By Ellen Ratner
FOX News Political Contributor/Radio talk show host

Fortunately for Scott McClellan’s pocketbook, The Politico was able to obtain a copy of “What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception” earlier than the embargoed release date of June 2. This was a good week for Scott and the book, as it was a very slow news week, with Congress not in session and the President attending many closed press events including a fundraiser for John McCain. McClellan is being compared to John Dean, who let it rip during Watergate. He’s being attacked by Democratic and Republican flacks alike for somehow breaking a code of ethics. Since when do the flacks have a written code of ethics?

Through his interviews this week McClellan’s message is resonating. There have been many attempts to kill the messenger by the Bush White House, but even hardened criminals who are bad actors can tell the truth as any prosecutor knows who uses stoolies to win cases in court. McClellan is the Bush administration’s bad actor who has been telling the truth more cogently than anyone else.

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By Tammy Bruce
FOX News Political Contributor/Radio Talk Show Host

When the news about Scott McClellan’s Bush-bashing book hit the proverbial fan I noted on my radio program that the timing and content were strange enough we would inevitably learn of ‘other factors’ being involved in the creation of this book. After all, it is indeed a bizarre situation to destroy so many personal relationships with nothing more than speculation on discussions behind closed-doors; admissions of being kept out of the White House loop (but then commentary and accusation that could only come from someone in the loop) and irrelevant declarations of personal opinions about the war in Iraq and the aftermath of Katrina.

Keep in mind, I’m no fan of President Bush, but someone should remind Scott that the analysis of a mediocre White House press secretary about world events isn’t quite as relevant as the opinions of the Commander-in-Chief, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the international intelligence community and our own Congress — whether liberals like it or not.

Now, less than 24 hours after the announcement of the 300+ pages of pontifications worthy of tabloid hysteria, one of the ‘other factors’ has already been exposed. The Web site Little Green Footballs one of the world’s most widely read blogs, has uncovered the stealth publisher of McClellan’s Linda Blair moment in print— none other than leftist ideologue George Soros.

Why McClellan would get into bed with Soros is now the question.

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By John Moody
Executive Vice President of FOX News

No person – and especially, I think, no parent – could regard the pictures of suffering in China after this month’s earthquake and not feel overwhelming sorrow. No matter what you think of China’s government, the calamity that beset Sichuan province is a tragedy in both personal and economic terms. But unlike the United States, after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, it is not a political disaster.

The same Chinese government that restricts couples to having only one child (violators are subject to hefty fines) should now be compelled to explain to grieving parents what happened to that single product of their union. The childrens’ schools became tombs, due in some cases, to shoddy construction and official corruption. Yet no explanations are forthcoming. Nor is the government’s response time, its apparent lack of preparedness for such a large scale emergency, the fact that schools for wealthier or well-connected citizens in Sichuan were better built and sustained less damage, being analyzed in China. These scandals are not, as far as we can tell, being discussed publicly because the topics are taboo.
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By Ellen Ratner
FOX News Political Contributor/Radio talk show host

Scott McClellan decided to let it all hang out. I must say, having covered the White House for the last 15 years, I’ve learned to always go with my gut.

The journalists who reside in the basement of the White House gave Scott a going away party. His mother was running for Governor of Texas, opposing George W. Bush’s successor, Rick Perry. The basement of the pressroom was decorated for Scott’s party with signs for his mom’s campaign.

George W. Bush did not support the independent candidacy of Scott’s mother’s, Carole Keeton Strayhorn. While the president would support a Republican, there was no help from anyone in the Bush administration for a loyal son and his mom.

Scott was clearly pushed out for what was then described as a more photogenic, silver-tongued Tony Snow. His mom’s election was just the icing on the push-out cake.

During Scott’s going away party, he kept the smiling face and nice guy persona that he was known for. But you did not have to be an expert in nonverbal communication to know that he was uncomfortable and somewhat miserable.

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By Tammy Bruce
FOX News Political Contributor/Radio talk show host

I haven’t liked the Clintons for some time now but have grown to admire Hillary Clinton’s resilience and commitment to the Democratic race in the face of ridiculous bullying to get her to quit. After all, if the nomination is in Obama’s pocket, why are his supporters frantic in their efforts to get her to quit?

That admiration, I must admit, took a hit last week when Hillary delivered her bizarre RFK assassination remark as a supposed example of Democratic primary timelines. I don’t necessarily believe her explanation, but the fire she has come under has been excessive and, frankly, when it comes to liberal complaints, ridiculous. For the past 7 years liberals have luxuriated in various death wishes for both President Bush and Vice President Cheney. And now they’re shocked, just shocked, at even just the reference to RFK’s murder?

My disappointment with what is at least Hillary’s sloppy, and tasteless rhetoric was mitigated when I heard Obama’s speech on Sunday to Wesleyan graduates. He warned the 700+ undergraduates and 120 doctoral students of the “poverty of ambition” and essentially encouraged them to not pursue the American dream–

“You can take your diploma, walk off this stage and chase only after the big house and the nice suits and all the other things that our money culture says you should.” He continued, “But I hope you don’t.”

This from a 46-year-old man who is running for president, who made over $4 million last year, owns a nice home and wears plenty of great suits. The hypocrisy itself is stunning, but it is also a recipe for economic disaster. All of us want to contribute to our communities through service–and the best service is to build companies, create inventions, and expand the potential of every American life. Working to help the poor is laudable; building a company to employ those who need work is even better.

Rodham Clinton’s remark about RFK was indeed unfortunate and gets her the Head Shake, but Obama’s embrace of the classically leftist notions that capitalism is bad and ambition worth rejecting will have real, disastrous consequences for this nation.

By John Moody
Executive Vice President of FOX News Channel

I like political cartoons. They can be subtle or to the point, yuk-yuk chuckly or slyly subversive. They are an art form and therefore entitled to certain latitude in making us think.

They can also be cheap-shot calumny at its lowest, as was a recent offering by Mike Peters of the Dayton Daily News. It showed Hillary Clinton, clearly irked, as Barack Obama held up the hand of his latest superdelegate –- Jesus Christ, complete with halo and burning heart surrounded by thorns.

The point was clear: everybody loves Barack, even God, and nothing Clinton can do will change that. But if Mr. Peters really wanted to make a trenchant statement, why not have Obama holding hands with Muhammad? Wouldn’t that have had even greater shock value?

Ah, but you say, that might offend Muslims who believe that the prophet’s image should not be exposed in any way. They might, you say, take radical action against the cartoonist, as they did in Denmark last year.

That, dear reader, is precisely the point. Jesus Christ is fair game for the likes of Mike Peters because He and His church don’t fight back. Or haven’t until now. Muhammad gets a free ride in cartoons because his followers will riot and issue fatwas if incited.

There is no question that different religions are held to different standards of accountability, at least in the supposedly diverse and tolerant United States. If the Catholic Church condemns abortion –- which is, after all, legalized killing –- it is reviled as anti-female and anachronistic. If Islam is used as the motivation for acts of terror, it gets a pass. To condemn Muslims who say their faith requires them to murder infidels is too risky a step. Someone might get mad.

Of course, I can’t speak for all Christians, a highly fallible group to which I belong. For myself, however, I think the time has come to get a little respect for my God by getting mad at those who would belittle Him.
Jesus-u-Akhbar.

By Father Jonathan Morris
FOX News Religion Contributor

I’ve got a hunch. One year from now we will look back and remember today as the genesis of an on-line community that has set itself apart for its wildly diverse membership and for the rational and respectful tone of its debate of ethical issues.

Until now, through my op-ed column, I’ve done most of the talking. But with the advent of the “Fox Forum”, I can now pass the mic to you. Through your live comments, reactions, suggestions, questions, and answers to my postings—for all to see—I am confident we will affect public opinion together for the good and with new force.

I want to start our mutual venture by sharing with you why I think this forum is important.

At the end of World War II, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed a list of undeniable human rights guaranteed to all people.

This 1948 document, titled “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights” (UDHR), sought to pre-empt future atrocities, such as those committed by the Nazi regime.

At the heart of the UDHR is a conviction that the human race is capable of agreeing upon certain tenets of universal morality that are necessary for the peaceful existence of nations and for the genuine flourishing of their citizens.

I believe such common-sense morality, the ultimate protector of human dignity and rights, has been weakened greatly by relativistic, fundamentalist, and materialistic ideologies.

For humanity’s sake, it must be recovered!

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By Cal Thomas
FOX News Political Contributor/Syndicated columnist

When John F. Kennedy was assassinated, some cheered. It was the same when Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered and, I suspect, some celebrated when Bobby Kennedy was shot, 40 years ago next month. On September 11, 2001, some Palestinians and others in the Muslim world took to the streets to applaud the attack that left three thousand Americans dead.

Last week, Senator Edward Kennedy was discovered to have a malignant brain tumor. Again, some in the blogosphere celebrated that tragic news.

What has happened to our politics that we are so blinded by a person’s position on issues that we can no longer see his humanity? By contemporary standards, if we don’t like someone’s politics, we immediately don’t like them. Though we probably have never met the person we don’t like, it doesn’t matter. When my mother died, I wrote a column about her and received hate mail celebrating her death. How sick is that?

The “conversations” (which are really confrontations) we see on some TV programs help fuel the caustic nature of our political discourse. Some people even question another’s patriotism simply because of a policy disagreement. Have they forgotten America was born from dissent? To say someone loves his or her country more than another based on policy is a form of idolatry and unworthy of anyone wishing to be called an American.

Has Ted Kennedy made mistakes, even serious mistakes? Yes, but so have I. Mine may be of a different sort than his, but that does not make me better than him. Before he was a politician, Kennedy was and remains a human being and after that an American. We can debate policy, but we should not conclude he is less an American, or even un-American, simply because those of us who are conservatives disagree with those policies. Kennedy doesn’t wake-up in the morning plotting to ruin America. He wants to better America. If conservatives and liberals share that goal (and most do) why can’t we then discuss and debate the best way to that common good instead of questioning the motives of the other person?

By James P. Pinkerton
FOX News Political Contributor/Contributing Editor and writer ‘The American Conservative’

As George Orwell said, it is a constant challenge to see what it right in front of one’s nose. And so it is with the Lieberman-Warner “cap and trade” anti-global warming legislation: It’s a tax increase, folks, a big tax increase.
The idea of “cap and trade”—that is, allowing polluters to buy and sell the “right” to pollute—has been kicking around for decades. Such cap-and-trade schemes were included in the 1990 Clean Air Act, for example, and have served dramatically to reduce emissions of nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide at a manageable cost. Bravo! It’s good to see that Uncle Sam can do something right.
But the pollutants “nox” and “sox” and were a) relatively finite and b) obviously harmful. What should we do about CO2, which is both abundant and not so obviously harmful?

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