Sidney Blumenthal didn't wait until he got to the White House to serve as an operative for President Clinton. And no, THE SCRAPBOOK isn't talking about those puff pieces Sid wrote about Clinton (and about Hillary, too) in the New Yorker. Those were just Sid's public work on the Clintons' behalf. But Sid also had an underground role, THE SCRAPBOOK has learned. Not only did he work closely with behind-the-scenes operatives in fashioning Clinton's message -- all the while remaining on the New Yorker payroll. But when a question came up about Bob Dole's position or plans, Sid was particularly helpful. He would put on his journalist's hat, call the Dole campaign, learn what he could, and then report back to the Clinton camp. That, of course, wasn't journalism. It wasn't even quiet advice-giving. It was a dirty trick.