08 Jan, 2010
Transparency Was the Change We Believed In. How Foolish.
Posted by: Craigo In: Cool Links|General|Politics
It seems an odd thing that Obama had eye popping approval numbers and then shortly had the lowest approval numbers in year one of a presidency in history? How could that be? (Besides all you redneck racists changing your mind).
Very simple. It was the promise of transparency. Even a devout libertarian like myself had fleeting interest in Obama. The choice was between two big government types, he and McCain, so that was a wash. After 8 years of behind-closed-doors, I was somewhat inspired to hear all the promises of transparency. It was the only part of that change I kinda believed in.
If I had to have big government, at least I wanted to be able to keep an eye on them.
Unlike most of Obama’s vague, grandiose promises..he was pretty specific on transparency. Especially when it came to healthcare. I saw its passing as inevitable…but when you take over 1/6th of the economy I hoped the “other side” could at least kill a few of the freedom and economy killing provisions, and make it simply a big expansion of Medicaid or something.
There were many more promises of transparency that have come and disappeared into the black of government night just as Bush did, but this one has caught up to him. Back room deals, big insurance, 100 million dollar payoffs, secret meetings. Hats off to C-SPAN for having the guts to fight for open government when each penstroke behind closed doors moves around billions of our money. As we reach the final stages before the bill is passed, they’ve taken it behind doors so closed even other congress members don’t know what’s going on.
Here’s the history. In glorious video. Again, Al Gore, thank you for the internets. The last video shows what happens when you get called out on it.
The sad part, it was a great idea. Of the failures to date, this one will hurt the worst.
The promises of transparency. 8 separate times.
C-SPAN says those open debates did happen..to the tune of 1 total hour.
Background – The head of C-SPAN wrote a letter, asked Congress to — quote — “open all the important negotiations, including any conference committee meetings, to electronic media coverage”
Jack Cafferty Lays into Obama on FoxNews. Just kidding, CNN. via Hot Air.
President Obama hasn’t even made a token effort to keep his campaign promises of more openness and transparency in government. It was all just another lie that was told in order to get elected.
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Bombs when Responding to Yet Another Reporter’s Calling Them Out.
When (he) was asked whether the administration would support televising the negotiations, he refused to answer, instead mumbling something about, well, I haven’t seen the letter. That wasn’t the question, Mr. Gibbs.
Fail?
