The National Press Corps was probably too deferential to the White House and to the administration in regard to the most important decision facing the nation during my years in Washington, the choice over whether to go to war in Iraq.
McClellan criticizes the press corps for not being critical enough of the White House during the lead-up to the Iraq war.
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It was the right decision to confront what was a grave and growing threat in the form of Saddam Hussein and his regime. It was based on solid and compelling evidence. And America is safer for it.
We should have embraced a high legal of openness and forthrightness in addition to that and then the expectations wouldn't have gotten so out of whack.
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.
I felt like we were rushing into this. But, because of my position and my affection for the president and my belief and trust in he and his advisers, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. And, looking back on it and reflecting on it now, I…