McClellan will be Texan without a country

Washington Times:

Scott McClellan's critics in Washington have speculated about his motives for writing a book bashing President Bush, but back in the former White House spokesman's home state of Texas, some chalk it up to something very simple: his gene pool.

Bush defenders and impartial observers point in particular to Mr. McClellan's mother, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, as having set a precedent for turning on former allies, while others say that his family tree had strong liberal leanings.

They also said his decision will make it hard to do what all Texans do: return home.

"Scott's going to be something of a man without a country if he comes back," said Paul Burka, senior executive editor at Texas Monthly magazine.

"I don't think the Republicans would be much enamored with him," Mr. Burka said. "I just don't see him having much of an immediate future in politics."

The thrice-married Mrs. Strayhorn has switched from Democrat to Republican to independent during her more than 30 years in politics, which culminated with two terms as Texas comptroller and an unsuccessful run for governor in 2006.

During her second term as comptroller, Mrs. Strayhorn frequently attacked members of her own Republican party, including Gov. Rick Perry and leaders in the legislature.

Many regarded these moves as a tactic to increase her own name recognition and lay the groundwork for her 2006 gubernatorial run.

...

Mrs. Strayhorn grew up as the daughter of Page Keeton, the legendary dean of the University of Texas' law school and tort law expert, and was a loyal Democrat.

In 1984, she served as Travis County campaign chairman for Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale. Two years later, she switched her affiliation to Republican and ran for Congress against Democrat J.J. Pickle, but lost.

"I wonder if it's just the basic bias showing that Scott grew up with and may not even know he has," said Bill Crocker, an Austin lawyer and longtime Republican activist.

...

Mr. McClellan's status back home had already been under attack. Some of his former White House colleagues who have returned to Texas from Washington have been speaking ill of him for some time, Mr. Burka said.

"You've heard from a lot of Bushies who have come back to town that Scott was not that good," Mr. Burka said. "I just don't think they thought he did much for Bush. He wasn't that strong about it."

...

This is a well reported story. It is my belief that McClellan became too chummy with reporters and started believing their BS instead of what his colleagues in the White House believed. When he was under attack because of the bogus Plame scandal you could see in his body language that he felt betrayed.

I am sorry to see him go over to the dark side. His grandfather was one of my favorite law professors. He was just terrific. I have also worked with his uncle who is a top lawyer in Houston. It always seemed to me that Scott was misplaced at a White House spokesman. I think he was a classic example of the Peter Principal.

I also think he is just flat wrong about the President and the war in Iraq. Now he is being used by the anti war puke left who don't respect him. Going from White House spokesman to useful idiot of the left is quite a journey.

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