

Has Scottie stopped working for Vets For Freedom>

[gregjones]

McCLELLAN: AMERICANS SHOUD'VE PAID MORE ATTENTION !!! It is amazing watching the media squirm from the truth that they were all major accomplices in the Bush Regime's deception campaign regarding the entire Iraq invasion. From the over 6 so-called military experts who appeared over 4500 times on cable news lying to the American public (were paid by Pentagon to lie), to the former Bush staffers who had been telling us that we had been lied to (O'Neil, Richard Clark and now McClellan) with very little if any coverage on cable news, anyone who watched cable news regularly could see the non-stop 3rd World style media manipulation. Bottom line....THE MEDIA HAS BETRAYED AMERICA ! Even now, as the media works tirelessly to discredit McClellan, you can see the wheels of deception turning in CYA lockstep. Media folks that we trusted are revealing themselves to be complicit through their desire to join the Regime's discredit campaign. David Gregory, Chuckie T, Anderson, Wolf and even Andrea Mitchell is asking the question why is Scotty speaking out now, without reviewing the fact that her own husband Alan Greenspan waited until he left the Regime to expose that we invaded Iraq FOR THE OIL ! (as he wrote in his memoir). The real story behind McClellan's book is not just how the Bush Regime has betrayed and deceived America....but how THE MEDIA was the #1 chief accomplice. America should demand an investigation of the media ! HEADS SHOULD ROLL !!!!
B4B

[burnt]

with apologies to Willie

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

[SamThornton]

McClellan as an "uncompromising, hard-hitting investigative journalist?" Sounds like a bridge too far. Doubt that Scotty could investigate his way out of a wet paper bag. More realistic role: unindicted co-conspirator.