Democrats seek to cash in on McClellan book

Congressional Democrats are seeking to cash in on an explosive book penned by former White House press secretary Scott McClellan that has dominated headlines this week with its criticism of President Bush and his administration.

{mosads}In a fundraising appeal, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) said that McClellan’s tell-all missive “blows the doors off of the Bush Administration’s campaign of lies, propaganda, and manipulation in selling the Iraq war.”

Republicans have hit back at McClellan, trying to soften the impact of the book, by portraying him as a man with grudges who is trying to make money. However, Emanuel’s fundraising request shows that the damage has been done.

“This chilling admission from someone on the inside gives us another reminder of why we need to sweep Republicans clear out of Washington this year,” he said in his petition for funds. “Whether he meant to or not, Scott McClellan just reminded us of why we can’t let John McCain and a Republican Congress continue the work of Bush, Cheney, Rove and company.”

Emanuel said the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is seeking funds to repeat the success it has had in strong Republican districts this year. Democratic candidates have won three special elections so far this year to increase their majority in the House.

“We’ve set the Republicans back on their heels with these stunning wins,” Emanuel said. “But now, the DCCC needs the resources to repeat those victories in more than 75 districts across the country.”