Scott McClellan, a former press secretary for President Bush, has recently been on the national news scene promoting his book titled “What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception.”
During his tenure behind the podium in the White House press room serving as the president’s mouthpiece, McClellan became known in media circles as the man who fed false information to journalists during press conferences. Based on excerpts that were released from his book, McClellan attempts tells his side of the story. He said White House officials mislead him and the American people about the Iraq War. He said the president and other officials “spent most of the first week in a state of denial” following Hurricane Katrina.
McClellan also threw a jab at journalists. He criticized the national press corps for not asking White House officials tougher questions before we entered into the Iraq War. He said “The national press corps was probably too deferential to the White House and to the administration in regard to the most important decision facing the nation during my years in Washington, the choice over whether to go to war in Iraq. The collapse of the administration’s rationales for war, which became apparent months after our invasion, should never have come as such a surprise. In this case, the ‘liberal media‘ didn’t live up to its reputation. If it had, the country would have been better served.”
I thought about this excerpt for a few minutes, and I agree. Journalists did not ask the president tough questions before invading Iraq in 2003. Anytime the president, vice president, Donald Rumsfeld or Condoleezza Rice gave their reasons for wanting to go to war, the national journalists took it and printed it on the cover of their newspapers without questioning the information.
When White House officials said Saddam Hussein was involved in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the press corps should have said “How do you know? Show us proof.” During the lead up to the war, the press corps should have asked “What is the exit strategy?” However, very few tough questions were asked. It seemed like the White House officials intimidated journalists, and members of the press corps just rolled over.
It wasn’t until 2005 after the Hurricane Katrina incident occurred, when the press corps started to ask tough questions about the Iraq War and the governement’s response to the hurricane.
Most American citizens don’t have the opportunity to meet with government officals and ask them tough questions face-to-face. It’s the job of the press corps to ask those questions for them. If they can’t handle that responsibility, it’s probably better if they give up their seat to someone who is willing to ask tough questions before a war instead of waiting until after.
Tim Henley
Staff writer
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I agree with the opinion expressed in this blog 100%. America has always been referred to as Land of the Free……Home of the Brave. Given the lies, deception, corruption, greed, and flat out utter incompetence displayed by our elected government officials, during the lead up to the Iraq War, and the digraceful Katrina debacle, America Land of the Free….Home of the Brave, has been turned into an oxymoron. However, I don’t think the journalist are to blame. These reporters work for News organizations who are owned by major corporations. Like the old saying goes, ‘Follow the money’. The owners of these companies have contributed large sums of money to the Republican party. In most cases, condoning their reporters to ask tough, investigative questions regarding the how, what, when, why of the Iraq War would have been bad for business. Period.
The fact that this administration was allowed to market and sell this war, as if it were an ad for Abercrombie and Finch, is simply shameful.
Those who questioned the war were retaliated against. And in Valerie Plume’s case, careers and lives put into jeapordy.
Those who questioned how on earth could the men, women, and children of New Orleans be allowed to suffer in filth, with no food or water for 6 days, in America……Land of the Free……Home of the Brave, were criticized and attacked on every major news organization in this country.
This is not only disgraceful, it is frightening. I only hope the next administration will allow dissent, embrace differences of opinion, and expect to be questioned by journalist who have the freedom to perform their jobs in a manner in which they can be proud of, without fearing retribution.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
I don’t think the press should be held accountable for the questions they asked. I remember a female journalist asked George W. a question that he did not want to answer and she was ignored and was never asked another question at a press conference again, under his watch. In short the press was made powerless. It’s either, you are with me are you must be totally against me. Therefore take away that newspersons pen, paper, computer and microphone.
This whole thing reminds me of a school yard, when the kid that owns the ball wants you to play by his rules or he or she will have a tantrum and take the ball and go home.
Now that we are coming to the end of the current presidents term, I am sure we will hear a lot of things that have been swept under the rug and out of the public.
Scott McClellan is just the first of a long line of Bush people that will be doing some whistle blowing. Can’t wait to read those books and articles.
Sad to say, but I do believe a lot of the current administrations time has been spent pretending things are not as they really are. Most of the time these people didn’t have a clue and still don’t. How can you look at a parent that has just lost a child and tell them they died for freedom when in truth they died so you and your good old boys can get richer and pay back the people that had your back. The realization set in for me when I read that they think the majority of the people in America are happy with their present financial situations. How far removed from reality can you get?
The press did what they were allowed to do and still try to give the American public a small insight in to what was really going on with the war.
I have always been proud to be and American citizen, but the Katrina ordeal was the worst. We can jump right out there and help some country on the other side of the world in a matter of hours, but can’t help our own. My heart broke when I heard the mayor of New Orleans crying because he couldn’t help his people and still we did nothing.
Once again with this kind of mentality I can understand the press having their hands tied when trying to ask questions of the administration. One wrong move and you may never get another job in journalism.
We had a dictator for 8 years and not a president for the people.
I am waiting patiently for all of the things they happened over the course of Geoge W Bush’s reign of terror, that the press was not allowed to reveal. This should very interesting and probably sad for this country.