Dole to McClellan: You're a 'miserable creature'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/30/art.dole.gi.jpg caption="Dole is not happy with McClellan."]
(CNN) - Bob Dole is furious with Scott McClellan's public criticisms of the Bush administration, telling the former White House Press Secretary in an e-mail Thursday he is a "miserable creature" who is "spurred on by greed."
"There are miserable creatures like you in every administration who don’t have the guts to speak up or quit if there are disagreements with the boss or colleagues," Dole wrote in the personal e-mail. "No, your type soaks up the benefits of power, revels in the limelight for years, then quits, and spurred on by greed, cashes in with a scathing critique."
Dole spokesman Michael Marshall confirmed the authenticity of the e-mail, first reported by Politico and obtained by CNN.
Dole, the former Senate Majority Leader and 1996 Republican presidential nominee, also tells McClellan he is likely looking to "clean up" as "the liberal anti-Bush press will promote your belated concerns with wild enthusiasm."
"When the money starts rolling in you should donate it to a worthy cause, something like, 'Biting The Hand That Fed Me,'" he wrote. "Another thought is to weasel your way back into the White House if a Democrat is elected. That would provide a good set up for a second book deal in a few years."
Dole also made clear he has no plans to read the book.
"I have no intention of reading your 'exposé' because if all these awful things were happening, and perhaps some may have been, you should have spoken up publicly like a man, or quit your cushy, high profile job," he wrote. "That would have taken integrity and courage but then you would have had credibility and your complaints could have been aired objectively."
"You're a hot ticket now but don't you, deep down, feel like a total ingrate?"
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The fierce and bitter response by the Bush adminstration and its supporters to Scott McClellan's book indicate that these people have no idea on how to respond to someone who has had an attack of conscience.
Honestly, would it have been better for McClellan to quit during the political controversy floating in the administration's face or waiting until the time could be less damaging. As for him writing the book before Bush is out of office...oh well. I find it amazing that people are coming out of the wood works to attack McClellan. If the administration didn't have a lot of smoke in the air, no one would believe that there was a fire. My point is that the Bush administration should be ashamed of themselves for WHATEVER they may have done that would CAUSE people to believe that they were not honest.
Good for you Bob Dole. You expressed my thoughts exactly.
Miserable, belated truth teller, Scott is now supporting Obama just so he can write another tell-all book in 5 years.
Of course McClellan is a slimeball, but that doesn't mean he isn't telling the truth.
Is the message getting lost in all of the messenger shooting going on here? The message: McClellan, Congress, the press and the people were betrayed by the Bush administration and now thousands of humans are dead as the result.
Couldn't have said it better myself, Bob.
Dear Hillary Clinton
From your fans and supporters...if you are pushed out of this Presidential Election race unfairly here at the end as they have tried to do to you thoughout the last 6 months of your campaign even when you have been ahead by over a 100 delegates and still referred to as the loser...
Please Please Please...for the sake of all the Hardworking American People...run as an Independant and give both Obama and McCain HELL!!!!
All the Best,
Your loyal Supporter in Texas!
Hillary for President 2008!
Well done!
Maybe Scott is telling the truth.
YES WE CAN – WHEN WE UNITE
What Mclellan said in his book is nothing new. He just reminded
what was the truth about Iraq before US invasion. He can not get
any credit writing the book. Bush administration has the right to
accuse him for his betrayal to them. The only matter I did not understand, staying a staunch ally with the administration as long as he served, why suddenly he went against them. Money? or some other promise the administration broke?
Bob Dole is a miserable creature himself for suggesting it is alright for an administration to act in a way that is completely detrimental to the national security of our country. We all know that McClellan didn't speak up because he knew any dissent would not be tolerated and he'd be gone. But, If any of the current administration hacks had the principals McClellan had (or, more appropriately, finally realized) NOBODY would be working for this administration. The folks that are still there are criminals in my mind. The Administrations supporters should be roundly criticized for continuing this sick game that has been played for the last 8 years.
This is such a typical response from the Republicans. Kill the messenger (even if he speaks the truth.) The things that Scott wrote were known long before they were written. Bush and Chaney have had a failed policy. Nothing but screw-ups and cover ups. This war was fought for profit $$$$. No competition bid to brother-in-law companies. Secret deals with oil companies, republican rich got richer. I feel Scott just wanted to get right with his God. He is a good man.
You do have the gut to criticize but you don't have the gut to read. What a pity!
McClellan again proves that in America you can guarantee yourself financial success by being either famous or infamous--the country does not care which you are-–so McClellan now joins the ranks of all the "tell all" Judas's and scumbags as his bank account grows.
Not to be trite, but he should remember that what goes around, comes around.
Welcome to the real world, Scott. Make a mistake, have second thoughts, a guilty conscience – you automatically become an incompetent, schizophrenic loser with a capital L while somebody else goes merrily along on a delusional happy trip. Wasn't always this cynical. Your previous boss helped me along.
Bravo, and he should have highlighted the fact that McClellan suffers from ID; intellectual dysfunction.
So we all know that Scott is a miserable creature, telling all so belatedly as to pose him no risk but can make him rich.
Folks, this man is now for Obama. Scott was for Bush and now he is for Obama....what does that tell savy, intelligent, discerning democrats?
Good Ol' Bob must be off his medication....McClellan was pushed out by Bush and his cronies....he didn't quit....and if he wanted to cash in...why wait 4 years?
The only miserable creature is the retired Senator who clearly still wants a little limelight himself...what a joke.
Bob, it's time to pop another Viagra and keep following the ole' party line. In case you haven't noticed, the times are a changing.
Bob Dole can use e-mail!!! Thats the real story here!!!
I agree with Dole.
And senility sets in...
What do expect a party hack like Bob Dole to say?
The ultimate miserable creature currently lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.The sad thing is that he has made most of us miserable as well.
Sen. Dole,...you are just what most people are sick of. You, Bush, McClellan are, or were working for the American people. Bush has nearly destroyed our country. Who in hell do you think you are? This is the USA, not your , or your republican friends private land. If you think the liberal anti Bush press is alone in its condemnation of republican rule you are very wrong. Where is your concern about America? Bush is the worst President in the last 100 years, maybe more. Care about what Bush has done to hurt our country, are you afraid of truth? I think many more books will follow about lies Bush, and company told us. As far as biting the hand that fed him...it is the same hand that fed you. It is the taxes of hard working Americans. You are, and always have been in the corner of the power hungry... "Spurred on by greed" ? You must be talking about your republican businessmen friends. No one is more greedy than them.