Change.gov hiding questions on Blagojevich scandal
posted at 9:10 pm on December 10, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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How’s that Hope and ChangeTM working out at Change.gov, the transition website for President-Elect Barack Obama? They seem to have the change part down pat, at least. Ben Smith of Politico notes that the Obamaphiles have tubed comments relating to the scandal surrounding Rod Blagojevich, and that Team Obama seems happy to let them continue:
President-elect Barack Obama’s Transition today launched “Open for Questions,” a Digg-style feature allowing citizens to submit questions, and to vote on one another’s questions, bringing favored inquiries to the top of the list.
It was suggested when it launched that the tool would bring uncomfortable questions to the fore, but the results so far are the opposite: Obama’s supporters appear to be using — and abusing — a tool allowing them to “flag” questions as “inappropriate” to remove all questions mentioning Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich from the main pages of Obama’s website.
The Blagojevich questions — many of them polite and reasonable — can be found only by searching words in them, like “Blagojevich,” which produces 35 questions missing from the main page of the site.
Questions removed from the site:
- Given the current corruption charges involving Blagojevich, will ’serious’ campaign finance reform that takes money completely out of politics through publicly funded elections be a priority in the first term?
- In light of the recent corruption scandals (Blagojevich, Rangel, Jefferson, Stevens, etc) that have dominated the political scene,is there any ethics legislation being crafted to actually curb corruption and prevent another wave of nixonian cynicism?
- Is Barack Obama aware of any communications in the last six weeks between Rod Blagojevich or anyone representing Rod Blagojevich and any of Obama’s top aides?
On a campaign web site, a candidate and his staff would understandably rid themselves of anything embarrassing so that the candidate didn’t have to answer for it. Obama stopped being a candidate on November 4th, and became the President-Elect. We know this, because Obama has a government website and a big sign that says ‘OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT’ with his faux seal at every press conference.
In other words, it’s time for accountability. If Obama doesn’t want to answer tough questions, he should stop trolling for them on official government websites. And since we’re all paying for it, nobody should be able to force those questions off of an official government website.
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Oh my!
artist on December 10, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Hope & Change !
Red State State of Mind on December 10, 2008 at 9:13 PM
I knew a man, Objangles, and he danced for me
In worn out new deal shoes.
With short hair, a flashy shirt and fancy pants,
The old new deal soft shoe.
He tap danced so high, tap danced so high, then he lightly touched down.
I met him in a ward in Chicago, I was
So down and out.
He looked to be the Messiah of the age,
As he spoke right out.
He talked of hope, he talked of change.
But then he laughed and just clicked heels instead.
Mister Objangles
Mister Objangles
Mister Objangles
Dance!
MB4 on December 10, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Why should Osama Obama “answer tough questions?” Even Michelle Malkin and HA think the basic “tough question” — is he Constitutionally eligible to be President? — is the province of tinfoil-hat nuts and troofers.
Welcome to the four- (or eight-, or 10-) year free pass.
MrScribbler on December 10, 2008 at 9:15 PM
We all knew what this guy was and what his political leanings were. Now he will begin to control what we hear and see and implement his Marxist agenda. Thank you enlightened voters, I hope you’re happy with what you have wrought.
rplat on December 10, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Chicago politics at it’s finest. He operates right out of the Mafia’s handbook. Silence your critics by any means necessary. Erase those that oppose you.
The “change” so far, at best, is underwhelming
Guardian on December 10, 2008 at 9:17 PM
God, have mercy on us.
atemely on December 10, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Oh … that’s what is says. I thought it was ‘ORIFICE’. I’ll have to get glasses, soon.
progressoverpeace on December 10, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Kind of like Blago wanting the Editorial board at the Chicago Tribune fired to silence them.
Amazing…
Knucklehead on December 10, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Hands can’t be laid on the Obama man, the flim flam man.
His mind may be in the clouds and his talk may be make believe.
Oh lord, the man’s a fraud, he’s a flim flam man. But he’s so cagey, he’s a flim flam man.
Hands can’t be laid on the Obama man, the flim flam man.
He’s wrapped up in a big beautiful box making out like he’ll give you more gifts than Santa Claus.
Oh lord, the man’s a fraud, he’s a flim flam man. But he’s such a fox, he’s a flim flam man.
Everybody wants him, the Germans and the Brits, and even Michelle and Hotair he does disarm.
Oh yeah, the beautiful gent, you should know he’ll leave you with hardly a cent.
But maybe he’ll pay your bills with with his charm.
Hands can’t be laid on the Obama man, the flim flam man.
His plans may be up his sleeve and his talk may be make believe.
Oh lord, the man’s a fraud, he’s a flim flam man. He’s so cagey, he’s an artist.
Don’t believe he can be floored, he’s a flim flam man.
MB4 on December 10, 2008 at 9:25 PM
From now on, each time Palin speaks, she should do it above a sign that says “Office of the Next President.”
whitetop on December 10, 2008 at 9:26 PM
When does this questioning of Lightworker become ODS or are we in safe territory here?
Y-not on December 10, 2008 at 9:26 PM
The Audacity of Hope I Don’t Get Indicted
Jim62sch on December 10, 2008 at 9:27 PM
From a guy who’s hiding his,..
Birth Certificate,
Law Records,
College Records,
Pass Port,
Half his life.
This shocks who?
christene on December 10, 2008 at 9:30 PM
tee-hee-hee-hee-haaa-haaa-haaa (me chuckling that the chickens…are…going to….come home….to roooooooossst!)
Chewy the Lab on December 10, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Heh. Safe … today. But, “Tomorrow is promised to no one”.
progressoverpeace on December 10, 2008 at 9:31 PM
As long as you have the MSM as a supporter/donor there is nothing you can’t get away with or spin into a favorable light.
This scandal with the Gov will have absolutely no effect on Obama and furthermore what ever “bobs and weaves” Obama chooses will be supported by the press corps.
You know it and I know it. The MSM remains the most powerful ally in contemporary politics in America.
patrick neid on December 10, 2008 at 9:32 PM
C’mon — how would a con man and demagogue take tough questions?
By having a shill(s) run a screen.
I thought everyone here had that by now — except for the liberal trolls.
IlikedAUH2O on December 10, 2008 at 9:33 PM
The reason those questions were removed is because they came after the first eight, and as we know, Obarfy can only answer eight questions at a time.
Bishop on December 10, 2008 at 9:33 PM
What the Democratic Party sent out today
Be the change you want to come…heh.
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Well we know he only answers 8 questions, the good stuff was getting asked from #9 onward. :)
ThePrez on December 10, 2008 at 9:35 PM
Looks like the New Socialist Ministry of Perpetual
Hope and Propaganda and NeverEnding and Everlasting
Change is in full damage control!
When does the Roman Temple Pillar Troopers, start
enforcing the ‘Blasphemer Act’, in regards of be
smirching the ‘One’, on blogs,and websites,that are
keeping track of Hopeys daily activites as well!
(Sarc!).
canopfor on December 10, 2008 at 9:35 PM
ATT apparently dumped the stupid article I cited. In record time.
Fun, fun, fun.
IlikedAUH2O on December 10, 2008 at 9:35 PM
Shhhh, keep this quiet – otherwise Aprl Orit will come by and call you un-American.
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 9:35 PM
wow — i had put the over/under for purging questions a LOT later than this — shows how i am just not getting down with how the hopenchange express plans on runnin’ us off the cliff, huh?
:-(
Buckaroo on December 10, 2008 at 9:37 PM
I just visited the Odummy site and noticed that all the questions now come in a form where you have to fill in the blanks:
Dear President Elect Obarfy,
1) How is it that you are so______________wonderful?
2) It’s true, isn’t it, that your wife is the prettiest woman in the_____________?
3) If you had a favorite color, would it be______________?
4) Would it be presumptuous of me to say that I love you so much I don’t know whether to___________or wind my watch?
Bishop on December 10, 2008 at 9:38 PM
I just visited the Odummy site and noticed that all the questions now come in a form where you have to fill in the blanks:
Dear President Elect Obarfy,
1) How is it that you are so______________wonderful?
2) It’s true, isn’t it, that your wife is the prettiest woman in the_____________?
3) If you had a favorite color, would it be______________?
4) Would it be presumptuous of me to say that I love you so much I don’t know whether to___________or wind my watch?
Bishop on December 10, 2008 at 9:38 PM
HornetSting on December 10, 2008 at 9:39 PM
May they remain in the dogs in heat state for at least the next 2-4 years. We really need to be taught a lesson, April Orit aside.
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 9:40 PM
“If Obama doesn’t want to answer tough questions, he should stop trolling for them on official government websites. And since we’re all paying for it, nobody should be able to force those questions off of an official government website.”
Ed, please don’t hold yer breath on that — we’d hate to lose you!
:-)
Buckaroo on December 10, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Let Obama eat his waffle! Jeez.
Jim62sch on December 10, 2008 at 9:41 PM
Still, this is a sad state of affairs for America. Obarfa hasn’t sat even a day in office and already he has two or three scandals swirling around him.
I’d like to say it will be a fun four years but I would give anything to have a quiet, uneventful term from President Select Obiffy.
Bishop on December 10, 2008 at 9:41 PM
“Jim62sch on December 10, 2008 at 9:41 PM”
[rimshot]
Buckaroo on December 10, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Ahh, Ed Morrissey. Reasonable asker of rational questions, in a logical and intelligent manner. What an uncool dinosaur you are in the Age of Obama.
You’re all hung up on the word “should,” square that you are.
Yeah Obama should do these things. But he won’t because he doesn’t have to. That’s the new order of Hopenchange. It’s whatever reality Obama creates on a daily basis. The whole media establishment swallows it whole, why you gotta be such a pedantic hater? Facts are so, like, ancient history dude.
Still I give you points for trying. The pendulum, it may just swing the other way someday. ;)
Gilda on December 10, 2008 at 9:42 PM
“Bishop on December 10, 2008 at 9:41 PM”
1. i intend to stil have fun with it!
2. who says it has to be 4 years — i want him to crash and burn so bad we can WALK IN to both houses in ‘10 …
Buckaroo on December 10, 2008 at 9:43 PM
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Buckaroo on December 10, 2008 at 9:43 PM
Yah, I suppose we need to make the best of it. I just can’t help glancing at the AR15 every once in a while, imagining what turmoil could be visited on our nation by such an incompetent boob and his inept staff.
Bishop on December 10, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Spread the news that Aprl Orit will be back, to develop the developless, to berate the berateless, and, and, …. …. …. ,and, and to Americanize the Americanless!
La Aprl Orit will be back to bore again!
And remember, Senora Aprl Orit, there is no shame in being a bore, only in dressing poorly while being a bore.
Tuco on December 10, 2008 at 9:47 PM
I heard on another blog that Blagojevich’s wife, Patricia Blagojevich, is the Realtor who got the Obama’s their house in which Rezco did the land deal.
Is this true?
UnderstandingisPower on December 10, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Where are the
clownstrolls? How come they are conspicuously missing from threads like this one.I’d love to share some of their favorite popcorn with them.
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 9:48 PM
LOL! You win the thread!
TheWasteLand on December 10, 2008 at 9:51 PM
It who shall be nameless, E. Tch, tch.
Jaibones on December 10, 2008 at 9:51 PM
This is not the prez they voted for. Muhahahaha
jediwebdude on December 10, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Sad but true. Much hay made about questions taken off a website, but no interest in seeing the “top secret, specially secured by the Hawaiin Governor” birth certificate.
If he was born in Hawaii, fine, he won the election and he’s the President Elect. But that’s not the point. The point is the riots in the streets if he wasn’t born in Hawaii. One of those “for your own good” thing’s possibly?
But I’m wearing a tin foil hat….
Hog Wild on December 10, 2008 at 9:54 PM
Oh!! My!!…Looks like the Honeymoons starting to end before the Wedding even got started.
samhill on December 10, 2008 at 9:54 PM
UnderstandingisPower, yep, it is true.
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 9:56 PM
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 9:45 PM
According to those answers, we arrive at this disturbing anagram:
Uhh Poodle Pope.
Yep: Obarfy “uhhhhs”, he is a lapdog for the left, and is the religious figure for lefties.
Scary.
Bishop on December 10, 2008 at 9:56 PM
I bet PEBO’s having flashbacks to his toddler days when his sainted mother moved him to Indonesia.
chunderroad on December 10, 2008 at 9:57 PM
You know what they say… once the wedding ends, the marriage begins. (because marriage is hard work…)
I’m sure the Enlightened One figured he’d get a pass for 8 years, being the Messiah and all…
pullingmyhairout on December 10, 2008 at 9:58 PM
I asked this question and it is getting voted down!
This question seems to be doing better!
Stephen Macklin on December 10, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Blago is a 2 termer, he knows all the dirt, he is going to roll hard.
Firebird on December 10, 2008 at 10:01 PM
“Stephen Macklin on December 10, 2008 at 10:00 PM”
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
:-)
Buckaroo on December 10, 2008 at 10:01 PM
Bishop, I like you.
Grandma said “You date at moonlight, you marry at candlelight and you live at daylight”.
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 10:02 PM
http://rattlergator.typepad.com/rattlergator/2008/12/chicago-politics-never-fails-to-amaze.html
Chicago Chicago…
And all that Jazz
Dr Evil on December 10, 2008 at 10:03 PM
UnderstandingisPower, yep, it is true.
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 9:56 PM
Doesn’t that complicate matters just a WEE bit. I mean, it looks to me like that at least brings up the question if O was “involved” with paying through the wives in the pay to play schemes before the prez thing happened. And if Fitz can start tying pieces together…
UnderstandingisPower on December 10, 2008 at 10:05 PM
The best marriage is that between a deaf husband and a blind wife.
Sigmund on December 10, 2008 at 10:09 PM
All this is just a distraction.
abinitioadinfinitum on December 10, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Oh, Entelechy, you are at it again and so right on, as usual. I love reading your comments, so pithy and to the point!
Neocon Peg on December 10, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Blago is a 2 termer, he knows all the dirt, he is going to roll hard.
Firebird on December 10, 2008 at 10:01 PM
Just imagine what he knows. Blago is willing to throw out the idea that he would appoint himself to the senate, that takes some seeds, and you don’t arrive at that sort of attitude without already having bent or broken a few rules.
With a few decades at Leavenworth staring him in the face, and knowing where some bodies are buried, ol’ Blagyo might just decide to offer his services as a digger.
Bishop on December 10, 2008 at 10:13 PM
And Patrick says “Time for a Budlight.”
Patrick S on December 10, 2008 at 10:15 PM
There wasn’t even time for some hokey pokey in the Oval Office.
HornetSting on December 10, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Now we know where Helen Jones-Kelley’s new job is.
Speakup on December 10, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Who is this A-nitwit? I have read her comments and they make me vomit a little bit.
HornetSting on December 10, 2008 at 10:20 PM
There wasn’t even time for some hokey pokey in the Oval Office.
HornetSting on December 10, 2008 at 10:17 PM
The hokey pokey happened on November 4th as America got itself well and truly screwed.
The least Obarfa could have done was buy us all a drink first.
Bishop on December 10, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Your grandma is a wise woman. Hope all is well with you!
pullingmyhairout on December 10, 2008 at 10:21 PM
No clue, but I agree with you. Nit-twit.
Neocon Peg on December 10, 2008 at 10:24 PM
“Inappropriate” the psycho(logical) mumbo jumbo word by those perpetually “offended.” Oh, yeah, that’s another of their words.
rlwo2008 on December 10, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Your grandma was wise as are most grandmas!
Neocon Peg on December 10, 2008 at 10:26 PM
I told you so………..
…….. and no, it doesn’t give me any pleasure to see where our country is going even though I hit the alarm button, and a majority hit the snooze button……..
When they do wake up, and start to complain…….. now that will be funny!
Seven Percent Solution on December 10, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Hornet, MR is looking for you.
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 10:31 PM
I didn’t even get a kiss. Damn. I AGREE Bishop!
HornetSting on December 10, 2008 at 10:32 PM
I signed up on his new website….did you get a rash?
HornetSting on December 10, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Nothing more than Obama’s future brown-shirts and censors in training. They need to be ready to hit the ground running on 1/21/09.
Yoop on December 10, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Hornet, I always had one :) Sign up again. Mail being rejected.
Neocon Peg on December 10, 2008 at 10:11 PM
You’re kind, dear Peg. Better the pen/keyboard…I’m mad as hell, because of this
I detest all who did this, but more so the ones from the right and the ‘independents’. Can’t blame the plankton on the left.
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Tapper’s noticed too.
He also lists a few more of the questions that have been ‘banned.’
meltenn on December 10, 2008 at 10:40 PM
When I get back to NM, I will sign up again. What was MR looking for? Is he ready to start the revolution?
HornetSting on December 10, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Grandma sounds like a very smart lady.
Red State State of Mind on December 10, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Meant to add this from Tapper:
meltenn on December 10, 2008 at 10:45 PM
To get you back into the flock. He’ll have to tell you the rest.
She was that, and so ahead of her time. We should all have one liker her, or be adopted by one.
Lovers and dogs in heat are hardly ever rational.
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 10:51 PM
They’re like a bunch of little 8th grade girls in that campaign. The junior high girls with the Ugg boots are about to run our government.
This is what you get with a ballerina for a White House Chief of Staff.
Jaibones on December 10, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Somebody liked that idea
faraway on December 10, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Ooooh…Cryptic. Consider me flocked.
HornetSting on December 10, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Change.gov looks like a toned down KOS site. Try searching the questions for “Fairness doctrine.” There are five questions:
All five have a significant amount of “flag as innapropriate” votes. Sadly, you have to login to be able to vote, which is just another way to get your email for future use. No thank you… keep the change.
cannonball on December 10, 2008 at 10:59 PM
I searched for Ramos & Compean. There is one question:
It is followed by the following comment:
This submission was removed because people believe it is inappropriate.
WHICH PEOPLE? This is transparency?
cannonball on December 10, 2008 at 11:00 PM
We’ve been all through this before. “April Orit’s” comments are clearly brilliant satire. I’ve often wondered if he/she is a bored Allah after a drink or three, or Ace, or Treacher, or Newt Gingrich, or an Onion writer. The comments are so bizarre, full of every lib/rino cliche in the books, yet well said, intelligent, and strongly put. The mind behind April Orit is fascinating. At the very least, he/she is an idiot savant, at least in the field of contemporary American society. Enjoy her. But do not respond. She is a caricature. And on the off chance that I am wrong, she is still fascinating. She is a perfect creation, the offspring of the mindless philosophy that has gripped the nation since the 60’s. To listen to her for even a few minutes is to read several novels about who and what we are. If she wrote a book in her voice, it would sit alongside deToqueville’s as a tour de force snapshot of
America in the year 2000.
JiangxiDad on December 10, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Leave April alone, she lives in NYC. Nuff said.
faraway on December 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Get used to it, The Chosen One does not answer ‘distracting’ questions.
However, you may approach and kiss his ass.
GarandFan on December 10, 2008 at 11:06 PM
So does JiangxiDad, and he’s a fine gentleman.
Entelechy on December 10, 2008 at 11:11 PM
This whole scandal has the libtards totally freaked at the Huffington post. I tried to post several comments and they did not post. I read the guidlines and they only sight excessiver profanity, I used none, and ad=hominen attacks, no of those either. However, I did state that if this were President Bush and Karl Rove made a statement on TV that Bush has spoken with a governor regarding a senate seat and then same governor was arrested then Bush stated on TV he had not spoken with the govenor and Karl Rove had misspoken earlier would they believe it. I then stated I would not and if liberals were honest they would admit that they are being dishonest with themselves . Maybe they consider that an attack. To me it is just stating the obvious.
church on December 10, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Who will The Messiah nominate as his Secretary of Truth?
In case you have any doubt about the intractability of this question, I ask that you restrict your list of considered candidates to Democrats only. See? Much, much more difficult.
shaken on December 10, 2008 at 11:28 PM
There cannot be a serious candidate for any Secretary of Truth from the Democratic party. If a Democrat’s lips are moving they are lying.
church on December 10, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Huffington has a lot of posters commenting that Dems haven’t done anything to enact the Fairness Doctrine and if they had this scandal would not be happening. They state that if it weren’t for people like Limbaugh and rush the ignorant masses, and that is what they called the American people, would not even no about this and there would be no tainting of Obama via this scandal it would just be a local state matter. I thought these people were supposed to be the champions of free speech.
church on December 10, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Meant Limbaugh and Hannity
church on December 10, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Wait a minute. We hear nothing by wailing from the left due to the White House’s shotty work at archiving emails and official Government transcripts through .gov chain of communication, yet Obama can white wash his official site of damning questions and he get a pass!?
Sorry, I think the left is going to get a lot of their own crap (both real and imagined) back in their face over the next four years as Obama seems to really be the corrupt moron they all fantasized Bush was.
smfoushee on December 10, 2008 at 11:39 PM
Ahhhhh, don’t you just love that Democratic concern for the “little guy”?
You’ve got a stronger stomach than I have, though, reading HuffPo.
ddrintn on December 10, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Ahhhhh, don’t you just love that Democratic concern for the “little guy”?
You’ve got a stronger stomach than I have, though, reading HuffPo.
ddrintn on December 10, 2008 at 11:40 PM
It’s the first time I ever went on the site. I don’t think I will be going back. For all the bad press we get about our intolerance, I can honestly say I have never read a more intolerant bunch of nonsense in my life.
church on December 10, 2008 at 11:44 PM
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