Barack Obama's Statement on Cheney's Secrecy

[illinoisprogressive]

Over objections from the National Archives, the Vice President's office has exempted itself from a presidential executive order that safeguards classified national security information.

Cheney's office hasn't complied with the order since 2003. It's blocked on-site inspections that check whether documents are being properly labeled and safely stored since 2004.

Using some Orwellian logic and language, the VP claimed that his office is not an "entity within the executive branch" – so the order didn't apply to him.

That's right – the Vice-President does not operate within the executive branch of the government. He's a … legislator?

Barack released a statement this afternoon on Cheney's actions:

Throughout this administration, Vice President Cheney has consistently sought to operate in secrecy and thwart rules designed to ensure the public's right to know how their business is being done. I believe strongly that democracy works best when it does its work in the daylight. In an Obama Administration, we will launch the most sweeping ethics reform in history so that we can restore an open, honest government that finally makes real progress on the challenges facing the American people

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/ObamaHQ/

[bigdarryl]

1. good response

[durrrty libby]

4. Really? What will he do about it...NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[earthlover]

11. Now? So what has Hillary done about it? Heck, what has she even SAID about it?

Another silence from the Hillary supporters? Or just attack Obama?

[Beaverhausen]

2. Good for him but, he is in the senate now. Can't he do something about it?

Instead of just saying "in an Obama Administration..." why can't he do something to hold Cheney accountable for what he is doing NOW?

[maximusveritas]

6. I love it

when people criticize Senators for not doing "something" about these things and yet they are unable to articulate exactly what that "something" is. If you can't come with something specific for him to be doing, then your criticism is pretty weak and transparent.

[Beaverhausen]

7. Well, other senators and congresspeople ARE doing something about it

Obama is the senator, not me.

If all he can do is say "See how bad he is? I won't do that" as if wow we are so impressed.

He needs to show us what he can do. So far, I'm not so impressed.

[maximusveritas]

8. What are they doing about it?

The only thing I've heard is Rahm's idea to defund Cheney's office. I'm not sure if that's a solution, but it's a start.
And if you're talking about ethics reform in general, Obama has tried to do something about it, but you can only do so much as a single Senator. That's why he's running for President, so he can push for more reforms than is possible right now.

[Beaverhausen]

9. here's one

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1182475

[maximusveritas]

10. Are you serious?

A letter? Alright, I'll be generous and call it a strongly-worded letter. My guess is that if Obama wrote a letter like that, which he might have, you'd still be asking why he's not doing something.

[earthlover]

12. Hillary is in the Senate too...

Hey. I don't know about you. But when someone says something that attacks Cheney, maybe even those of us Democrats who favor another candidate might say something like "I like another candidate, but right on!" Or something like that. But no. We attack our fellow Democrat using words that would make a Republican proud.

Scene: presidential debate October 2008.

Obama: Cheney was wrong on that secrecy thing.

Republican candidate: well, you were in the senate. why didn't YOU do something about it?

(Answer: might it have something to do with not having a veto-proof Congress?)

Come on. It is Cheney who is the enemy. Obama spoke up to him. And we attack...Obama? What is wrong with this picture?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. I like that - does it's work in the daylight

not in some dark slimey cesspit. The devil works in such places.

[rsmith6621]

5. YAWN..........

........All Talk and no action wont get you elected Obamba......Grab your balls and do something about it...or your not PREZ material.......Thats all they do...is Talk.