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Good Government Group Sues for White House Visitors’ Logs
June 16, 2009 10:49 AM
The good-government group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, filed a lawsuit today to force the President Obama to share White House visitors logs with the public.
“We’re suing because the Obama Administration has made it clear that they are continuing the policies and practices of the Bush administration and claiming that White House visitors’ records are off limits to the public,” said Anne Weismann, chief counsel for CREW.
Weismann said White House visitors’ logs can “offer a great deal of insight about pressures and influences people can bring to bear on policies.”
Last month CREW requested through the Freedom of Information Act that the Secret Service provide the organization with information related to top coal executives visiting the White House.
“Taking the exact same position as the Bush administration,” CREW claimed in a press release, “the Obama administration claimed the records are presidential, not agency records, and otherwise exempt in their entirety because of the possibility in some instances they could reveal information protected by the presidential communications privilege.”
“We know that President Bush is a major component of clean coal,” Weismann said.
When it was pointed out to her that she mistakenly referred to President Obama as President Bush, Weismann said that was likely due to “disturbing similarities in policies between the two presidents.”
The denial of CREW’s request, as well as another request from MSNBC.com for all visitors’ logs from Inauguration Day until now is “completely at odds with a president who says, ‘I want to be transparent,’” Weismann says.
Despite the President’s insistence that he is running the most transparent administration in history, Weismann doesn’t give the actual transparency policies a good grade.
“I think it's at best a low C,” she said, “especially given the rhetoric and the policy. There's just a big gap.”
Earlier this year, U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth agreed with CREW that White House visitors’ records must be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act. “We have every reason to believe we'll win this battle,” Weismann said.
-jpt
UPDATE: White House spokesman Ben LaBolt emails to say "We are reviewing our policy on access to visitor logs and related litigation. The letter represents how visitor logs have been treated historically."
June 16, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (32)
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TRANSPARENCY? YEAH!
Posted by: Ed Taylor | Aug 29, 2009 12:17:26 PM
Oh, for cryin' out loud... anyone he wants to keep REALLY secret he can, and probably does, bring in through Kennedy's secret passages. He is, after all, the New Kennedy. The media kept all JFK's dirt quiet, too.
Posted by: Eyes Open | Jun 16, 2009 7:19:57 PM
Apparently, they are trying to hide who their friends are.. but then again, we already know who they hang out with. I would tend to think their old friends do come by to visit now and again.. does Ayers, Rezko and Rev. Wright ring a bell??
He sure did a number on you all.. you voted for this "agent of change".
Posted by: mjl | Jun 16, 2009 6:45:06 PM
Since it is his personal residence, as well as office, he should have some privacy.. (everything I have said today is favorable to the POTUS..weird)..
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | Jun 16, 2009 5:23:49 PM
I am not a supporter of BO but I think they should NOT share this information unless it's part of a criminal investigation. These groups just want to exploit the list for petty politcal points such as "Clean Coal". Didn't this all start because the wanted to know about Cheney and Enron meetings?
Posted by: Don't bankrupt the U.S.Bro! | Jun 16, 2009 5:01:18 PM
I am not a supporter of BO but I think they should share this information unless it's part of a criminal investigation. These groups just want to exploit the list for petty politcal points such as "Clean Coal". Didn't this all start because the wanted to know about Cheney and Enron meetings?
Posted by: Don't bankrupt the U.S.Bro! | Jun 16, 2009 4:56:18 PM
Meet the new boss….same as the old boss. We sure were fooled again.
Posted by: Willbill | Jun 16, 2009 3:35:01 PM
Republicans are to funny, when Bush would not release these it was ok, now that it is a Democrat and a Black one at that they have a double standard. Why don't the Republicans go and try to find a plan and make policies. Do as I say attitude is what lost you seats. And as for ACCORN McCain was involved with them too, and were was ACCORN prosecuted for this? Oh yes the Republican prosecutor said they were not causing Voter fraud, this was a bunch of lazy workers trying to make money and not do the work. Young Political Majors" whose workers were allegedly tricking shoppers into registering with the Republican Party, these people were arrested.
Posted by: Truth try it | Jun 16, 2009 2:37:37 PM
“We know that President Bush is a major component of clean coal,” Weismann said.
A major component? What is that? Did Weismann mean to say "proponent" or "opponent"?
Posted by: coffeetime | Jun 16, 2009 1:48:43 PM
Susan:"I think that firing (without cause) the IG who uncovered Americorps corruption is a good example."
He had plenty of cause, including complaints from a Republican appointee, and followed the letter of law in the firing. That is not corruption (seriously, look it up).
"And can you tell us who was on the flight manifest of the AF1 plane that buzzed NY?"
As soon as you tell me who was on AF1 when it went joyriding around Mt Rushmore, or any of the other photo ops under any other president, ever.
"What about ACORN running the census?"
ACORN running the census? This sort of absurd tinfoil hat nonsense is why I have difficulty taking the Right seriously, even after 8 hard years of them proving how much damage they are willing to wreak.
Posted by: jhw539 | Jun 16, 2009 1:22:20 PM
That's the gate pass for Tony Rezko, Norman Hsu, Angelo Mozilo, Madoff .....
Posted by: Freedom | Jun 16, 2009 1:19:54 PM
Do you expect Iran to be open/Transparent?
Posted by: Freedom | Jun 16, 2009 1:17:29 PM
Transparency CZAR.
Posted by: Freedom | Jun 16, 2009 1:09:50 PM
Don't hold your breath too long people....Barry is going to show you what he has shown you all along.
ZILCH....ZERO....NADA....NIL....NOTHING!!
Hows that Hope and Change workin' so far ya'll?
Posted by: American Infidel | Jun 16, 2009 1:00:42 PM
Are the logs of every person who meets with a Congressman public?
Posted by: MayBee | Jun 16, 2009 12:39:08 PM
And where in the Constitution does it grant the President this privilege?
Posted by: consitutiongone | Jun 16, 2009 12:34:46 PM
So much for transparency. Heady, rousing campaign rhetoric turning 180 degrees in practice. The list is growing.
Posted by: bct | Jun 16, 2009 12:34:15 PM
throw back from the sixties err truth try it....Auh there is always one who throws out the "race card" when intelligent thought ceases....
Posted by: Looking forward too 2010 | Jun 16, 2009 12:16:57 PM
Hey Jake - what is the deal with ABC going all love the administration? Broadcasting from the White House?
Jake save yourself before the borg takes over your network.
Posted by: Jay | Jun 16, 2009 12:15:19 PM
politicians are like everything else. If they seem to good to be true....
Posted by: Mike | Jun 16, 2009 12:13:32 PM
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