Kiss and Tell

Kiss and Tell
by Jean Carnahan

            I still believe in redemption.  Even for politicians.  But I expect more than just a political “kiss and tell” offered by Scott McClellan in his latest attempt to save his soul and line his pockets.

            His seven years in the White House press shop provided us with splendid kabuki theater in which he danced every tune fiddled by the administration.  He even admits to being a puppet for “selling the war” and calls the media “complicit enablers,” for believing the claptrap he delivered so convincingly.

            Why didn’t he speak up sooner, you ask?  It was simply inconvenient to do so then.  But, now it is quite convenient for Scotty to spill the beans when the prospect of huge book royalties teases his conscience.  Some say he’s simply telling the truth for which he should be applauded.  Applauded yes, rewarded, no.

            The cynics argue: why should we fault him for making a few bucks on this war—who in this administration hasn’t?  To salve his conscience and that of the book purchaser, McClellan is giving a portion of his royalties to the families of Iraqi War veterans.  They should refuse it.  If he were really of a contrite heart, he would give all of his ill-gotten gain to these families.        

But that is not likely to happen.  I was reminded of the fifties novel, “God’s Little Acre,” in which the protagonist owns ten acres of land and vows to give the proceeds from one of them to the church.  When he discovers there might be gold on his property he starts digging, acres by acre, each time moving God’s designated acre elsewhere until he finally moves it under his house.  Typical of this administration, McClellan wants to look good, without being good.

Reviewers say that McClellan’s book, What Happened, reveals little that we don’t already know.  And, apparently he shows little or no regret for being the White House mouthpiece when he knew better.  All that said, I don’t intend to buy or read the book.  Who wants to relive the horror of the Bush era.