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.
Scott McClellan: “The national press corps was probably too deferential to the White House and to the administration in regard to the most…”
Editor's note · Context
McClellan criticizes the press for not being more critical of the White House during the lead-up to the Iraq war.
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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.
Yes. No, I was sincere at the time. Now, looking back and reflecting on that, I have a different perspective on it.
When I found out I had been knowingly lied to by Karl Rove and Scooter Libby in the Valerie Plame leak episode and passed along false information based on their assurances two years prior to that saying that they weren't involved.
He and his advisers confused the propaganda campaign with the high level of candor and honesty so fundamentally needed to build and then sustain public support during a time of war.