McLellan Blasts Bush Administration and "Culture of Deception"

Former White House Press Secretary Scott McLellan is releasing a new book chronicling his time in the Bush White House. Among other topics, McLellan discusses how he, along with the rest of the administration, went to Washington to change it, but ultimately ended up contributing to the "culture of deception" that existed. He goes on to discuss the lead up to the war in Iraq, getting caught up in the White House bubble, and the secrecy and compartmentalization surrounding the Vice President's office. The book is certainly worth checking out.

Although few of McLellan's comments are new, it is so incredibly damning for them to have come from a former member of Bush's inner circle. To hear these allegations from a man that was, between 1999 and 2008, the quintessential "Bushie" must lend credibility to his claims. McLellan's words also reiterate the recounts of other former Bush administration officials such as George Tenet, Richard Clarke, and Douglas Feith; men who were condemned by the Bush administration, but now have their criticisms validated by the memoir of yet another former staffer. The only difference is that this time it comes from a man with that had direct access to the President.

Not surprisingly, the Bush attack machine is responding by doing what it does best - attack the messenger. From Karl Rove to Dan Bartlett to Ari Fleischer, the only comments you heard in response to McLellan's book yesterday were attacks on his character and on him personally. Just this morning Bob Dole called McLellan a "miserable creature." Unfortunately, this has become the Bush (and Republican) motto when it comes to defending itself. Rather than discuss the charges of the book (or the issue at hand), they attack who the message is coming from. This nonsense is no different than their slander of John McCain in the 2000 primaries, the Swifboating of John Kerry in 2004, or the numerous attacks they've leveled on opponents of their policies. I guess when you don't have a basis to argue the issue, you might as well stoop to the lowest rung possible and kill the messenger.