Gibbs Still Plagued by the Issue of Transparency
Posted on 17. Jan, 2010 by James Devere in American Politics, Political News
On FridayPress Secretary Robert Gibbs again had to defend the President’s flip on transparency in government. He stated, ”The President believes that the standard of people being able to see what’s going on, to be able to understand what is being discussed, and the details that are available [are enough].” Pressed on the fact that there are no independent reports on the many hours of negotiations going on at the White House, Gibbs pointed to a 12 point (talking points) brief distributed by his staff.
The Administration’s position on transparency is to refer back to a statement made two weeks ago. After C-SPAN accepted the President’s offer/campaign promise to broadcast the healthcare debate process, Gibbs refused to answer questions. Gibbs is not just evasive; he is flippant in his attitude toward transparency at all turns.
Gibbs has treated the issue of transparency with contempt and dismissed it as if it were a handshake comment that Obama made in error somewhere in a campaign stop. The reality is that the press, regardless of their political leanings, can not drop this issue; to do so would be to fail in the most basic responsibility of their job.
Transparency was not just a campaign promise. It was the cornerstone of President Barack Obama’s platform. It is that which, more than any other subject, spoke to independents, conservatives, and liberals alike. It is the most populist of the President’s positions. The stark contrast of the Administration’s current backroom Chicago tactics vs. the openess promised in the campaign (and touted even a few weeks ago in fundraiser efforts) is shocking to the American public, generating accusations like those in the video below.
If Obama and the leadership in Washington were serious about having a productive process and true reform, there would be fewer shady deals, buy-offs, and favors for special interest groups. The fact that Obama has run the healthcare bill debate like a campaign, rather than a legislative process, is indicative just how shady the bill has become.
