Scott, We Hardly Knew Ye

Jeff Gannon - A Voice of the New Media ^ | 5/29/2008 | Jeff Gannon

[ConservativeMajority]

Former Colleagues, White House Reporters Stunned By McClellan Allegations

MSNBC’s spittle-spewing Chris Matthews had a new “tingle running down his leg” Wednesday with the release of a “tell-all” book by former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan critical of the Bush administration. However, Matthews was only one among legions of Old Media liberals gushing about McClellan’s tome.

In "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," McClellan said that the war in Iraq was “unnecessary” and sold with “propaganda” and suggested that Karl Rove, Scooter Libby and maybe Vice President Dick Cheney conspired to conceal their roles in the Valerie Plame affair.

Media reports about the contents have left former colleagues “puzzled” and some members of the White House Press Corps “surprised” at the bitter tone and scathing accusations. Current White House Press Secretary Dana Perino dismissed McClellan as a “disgruntled employee” and Scott’s predecessor Ari Fleischer and successor Tony Snow came to a similar conclusion. Karl Rove told the hosts of Hannity & Colmes that McClellan’s book sounded like the rantings of a “left wing blogger.”

Add me to the growing list of those who are having great difficulty understanding McClellan’s motives. I spent two years as a White House reporter, much of it during McClellan’s reign. At no time did Scott ever indicate, either publicly or privately, he had the misgivings he expressed in this book.

What I hear about the book does not sound like the Scott McClellan I knew for two years. I can say without fear of contradiction, that I knew Scott better than any other White House correspondent or Washington reporter.

In my book, “The Great Media War: A Battlefield Report” I discussed McClellan’s handling of the White House press operation. At every turn, I gave Scott the benefit of the doubt for the devastating communication failures that plagued the Bush administration. It now appears that Scott did not deserve such allowances. By his own admission, McClellan either perpetrated a fraud behind the podium or has done so with this book. Whichever the case, Scott McClellan’s credibility is zero.

However, something as “trivial” as credibility will not stop the rabid liberal media from accepting McClellan’s words as gospel – because it represents the “truth” they desire. The media mavens who once characterized McClellan as a clueless dunce at the bottom of the information totem have miraculously transformed him into a central figure in the decision-making process. So much for their credibility.

While I was attending the daily White House press briefings, most reporters, including me, complained that McClellan rarely strayed from his talking points to provide substantive information. Now McClellan has written a book around a set of liberal talking points, “Bush lied, Rove guilty, Iraq a mistake, Cheney calls the shots, and so on.”

What I believe it comes down to is McClellan’s desire to cash in. The only way for a former member of the Bush administration to cash in with a lucrative book deal is to bash George W. Bush. Paul O’Neill and Richard Clarke figured that out, Gen. Tommy Franks, George Tenet and L. Paul Bremer did not. In 2005, Ari Fleischer wrote a book about his tenure as White House Press Secretary that the Old Media paid little attention to for the same reason: no Bush bashing.

Compare the buzz Scott’s book is generating to that of former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Doug Feith, the first key player from the administration to discuss the process by which America went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Even though Feith provided substantial documentary evidence in the form of memos, communications and intelligence analysis, the liberal media ignored his book, “War and Decision, Inside the Pentagon at the Dawn of the War on Terrorism.”

I suspect the reason lies in the fact that Feith challenged the “conventional wisdom” about the decision to topple Saddam Hussein and presented a cogent argument for having done so. Because Feith did not embrace the viewpoint of the Bush-hating Old Media, his work was ignored. However, McClellan’s uninformed opinions, overheard conversations and unsubstantiated assumptions will be held in far higher regard than Feith’s scholarly work because it follows the preferred template.

If Scott McClellan believed all the things he has written, one has to wonder why he chose to endure the abuse day after day from the White House Press Corps and the liberal pundits who now clamor to praise him.

McClellan could have resigned in protest or simply moved on with his dignity intact. Now he looks pathetic, vindictive and opportunistic. Not much of a legacy.

[Williams]

Why would I rely on Scott Mclellan to tell me if the Iraq war was "necessary"? It's just his opinion, and I can think of countless people more qualified to express an opinion on that.

Whatever my own qualifications or lack thereof, I totally support the war.

[Ann Archy]

What I hear about the book does not sound like the Scott McClellan I knew for two years. I can say without fear of contradiction, that I knew Scott better than any other White House correspondent or Washington reporter.

Ahem......Jeff Gannon says he knows Scott better than any others and Jeff Gannon is GAY and I think Scott is Gay and David Brock FLIPPED him.

[foxfield]

The title of Scott McClellan's book reminds me of something a wise person once said:

There are three kinds of people in this world, those who make things happen, those who watch what happens, and those who say 'What Happened?'

[Sacajaweau]

He's being interviewed now. He's not a very good liar...and speaks as poorly as he did as press secretary.

The book is merely suggestive...no meat...

I'd say he's now got an offshore account...

[Randy Papadoo]

Hmmm, gay? Scott had a pasty-faced look on his face on some of the interviews I saw. As if he’s guilty of something. Naw! /s

Gay or not, there’s something degenerate about what he did.

And, as was spoken in “Platoon” (I think), “Don’t mean nuthin’.”

[rightwingintelligentsia]

You know, Jeff Gannon is/was a FReeper. I wonder if he still lurks here.

[ConservativeMajority]

Rush nailed it yesterday on his show. Another Republican turning on his own because he wants to be liked by the liberal Washington establishment. Ari Fleischer has it right, McClellan burned a lot of bridges for a few weeks of attention from the leftist media.

[DainBramage]

Hes a now hero in Austin.....but a turd in the rest of Texas.

[Eurale]

Why can’t someone be smart enough to set up the liberal media and expose them for what they are? For example, writing this book with the purpose of drawing the response from the liberals (as this has done), and then revealing through secured affidavits that the whole intent was to expose the media through the release of false information that fit their political template and their self-mandate to manipulate popular opinion and thought.

[USS Alaska]

Scott's brother was an exec in the Bush admin {medicare, I think} and I'm wondering what his view of his brother's tell all book?

I never could understand why the White House had this incoherent boob as a TV press secretary.

He has his 15 minutes of fame.

[ConservativeMajority]

It’s not necessary to prove the obvious.

[Old Sarge]

I'd say he's now got an offshore account...

The Soros Connection has been confirmed HERE...

[johnny7]

And, as was spoken in “Platoon” (I think), “Don’t mean nuthin’.”

I'm pretty sure that “Don’t mean nuthin’ ...comes from “Hamburger Hill”

[sirchtruth]

Why can’t someone be smart enough to set up the liberal media and expose them for what they are?

Are you kidding me? If by now someone in the world doesn't know who the DBM are, and what their agenda is, then they are just being totally ignorant and don't care at worst, or wilfully blind at best!

[Ann Archy]

He needs to be asked about Scott.

[TomGuy]

McClellan’s book has accomplished one thing: It finally got the Administration to respond to something.

The Admin has allowed the leftists, media, and Dems to run roughshod over them for 7 years. They have tried and tried and tried to bring the ‘new tone to Washington’ by rolling over to nearly every criticism and allegation — until McClellan’s book.

Now, the Admin has its people out on the talk shows in full spin mode. The Admin has already put out more effort to combat the allegations in McClellan’s book than they have on nearly any other issue.

[TomGuy]

Jeff Gannon says he knows Scott better than any others and Jeff Gannon is GAY and I think Scott is Gay and David Brock FLIPPED him.

When all else fails, revert to allegations. The politics of personal destruction. Scorched earth. Hmmm. That's right out of the Clinton playbook.

[bigcat00]

Any word on how much he’s being paid to betray his former employer?

[kenmcg]

One’s got to wonder how the Bush man can surround himself with such an incompetent, spineless, back stabbbing boob.

[Arrowhead1952]

I'd say he's now got an offshore account...

The Soros Connection has been confirmed HERE...

I just heard Scott made some comment to the effect of:

"has to read the book himself before he comments [on the contents] as the publisher may have tweaked the words."

HUH?????

[YOUGOTIT]

Scott Mclellan must have been paid millions by the left to do all these lies. Another covert anti-American left wing fascist pig who proves his or is it her total support of the left and their support of al-Qaeda.

[ConservativeMajority]

Unfortunately, the Bush White House never went on offense against its critics, now we know why. Scott McClellan was flummoxed by the liberals in the White House Press Corps who wore him down. It’s like the Patty Hearst syndrome.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

I heard a soundbite from Ari Fleischer in which Ari said he Scott told him that the editor “tweaked” the book at the last minute, most likely to sensationalize the most infamous parts to appeal to the left-wing loony crowd.

[Arrowhead1952]

I think this SOB just lied to make a few $$$$$$$$s. I bet he is wishing he would have never done this. If I were the administration, I'd subpoena his rear end and put him on the stand in a court in Williamson county TX.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

RE: "Why can’t someone be smart enough to set up the liberal media . . . ."

Something like that happened when Mr. David Schippers released his book, Sellout.

Sellout was billed as a book that condemned Republicans for their handling of the Clinton impeachment -- especially Senate Republicans. It did condemn the Republicans but not for what the MSM employees expected.

I recall seeing wire stories in the local liberal rag with praise and other nice comments about the book.

Then one of the MSM employees actually read some of the book. End of all reporting on the book. End of Mr. Schippers ever being invited on TV shows. End of . . . .

[Ann Archy]

Look.....Jeff Gannon's OWN words about knowing Scott BEST.....the history of the left FLIPPING Gays to the left side....Mike Allen slobbering all over Scott, and last but certainly not least in building the case is going on KEITH OLBERMAN'S SHOW FIRST!!!!

I can put two and two together without someone having to put it on the blackboard for me.

[King Hawk]

It’s all one very weak man’s opinion of what happened. Nothing to see here...move along! It would be like asking the White House butler what he thinks of the war.

[Miss Didi]

RUSH: Folks, if I may be candid, this is what so frustrated me about McCain for all these last six years. McCain was trying to do the same thing. He was trying to be treated as an elite by the liberals, and how did he do it? By trashing his own party; by trashing his own president; by being more critical of his own party than he ever was our enemies; by making deals with them. He almost quit the Republican Party in 2004, whatever it was. It was he who approached John Kerry. People ask me, "Why do you have problems with McCain?" Why do I have problems with Scott McClellan? It's not quite the same thing, but the liberals seek these people out. Now, if McCain had decided not to run for president, he would be most-favored person status, he would be one of the wisest wise men on all these cable network shows but now they gotta take him out 'cause he's jumped back. He hasn't jumped back, they just think he has. This is a clear illustration here of how this all works. McClellan can sit there, "Okay, fine, the left's going to take care of me fine now. George Bush fired me and left me out to dry, replaced me with Tony Snow, but the left is going to take care of me. For the rest of my life I am a credible expert on the Republican Party and the Bush administration. The left will never criticize me anymore." Some people will trade their souls for that.


Scott McClellan looks for liberal love and protection.

Another Day, Another Republican Turncoat Accepts Premise of Left


McClellan joins list of neutered DC Republicans.

RUSH:...If the Bush administration were what Scott McClellan says it is, when that excerpt came out, they would have found the ruthless Jim Baker or some such, and they would have summoned little old Scott McClellan to a come-to-Jesus meeting. They would have said, "You know, Scott, your little book here, not a good idea for your family's future. The little book that you're going to right here, Scott, it's really not good for your future." And then they'd give him some job at the Carlisle Group, at the Blackstone group, where he never had to show up. They'd pay him off and they'd just put him somewhere, a no-show job at one of these Republican things, and be rid of him. But they don't play hardball politics like that, that's not what this administration does. If this had been tried, if McCurry or some other spokesman in the Clinton administration had done something like this, let your mind wander, folks, and think what would happen to that guy.

How Washington Culture Seduces

[Miss Didi]

Ari was just on with the Friends and admitted that he is heartbroken. He said he's in touch with Scott and just emailed him yesterday and will probably talk to him today. Ari said Scott is making new fast friends on the left who will desert him tomorrow. The Friends asked if Scott will support Obama now...Ari said that he couldn't very well support McCain.

[River_Wrangler]

What can people expect of Ann Richards son???

[Crawdad]

http://www.democrats.com/is-peter-osnos-withholding-impeachable-evidence-for-lucre

[Hatteras]

"has to read the book himself before he comments [on the contents] as the publisher may have tweaked the words."

I know, he lied to his own book. Where in the world is Josh Steiner right now?

[subterfuge]

I always wondered why Scott was so Wimpy. I always thought of him as one of those republican girly-men Ann Coulter sometimes mentions.

[mware]

Ari was being interview yesterday and said that when he talked to Scott a month or so ago, Scott said the book was very complimentary towards the president.

He also mentioned in a later conversation to Ari, that the editors were going to tweak the book.

[ontap]

Thirty pieces of silver sound about right!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

What I believe it comes down to is McClellan’s desire to CASH in.

Scott might not cash in because it's usually conservatives who buy books, not dems.

[Melchior]

Wasn’t his mother a Democrat factotum in Texas?

[MinuteGal]

There once was a Judas named Scott
Who turned out to be a real snot
Soon he'll face a Committee
Which for him will be shi'itey
While we won't care doodle-ee squat

Leni

[Guenevere]

Is there a double standard playing out here?
There's loyalty.....and then there's loyalty.

I'm still waiting for the President to give United States citizens an explanation WHY our borders are not secured 7 years after 9/11 and WHY he's comfortable with amnesty for millions of illegals ignoring the 'rule of law/.

[Arrowhead1952]

Yeah, I noticed there is no RAT connection here. < /sarc>

Look at the post at the link below.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2022855/posts?page=14#14

[Guenevere]

If Scott lied....we’re going to know.

[airforceF4]

I have not heard or read that anyone is saying that Scotty is lying. If he is, the response is very slow and short.
Loyalty, “30 pieces” “seduction” by the left? These are not effective responses to a book which may be inaccurate.
Trying to figure his motivations in the vacuum of media wastes time. Focus on the issues.

[Ron Jeremy]

I can say without fear of contradiction, that I knew Scott better than any other White House correspondent or Washington reporter.

LOL. Maybe David Brock is blackmailing him.

[BlueAngel]

He isn’t Ann Richards son.

[Travis McGee]

I'd like to know about W's loyalty to the Constitution he swore to defend.

U.S. Constitution, Article 4 Section 4:

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,

and shall protect each of them against Invasion;"

---

Invasion: \In*va"sion\, n. [L. invasio: cf. F. invasion. See Invade.] [1913 Webster]

1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.

[mimaw]

It's all about the money. The little turd is incapable of earning a dime on his own. Mommy probably doesn't have any pull left. Scotty was such a miserable failure in his very public job that his job opportunities were non existent. He tried to shop a book and the only publishers interested were Bush hating Soros financed lefties. They most probably wrote the thing for him. I guess this will make him the darling of the media and a hero in the bath houses.

[Guenevere]

Thank-you Travis....a voice of truth & sanity!

Folks, please wake up!

[Christian4Bush]

mark

[MinuteGal]

bttt