Scott McClellan: “The president has outlined an approach for America that will lead us into this 21st century and lead us as we address…”

This is a White House that doesn't like to look back. The president doesn't like to spend time reflecting.

It's too much about party and too little about the country. And we need to put the country first and put the party much lower.

But the federal government should have taken more responsibility, because, to the American people, I think, the federal government is the failsafe backstop to all that.

If the president is committed to embracing a high level of openness and honesty, then we can move Washington beyond this partisan warfare that has been so destructive.