This week, as I was reflecting on Friday's grim news that Tim Russert had died and thinking about how nothing is forever and about how will my mother now spend Sunday mornings at 9 o'clock (she adores Russert and Meet the Press , and unfailingly watches the show), Scott McClellan was about to prove me right. Yes, Scott McClellan, the erstwhile presidential press secretary whose recent book about his experiences in that exalted position causes hives to erupt on Bush loyalists .
It seems that Scott McClellan, in his never-ending book tour to promote the tell-all tale , was scheduled to stop by KPBS for a quick interview with These Days host Tom Fudge , and it further seems that the only slot into which the interview would fit was the one I usually fill for a weekly political chat with Tom. But I'm a team-player and although I had reservations about relinquishing my Wednesday gig, I agreed. After all, nothing is forever!
And now I'm having second thoughts and this isn't sour grapes. I'm thinking about McClellan who worked for President Bush for almost three years and who said to the president upon resigning as press secretary, "I have been honored and grateful to be a small part of a terrific and talented team of really good people." And then he wrote his book accusing Bush of self-deception and of selling the Iraq War with a political propaganda campaign rather than the truth. When did McClellan see the light?
And I'm also wondering when that light does go on during a three-year job with a newsworthy boss, whether it's OK to stay on and gather material for a book that's sure to sell.
