Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 5/30/08
Tonight, you'll hear former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan in his own words. He'll answer his critics and explain how his book "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception" came to be.
READ ANDERSON'S POST
What's going to happen to the delegates in Michigan and Florida? The democratic party's Rules and Bylaws Committee is meeting to figure that out. You'll remember that both Florida and Michigan defied party rules and held primaries earlier than allowed. As punishment, both state parties were told they would not be represented at all when the party officially nominates its presidential candidate in Denver in August, and they are challenging those sanctions. Will there be a compromise?
David Mattingly has the latest on the FLDS. What's next for the state and the kids? Take a look at David's blog about possible payback.
And be sure to check out our live web camera from the 360° studio. It shows Anderson and Erica behind the scenes on the set. We'll turn the camera on at 945p ET and turn it off at 11p ET.
LINK TO THE BLOG CAMERA
We'll start posting comments to this blog at 10p ET and stop at 11p ET.
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I must say I am finding Hillary's tenacity a bit tiring. I can see her fighting on the floor of the meeting tomorrow, but urging her supporters to demonstrate outside the meeting is too much. It is devisive and will do more to tear apart party unity rather than build it up. I think both Clintons need to check their egos at the door or we will have a Republican in the White House for another 4 years.
Bill Clinton has lost his charm, he is Hillary's biggest liability right now and has been for months. It is time to sit back and smile, not saying a word.
What about the delagates Edwards got?
Shouldn't they go to Obama?
Also in yhis twisted logic of Hillary - she is disinfranchising the caucus states.
And since we don't know the popular vote - she can't say she won it
W don't know because some states don't release it
I am totally shocked that Bill is blaming others for Hillarys problems.
I guess he was just so fixated on being the first president to get re-elected, his ego is just out of control.
I will see them what happen tomorrow morning including Michigan and Florida have been recount the vote. and delegates to be seated........
It feels like perhaps Bill Clinton's charges about pressure being applied from some faction to the super delegates to vote for Obama is true when so few of the super delegates have come on side for Clinton after all that has happened over the past few weeks.
How come in talking about Hillary wanting the delegates seated from Michigan and Florida – there is no comment about the fact that she worked hard to cancel the votes from a county in Texas?
The last weekend of the never ending democratic primary season!
I bet that the Clintons will be relieved when this is over no matter what the outcome.
Sen. Obama can afford to give Sen. Clinton more than she deserves from Florida and Michigan. The superdelegates will more than offset those delegates.
Dana Milbank in the Washington Post had an interesting column on McClellan's talking points today.
Politics is always about either getting in a position of power, or maintaining that position. And doing whatever it takes! It now looks like spin is only part of the Bush administration, but let's face it: it's been around for a long time, and will stay around for quite some time to come (unfortunately).
It seems like the only thing we know after this book, that we didn't know was that Bush didn't lie about WMD's. The intelligence was wrong, but everyone thought it was right.
I think more people would be inclined to believe Scott McClellan if he sent all monies he makes from this book to charities (VFWs/military hospitals/funeral services for service men and women returned to their families in body bags, Katrina victims, etc.)
I think his writing of the book now and bringing it to the public eye is perfectly acceptable. Should he just have remained silent forever? If it gets us thinking and evaluating his assertions, we can all be better off for it as the next President takes office in the near future.
Cory, Fresno Ca
Good Job Anderson. What did you think of the interview??? You were very hard on him and Scott stood his ground.
Everett – i agree.. McClellan has talking points that in every interview he has repeated over and over. I think we managed to knock him off some of those talking points, challenging him on his oft repeated excuse of being "in the white house bubble" and getting "caught up" in the Washington political game.
If he had quit and spoke out would people have believed him? Or would the White House have put some spin on it as they are now?
Anderson that is a very interesting interview. Great questions. You are awesome!
I have seen McClellan's other interviews, nobody has been so fair in asking the questions.
I can't wait to read that book.
I can't wait to read this book. Scott seems to be repeating himself, & trying to 'spin around' Anderson's questions. Am not really sold on this book yet, but I do believe the Iraq 'war' was manipulated.
Great job with the interview. It was fair and respectable and that's what I appreciate about 360.
We need to stop believing there anybody out there will be giving us a truth that is untainted by personal beliefs, preferences or motives. We need to look at both sides of a story, try to get the facts and make up our own minds as fairly and objectively as possible...
The American people should never forgive Bush for the corruption and deception that has colored his administration. It's disgusting to hear him talking about "forgiving" McClellan, considering the mess he and his administration have perpetrated on this country.
Anderson, u were tuff, however, he hung in there. Props to both of u.
Scott should apologize to all the men and women that have served in this awful war. If all of what he is saying is true, something needs to be done. Good interview!
WOW Scott is the Man! Washington is out of control, this guy has guts! All the Washington Gangsters at the same old game(deception).
Thank you Anderson for getting this done for the American Public!!!!
Whether Scott's book is true or not, I think it will be hard for the American people to ever believe what present and future White House spokesman have to say in the future.
Good interview. Scott seems to be answering AC's questions a lot better than questions when he was press secretary.
I wish Scott had the courage to speak up against the war before it started like Robert Byrd did. At least he's speaking out now.
If we are going to change the "As usual" Washington politics, this book should be a gage for truthfulness and ethical conduct maintained by our candidates during this election process. I would guess that if a candidate isn't honest in a campaign, they will be less honest once in the White House.
Was his job not to spin? he did it well if you ask me.
Hi Erica – Happy Friday to you too! Too bad the webcam is frozen. It'd be nice to see your smiling face 🙂
Dear Mr. Cooper
It seem to me that Mr. McClellan is still using spin when he is answering your questions.
Saying the White House was deceptive but would not say they lied, what is that? why can't he say yes or no and then explain his answer, not explain and never answer yes or no.
I don't think Scott's minor revelations are a vindication for his participation and I am surprised that Americans are shocked at this exposure of White House lying and manipulation. The White House and president consistently denied knowing of the Katrina disaster until 5 days later claiming ignorance, only for a video to leak exposing the President's and White Houses' prior and on going knowledge of the extent of the disaster. It's just another day at the office.
This interview is so riviting, the posting here is at an all time low for halfway through the show- we cannot turn away from the tv!
Let's face, we can't really change Washington until we stop being Republicans and Democrats and return to being Americans. If we all are unwilling to do that, no future President will have much of a chance to move the country forward one single inch.
Scott's biggest mistakes that by saying the truth now he has to fight against His corrupted team,None of his Xteam would side him by announcing " Yes I am a lair " he should teamed up with few honest guys from inside if there is any to prove his book.
Ari Fleshcer still seems to be working for the White House.
I believe there is way too much drama over a book that hasn't even been released to the general public yet. Bush and Dole have seen their days and should leave the public sector with the small amount of dignity they have left.
Apparently, one month before McClellan's book was released he submitted it to the White House. The National Security Agency wanted to make sure there was no classified information released. If the administration had the book that long why the shocked reaction? Sounds phoney– I heard former CBS News Correspondent, Bob Franken say today it is similar to Louis in the film Casablanca, "I'm shocked, shocked to learn there is gambling going on here." - as he collected his winnings.
I don't think I can begin to understand the tortured convolutions any press secretary for the current President must go through. Not fully briefed, always expecting to put a positive aroma on news that reeks. A thankless job.
Anderson,
I agree with Sandy Taylor, she is right about that and have a good point.
Anderson, Thanks for putting McClellan on the spot about Richard Clarke. He definitely owed him an apology. Now Scott is getting a taste of his own medicine.
Wow Anderson, you are doing a heck of a job with the interview. McClellan should have remembered that first and for most he was a public servant. Not a lackey. I think he does owe the public an apology for all the spin.
I still don't believe McClellan has really shown any proof of what he's preaching in his book. It still appears to be his opinion to me.
Thank God for people like Scott McClellan who have the guts to tell the truth about what went on/going in in the Bush White House. I have always felt that this "gang" smells to high heaven. Of course he could not go against Bush while he was in the White House...he served at the pleasure of the President. I cannot wait to read the book. To me he is humble and honest. Dole....he needs to stick with the Viagra Ads.
I believe McClellan, and I believe he was in a tight spot as an employee of the Bush administration. It's possible to be apart of a powerful bubble like this administration, and forget your focus because you are human. McClellan has accepted his responsibility, and regretted his part of this alleged wrong. What we should do now, is investigate.
I applaud Scott....I wish more would have the courage to speak the truth. He actually has a conscious. Thank you Scott for confirming what we all already knew.
this interview reinforces my disappointment in John McCain and others that voted for the war. They should have been more discerning of information given to them.
Great clip. McClellan's attack on the other author is relevant about himself.
Anderson,
they are calling scott mclellan a traitor and disloyal to the president. But the administration doesn't care who the real traitor was. Scott isn't the commander and chief GEORGE BUSH IS. The president is the only person who has been disloyal, and the disloyalty has been to the american people. Therefore Scott does not owe anyone an appology. If anyone does GEORGE W. BUSH DOES!
Sandy Taylor
San Angelo Texas