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Scott McClellan endorses Obama

Add former Bush press flack and lifelong Republican Scott McClellan to the long list of unlikely Obama endorsements.

WaPo:

Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan, who angered many Republicans earlier this year with a memoir criticizing President Bush, said today that he's voting for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

McClellan told CNN that Obama's message "is very similar to the one that Governor Bush ran on in 2000," apparently referring to the current president's early pitch as a reformer and a moderate.

"From the very beginning I have said I am going to support the candidate that has the best chance for changing the way Washington works and getting things done and I will be voting for Barack Obama," McClellan said during the interview, which was taped for the Saturday broadcast of a new CNN show, "D.L. Hughley Breaks the News."

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73 Comments
joesixpack's picture

I always thought this guy wasn't oily enough to be a republican. Welcome aboard, Scott. I think there's a lot of Scott McClellans out there who have finally wised up. Especially in Texas where it's almost a sin to be a democrat.

Maybe this kind of thing is a good indicator of an overall return to sanity. One can hope, I suppose.

Captain Kangaroo's picture

Sorry Joe but Scott was fully behind Bush and the rest of the neocon farce. but then they fucked him. They threw him under the bus during the Valerie Plamme deal and it was the last straw. A lot of people will take that shit, a lot will not take it and simply walk away and some will retaliate. I'm glad he is retaliating but ... I would never trust him, never, ever. He made his bed.

John's picture

I agree with Captain Kangaroo,

"Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan, who angered many Republicans earlier this year with a memoir criticizing President Bush, said today that he's voting for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama."

This pretty much sums it up, he is mad so he is acting out, plain and simple. Hey, don't get me wrong, if ya'll want him, then by all means please take him.

Big Boppa's picture

I-all don't want him. He was a weasel when he was press secretary and he's a weasel now that he thinks he can make his complicity disappear by pretending his heart wasn't in it.


I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.....

They all suck's picture

n/t

Captain Kangaroo's picture

Oh, we will take him. No problem. Maybe not trust him but we understand. We will take Colin Powell too. Charles Fried too. but if you come over I think we will take a pass. Dick... er... John.

John's picture
lol

Now that made me laugh.

Honestly though, I am very happy that these so called republicans are going the other way. :)

Karin Byars's picture

I think he is plenty oily, what an opportunist. Makes my skin crawl.

abarts's picture

Absolutely. With the added attraction of being a self admitted liar. The man has zero credibility.

Pericles's picture

Sort of the equivalent of Al Qaida endorsing McCain?

Pericles's picture

Okay, so, in addition to Al Qaida, McCain picked up some more anti-American terrorist endorsments today.

LeftandLeft's picture

Repukes are truly soulless. Fat Scotty get ostracized by the Crime family and now he wants to join us victims. Completely worthless endorsement.

Real Citizen's picture

hahahaha!

me_over_here's picture

He's the mistress that's been fucking her married boss. Boss promised to leave his wife for her, but in then end, kept screwing his bit on the side and dropped her ass like a hot potato. Now the mistress calling the wife, telling her where hubby's secret birthmark is, how he likes a dildo up the bum, and sending her pictures of hubby wearing her underwear. In other words, it's for revenge and information that you really could've done without.

They all suck's picture

n/t

casper46's picture

You Jeff Gannon loving self-hater.

bushisaliar's picture

Another leftwing loonie

Real Citizen's picture

The Joker of Rovian politics comes around to try to make amends.

Pffft… waddashewant, another book deal? Shove off Scottie

We want Competence in Government NOT endless campaign rhetoric... go peddle your crap somewhere else

Liberal AND Proud's picture

We welcome everyone...even recovering Republicans.


Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.

LeftandLeft's picture

But lock up your valuables and keep an eye on your kids....especially the boys.

ron's picture

Admitting that you have a problem is the first step to recovery.

Big Boppa's picture

12 doesn't seem like enough in this case.


I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.....

UncleDave's picture

Sorry. It's another NeoCon (rat) jumping ship to save himself.

UncleDave's picture

is being kind. So He's (Fredo) 'out of the family business' and turns state's evidence. I felt the same about Powell. He could have done the honorable thing long,long ago. Stick it.

Captain Kangaroo's picture

I find a difference between Powell and Fredo. I don't really know why but I do.

UncleDave's picture
OK

Fredo screwed Thugs. Powell screwed over a million Iraquis and 200 million Americans.

bobsf's picture

This is the amazing thing about Obama, the reason he will win. To one person, he's 'Bush 2000'. To another, he's 'Kennedy 1960'. Others may call him 'Reagan 1980'. This distance between these men could not be greater, and yet Obama can all of them. He's such a rare phenomenon.

Captain Kangaroo's picture

Maybe you have something there.

wheyghey's picture

Nope. He's Carter 1976. People were just SICK of Republicans with Nixon and his replacement Ford. They went with Jimmy Carter who ran as a reformer. "Change" if you will.

bobsf's picture

OK, so he's 'Carter 1976' to you. My point is his that he has the ability to unify. He has something positive to offer to people of significantly different political stances.

Big Boppa's picture

after laying down with rabid dogs he thinks he can get rid of the fleas by pretending to be one of us?


I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.....

nifty's picture

IT WAS ALL ABOUT RACE!
I'LL SAY IT AGAIN!
IT WAS ALL ABOUT RACE!!!!

Heh, eat it Limbaugh...

Taarak's picture

You may hear Obama’s message as being similar to Bush’s in 2000, Scotty, but your ears deceive you.

Listen closer.

It’s not enough to switch sides when the game is over. Forgiveness entails more than an admission of guilt. Recognize WHY you were wrong Scotty. Recognize WHO your team hurt, and HOW. Then restitution will be accepted more graciously.

UncleDave's picture

Spot on.

Gretchen the aspiring elitist's picture

This little bit caught my eye:

"McClellan told CNN that Obama's message "is very similar to the one that Governor Bush ran on in 2000," apparently referring to the current president's early pitch as a reformer and a moderate."

I do believe this damns the praise. Endorsing Obama while calling him "very similar" to Bush is the ultimate in fence-sitting. He isn't gonna close those republican doors just yet.

Kathleen's picture

Scott has Iraqi and American soldiers blood on those hands. The difference between him and the rest of the Bush administration is that he has come out and somewhat admitted his part in the war based on a "pack of lies"

Joementum's picture

... will get him a cup of hot coffee.

In hell.

nonny mouse's picture

I can understand why McClellan isn't going to be exactly welcomed with open arms by the C&L crowd. I'm only a little smugly pleased that I never really disliked poor old Scotty myself - he always had that air of knowing he was being used as a watercarrier, except someone had switched the water for steaming manure. And his conversion is a bit long after the fact to be claiming much of the moral high ground.

But. Some of us can forgive drunks who get through AA and stay off the bottle. Some can forgive wives and husbands who stray sexually and confess their guilt and remorse. Some forgive children who steal for drugs but go through rehab. Some forgive parents who've been abusive after they've sought counselling. Is the act so heinous that the attempt at reform and contrition can never be enough? Scott McClellan wasn't involved with making the policies he had to stand up and announce and defend, all too often with ill-disguised embarrassment. On the Nuremberg scale of blame and retribution, he's really pretty low level.

For me, coming out and endorsing Obama publicly is enough. Open tent is right - we should welcome everyone, including recovering Republicans. Maybe even especially recovering Republicans.

UncleDave's picture

Sorry Your analogy is not convincing to Me. The above is forgivable. BUT A drunk cheating husband who works for criminals is not.

Big Boppa's picture

He's a disgruntled former employee who's pissed because they tossed him to the curb without a golden parachute. He wrote his book as a last-gasp effort to cash in. If that doesn't work out for him his next move will be to become born again and cozy up to the death cultists.


I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.....

Peter G's picture

On the podium Scotty always conveyed a sense of unease when he was shoveling the shit. How many times can you ask a human being to say: I can't comment on an ongoing investigation before he checks to see what color hat he is wearing.


Hasa Diga Eebowai

LWing's picture

Arrrrr. Now that's what I call a real mutiny.
Shiver me timbers
Scoundrels!
Arrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhh!

gremlin's picture

I welcome his vote, but his endorsement means nothing.

Uncle Joe Mccarthy's picture

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/dap_10151_10101_DA...

this is far out

this is the way people lived when i was a kid

if you couldnt afford it, you either didnt buy it or put it on layaway

in this way, we spend our money on stuff....not interest and penalties of credit cards

this is a good thing

just_rachel's picture

the rats abandoning the sinking ship.

Liberal AND Proud's picture

Hmmm...ya think Scotty will be on Olberman soon.


Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.

UncleDave's picture

are talking to Scott's people as we speak,I'm sure.

Today is great news for Obama. He's sweeping the country and is only down by 5 in Georgia (and that's accoring to Republican Rat'sAss Rasmussen!).

Here's the weekend news:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/search/label/t...

Liberal AND Proud's picture

I know there's alot of anger about the last 8 years. Shoot, I am just as angry as the next person, and I've posted some pretty ugly comments in here.

But...remember this...we are NOT the right. We are progressives, liberals and even true conservatives who have taken issue for years with the tone of the GOP...with their demagoguing, race baiting, name calling and character assassination.

We are NOT them. We should not stoop to the level that they will and have.

There is going to be ALOT of anger from the right after this election. If you thought the Clinton years were bullshit...just wait...this will be worse. The GOP will be a clear minority, and they are going to do nothing but ramp up the attack machine. It is all they have. That is going to lead to alot of difficult situations and atmosphere in this country, and it will permeate for quite some time.

We need to stay calm and seek allies no matter what their party. There are plenty of good honest republicans, independents, etc. out there. GOOD PEOPLE. We may disagree with them on policy, but they are not hate mongers. There is nothing wrong with disagreement. This country was founded on disagreement. It is how we disagree, and how we learn to compromise.

All Americans ultimately want the same things...a job, an honest fair income, food on the table, some ability to save, raise their kids and send them to school. It's time to look for common ground. We pride ourselves on being more "progressive", open minded, fair and accepting. Ok, now is our chance to prove it.


Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.

UncleDave's picture

RePugs led US to disaster,including McCellan and Powell. They actively paticipated in that disaster. I don't need a RePug anywhere near an Obama administration. PEOPLE DIED because of these people,and needlessly. Sorry. I repect You. BUT NONONONO.

Big Boppa's picture
L&P

There's some merit to what you say but after 15-20 years of hate radio and Faux News it's really hard to listen to your better angels.

On the other hand... there's something to the saying that you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer so welcome aboard Scotty. /teethgritting


I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.....

Taarak's picture

All that you have said is true (and well said.) There is no need to throw all those who have been deceived over the last 8 years out with the sewer that the bathwater has become. But the bathwater must be thrown out, because it is a sewer.

Scotty, a likeable guy, was, along with Tony Snow (who was worse, but no more speaking ill of him), complicit. Not to the extent of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, Gonzales, etc., but every bit as part of the problem. He was as part of the problem as Monika Goodling, the naïve aparat-chick. As much a part as DeLay, and the 110th Congress.

This is not a matter of “accepting them into the fold”, this is a matter of restitution. Those who were not complicit are free to change their minds. Those who were, are free as well, but not without penalty – for without penalty there is no justice.

Not that I reserve the act of forgiveness to myself, but for me, I will forgive each and every one of these people when the damage they have done to this Country, and those around the world, has been reckoned with (if forgiveness is asked). Not until. If and when all has been forgiven, still…I will not forget.

SFnomad's picture

Scotty only endorsed Senator Obama because, like Powell, they're all black. Oh wait, Scotty's white ... hmmmmm, I wonder what the Repuglican talking point is going to be for this?

pissed off patricia's picture

I could care less about him as a person, but anyone pulling the lever for Obama is fine by me.

Sounds like the McCain campaign has started a circular firing squad. They are all already blaming one another for what has gone wrong. You might think they would be looking for ways to get McCain's ass out of the fire instead of eating their own.


Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.

UncleDave's picture

a vote is welcome. Anything else is stay the F away.

Liberal AND Proud's picture

UncleDave, no need to apologize to me.

I understand where you're coming from.


Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.

UncleDave's picture

I said My piece. And Peace to You.

Liberal AND Proud's picture

The wheels are starting to come off.

I expect the volume on the attack machine to get ramped up even higher...one last time...and then this miserable GOP campaign...and the long national nightmare of Republican rule will finally expire like an old library card.


Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.

thepoetryman's picture

It's great that you've come to your senses, or the right has written you off so you've nowhere else to go, but the last thing I want to do is praise you or thank you for your recent actions. Maybe when you come out and say you are sorry for your role in the deaths of our military members and the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis that have died because of your complicity in the crime that is still ongoing, maybe, just maybe I can bring myself to even remotely like you.


Make no motto of love that worships war

JerryH's picture

Rats leaving the ship ........ are still rats.

Artist formerly known as gempei's picture

Maybe Michael (heckuva job) Brown's endorsment will be the October Surprise. That is a gift Obama should leave by the side of the road.

Artist formerly known as gempei's picture

left the ship a while ago. They're treading water, hoping to be picked up by the SS RightSideOfHistory.

JerryH's picture

......... they have large chain guns on that ship to explain to rats what happens when they turn and eat their own constitution people and country.

Let alone the damage they have done to their country that all have to suffer, and likely more so than this scum.

Mr. Dave's picture

Yep. We'll all sleep well tonight with the knowledge of Scotty's endorsement.


"Culture is not your friend."

CMINCA's picture

We all know that Scott has swallowed the bitter pill for the Bush Administration, with no gratitude. His endorsement may be for spite. Also, some people still equate him with that failure of an administration.

Overall, a McClellan endorsement is rather underwhelming.

wisedup's picture

He LIED and people DIED...oh..how's thoes book sales doing Lieing Scotty?

shaggles's picture

Endorsements for former Bush admin folks don't mean a whole lot to me. It's good to see the Reps getting a slap in the face but if McClellan or Powell had endorsed McCain we'd all be saying "So what? They're part of the group that put us in Iraq and destroyed our economy."

Paranoia's picture

Scott knows that Barack isn't Irish???

I am almost positive that they'll dismiss Scott for voting for a black Irishman!

IdiotShrub's picture

Yaaaawn. Big woop. Much ado about nothing. Sorry Scotty, you will not be spared from madamme guillotine either.

nanlichi's picture

But this is not the choir that would respond to Scotty anyway. His endorsement could very well switch some voters from the McThusela side, so I welcome it. Powell's sure did.

I would like to think that I am big enough to participate in Obama's message that we are all one America. I promise to not laugh in the face of the Repugs on November 5th. Maybe a little smile and a wink, but not the belly laugh that's inside.

Jeanne's picture

How sweet it is. Arne Carlson, a former Republican governor of MN has come out to endorse Obama after the Michelle Bachmann lunacy. He told the people of MN that he has come out to endorse Obama because the nation needs leadership. He said that in times of crisis this country has always found the right leaders to guide the nation. I've always respected Arne Carlson. In fact as liberal as I am, I voted for the man because I knew he cared about the people of MN.


Jeanne

Widespread's picture

The timing is perfect for Obama.

Just when Pat Buchanan and the racist reichwingers are cynically pretending that Colin Powell's endorsement is all about race, another former Bushie who's white and of Gaelic origin, just like McCain comes along and agrees with Powell.

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