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

James Forsyth

Wednesday, 2nd 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

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.

Thank goodness we can have a run on the pound when we need one

Martin Vander Weyer

Martin Vander Weyer looks ahead to next week’s Pre-Budget Report and reflects on George Osborne’s contentious remarks about the devaluation of sterling. It looks like Gordon Brown is getting away with his borrowing binge — leaving the Tories isolated

I loved Oliver Stone’s Bush film — and I know why the critics hated it

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The great Tory tax and spend battle: seconds out...

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Where is our inspiration when we most need it?

Bryan Forbes

Bryan Forbes remembers listening to Churchill as a 14-year-old evacuee and now looks with envy at Obama’s capacity to galvanise hope. Where are his UK counterparts?

For a bit of perspective, try thinking Jurassic

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High Life

Taki

Taking sides

The Law Lords are right to resist the government

Lord Lloyd of Berwick

Lord Lloyd of Berwick says that the government’s emergency legislation to overturn their lordships’ ruling on witness anonymity is part of a ‘gradual usurpation’ of our liberties