MoveOn says McClellan should not profit

Great Book! We need more honest people like Scott. Maybe he will be called to testify at the criminal trials of the people Vs. Bush/Chaney next year!

I find there to be nothing inconsistent with "the American Way"--that Scott McClellan would change his mind and make money off of it. That's why we call it a "capitalist" society, because you can capitalize on what it is you have to sell. BUT I will say this, the main reason that Mr. McClellan will take a tremendous amount of heat on this particular argument from BOTH ends of the political spectrum is because honesty is like kryptonite in the political world. Its like one big dysfunctional family; everybody's fudging the facts somewhat [or a whole lot] to make their case for this or that---thus, if one person comes clean, then everybody else suddenly finds themselves sitting their with their pants down; with their own fault exposed and their own turning-of-a-blind-eye to what could have been said or done at a critical moment! Nobody wants to cast that first stone because nobody is standing on the principles that genuinely provide anyone with any lasting security---things like candor; and a willingness to transform a rotten situation into a workable one. It is my guess that even if Mr. McClellan were to donate every last penny to some worthy cause; then there would still be outrage from both sides [liberal and conservative] because it is the honesty that they detest and NOT so much the fact that he profits. ...Beyond that, it we discourage former politicians to come clean by taking any potential incentive beyond that of mere conscience [which is a ridiculous thing to attempt to judge people by---because you never truly know what another person must do for their part unless you've already had to walk in their shoes for a time] then; frankly, you won't have very many politicians coming clean at all because most of the profession is built upon megalomania, broken promises and conveniently placed lies. What does honesty have to do with that? A truly honest person admits they can only do their part and never thinks they know better than anyone else what is right. Anything other than that is just self-delusion anyway! I would personally prefer that we do at least get some smidgen of the truth out of these chronic, pathological liars from time to time---no matter how it must be coaxed out of them. Because the truth is worth more than what money can buy for those of us who don't particularly care about all that money they seem to be hoarding for themselves. That is, except in how it puts food on the table and a roof over our heads. But HEY that's just my opinion!

I had a black man filling gas tell me he wants to read the book. That's enough for me. He gave me the old line. Bush bad, McCain like Bush. Vote Obama. All I told him was that he must be a Democrat and that I've got a problem with all the "change" that was coming. Democrats bad. McCain better.

I don't get it! Politicians are miffed at McClellan about making a profit on this book. Well, how many of those same crooks are making a killing off of this war! And for Bushy to be surprised that his former friends are now turncoats. Well lets look at the sort of people he surrounds himself with.. really. It's all sooooo...funny.

How out of touch must one be to expect that a Press Secretary actually believes in and approves of everything his bosses handlers asks him to espouse. Is it naivete, or just atuomatic defensive dishonesty? Really now...who would employ a flak who insisted upon total candor and honesty and refused to lie to reporters? I employ people to do a job for me. I ask those people to do things that they would not otherwise do (but they need to keep their jobs just like everyone else). I know that my employees do not agree with me or my methods...and I dont care..just so long as they do as I ask them to. Were I to actually believe that all of my employees embraced me and my methods...I would obviously be stamped as a fool. Were I to do what it takes to make sure that my ex employees dont criticise me after they leave my employ...I guess I would be Stalin.

NateRock,You hit the nail directly on the head!

I feel the same way about Move-On.org. The donations they have recieved should all go taking care of the troops and not political gamesmanship.

What a bitter diatribe Bob Dole has turned out. Who made his e-mail public? ...Judge not, lest you be judge(comes from that sacred Book so many people say they lean on)..."Once I threw the stones, now I am the glass.." (jonatha brooke, american musician/poet)

Kudos to you naterock - you said it best. Whistle blowers have all been punished like never before, what is wrong with this country? Someone has the courage (and it does take courage) to speak up and they get crucified. I can remember when they were applauded and held in high esteem. Problem here is the politicians don't want to admit the job of press secretary has become "blowing spoke up the _ss." Anyone in this administration who questioned anything was soon shown the door, some took medals with them to show "no hard feelings." I think we are seeing what our politicians are all made out of and it ain't a good sign for the American people. I am shocked at Move On taking such a stanch. Scott deserves every dime he gets from this book.

Bob Dole needs to shut up. He is so two faced. Where was he when the burglars from the Watergate break-in made profits from going on the lecture circuit? Or when Oliver North made profits when writing and lecturing about Iran-Contra? When someone is an employee they don't have the option to speak out if they want to keep their job. This is why they call it "Politics"!!!! You do what you have to do in Washington to keep your job. If you think people just "resign" you are fooling yourself. People are asked to leave when their usefulness is used up. If Bob Dole believes otherwise he is a fool too. Leaving his job and saying what he said in his book took a lot of courage because he loses more than he gains from the sales of his book. Look at what has happened to John Dean since his testimony about Watergate. Bob Dole is more of an ingrate to America for making those statements than McClellan ever will be.

Seems to me the truth sets you free.

Obviously I haven't read the book yet but from what's been reported there doesn't appear to be any startling new revelations in it. This dirty laundry's been aired for years now. Scott's book is just one more log on the fire.

It is incredible that Dole would be attacking McLellan - or then again, not. I guess it is typical Bush / Rove strategy. You can't rebut the facts so destroy the messenger by attacking his character. Who in hell is going to stand in the way of the neo cons and Bush and is that McClellan's responsibility anyway? We all know Bush would just say - bring it on! And then sick the dogs and rain the bombs on him. And McLellan did what all Americans did at the beginning, he trusted Bush. In fact more so for him because he trusted Bush as someone he personally knew. So now the message is, "so what if your assessment is correct?" we won't comment on that - we will instead say you are a changed man from what we knew - suggesting you know, maybe he had a nervous breakdown and now - well... ahh... is he maybe crazy? And what is worse now he is a weak wimp that did not have the guts to speak out and stand up to Bush before. And with all this noise then somehow the truth he so clearly speaks now after getting out of the propaganda machine does not count? Right by the usual Republican Rovian / Bushwhacker play books. Reprehensible. And this is leadership in America today? Lead the bullying of the Press Secretary? And Bush does not even have the cajones to do the dirty work himself, he just uses tools like Dole, much as he used McLellan before. I say Dole should be looking Bush in the eye instead and attacking Bush' character and maybe Dole should be looking in the mirror himself. I thought more of him than this foolish bully talk. I would say McLellan had a responsibility to speak up or quit earlier, but the intent of propaganda is in fact to brain wash. It certainly was successful on the majority of Americans for a long time. It still works on the die hard, "head in the sand" Bush supporters and neo cons. I think no one who appreciates the situation should he be too hard on McLellan for having missed or having been unable to see perhaps, the truth. I mean a fair minded person, who trusted his supreme leader, would think he must not fully understand and just take things as he is told them. And, I do agree he should not profit now and the majority of the money should go to some institute for the promotion of truth and facts in American politics. I do not agree that the Democrats fear truth although Hillary might.

It's interesting that no one is saying that he's not telling the truth. They are degrading him for being a turncoat and ungrateful. Most people already know the things that are in Scott's book. When someone from the administration comes out and says it, people can no longer make themselves feel good by denying it. It was Scott's job to spin things to make the Whitehouse look good. It was his job to walk a line between harmless misrepresentation and misleading and outright lying. You know you're going to be doing this when you get hired. The problem is that when you do this, you're supposed to be doing it to accomplish good things, not to enable war crimes and other criminal acts. You have to decide whether or not the forceful imposition of Bush and crew's idea of a democracy on others could have been a good thing and worth the genocide that they have led this country to commit. Keep the money Scott. Use it to tell more truths. Be careful. The IRS, CIA, FBI, and Secret Service are now looking over your shoulder.

To: HaroldReimann who posted the following: I had a black man filling gas tell me he wants to read the book. That's enough for me. He gave me the old line. Bush bad, McCain like Bush. Vote Obama. All I told him was that he must be a Democrat and that I've got a problem with all the "change" that was coming. Democrats bad. McCain better. I saw a black man running for President of the United States who is trying to help America move forward. There is a lot he says that the majority of Americans including whites pumping gas and Mexican Americans pumping gas and all races at all levels in America are going to vote for to make him President come November. McCain more of the same danger game. More of the same propaganda game. More of the bullying game without commensurate pay back. Obama for a new way, but really for the American way of strength through leadership. Walking the talk. Standing tall, carrying a big stick but listening to all, leading the world again.