Memories…
Jul 10th, 2009 by MariaEvans
Remember back when presidential candidate Barack Obama said this:
When there are meetings between lobbyists and a government agency, we won’t be going to the Supreme Court to keep it secret like Dick Cheney and his energy task force, we’ll be putting them up on the Internet for every American to watch.
Well, apparently that’s out the proverbial window. The White House is keeping information about Obama’s meetings with coal executives and lobbyists a secret:
CREW filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request [PDF] to the Secret Service on May 15, requesting “all records relating to any visit” made to the White House by the CEOs of 16 major coal companies and lobby groups.
In their response to the request [PDF], the Secret Service claimed that the logs qualify as presidential and vice-presidential records and thus aren’t covered by FOIA—and could also be protected under “presidential communications privilege.”
I guess “presidential communications privilege” explains why we haven’t seen the video of White House meetings with coal executives and lobbyists on YouTube. Ah, the smell of change…it’s in the wind…or is that just the smell of another toxic release from the coal plant down the road in Millsboro?
According to the White House schedule, Biden will not spend the remainder of the work day in private meetings that are closed press.
Instead: “The Vice President will spend the remainder of the day in meetings that are closed press.”
Well, Joe, as long as those meetings aren’t “private.” Sheesh.
And just for fun, I’m gonna post the entire quote from that June 2007 Barack Obama speech that I just took a little piece of earlier in this post:
When there is a bill that ends up on my desk as President, you will have five days to look online and find out what’s in it before I sign it. When there are meetings between lobbyists and a government agency, we won’t be going to the Supreme Court to keep it secret like Dick Cheney and his energy task force, we’ll be putting them up on the Internet for every American to watch. And instead of allowing lobbyists to slip big corporate tax breaks into bills during the dead of night, we will make sure every single tax break and earmark is available to every American online. This builds on the “Google for Government” law I passed in Congress, which already allows you to see every contract, every grant, every dime of federal spending online.
It’s time to renew a people’s politics in this country – to ensure that the hopes and concerns of average Americans speak louder in Washington than the hallway whispers of high-priced lobbyists.
Memories…of the way they were….
The Obama Administration was really hoping that USA stood for the United States of Alzheimers. That way our pesky memories wouldn’t get in the way.
It appears that change means change in who gets the campaign cash and calls the shots. If you are waiting for change in favor of the people, you are suckers–you 53% who voted for President Obama.
Maria says Obama said: “When there are meetings between lobbyists and a government agency, we won’t be going to the Supreme Court to keep it secret like Dick Cheney and his energy task force, we’ll be putting them up on the Internet for every American to watch.”
Were there ‘lobbyists’ present at the Obama meeting with coal executives, or was it only CEO’s? There is a significant distinction. We don’t know. So technically, you have not demonstrated that Obama reneged on this promise.
That said, I am not impressed with the elements of secrecy that Obama has inserted into his running of the Executive Branch, all to reminiscent of Bush whom I criticized for the same behavior.
Perry, Obama says “lobbyists” but then refers to “Cheney and his energy task force” which was CEOs and execs, that puts both on the table.
Also the CREW FOIA request was for “”all records relating to any visit” made to the White House by the CEOs of 16 major coal companies and lobby groups.” and the Administration isn’t coughing any of it up.