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Michelle Malkin
Michelle Malkin
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The Selective Transparency of Barack Obama

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Sunlight is for suckers. The New York Post reported on Tuesday that the White House will not release the $328,835 snapshots taken of the president's Boeing VC-25A that buzzed lower Manhattan. The entire world has seen news and amateur photos and videos of the incident, but if President Obama has his way, taxpayers won't be able to see the flyover photos they paid for with their own money.

This will make for an interesting response to my Freedom of Information Act requests. After the bizarre mission caused distress and panic among countless New York City residents who were intentionally left in the dark about the photo-op stunt, I filed public records requests with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Staff FOIA Requester Service Center.

The first one requests any and all communication — including e-mail and other public records and including any and all correspondence between the White House Military Office, Department of Defense and other agencies — related to the planned federal aerial mission over New York City on April 27, 2009. Specifically, I requested all public records related to and including the flight manifests and related to the origin of the request for the mission. The second filing requests any and all photos taken during the planned federal aerial mission approved by the White House Military Office.

What rationale could they possibly use to stifle public disclosure? National security? These were glamour shots to enhance the Air Force One photo portfolio. That's no secret. The White House 'fessed up on that. Withholding the photos serves only one purpose: protecting the backsides of those involved in this botched PR mission.

From Day One, Obama has demonstrated a rather self-serving selectivity when it comes to transparency. The Obama White House rushed to reverse an 18-year ban photographing the flag-draped coffins of troops arriving back on American soil. And at the behest of the American Civil Liberties Union, his administration is set to release at least 21 classified photographs by May 28 showing detainee abuse in prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan. Openness in government is fine if it hurts America's reputation, but not if it harms Obama's.

Moreover, hostility to transparency is a running thread through Obama's cabinet:

— Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for years fought disclosure of massive donations from foreign governments and corporations that filled her husband's library and foundation coffers.

— Top Obama adviser David Axelrod ran fear-mongering campaigns in support of a huge utility rate hike — and failed to disclose that the ads were funded for Commonwealth Edison in Chicago.

— Labor Secretary Hilda Solis failed to disclose that she was director and treasurer of a union-promoting lobbying group pushing legislation that she was co-sponsoring.

— Attorney General Eric Holder overruled his own lawyers in the Justice Department on the issue of D.C.

voting rights (which he and Obama support) and refused to make public the staffers' opinion that a House bill on the matter was unconstitutional.

— And as I reported last month, Obama's nominee for the No. 2 official at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, former King County, Wash., executive Ron Sims, has the distinction of being the most fined government official in his state's history for suppressing public records from taxpayers.

Obama set the tone, breaking his transparency pledge with the very first bill he signed into law. On January 29, the White House announced that the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act had been posted online for review. One problem: Obama had already signed it — in violation of his "sunlight before signing" pledge to post legislation for public comment on the White House website five days before he sealed any deal.

Obama broke the pledge again with the mad rush to pass his trillion-dollar pork-stuffed stimulus package full of earmarks he denied existed. Jim Harper of the Cato Institute reported in April 2009: "Of the eleven bills President Obama has signed, only six have been posted on Whitehouse.gov. None have been posted for a full five days after presentment from Congress…"

It's this utter disregard for taxpayer accountability that prompted hundreds of thousands of citizens to take to the streets on Tax Day for Tea Party protests. The trampling of transparency inspired signs that read: "No legislation without deliberation" and "READ THE BILL FIRST." Obama's response was first to claim that he hadn't even heard of the Tea Party movement, and then, on his 100-day celebration, to deride all those Americans he is supposed to represent for "playing games."

Projection, anyone? When it comes to toying with transparency, President Obama is a master at "playing games."

Michelle Malkin is author of "Unhinged: Exposing Liberals Gone Wild." Her e-mail address is malkinblog@gmail.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.


Comments

10 Comments | Post Comment
Obama is the biggest liar that ever hit this earth. Transparency! Not! That man would not know truth if it slapped him in the face. He is pure evil! I don't know where America will go from here. All our FREEDOMS are being taken away. Hope the pea brains who put him in the WH get what they wanted. Darn sure free thinking, working Americans aren't. God help us all.
Comment: #1
Posted by: Informed
Wed May 6, 2009 6:43 AM
THE 'TRANSPARENCY' IS SO TRANSPARENT THAT CANNOT BE SEEN, IS SOMEWHAT 'INVISIBLE'
"AIR FORCE 1 NEW YORK FIASCO" - (can we call it that way?)
WE,THE PEOPLE paid (or sponsor ) over $3000.000.00 for the phot-trip - so,....they are ours, right?....."ahem".....can we see them? NO?
Alright, here is a thougth, : - WHY and WHO took these photos? Let's say was a phot-maping of New York City to have complete and detailed of the terrain so an attack like on 9-11 would be more succesful....low-altitude aircraft taking pictures of the city?.....or even the escort-type planes as well for those were at same elevation - correct on that? Notice that a 747 aircraft is similar as the one perpetuate the 9-11 attack.
Are those photos taken to be given to terrorists so they would have better assestment for more destructive future attacks?....even extrapolate terrain-info that could serves to relate for others cities similar size as New York? - (Chicago, or LA, or Atlanta, St Paul....what about Washington DC?) And WHO? took those photos?....THE TERRORIST IN THE INSIDE SPECTRUM / TERRORIST LIASSON INTERNAL DIVISION ...or someting of the sort? In other words, TRAITORS?/ ENEMIES OF THE STATE? - FIFTH COLUMNIST?
People, the only way 9-11, 2001 could happen is that those assasins had HELP FROM INSIDE. There is no way in the world that four, got that? - FOUR AIRCRAFT OUT OF CORRECT VECTORS CAN ELUDE NORAD.
NORAD, can spot any of us eating grapes or ice cream, in any corner.....no to mention that the Air Control Authorities had DELAY to contact / inform higer authlorities ( claiming "confusion") . Again, four aircrafts - FOUR on INCORRECT VECTORS
I do not know about the rest of you, my friends but I JUST DO NOT BUY IT.
Does it sound like science-fiction movie?....too speculative. I have not too much of a choice here.The government does not come clear on anything...the so called 'transparency" cannot be seen for is not present, is invisible, therefor DOES NOT EXIST, IS A FALACY, A BIG HUGE LIE! Perhaps someone else has more options, but I am a simple man beside I doubt many things ...even I doubt that I doubt.
However, after all, I could be totally wrong and we do not have ENEMIES OF THE STATE AT WORK IN WASHINGTON,....ah! but I need strong proof that THE OBAMA GANG TERRORISTS ADVOCATE AND DICTATORS-TYRANS ORIENTED, CORRUPTED ADMINISTRATION really wants to protect our great country, for I, to think otherwise,...and so far the dynamics are not very appetizing.
And so, everyone make your own story .
Good day everyone.
Daniel Cabrera
Merrillville, Indiana
Comment: #2
Posted by: dan9el
Wed May 6, 2009 7:04 AM
SOMETHING EXTRA TO EXPLORE;


As known by EVERYONE, Holder is a TERRORISTS ADVOCATE , is also known as DEFENDER OF CORRUPTED INDIVIDUALS. Should not be a surprise the ANTI-AMERICANISM wich transpires on this agenda.
Obviously here is where Obama, Holder and others - without any iota of care for this country - does not foresee into the AUTO-TRAP they all are creating to and for their own demise.History will speak volumes on this enterprise, for REGRETS are to be large in number.

I wander if those democrats really want to go down that road,....are they aware what is for them once the public gets all the factors together.

One small statement in advance ;- IF THIS NATION IS HIT AGAIN AFTER THE WEAKENING OF OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE SYSTEM AND SECUCURITY-REALTED FACTORS ,...AS ONGOING DOWN BY THIS ADMINISTRATION ,...OBAMA AND HIS GANG CAN KISS GOOD-BYE 'OBAMALAND ADMINSTRATION DAYS'

Now, consider this;
Now THE OBAMA GANG CORRUPTED ADMINSTRATION Is WEAKENING even more our NATIONAL SECURITY, ventilating secrets techniques to extract information from terrorists. In doing so THE OBAMA GANG is telegraphing national defense secrets to our enemies out there that want the total destruction of our country. To me that is not any different from the TREASON that Openheimer, and others, did when secret information about the atomic research of the ‘MANHATTAN PROJECT' were given away to enemy factions.
Now, is that INTERNAL TERRORISM ?, ADVOCATE TERRORISM ?, TREASON ?, ,….what to call it? To me the entire thing is stupid or dumb , if not combination of both,…everyone, make own story on this one.
After all Mr Holder is known as an advocate for terrorists , so nothing takes me for surprise, …but in view of the obvious THOSE TRAITORS HAVE TO BE REMOVE FROM WASHINGTON.
On top of that is the enthusiasm to let's say,…'impeach-after-presidency' ( to give a possible aplicable term ) to further try to destroy Pres Bush and his administration. Actually and evidently THE OBAMA GANG ARE REALLY RUNING OUT OF EXCUSES FOR EVERYTHING,…so this continues, of course.

And as for the showing interest in the Latin-american Sector ,...this thing of Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, etc,...go figure that one out,...the question to ponder with is ;- IS THIS A MYTH ? , A MAKE BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING IS REALLY LEGITIMATE IN OUR COUNTRY INTEREST ?, OR A 'BACKDOOR' TO DEEPENS, EVEN MORE OUR DOWNFALL ORCHESTRATED BY THE ENEMIES OF THE STATE IN WASHINGTON ?
And insofar,....who are ,ultimately are the real commanders behind Obama? ( for HE - although tagged as 'president ' - is seems just 'THE FRONT-MAN' in the spectrum...only speeches, no action , no producing,...just a face, a symbol)

I gave in a short past, two names to think about ;- SOROS and PODESTA.....could we add to the list anothers two more ?,...lets's say,...IMMLET and ZUCKER ( those two related to GE and NBC)
Perhaps they are just angelical figures but so far they did demonstrate not so good vectors of action, for their related moves gravitate around,... DESTRUCTION OF ECONOMY, DEALING WITH TERRORIST, ANTI-PATRIOTISM ,...things like that,...everyone make your own investigation and research and find details.

There are somes that want to see Bush, Cheney, and others go to jail.
So if the democrats really want to go down that road , then, lets's see how this plays out for them,...shall we?
OK HERE IS THE DEAL
If to think that Pres Bush, Cheney, and the rest are GUILTY (and therefor should be CONDEMN) for torturing in order to protect our country through all these years after 9-11 EVENT ? So , I say let's go for it,…no problem.Bottom line ; ACUSE THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AS WAR CRIMINALS.

I propose; to gather ALL INFORMATION regarding ALL activities that Bush's administration did to keep our country safe , to find any thing that could possibly be found to ACUSE, PROSECUTE, CONVICT AND ULTIMATELY SENTENCE , all of them. AND WHEN I SAID; - 'ALL INFORMATION' - , I MEAN ALL INFORMATION,... SO PRESENT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THE RESULTS OF THOSE INTERROGATIONS - DO NOT OMIT THAT PART !
..
And, AT THE SAME TIME, SIMULTANEOUSLY, find ALL information, in regards of ALL practices of UNCONSTITUTIONAL CHARACTER that the present CORRUPTED ADMINSTRATION is executing AGAINST ‘WE,THE PEOPLE' with the ongoing deterioration in the ECONOMICAL SPECTRUM , the dismanteling of the NATIONAL DEFENSE APARATUS (such as, ‘unilateral disarmament', fund cuts to our troops and defense programs, stop methodology to extract information from enemies combatants that is proven to be effective, and others WEAKENING AVENUES that expose our country to be VERY VULNERABLE TO ENEMIES).
In addition,the evident changes in the SOCIO-DYNAMICS that redounds into the DESTRUCTION OF INDIVIDUALITY OF THE ENTREPRENURIAL SPIRIT OF OUR BASIS IN ECONOMY - AMERICAN CAPITALISM, meaning, the vectorizing for a massive government control promoting TOTALITARIAN / DICTATORSHIP SYSTEM where FREEDON OF SPEECH and TRUE DEMOCRACY will ultimately CEASE TO EXIST ! Bottom line ; ACUSE THE OBAMA GANG CORRUPTED ADMINSTRATION AS ENEMIES OF THE STATE.

So, EVERYTHING is to be presented to the public for BOTH DEPOSITIONS , and let the the AMERICAN PEOPLE DECIDE AND GIVE A VERDICT.
How that sounds?…Questions anyone?

Let's go for it, then.

PS I do not think that the tv tabloids (CNN,MSNBC,NBC), nor tabloids publications such
as The New York Times, The Huffington Post, LA Times, etc have courage to go for
this one,….best case scenario….they just keep quiet.
Comment: #3
Posted by: dan9el
Wed May 6, 2009 7:10 AM
This is the same stone walling that another company is getting on the minutes of the meeting that Nancy Pelosi attended regarding waterboarding. A Freedom of Information Act request has been filed and they have gotten nothing. What is more disturbing is the fact that this administration threatened one of the creditors in the Chrylser deal to take 29 cents on the dollar or the full force of the Press would ruin there reputation.

Michelle, please keep after them for this information. This adminstration depends on the fact that the press has Adult ADD and will forget and move on. Dont let them get away with this..!!!!!!
Comment: #4
Posted by: sandib
Wed May 6, 2009 10:04 AM
Good day everyone;
Please consider this , if you will;


IT IS ‘WATERGATE TIME' ?

OBAMA GANG CORRUPTED ANTI-AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION MASSIVE IMPEACHMENT


Boys and girls should we pull this one out,… is going to be one for the books of history,…in fact ‘WE',THE PEOPLE, will reiterate that NOBODY MESS WITH AMERICA - NOR EXTERNAL, NOR DOMESTIC ENEMY FACTIONS.

You know, it is time to take them out.
Anything ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL is ANTI-AMERICAN, therefor WHOEVER comply with this, is ENEMY OF THE STATE.

Obama,the ‘FRONT-MAN' of a group with the agenda to destroy our great country seems not to be true american-born person for all has been SUPRESSED AND HIDDEN by the OBAMA GANG CORRUPTED POLITICAL MACHINERY.Let's start there for COMPLETE INVESTIGATION, True PATRIOTIC CONGRESSPEOPLE, JOURNALISTS AND INVESTIGATORS can do this.Remember the two journalists that brought down THE NIXON MACHINERY (WATERGATE)? Ok, perhaps this is another moment to uncover the TRAITORS!

In my book , they are way overdue to be nailed by the LAW....and as EVERYONE UNDERSTAND, NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW - NIXON WAS IMPEACHED AND SO THOSE ENEMIES OF THE STATE IN WASHINGTON SHOULD BE AS WELL....questions anyone?

Good day everyone.
Daniel Cabrera
Merrillville, Indiana
Comment: #5
Posted by: dan9el
Wed May 6, 2009 11:59 AM
MAY WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY ON THIS ONE?
"AIR FORCE 1 NEW YORK FIASCO" - (can we call it that way?)
WE,THE PEOPLE paid (or sponsor ) over $3000.000.00 for the phot-trip - so,....they are ours, right?....."ahem".....can we see them? NO?
Alright, here is a thougth, : - WHY and WHO took these photos? Let's say was a phot-maping of New York City to have complete and detailed of the terrain so an attack like on 9-11 would be more succesful....low-altitude aircraft taking pictures of the city?.....or even the escort-type planes as well for those were at same elevation - correct on that? Notice that a 747 aircraft is similar as the one perpetuate the 9-11 attack.
Are those photos taken to be given to terrorists so they would have better assestment for more destructive future attacks?....even extrapolate terrain-info that could serves to relate for others cities similar size as New York? - (Chicago, or LA, or Atlanta, St Paul....what about Washington DC?) And WHO? took those photos?....THE TERRORIST IN THE INSIDE SPECTRUM / TERRORIST LIASSON INTERNAL DIVISION ...or someting of the sort? In other words, TRAITORS?/ ENEMIES OF THE STATE? - FIFTH COLUMNIST?
People, the only way 9-11, 2001 could happen is that those assasins had HELP FROM INSIDE. There is no way in the world that four, got that? - FOUR AIRCRAFT OUT OF CORRECT VECTORS CAN ELUDE NORAD.
NORAD, can spot any of us eating grapes or ice cream, in any corner.....no to mention that the Air Control Authorities had DELAY to contact / inform higer authlorities ( claiming "confusion") . Again, four aircrafts - FOUR on INCORRECT VECTORS
I do not know about the rest of you, my friends but I JUST DO NOT BUY IT.
Does it sound like science-fiction movie?....too speculative. I have not too much of a choice here.The government does not come clear on anything...the so called 'transparency" cannot be seen for is not present, is invisible, therefor DOES NOT EXIST, IS A FALACY, A BIG HUGE LIE! Perhaps someone else has more options, but I am a simple man beside I doubt many things ...even I doubt that I doubt.
However, after all, I could be totally wrong and we do not have ENEMIES OF THE STATE AT WORK IN WASHINGTON,....ah! but I need strong proof that THE OBAMA GANG TERRORISTS ADVOCATE AND DICTATORS-TYRANS ORIENTED, CORRUPTED ADMINISTRATION really wants to protect our great country, for I, to think otherwise,...and so far the dynamics are not very appetizing.
And so, everyone make your own story .
Good day everyone.
Daniel Cabrera
Merrillville, Indiana
Comment: #6
Posted by: dan9el
Wed May 6, 2009 12:08 PM
Everything that Barry Soetoro has done in the oval office form Day one to the first 100 days has been done from a Usurper. When all his records were sealed by the Dem Nat Comm. The news we get is from responsible journaliasts and there not to many out there. Thanks to the American Freedom of Information and the Fed Register, Washington .Gov we can see how fast Barry Soetoro is working with pen in hand with Presidential Actions that do not require Legislation, or Congress Approval. Proclamations, memos briefing room. The news from the public for the first 100 days was scary, If people read what is going on with the Soetoro administration, lots of damage to our country. Barry Soetoros Birth certificate, med, and school records need to be unsealed to end this Imposters reign in our Oval Office. If the government can't or won't, a well informed Tea Party can & will. The facts on important info are sealed from the public, once unsealed Barry Soetoro,His administration,cabinet, Dem Nat Comm all the of the pay to play in Congress and Senate will be found quilty we then can get back to a government that will honor our constitution for what it is and not try to write laws to change our constitution for a european gov. Every day makes a difference with an Indonesia Naturalized Barry Soetoro in the whitehouse. If we are to solve a problem we need to identify it first, remove it and then take our country back to a naturalborn USA no matter what party but veted!
Comment: #7
Posted by: erichardson
Wed May 6, 2009 12:51 PM
Anyone , or anyone who is a free thinking individual could tell that Obambam was a terrorist when it was first known that he refused to wear an American Flag pin on his lapel. But the media covered it up by saying he doesn't feel that you have to wear something like that to prove you are loyal to your country, there were a lot more little things that even a braindead liberal could see if they weren't blinded by the phrase "hes a democrat therefore he can't be bad."the phrase CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN was correct. The trouble is they are all the wrong changes for our country. they know that, but they won't admit it. Actually all I was gonna write is GO GIT EM DAN9L cause I don't know how to compose anything that good.
Comment: #8
Posted by: gary
Wed May 6, 2009 2:55 PM
Sorry Daniel I didn't mean to leave the E out. Daniel is my middle name.
Comment: #9
Posted by: gary
Wed May 6, 2009 2:59 PM
That this pathetic excuse for a leader would lie, cheat, steal, then accuse others of lying, cheating, and stealing can come as no surprise to anyone who bothered to look up his bonafides before the election. Of course, with the prostitutional press and network TV carrying his water, and the congress too busy feathering its own nest to notice, he is what we have instead of a leader. Not all of us, but many of us deserve him. This is just another situation in which the many must suffer for the few. The dismantling of America continues apace with this congress, the most corrupt in our history, and this president, one of the two most incompetent and dishonest (Carter) ever fly along, above the radar of the idiot left who ingenuously think that they will not be affected by the destruction that these two are visiting on the country.
Comment: #10
Posted by: Jobe
Thu May 7, 2009 9:00 AM
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