Scott McClellan: A John Dean Moment, Not A Democrat

Tuesday night I watched the first of the Bush Administration talking heads, including some 'expert' from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, respond to Scott McClellan's  "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception."

The former White House press secretary was quickly assaulted with a limited and dull collection of bromides:

• If he was so concerned about these matters, he had the obligation to speak up at the time.
• He betrayed the White House.
• He sounds like a Democrat.

From  Bush apologist Frances Townsend, on CNN we got "Scott never did that on any of these issues as best I can remember or as best as I know from any of my White House colleagues."

From the White House,  the AP reports,"Scott, we now know, is disgruntled about his experience at the White House," said current White House press secretary Dana Perino, a former deputy to McClellan."

As for Secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice (also AP), we are told her response was, "Those who were skeptical should have spoken up at the time and argued against U.N. sanctions such as the oil-for-food program, she said."

None of these and the myriad of other replies addresses one fundamental point - no one will take on McClellan head on and deny the truth of his allegations.

The notion that he sounds like a Democrat, must bring a smile to the lips of John Dean. The Watergate Era staffer to Richard Nixon, and author of Blind Ambition,  faced a similar, though somewhat more demanding, crisis.

Both men knew that eventually history would catch up with them (also see Stanley Kutler's  The Wars of Watergate ) and their presidents.

Faced with the ugly lies and the disapproval of their colleagues, both Dean and McClellan chose the truth, the temporary label as turncoat, and the long-term contentment of honesty.

That is not a Democratic quality, I hope.

Comments

[antpoppa]

Sanctuary for the Beast!
Run Scotty Run!
Don't fly on any private airplanes! Watch out for powdery envelops, senic overlooks, balconies,heart attacks, tragic one car accidents...!

THE ROLLING STONES - Gimme Shelter
Ooh, a storm is threatening my very life today
If I don't get some shelter, oh yeah I'm gonna fade away
War, children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
War, children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin, our very streets today
Burns like a red coal carpet, mad bull lost its way
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
Mmm, the flood is threatening, my very life today
Gimme, gimme shelter, or I'm gonna fade away
War, children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away, it's just a thaught away, it's just a shot away
I said, love, sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away, kiss away, kiss away, yeah

[antpoppa]

Sanctuary for the Beast!
Run Scotty Run!
Don't fly on any private airplanes! Watch out for powdery envelops, senic overlooks, balconies,heart attacks, tragic one car accidents...!

THE ROLLING STONES - Gimme Shelter
Ooh, a storm is threatening my very life today
If I don't get some shelter, oh yeah I'm gonna fade away
War, children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
War, children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin, our very streets today
Burns like a red coal carpet, mad bull lost its way
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
Mmm, the flood is threatening, my very life today
Gimme, gimme shelter, or I'm gonna fade away
War, children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away, it's just a thaught away, it's just a shot away
I said, love, sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away, kiss away, kiss away, yeah

[Jim Jones]

When this first hit the news I assumed he was assuming his role in the Culture of Cashing In. I am not convinced at all that an affection for The Truth is the motivating force.

[William]

Paul:

Did you even read the book yet? I find it ironic that you are commenting on what other people are saying and you probably did not even read the book. Also, how the hell do you know that he speaks the truth? Because you want it to be so?

[Katrina]

To William,
This is a case of Republicans eating their own. Truth or not the book is very critical of this administration and no one is saying McClellan is a democrat. I'm guessing Scott wrote the book for the money. But he had to know the result could be an investigation.

[Alan]

I'm still waiting Fran's candid explanation for omitting the hospital with the largest number of patient deaths from her Katrina "Lessons Learned" report. Now wonder she took offense to Scotty's noting the disastrous response to Hurricance Katrina. It's hard to manage a disaster from a plane bound for Saudi Arabia.

[MilwBornandBred]

The big clue that this thing has teeth is when the Bush wankers called out their Rovian troops to do "damage control" including the king himself, Karl with his comments on Faux News saying McClellan sounds like a left wing blogger....
*L*
Well, he certainly doesn't sound like a fork tongued Bushie.