The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Season 13 Episode 71 Scott McClellan

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart season 13 episode 71 features an interview with Scott McClellan, who served as White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush from 2003 to 2006. McClellan is promoting his new book, What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception, which presents a critical account of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq War.

Stewart begins the show with a comedic segment in which he ridicules the media's coverage of the 2008 presidential campaign, mocking the ways in which journalists' predictions about the candidates and their chances constantly change. He then introduces McClellan and immediately begins questioning him about his book.

McClellan explains that he felt compelled to write the book because he believes the Bush administration was misleading the American public about the reasons for going to war in Iraq. He notes that he was originally very supportive of the war effort, but over time became disillusioned with the way the administration was handling the situation.

Stewart asks McClellan about his relationship with the Bush family, noting that McClellan's mother, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, is a prominent Republican politician who has run for office in Texas. McClellan says that he has been close to the Bush family for many years, and that his mother is a good friend of the president's mother, Barbara Bush.

Stewart and McClellan then discuss some of the more controversial elements of the book, including McClellan's claim that the administration used propaganda techniques to sell the war. McClellan explains that he believes the White House purposely used fear and misinformation to sway public opinion and build support for the war effort.

Stewart and McClellan also talk about the role of the media in covering the war, with Stewart arguing that the media failed to adequately question the government's rationale for going to war. McClellan agrees, saying that the media didn't do enough to challenge the administration's claims.

The conversation then turns to other topics, including the use of torture and the administration's approach to environmental policy. Stewart asks McClellan why he didn't quit his position as press secretary if he felt so strongly that the administration was taking the wrong approach. McClellan responds that he felt a sense of duty to stay and try to influence the administration from within.

Overall, the episode is a serious and thought-provoking interview that addresses many of the most controversial aspects of the Bush administration's policies. At the same time, there are moments of levity and humor that keep the show from becoming too heavy-handed. Fans of The Daily Show are sure to appreciate this episode, which features one of the show's most insightful interviews with a high-profile political figure.