Bob Dole on Scott McClellan

In a widely circulated story (see this foxnews.com article) Bob Dole has been highly critical of Scott McClellan's new book which puts the Bush administration in a bad light. One interesting quote from the article:

Following reports that McClellan received a $75,000 advance for the book, one senior White House official referenced the Biblical story of Judas selling out Jesus, telling FOX News: "Ironically, in today's dollars that amount is worth exactly 30 pieces of silver."

The letter is so strong as to seem a forgery; however, I have heard no disclaimer from Dole that it does not belong to him.

So without any further ado, here is the text of the letter:

Scott,

There are miserable creatures like you in every administration who don't have the guts to speak up or quit if there are disagreements with the boss or colleagues. No, your type soaks up the benefits of power, revels in the limelight for years, then quits, and spurred on by greed, cashes in with a scathing critique.

In my nearly 36 years of public service I've known of a few like you. No doubt you will "clean up" as the liberal anti-Bush press will promote your belated concerns with wild enthusiasm. When the money starts rolling in you should donate it to a worthy cause, something like, "Biting The Hand That Fed Me." Another thought is to weasel your way back into the White House if a Democrat is elected. That would provide a good set up for a second book deal in a few years.

I have no intention of reading your "exposé" because if all these awful things were happening, and perhaps some may have been, you should have spoken up publicly like a man, or quit your cushy, high profile job. That would have taken integrity and courage but then you would have had credibility and your complaints could have been aired objectively. You're a hot ticket now but don't you, deep down, feel like a total ingrate?

BOB DOLE