Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan has written a book:
Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan writes in a surprisingly scathing memoir to be published next week that President Bush “veered terribly off course,” was not “open and forthright on Iraq,” and took a “permanent campaign approach” to governing at the expense of candor and competence.
Among the most explosive revelations in the 341-page book, titled “What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception” (Public Affairs, $27.95):
• McClellan charges that Bush relied on “propaganda” to sell the war.
• He says the White House press corps was too easy on the administration during the run-up to the war.
At 28 bucks, I may have to wait for the movie.
McClellan’s book is self serving, in that it looks like he wants to change party affiliations and be seen as a hero to the Democrats. Maybe he wants to be the first White House Spokesperson to serve two different administrations; he’s gambling that Obama will win. More than likely, he probably feels that he helped the Administration blunder their way through foreign and domestic policy and wants to apologize for it. The pressure of being seen as complicit in big mistakes is a hard thing to deal with. This book seems a mea culpa. Funny thing is, all he is is a talking head: he is a puppet. His job description is “puppet,” by definition. Of course he wasn’t “in” on the big decisions. He is not a “decider.” He’s the guy who has to face the media and explain the administration’s position 5 days a week. He’s a bit player.
I don’t think that guilt or apology has the least bit to do with it. I think he wants to make money.
I could buy at least thirty doughnuts with $27.95.
It really does depend, I think, on where you buy those do-nuts.