Everyone is all abuzz about Scott McClellan’s new book, What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception.  For those of you not familiar with McClellan, he was the White House Press Secretary from 2003-2006.  In fact, McClellan’s relationship with Bush even goes back to Bush’s days as the governor of Texas.

In this new book, Scott McClellan shocks the White House by declaring what some of us have been suspecting all along – we were mislead in the days leading up to our invasion of Iraq.  He also claims that Vice President Dick Cheney is the real man behind-the-scenes pulling the puppet strings.  He lambastes Condi Rice as a woman mainly concerned with her own image as opposed to the well-being of the nation.  And of course, he has more harsh words to say about Karl Rove, suggesting he and Scooter Libby are guilty of more than they let on… 

I have to be honest with you; I think McClellan may be right.  As I wrote above, some of us have had these suspicions for quite some time now.  Yet, at the same time, I am quite disappointed.  You may think those two statements may be contradictory.  Let me explain.

Here is Scott McClellan, a top man in the Bush White House, a trusted Bush advisor from Texas.  Here is a man that knows the in’s and out’s.  Here is a man who George W. Bush trusts.  It is one thing for someone like me to make these charges, I don’t know much.  I have never even met the President.  I am just some guy with a blog.  No one really cares what I think.  I have no credentials in this matter.  But Scott McClellan is a man with an inside connection.  He is a man in a position to know things. 

However, this recent book comes out tainted.  This is not the courageous story of a man who stood up for what was right and now wants the world to know what is really going on here.  This is the ramblings of a disgruntled former employee.  Not a whistle-blower, but a malcontent.  He stood by and watched all these things happen, and was even complicit in them!  He never stood up and said, “This isn’t right!”  Never is there any account of McClellan pleading with the President to change his ways.  He never resigned.  He never protested.  He simply took his pay and took his orders.  This is the very definition of cowardice. 

Now, when people read this book or listen to his story, they approach with caution.  Who really trusts a disgruntled ex-employee?  Whatever message gets out is viewed with doubt.  He could have convinced a few people had this book been written before 2006.  He would have gained much more respect had he stood up when he had the chance to really do something about it.  Had that happened, there could have at least been an objective discussion of the matter.

I hate to admit it, but Bob Dole has it right.  The former Senator and Presidential nominee wrote the following e-mail to Scott (according to Fox News):

 Scott,

There are miserable creatures like you in every administration who don’t have the guts to speak up or quit if there are disagreements with the boss or colleagues. No, your type soaks up the benefits of power, revels in the limelight for years, then quits, and spurred on by greed, cashes in with a scathing critique.

In my nearly 36 years of public service I’ve known of a few like you. No doubt you will “clean up” as the liberal anti-Bush press will promote your belated concerns with wild enthusiasm. When the money starts rolling in you should donate it to a worthy cause, something like, “Biting The Hand That Fed Me.” Another thought is to weasel your way back into the White House if a Democrat is elected. That would provide a good set up for a second book deal in a few years.

I have no intention of reading your “exposé” because if all these awful things were happening, and perhaps some may have been, you should have spoken up publicly like a man, or quit your cushy, high profile job. That would have taken integrity and courage but then you would have had credibility and your complaints could have been aired objectively. You’re a hot ticket now but don’t you, deep down, feel like a total ingrate?

BOB DOLE

I think that about sums it up. 

Where is the man who will stand by the courage of his convictions?  We need men and women courageous enough to stand and be counted.  If we ever want to bring this nation back to what it once was, a shinning city on a hill, it will take courage and endurance.  We will have to dig in, and fight hard.  Yes, it will mean sacrifice and ridicule.  But don’t you think that a small price to pay for liberty and freedom.  Others paid a much higher price.  Let us cherish their sacrifice by at least being strong enough to fight for that which we hold dear.