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TechnoratiThe Cheney-Like Secrecy of the Obama White House
The refusal of the Bush-Cheney administration to permit public review of White House visitor logs detailing who was meeting with the vice president's energy task force during the very first weeks of their tenure was a deliberate decision made to cloak dirty dealing by officials who were determined to serve corporate rather than public interests.
It also provided an early indicator that darker and dirtier deeds would eventually be done by Cheney and his compatriots. And they were.
So what should we make of the news that the Obama administration is now refusing to release White House visitor logs that detail meetings between members of the new administration and health-care industry insiders?
As Sharon Theimer, of The Associated Press, notes:
(The) administration's multibillion-dollar deals with hospitals and pharmaceutical companies have been made in private, and the results were announced after the fact. Both industries promised Obama cost savings in return for an expanded base of insured patients; beyond that, the public is in the dark about details.In some ways, it resembles what his party criticized President George W. Bush for doing with oil and gas companies as Vice President Dick Cheney wrote a national energy plan in the early days of the Bush administration.
As the Bush White House did, the Obama White House is refusing to release visitor logs that would let people see everyone going in and out during the thick of discussions over major national policies.
There is a lot of talk about the fact that Obama has broken a campaign promise.
That's serious.
But far more serious is the perpetuation of practices of official secrecy that characterized the Bush-Cheney den of iniquity.
When administrations begin to enjoy the benefits of operating in the dark, they become disinclined to end the practice. They also begin to buy into the fantasy that keeping details from Congress and the people is the only way to get things done, as did Obama White House spokesman Reid Cherlin when he tried to explain away a lack of transparency by saying: "Here's what's happening: Groups that have steadfastly opposed reform in the past are coming to the table and making concessions -- because they know we can't wait another year to pass health insurance reform."
Actually, bad players are embracing bad compromises because they have made bad deals with the White House.
And, make no mistake, more bad things will happen.
Only whack jobs who believe that Barack Obama was birthed in Jakarta could imagine that this administration might ever be as corrupt as its predecessor. Bush and Cheney achieved Warren Harding levels of official crookedness.
However, bad-but-not-quite-Cheney-bad is an unacceptable standard.
Official secrecy, especially when it involves meetings by White House aides and representatives of corporate interests that face government regulation, is corrosive. It warps the official agenda and undermines the system of checks and balances -- making the legislative branch a weak second to a unitary executive.
Barack Obama promised when he sought the presidency to usher in a new era of openness and transparency. "We'll have the negotiations televised on C-SPAN, so that people can see who is making arguments on behalf of their constituents, and who are making arguments on behalf of the drug companies or the insurance companies," candidate Obama declared at a Pennsylvania campaign stop two months before the 2008 election.
Now, he is doing the opposite.
Worse yet, he is perpetuating the foul practices of the most corrupt administration in American history.
41 Comments so far
Show AllI was also swayed by the eloquency of Mr.Obama and felt that if even ten percent of his promises were vigorously pursued this country would make progress. The moment he emerged as a Janus with only one face that looked forward I sensed that we were in for a major letdown. The choice of Geithner and Summers and the looting of the treasury to further advance the activities of the criminal bankers on Wall Street was a grand opera of craven perfidity. Holder is still pondering while the thugs who are responsibile for torture and deaths are not held responsible for their crimes. Every day Mr. Obama drops his pants and willing bends over for the health insurance industry and the pharmaceutical companies. What will come of the health care legislation is certain to be both disappointing and of no help to the huge number of people who expected more of this man. In every way he demonstrates that except for intelligence and the ability to speak in a coherent manner he is, sadly, only Bush in black face.
It's interesting how the conservatives condemn Obama when he follows what Bush did, and never uttered a sound about the corruption done by Bush/Chaney.
I've often pondered that, too. And, at the same time, the diehard Obama supporters condemned the corruption under Bush/Cheney but fail to recognize that all we're getting under Obama is more of the same.
Warren Harding was hardly the best President we ever had, but it is insulting to compare him to Bush and Cheney. Harding deserves better than that!
Bring America Back !!!!
====The Primer for this piece should be the book by John Dean, "WORSE THAN WATERGATE"...the Secret Presidency of
George W. Bush.....
**Dean's book came out before Obama's election, but combined with all Obama's already failed promises for hope and change, it is easy to read him into his adoption of the fruits of the Bush secrecy, and corruption.
**The failure of the B.O. Administration to aggressively investigate the Bush/Cheney crimes is a monumental message that, only after 6 months, Obama's term is more corrupt than his predecessor. Nichols does not yet see that fact.
the obama presidency is simply the moment of transition from a republic (however flawed) to a christian/fascist /military empire, similar to what happened with rome. http://www.truthout.org/080609A
“We Do Deserve What Is Coming...”
http://oldhippies.blogspot.com/2009/08/we-do-deserve-what-is-coming.html
It’s oly a partial list, but it does have some enlightening “memories.”
Enjoy your reality...
We've learned at least one important lesson from this:
If the media likes a candidate, he/she is a BAD CANDIDATE.
The media loved Obama. This should have tipped us off. Stealing the primary was another giveaway.
All you bloggers bellyache about corporate fascism, secret meetings, the Great American Empire, two parties = One, the non-elite people can never get ahead, etc. Blog after blog. It's all true! I'm past thinking any of us can change the powerful, behind-the-black-curtain-Corporate Dynesties, so let's move on. But where ya gonna go???
How about some constructive alternatives, please! Polish that passport up and make
some suggestions of other countries to escape to. Is New Zealand the only place that provides sound government for their people? I laugh at the old 60s bumper sticker: "Love It Or Leave It." Now I want to, because I don't love what this country has become. World travelers--share your perspectives for us here so we can re-invent our lives elsewhere.
You may find this essay interesting, www.hermetic.com/bey/taz3.html. Temporary Autonomous Zones can be created nearly anywhere. Sometimes you don't need to go far to find your freedom.
the real cost savings will be in obamas reelection bid!
if there is a weak repug. candidate obama doesn't have
to spend 750 mil. like 2008.there is the cap cost reduction. otherwise its just bush. true story- i just came in from a big name pharmacy . fella in front of me had to pay 1600+ change
for EIGHT PILLS. let me reiterate that 1600 + for EIGHT
PILLS! the ceo of that drug co. should be publicly
terminated just like in china or some of the mid east
countries. he developed a staph infection in his forearm
while in the hospital and he has no med ins. what a
surprise that is just for starters. if you all read the
story on how drug r and d happens it makes this even more
intolerable. the hospital refused to release him unless he signed a waiver relinquishing his rights if they let him out.
he had to leave because he was paying 750+ $ a day which
he doesn't have. what made it harder for him and embarra
ssing was was he is about 40 yrs. old and his 70+ yr. old
mother had to put on her amex card.it gets even better-
they quoted him 840 for 16 pills on the phone and then
pulled the old bait and switch when he got there. they
even said that was with a discount that his mother had!
and this isn't about pharma w. i would bet you dollars to donuts that any pharmacy you walked in to would be engaging
in the same business practices. you know in corp. america
they have this jargon called best practices. well the first
and not articulated one is not don't walk on wet floors
or treat the customer right. nope the first one is profits
before anything else. and f--k. the customer. thanks obama
your the latest component to this unconsciensable but un
less we force you to change you won't be the last!
one last thing i initially named the above drug chain
but took them out because of fear of being sued by them.
you would not want to bet that they have some company reading these posts for any damage control on their horrible busi-
ness practices. we need to stop this. only we can.obama
took huge $ from big pharma and he doesn't want to stop the milking of that corp. nipple to stop! obama SHAME ON YOU!
Question is: How did so many people fall for this guy when his voting record and blatent phoniness were all there in plain sight? This is an important question because if the US electorate doesn't smarten up quickly we'll all (at least 95% of us) be screwed.
Obama always was ,one big lie.
It's easier to sell a dream than it is to tell people the reality of their situation.
Too many people voted for an unexamined dream in order to avoid the unpleasantness of reality.
I hope people like the "change".
Obama would be hard pressed to advocate for more destructive economic policies.
And why are so many supporters still so devoted? I've said this before on other posts; I am a (recent) former Democrat- call me slow, but I finally see the light that there is no difference between the 2 parties. Yet my Dem friends are still rallying behind Obama, saying he inherited a mess, "don't give up on him," and acting as if only the Republicans and Blue Dog Dems are in the way of any progress. They're like someone in an abusive relationship suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, refusing to see that the Democratic party doesn't reprsent their interests any more than the Republicans. I hate to be a pessimist, but I feel that there is no turning back. And to hear Obama claim that single payer might be possible in 10, 15, or 20 years is sickening. How many more people have to suffer and die before Americans wake up?
Jeevee
No offense intended:
If your passionate rhetoric can't stand the above comment, how 'bout writing a Summary below your main thesis?
Jeevee August 8th, 2009 5:31 pm................When you post a reply, please let us know to whom you are replying..thanks.....
Jeevee
As said before, MOST of us haver neither the time nor the speed-reading training to read long Comments. PLEASE, SHORTEN YOUR COMMENTS: it's not only a good intellectual exercise but it will bring you more readers!
It's long past time for the likes of John Nichols and other writers at The Nation and similar venues to do some radical--to the roots--thinking and analysis of the US empire and those who act as political front men and women for the "invisible government" of the corporate/military oligarchy. One begins to wonder, with Obama's unmistakable adoption of Bush/Cheney/neocon politics and policies of endless war and empire on issue after issue, if John Nichols and his ilk are playing their version of the same game as the corporate lapdogs, namely trying to preserve "access" and connections. He could serve his profession better if he adopted the work ethic of I. F. Stone, or Helen Thomas. See, John, the empire is crumbling and corrupt to the core, murdering and torturing its way across the suffering people and planet. Journalists of intergrity will be ever more unwelcome by Obama's corrupt crew, but the time to face it and name it is NOW.
The moment Rahm Emmanuel was appointed chief of staff should have alerted those who voted for Obama that he was simply another one of the in crowd for the kleptocracy of Wall Street, hedge funders, health insurers, etc. It was clear enough during the campaign. Now only those who refuse to see what is clear can say that don't see the man for what he is.
The only 'change' we got was the name of the Fascist Puppet. The corporations ate our democracy.
Strange as it may seem, the majority of Americans share the opinion that corporations have far too much influence on every aspect of their daily lives and have thought so for quite some time. Just like the majority opinion on health care, however, it never seems possible to give any real effect to the very large areas of common ground that clearly exist among the populace.
If "the sovereign people" of the republic could ever manage to achieve something like collective "corporate personhood", they might actually have some influence in the "greatest democracy on earth." Otherwise, forget it.
Rather surprising that Mr. Nichols fails to mention that Obama also refused to release the names of coal executives who have visited the White House. It is relevant to the story and makes the analogy with Cheney's oil executives even more apt.
Why Nichols feels that Obama is somehow less corrupt than the previous administration, in light of the growing evidence, is beyond me. Probably just partisan wishful thinking.. In any event, I do appreciate his willingness to write about Obama's broken promises.
History may show that the first three months of the Obimbo Show was the point when rampant, lethal criminality sent its roots deeply and permanently into our civic life. It appears now that there is no way to eradicate this blatant criminality short of total national collapse. This is what decline and fall looks and feels like. It's exactly like watching a really crappy movie.
As a former bureaucrat, I can assure everyone that "open government" has never been a reality. Usually, however, there is some inclination to embarrass the opposition as much as possible.
The real problem faced by the U.S. is not lack of "transparency" (largely a myth in any event), but the fact that there is no real opposition and certainly no desire to reveal anything in which the nominal opponents were actually complicit.
Besides, fascism doesn't usually thrive well under public scrutiny.
Watch, the tenacious and devious right wing will have Obama impeached for all the same reasons Bush/Cheney should have been.
What good would getting the impeachment papers stsrted? Some smirk like Nancy Pelosi would take it off her table. All Obama has to do is promise the corrupt people in congress a new air craft to haul their crooked bribes to the bank.
Jarhead I go th... August 8th, 2009 2:15 pm.....Obama has no where near the political savvy and power of the Bush crime family. IF he is not in cahoots with these SOBs (and who knows the truth any longer) and they want him out, it will happen.
Rich notes:
"What Nichols REALLY means -- or should mean, if he followed the logic of the rest of his piece -- is that Obama is essentially a much smoother version of Cheney & Bush. He's doing all the same things, & defending all the same interests, but cloaking them all in much slicker rhetoric. Obama's promised "change" is essentially the difference between a crude vulgar rapist, and a dapper "charming" rapist.'
Nicely stated.
Kudos on Katrina too: the Deva of the apologetic wing of the Democrat Party faithful.
Could this just be a variation of the "Stockholm Syndrome", where the prisoner begins sympathizing with the goals and tenets of his captors?
Who would deny that any newly elected, "wet behind the ears", President without much Washington experience might find reassuring the existence of "established policies and procedures", which made his/her life simpler?
He just might have realized, earlier than most, that "resistance is futile".
So much for "Change you can rely on", or whatever the last campaign slogan happened to be.
Ave, great minds think alike...I've made the same analogy about the Stockholm Syndrome. I see people walking around in a daze, like Stepford Wives, refusing to see what's really happening. Some of my friends waiver, acknowledging that they would like to see changes- then quick to add that, "at least it's better than the last administration."
John Nichols lives permanently on the fence between being a lefty, & being a Democrat. He's always terrified that his lefty instincts might make his Democratic friends mad at him.
Take this article, for example. It's generally correct in saying that Obama's secretive health care discussions with the corporate honchos of the involved industry, are no different from Cheney's secretive energy policy discussions.
But having arrived at this forbidden thought, Nichols starts sweating. If he comes right out & suggests the unspeakable -- that Obama is just a "New & Improved" Bush/Cheney -- he will quickly have Katrina breathing down his neck. So he quickly moves to other side with: "...Only whack jobs who believe that Barack Obama was birthed in Jakarta could imagine that this administration might ever be as corrupt as its predecessor..."
That sentence sticks out like a sore thumb. It's so weird! (It doesn't even really make sense, because the "birther" lunatics are Righties, who don't think the Bush admin was 'corrupt' at all.) It doesn't belong in an article like this. This article is not about what lunatics Righties are.
What Nichols REALLY means -- or should mean, if he followed the logic of the rest of his piece -- is that Obama is essentially a much smoother version of Cheney & Bush. He's doing all the same things, & defending all the same interests, but cloaking them all in much slicker rhetoric. Obama's promised "change" is essentially the difference between a crude vulgar rapist, and a dapper "charming" rapist.
That's what Nichols really means. But he doesn't quite have the guts to come right out & say it.
Agree wholeheartedly.
Bring America Back !!!!..........!...Most excellent perception by RichM on this
piece. Nichols and The Nation are also real soft on 9/11...they long ago
bought into the boogieman bin Laden theories of Team Bush. What brought down three skyscrapers at World Trade Center on 9/11 eludes Nichols, or their party line explanations !!
**Nichols wants us to grab onto King Bush as the most criminal and corrupt Prez, ever, but still won't extend that to the mother of all attacks on the USA==9/11!
****I have always wondered , Why ????.......The answer lies in the MSM philosophy that news about war is always more profitable than news about Peace !! $$$$$
"he will quickly have Katrina breathing down his neck"
That's why I let my Nation subscription lapse. What a useless bunch of losers (or are they just FBI plants?). Has the Nation mag been rendered obsolete by the web?
I believe I am still gettin Impeach Bush stuff from Ramsey Clark .... a little late for that.
How else do ya make a president do something or at least get their attention?
It is always the secrets that do us in.
Without the protection and tyranny of government secrecy, the people of the world could govern a whole lot better.
Wonderful comment. How true!
Hey John, you might get your Obamabot card revoked for writing such heresy!
LOL!!!
Ahhh yasss! I remember his edict that the revolving door between government officials and lobbyists would be closed, followed almost immediately with an exception for one of the biggest MIC lobbyists in the business.
The people that actually run this nation don't give a damn about which party, or what figurehead is "in charge." They own them all, with few exceptions.
Whoever is in, it is business as usual with huge profits for the MIC, big insurance, big pharma, big coal, big oil, agrabusiness, etc.
The rest of us can go to Hell as far as they are concerned, after they have squeezed the last brass farthing out of us.
That's because he is part of the most corrupt administration in history, different suit, same policies! It's all over for Obama and the american dream, and that's just what it is: a dream...or shall we say " nightmare " to be more accurate!
risingdawn August 8th, 2009 1:08 pm.........Let's get those impeachment proceedings started, eh!