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.