BREAKING: Scott McClellan Testifies Before Congress - Opening Statement
By Logan Murphy Thursday Jun 19, 2008 12:00pm
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Former White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan, appeared before the House Judiciary Committee this morning to answer questions about what he knew about, and his role in the treasonous outing of covert CIA operative, Valerie Plame.
McClellan recognized the enormous damage the Plame scandal caused our country and government, and continued his calls for an end to the permanent campaign and scandal culture in Washington D.C.. He criticized President Bush for failing to work in a transparent, and honest manner for the American people, and the media for glorifying people who perpetuate partisan politics, rather than searching for the truth. I, as many others, take issue with his lack of candor back when these crimes were being perpetrated against our country, but at least he's there, in front of Congress and doing the right thing now. You can stream the hearings live on CSPAN's website.
Good morning Mr. Chairman, Congressman Smith, and members of the committee.
I am here today at your invitation to answer questions about what I know regarding the Valerie Plame episode. Back in 2005, I was prohibited from discussing it by the White House ostensibly because of the criminal investigation underway, but I made a commitment to share with the public what I knew as soon as possible. That commitment was one of the reasons I wrote my book.
Unfortunately, this matter continues to be investigated by Congress because of what the White House has chosen to conceal from the public. Despite assurances that the administration would discuss the matter once the Special Counsel had completed his work, the White House has sought to avoid public scrutiny and accountability.
The continuing cloud of suspicion over the White House is not something I can remove because I know only one part of the story. Only those who know the underlying truth can bring this to an end. Sadly, they remain silent.
The result has been an increase in suspicion and partisan warfare, and a perpetuation of Washington's scandal culture, one of three core factors that have poisoned the atmosphere in Washington for the past two decades. The central message in my book is the need to change the way Washington governs. We need to minimize the negative influence of the permanent campaign, end the scandal culture, and move beyond the philosophy of politics as war.
The rest of the transcript below the fold.
No one has a better opportunity to make that happen than the president. To do so, he must first fully embrace openness and candor and then constantly strive to build trust across the aisle and seek common ground to unite Americans from all walks of life and political persuasions.
I believed President Bush could be that kind of leader for the country when I first went to work for him in Texas. He was a popular, bipartisan leader who had a record of working with Democrats.
Unfortunately, like many good people who come to Washington, he ended up playing the game by the existing rules rather than transforming it.
The larger message of my book is bigger than any person or party. It is about restoring civility and bipartisanship and candor to our national political discourse. It is about putting our Nation's interests above partisan goals. Indeed, all of us--especially those in elected office--can do more to make this happen by promoting openness and engaging in civil discourse.
The permanent campaign leads to just the opposite. Substantive debates over policy give way to a contest over which side can most effectively manipulate the media narrative to its advantage. It is about power and electoral victory. Governing becomes an offshoot of campaigning rather than the other way around.
Vicious attacks, distortions, political manipulation and spin become accepted. Complex issues are reduced to black-and-white terms and oversimplified in the context of winners and losers and how they will affect the next election. Too often, the media unwittingly ignores the impact of government on the daily lives of Americans, focusing foremost on the Beltway game and lionizing those who play it most skillfully.
There is no more recent example of this unsavory side of politics than the initial reaction from some in Washington to my book. I received plenty of criticism for daring to tell the story as I knew it. Yet few of my critics tried to refute the larger themes and perspectives in the book. Instead of engaging in a reasoned, rational, and honest discussion of the issues raised, some sought to turn it into a game of "gotcha," misrepresenting what I wrote and seeking to discredit me through inaccurate personal attacks on me and my motives.
The American people deserve better.
Governing inevitably has an adversarial element. People and groups will always differ about the proper use of limited government resources. But should government be a process of constant campaigning to manipulate public opinion, or should it be centered as much as possible on rational debate, deliberation, and compromise?
Writing this book was not easy for me to do. These are my words, my experiences, and my conclusions. I sought to take a clear-eyed look at events. To do so, I had to remove my partisan lens and step back from the White House bubble. Some of the conclusions I came to were different from those I would have embraced at the outset.
My book reflects the only idea of loyalty that I believe is appropriate in democratic government, and that is loyalty to the ideals of candor, transparency and integrity, and indeed to the constitutional system itself. Too often in Washington, people mistakenly think that loyalty to an individual officeholder should override loyalty to basic ideals. This false loyalty is not only mistaken, but can exercise a corrupt influence on government.
I am here because in my heart I am a public servant who, like many Americans, wants to improve the way Washington governs and does not want to see future administrations repeat the mistakes this White House made.
I do not know whether a crime was committed by any of the Administration officials who revealed Valerie Plame's identity to reporters. Nor do I know if there was an attempt by any person or persons to engage in a cover-up during the investigation. I do know that it was wrong to reveal her identity, because it compromised the effectiveness of a covert official for political reasons. I regret that I played a role, however unintentionally, in relaying false information to the public about it. I'll do my best to answer any questions on this matter that members of the committee may wish to ask.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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WOW, The things people will do to sell their book
The last paragraph says it all.
it just puts a spon on bush and cheny knowing ,nothing , nothing nothing, they were out of the loop, loop, i tells ya
sorry spin
How much do you want to bet that the news channels spend all night talking about this, and not even mention the terrible FISA/telecom immunity legislation that they are sneaking through?
Bush wins again.
MR. Cheney says:
Scratch out the D.C. Madam on the list and add Scottie-boy.
BREAKING: Scott McClellan Testifies Before Congress - Opening Statement
A wop bop a doo-wop, a wop bam boom
The Italian anti-defamation league is already complaining.
The republicans are just attacking McClellen not asking any relevant questions, good grief the republicans are pathetic. The truth is just not not something the republicans are interested in just their talking points and smear campaigns.
He's still pushing the "I only want to change the way politics is done" meme, but at least he conceded at the end that Plame's identity was revealed "for political reasons", rather and try and argue she wasn't covert and no crime was committed.
That alone qualifies (according to Bush-41) as "treason" and worthy of impeachment of the whole lot of them.
I will not be surprised to hear the McClellan's house is burglarized or burned down or any of his close associates has some "mishaps" in the very near future.
tyree @ 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qG5V2iBvFs
Nice opening statement, this guy should have been a press secretary or speechwriter or something. Too bad his message is falling on deaf ears.
One of the biggest things wrong with this country are people like OREALLY!
It'll just be one more voice placing the smoking gun in KKKarl's hand. And congress will continue to do nothing about it.
Republican Committee Member: "Isn't it true that you are a scumbag for betraying your country in a time of war?"
Scottie: "No."
Republican Committee Member: "Doesn't that make you a liar?"
Scottie: "No."
Republican Committee Member: "Can you remember the exact date and under what circumstances that you decided to stop beating your wife?"
Scottie: ?
One of the biggest things wrong with this country is there aren't enough people like OREALLY!
hey....we could learn something from scott mcClellen coming forward to testify.....will have to wait and see
He knows they'll all be charged as war criminals in the future. He just wants to save his own ass. CYA, Scotty...CYA!
O'Really @ 16:
No, there are too many. There is one.
Wow, this guy's had a major attack of remorse and conscience. Of course, he got himself a nice book deal and is selling his conscience piecemeal at a very nice profit. And this testimony will only sell more books - that's cynical, but it's the truth.
McClellan was the messenger boy, nothing more. When do the perpetrators get their subpoenas? Cheney? Rove? The Moron in Chief?
why does the c-span link showing "CIA Leak Investigation, Part 2" show a stream of a McCain Speech?
Did I miss something
O’Really@1
Oh! Really? Maybe after a while, people like him realized that what they were doing was, after all unethical, and under the scam of patriotism, honor, country, Democracy he had to say and do things that at time were being glorified by the MSM. All these people serving in this Bush administration, will publish a book sooner or later. At this point, you keep your mouth shut in order to protect your pension, your retirement. This is the story for all high ranking military officers. They do what they have to do, even if it is against their convictions. Main thing, survive, collect that pension and protect your family.
That's exactly what he did. How come he didn't express his discomfort when he was in the White House? Simple. He is not a idiot.
woop! there it is...
for only 15.99 you can too ready my book, because in my book.. as my book says..
Just say the truth!@
Annoyed Canuck @ 20:
They passed a law months ago that makes them immune from prosecution. They snuck it into a larger bill. We need to repeal some laws.
mcClellan accepted the job as propagandist messenger.
this is book sales, with the additional plug for the innocence of the CIC.
Man you should have seen wexler give his " give me liberty or give me death" speech ie call for impeachment. It was great I hope crooks and liars show it. please oh please.
BamNinjas @ 21:
ditto
Hey, I just commented on he first thing that came to mind. I put him in with all the other CROOKS and LIARS running our country into the ground.
Richard @ 27:
It's working fine for me.
garcia @ 22:
EXACTLY RIGHT
O'Really @ 28:
Ok, sorry. Scottie sure is pissing off the Republicans in the room.
Just a whole lot of nothing. Nice that we taxpayers get to pick up the tab for this part of his book tour.
Obama financing flip-flop? Actions matter, change matters, not words, and Obama proved yet again that he will bring change by letting people finance their dream president and by doing that, their future. What's wrong with that Republican hypocrites? He walks the walk, listens what people are saying and doing, and is at least flexible enough to change his philosophy and policies, not like you conserving everything in the name of ideology and "principles". It looks like the media leash is being loosened a bit (especially at MSNBC, Morning Joe is not the same Morning Joe from 2 months ago, mocking Obama is now common on a daily basis and noone should be surprised about that). Let's face it. There won't be any balance kept this time. If it's 70%-30% for Obama a week from now or in November (and it surely looks and feels like that's the accurate sentiment at this moment), nothing will help the media and McCain hide the facts and reality and avoid the inevitable. Let's see a staggering win for once, shall we? VVV
Bill @ 13:
Exactly right. From that comment you could probably predict his stance on any issue. Al Gore is wrong, Michael Moore is a filthy liberal liar. They are incapable of accepting they have been wrong for so long so anytime they are confronted with facts and reality it must be some leftist lie. Reality has a liberal bias.
BamNinjas @ 21:
It is on C-Span 2 now.
McCellan is definitely trying to sell his book without completely selling out the current administration. He is saying they are lying but not enough to impeach them. He knows more than what he is leading to believe I think. I don't know what to think about this guy, he is still a slimy Bushie trying to sell a book.
You know, I was excited about McClellan exposing Bush's dirty laundry with the hopes it would provide some motivation to bring Bush to some measure of justice. But after the spineless display by the dems with the telco immunity, I just think this all a waste of time. The dems have no intention of doing anything about Bush beyond finger waving. They are perfectly happy to let Bush ride and use him as a campaign tool for Nov.
I broke from the GOP because they were complicit in Bush's malfeasance and corruption. But it's become painfully clear that the bulk of the democrats are really no different than members of the GOP. They are two faces of the same coin. We really need to wipe the slate clean and start over. Our govt is drowning in fail.
Rep. Lungren (R) is beautiful. That was one of the silliest attempts at distraction I seen in a little while. Giving the dictionary definitions and five year old democratic senator quotes really address the heart of the allegations before the committee
Cmon I was Just Kidding.
I also HATE Limbaugh and Cant stand Hannity.
Seriously.
"I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of [CIA] sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors." -George H.W. Bush
I have to agree with George H.W. Bush, his son IS a traitor. Does that matter to anyone in Congress? Probably not, they're just as bad as Bush.... pissing on our Constitution.
xoites defends Constitution @ 24:
All the more reason to issue subpoenas. If they are protected from prosecution, they have no reason not to testify before Congress.
Rove especially. He's not in government any more. Libby, and now McClellan (and others) have given sworn testimony about the exposure of Plame. There's no plausible national security here. So, swear him in already. If he refuses, charge him with contempt. What do checks and balances mean if they aren't used??
rob @ 33:
McSame is just pissed because he can't draw flies....much less big money contributers. Everywhere he goes, it's the sound of crickets chirping. Go cry to someone else, Grandpa.
Its an atonement and a way forward (for America), and Scott's testimony will lift quite a few stones if handled properly.
I was just about to ask "where the hell are you going with this Hank?", when he did get to the point. Its still a rambling roadwreck. But it now has a direction
Who really gives a fuck? I've seen these dog and pony shows a thousand times now and nothing ever comes of it. Wake me up when Bush, Cheney and Co. are being frog marched to jail. Now THAT would be great news.
The fact is not lost on me that McClelland's testimony was going on DURING THE FLOOR VOTE ON FISA (H.R. 6304) which protects lawbreakers who can afford to buy a congressman.
The bill passed with the help of over 100 votes from Democrats in the House.
It looks like we really need to clean house over there. Anyone who didn't like the vote of their representative should not only tell them so but should submit their name for replacement with their local party.
O'Really @ 28:
O'Really @ 28:
O'Really, did you know that the name of this blog was inspired by the Bush administration? Where else in our great nation could you find more crooks and liars other than the current White House?
mcclellan just called karl rove a liar even when rove is under oath
O'Really @ 1:
Amazing huh, How much people are interested in the truth ?
If Scotty were just "making shit up", then he wouldn't sell any books.
Dont'cha need to swear on your testicles before testifying?
"Testify brother, testify...sorry sister."
O'Really @ 38:
Neither can their mothers.
I hope that somehow, someway this will eventually lead to those who outed Plame being charged with treason. Because that's what it was. I don't know how anyone with the slightest pretense of being patriotic can support Bush and his cohorts.
Dick Cheney's next birthday present to Scotty?
A pre-owned Cessna 172
Frank @ 47:
...Rove used to lie under Gannon ...
but seriously folks ....
Bush is toast.
Cheney is putrid.
November will be a time of cleaning out the rotten rats in the White House.
They've stunk up the country for too long.
kit wilson @ 54:
I would say boosh is s**t
and chainey is toast
And in the Air Force we'd have SOS for breakfast.
Oh man, I'm gonna go committ crimes and then blame it all on Washington's culture.
.
The deseminator of the Decider's lies speaks...
.
Embittered-Max-Hussein-1 @ 57:
and Monica was Bill's de-semenator. bada bing!
We're just arguing sementics.
The culture of corruption in the Washington White House that was steming from the "past two decades".
This include the Clinton and Bush Administration, respectively.
Everyone who wants to defend and protect the U.S. Constitution must take example from Scott McClellan. Anyone who has not within the proximity; particularly Congress and the TWO other branch of government who participated in a cover-up, complicity of the illegal action of the administration will he accountable for their action for violating their duty. Turning a blind-eye and deaf ear is inself complicity and a willful intent to deceive.
If, Indeed, Bush didn't know about various important issues, such as this, and was being lied to, WHY DIDN'T HE FIRE THE LIARS afterwards?
NO, Chimpy-pants was in it up to his eyebrows.
Proud American @ 60:
This would also include Bush Sr.
So where the Hell was Biggles
When you needed him last Saturday?
And where are all the sportsman
Who always pulled you through?
They're all resting down in Cornwall.
Writing up their memoirs.
For the paper back edition of the Boy Scout Manual
Jethro Tull
Thick As A Brick
Do you believe in the day?
Well I think it's safe to say we shouldn't hold our breath waiting for the Democratic party to do anything about these crimes.
.
Standing room available out front, posters and banners welcome.
.
Dr. Acula @ 58:
What does this have to do with Bill...? The price of tea in China...? Your ass...?
... just asking.
Terrible @ 64:
But it might help us stand the stench
It's just Terrible.
Dr. Acula @ 58:
LOL. Are you playing any comedy clubs in the greater Houston area?
Embittered-Max-Hussein-1 @ 66:
It's a play on words. disseminate
Matt in Texas @ 68:
ha, you flatter me.
Matt in Texas @ 68:
What so great about the Humidplex?
And since babies gestate inside a body temperature of a muggy 98 degrees why aren't they born gasping on the cool metal gurney, "Aaaaahhh...air conditioning!!!"
Dr. Acula @ 70:
No, that would be a steam roller.
The last two lines of his speech today only was a CYA attempt so he won't go to prison. I still think that he is afraid of the Bush Administration as well as going to prison.
It would be something else if he did just threw caution to the wind had put all that he knew on record. With this type of testimony, it appears as if he caved in and played as if he "didn't know anything".
Bill @ 13:
And there are so many of them, a huge % of the population.
There isn't much McClellan said that most people in power and the few wanting to change it don't know, it's just that the mass % of the population are too busy fighting each other to prove how more patriotic they are.
It's a childish squabbling behaviour from a young country messing up and refusing to grow up.
Gotta love Blitzer,
Wolfie just announced on CNN that Scottie's book is #2 on the NYTime's "fiction" list.
BUSH LIED ABOUT WMD's
only a MORON living in a cave would not know this........
the pill poppin GOP right wing christians still think BUSH SAVED IRAQ
ha ha ha ha hh a ahah ah ha
Where is Scott going next? Europe? Canada? Mexico?
I bet there are regions of the Amazon that still does not know he wrote a book. I hope he is allowed to be interviewed there as well.
I just did a search. The words "Richard Armitage" do not appear anywhere in the story or the comments. Based on many of the comments, I doubt if they have heard of him, either. Ignorance is bliss, but it still makes life miserable for the informed where the blissful idiots vote.
Yeah we heard of Armitage, another PNAC criminal in treason directed by VP Cheney and Bush adviser Karl Rove.
Hey TruthMan, search for 4-Star Marine General Carlton Fulford Jr. or US Ambassador to Niger Barbro Owens-Kirkpatrick. Doubt you've heard of them. They were a couple of at least ten sources to verify the Niger uranium story was pure BS before Bush flung it at US.
Why didn't Cheney seek revenge vs. Ambassador Owens-Kirkpatrick or General Fulford?
Could it be bc they didn't write "What I did not find in Niger" in the NYT?
While you're at it look into Karl Rove's MO of political dirty tricks circa 1970 Chicago. Rove recycled a ploy he hatched three decades ago to sell the yellowcake scam. Pose as a volunteer to sneak into campaign HQ then steal official campaign stationary, pen a forgery and distribute fake invites to bums in Chicago to embarrass a political rival at their campaign event.
Except here the Niger embassy in Rome was broken into and its official stationary and seal was stolen, the forged bill of sale had outdated Niger officials on it and lacked the proper Ministry's authorization, launder this bs thru British intel and foist it onto the US public.
The twisted part of Cheney & Rove's treason revenge is that they exposed a NOC CIA Agent and operation who were investigated the WMD black market bc her husband exposed their lie that Iraq was buying yellowcake uranium from Niger. Get it? This President who claimed in a debate with Kerry that the most dangerous threat facing America was "WMD in the hands of terrorists" dismantled CIA front company-Brewster Jennings-whose sole purpose was to keep WMD out of the hands of terrorists.
Bush & Cheney are traitors and menaces to society. They are clear and present dangers to US security given how they've accelerated a nuclear race in the MidEast (12 countries so far).
Wilson was 100% correct about the "Pax Americana" purpose of the invasion, the bloody aftermath, and the boon to terrorists like Al Qaeda.
http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/entity.jsp?entity=carlton_w._fulford
http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/entity.jsp?entity=joseph_c._wilson
why isn't this hearing held infront of an independant comittee?
O'Really @ 16:
rethug troll!!!
The Exotic Chico Hussein Escuela @ 48:
If Scotty were just "making shit up", the rethugs would be attacking the book instead of attacking him.
DAMN, SCOTT!! YOU GREW A COUPLE OF HUGE BRASS ONES!!
I LOVED the shit-eating grin on John Conyers' face. lol
I sincerely hope that Scott has some bodyguards. I believe his life could well be in danger.
Jared @ 35:
Maybe he's trying to protect himself from assassination.
Never forget that Plame was outed to destroy her front company Brewster Jennings, and that the entire Wilson Smear story is total bullshit and spews right from the white house. Cheney's office was even involved in the Joe Wilson diversion.
They needed Plame out of the way so they could lie about Iran with impunity when the time came...NOW!
They are conspiratorial maniacs and spin us so hard we don't know which way is which. They create the reality and few can see just how insane and genius they are. Chaos IS mission accomplished!
TREASON by no other name.
George Walker Busche (german spelling) (666) The anti-christ who serves Mammon/Money over all things while wrapping himself in a cloak of false righteousness that the sheep cannot see through.
Not only as Scotty states. But I Lewis (Scooter) Libby inmate #28301-016 was commuted while further litigation by the Wilson/Plame law suit was continuing.
Bush in fact communted (intervined) during the litigation process.
So much for their arguement that they will not comment and will co operate fully while in progress.
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