The Associated Press is reporting today that Obama's number of "deliberative process" exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act far exceeds the last known record of denial of information to the public; in clear violation of his campaign pledges of "bringing accountability through transparency".
The AP's Sharon Theimer, reported that President Obama used an exemption from the Freedom of Information Act known as the "deliberative process exemption" a total of 70,779 times in fiscal year 2009. Compare that with Bush's use in his final budget year of "only" 47,395 documented instances of hiding government information/plots from public redress.
This exemption isn't the only one, there are 11 ways the government can legally 'justify' not allowing American citizens information that we request.
Other exemptions cover information on the supervision of financial institutions, national defense and foreign relations, trade secrets, internal agency rules and practices, geological information on wells, law enforcement proceedings, and personal privacy. One could ask 'what's left that they are compelled to disclose?'. Well, under those provisions, they can be certain nothing that will land them in jail when we find out.
Not only that, but when reading the original text of the Freedom of Information Act, one is starkly reminded that the government arbitrarily makes and enforces rules meant to govern themselves with astonishing precision and speed. The following section was subsequently removed from the law very shortly after passage:
The Attorney General shall submit an annual report on or before March 1 of each calendar year which shall include for the prior calendar year a listing of the number of cases arising under this section, the exemption involved in each case, the disposition of such case, and the cost, fees, and penalties assessed under subsections (a)(4)(E), (F), and (G). Such report shall also include a description of the efforts undertaken by the Department of Justice to encourage agency compliance with this section.
This being removed explains why the AP has had to take a leading role in holding government to the standards of their own rules, which by the AP's assessment has been way harder this last year, almost double the amount of requested information was hiden under Barry than W.
'The Administration' has even stalled requests by the AP for information regarding their own "Open Government Directive". Ms. Theimer claims that they are still waiting for a response to their request for details regarding the White House's December meetings regarding more transparency in government.
So, with all this in mind, why in the world would anyone keep voting for the same results.
Oh no, G-dub fans not so fast, over 47 thousand times is way too many as well. But almost 70 thousand times is plain ridiculous, that's 192 times a day that the Federal government is denying you information that you could plausibly use to plot your own direction more effectively.
A libertarian American will find it exactly par-for-the-course that the 'transparency in Washington' candidate quickly became a highly secretive President; just like how the 'Anti-war' candidate when elected promptly escalated the war.
For more information: The full AP Report
Comments
They are all on the same side- the side that is against you and me. Keeping "government secrets", according to L. Neil Smith, should be the only capital crime.
Thank you for reporting this. I have to agree that this president is highly secretive in his actions as well as in his intentions. I used to think that GW Bush was bad but I think this guy has him beat. I know one thing for certain and that is that this current president and GW Bush are cut from the same mold and serve the same master.
God help this country because the crazies are running the asylum.
Although you have the right to express your views, this article should be filed under OPINION as it is so biased and one-sided. There is no journalistic neutrality what so ever. I don’t abject to your beliefs, but to your integrity as a reporter.
AP-Style Police...one sided? Didn't the writer look at how GW Bush used it too? Guess you don't like it that someone is yet again pointing out how hypocritical our current president is. The truth sucks, don't it? LOL
Oh, bite me, how childish you are. I said nothing about what was written, merely HOW it was written. The author quoted facts - good! He gave some figures about Bush - good! But the title and the last line of this article are unprofessional -- as was your remark.
As I recall, Bush never claimed his administration would be "transparent", so even though he committed great evil and tried to hide it, he didn't lie about his corrupt intentions. That is why the title of this column is appropriate.
How would I get those same totals for each of the 8 years prior?
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