Et tu, Scott? Bush’s press aide turns on his boss

James Forsyth

5 July 2008

James Forsyth talks to Scott McClellan, former press secretary to the President, about his new book attacking the Bush administration, its methods and its deceits

McClellan’s change of mind since leaving the White House — he now considers this a failed presidency — shows just how little time political partisans have to reflect in today’s 24/7 media environment. Amid the daily battles, McClellan had lost sight of what he was fighting for. Equally, his experience shows just how much loyalty to the President causes aides to suppress their doubts. Indeed, even now McClellan isn’t yet ready for a total break with Bush. He hints to me that Laura Bush will have read the book and says that he hopes that once the President leaves office he’ll read it and come to understand what McClellan means.

But perhaps what McClellan demonstrates most vividly is how few people in any administration are truly in the know. Tellingly, his advice to his successors is to ‘get an assurance from the President that you can be in any meeting, at any time, any place in the White House that you so choose’. But then again, seeing how the sausage is made might, if you’re of a sensitive disposition, put you off it altogether.

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David Short

July 3rd, 2008 2:32pm Report this comment

It's not about money.

It's shameful for someone to turn on the President, who represents the people, and who is also the Commander-in-Chief, when that person has been in service to the President.

It is an insult to the office.

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