Omertà is a popular attitude, common in areas of southern Italy, such as Sicily, Calabria, and Campania, where criminal organizations like the Mafia, 'Ndrangheta, and Camorra are strong. A common definition is the "code of silence".
That definition from wikipedia
It's also popular in other places--one such place being Washington, D.C.
In the great Mario Puzo's "Godfather" book and movies, those persons who broke the "code of silence" were punished severely--usually paying with their lives.
It appears, however, that Scott McClellan will be forced to pay in a different way--at the tip of a spear that he once used to wield. With a public pushback from those still loyal to Party over country, from those who have stuck rigidly and loyally to the code, and whose very freedom from consequence depends on their continued honor of the Code.
Today, and below the jump, we have direct comment on this from Scott McClellan hinmself:
In a piece from Mike Allen dated today entitled" "McClellan: WH Wanted Him to Stay Silent", McClellan provides a clear window into how Omerta Circa 2008 operates in Washington, D.C. How the current administration more resembles the fictitious family known as Corleone' in the Godfather movies than it in any way does public servants sworn to honor the Constitution in their service to the good citizens of this country.
Don't take it from me. Here's what Scott says:
"Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan, speaking out for the first time since publication of his searing memoir, told NBC's "Today" show on Thursday that he erroneously believed what President Bush was saying about the war but now is answering a higher loyalty: "a loyalty to the truth."
"The White House would prefer that I not talk openly about my experiences," he said in a lengthy, at time combative interview with anchor Meredith Vieira....
"He added: "I have a higher loyalty than my loyalty necessary to my past work. That's a loyalty to the truth."
Again, read the entire piece here.
Apparently, the White House -- in a carefully phrased reply from an unidentified official -- is denying that anyone "at the White House ever told McClellan not to talk about his experiences." When it comes to the MAFIA, of course, no one has to be told that they must adhere to Omerta-- the Code of Silence. It is simply understood.
In this article, Dan Bartlett and Ari Fleisher lead the pushback against McClellan for his betrayal. "Which Scott is the real one?" Fleisher asks?
The Allen piece labels this a "sophisticated media counterattack by Bush allies" against McClellan for breaking The Code.
No one reading ay of the leftwing blogs during the past several years will find any of this surprising, as BarbinMD already has pointed out.
But since Scotty has always been on the other end of this operation (remember his questioning of Richard Clark several years back after his book issued), I think it wise to offer Scotty at least a few words of advice in the coming weeks: Watch your back, fella.