Transparency Update

posted at 12:26 pm on May 14, 2009 by Slublog
printer-friendly

The promise:

My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.

The reality:

The Obama administration has turned down former Vice President Dick Cheney’s request for the declassification of two CIA reports on the effectiveness of the Agency’s detainee program, THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned. A letter dated May 7, 2009, from the CIA’s Information and Privacy Coordinator, Delores M. Nelson, rejected Cheney’s request because the documents he has requested are involved in a Freedom of Information Act court battle.

Obama’s definition of transparency thus far has largely been limited to releasing information he believes will reflect badly on his political opponents. His administration certainly hasn’t been transparent about where TARP money is going, or providing promised information about the stimulus spending. He’s repeatedly broken his promise to let the public look at legislation before he signs it into law.

He’s been entirely transparent, though, when it comes to coverage of military casualties returning to Dover, or releasing the ‘torture memos.’ He’s probably reconsidering the latter now that it’s come back to bite his congressional allies.

I hope Pelosi’s problems show the White House that sometimes, self-serving transparency is not the best political course of action.

Blowback

You must be logged in to post a comment.