This video comes courtesy of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which was a little surprised to see a White House aide claim the need for secrecy when it comes to a proposed Executive Order on transparency. Barack Obama wants more transparency on political contributions from executives at government contractors, but apparently his staff believes in “transparency for thee, opacity for we” in the West Wing. Here’s Daniel Gordon attempting to explain that there isn’t any irony at all in invoking executive privilege over their efforts to promulgate an unprecedented intrusion into political thought in the private sector:

“I think there are discussions, even about transparency and developing rules about transparency that we need to be able to have quietly and behind closed doors.” – Daniel Gordon, White House staff