“Transparency” Administration Plays Dirty Pool

Who could forget Obama’s oft-repeated claim that HIS Administration was going to be the most transparent EVAH? Oh, yes, here he is laying claim to that very position (and more):

Right. Well, I am sure it comes to no surprise that this promise is yet another one unfulfilled, and not just in recent days. Back almost two years ago now, the Huffingotn Post – HUFFINGTON POST, the site that pushed Obama relentlessly, published this article: “Obama’s Broken Promise: Federal Agencies Not More Transparent Under Obama Administration.” Of course, those of us paying attention to, say, how Obamacare was crafted behind closed doors in the dark of night, don’t need HuffPo to tell us what we already knew – Obama is a liar, and they were foolish for ever believing his BS in the first place.

But as much as we knew about his duplicity, his promises unfulfilled, I was very surprised to learn that, not only is this Administration opaque, but it is vindictive in ways beyond the pale. And it is thanks to Jake Tapper, a journalist for ABC News, one of the TRUE journalists left, that this information is getting out there.

Why? Well, you may recall the other day I wrote about two journalists who were killed in Syria, including Marie Colvin, and American. It was at this daily White House Press briefing that Jake Tapper pressed Spokesweasel, Jay Carney, on a critical issue:

[snip] Jake Tapper, the White House correspondent for ABC News, pointed out that the administration had lauded brave reporting in distant lands more than once and then asked, “How does that square with the fact that this administration has been so aggressively trying to stop aggressive journalism in the United States by using the Espionage Act to take whistle-blowers to court?”

He then suggested that the administration seemed to believe that “the truth should come out abroad; it shouldn’t come out here.”

Fair point. The Obama administration, which promised during its transition to power that it would enhance “whistle-blower laws to protect federal workers,” has been more prone than any administration in history in trying to silence and prosecute federal workers.

Dang, Mr. Tapper – you go! Wow, he consistently impresses with his questions to Carney.

And this is what I learned as a result of Mr. Tapper’s pointed question to Spokesweasel Carney:

The Espionage Act, enacted back in 1917 to punish those who gave aid to our enemies, was used three times in all the prior administrations to bring cases against government officials accused of providing classified information to the media. It has been used six times since the current president took office.

[...]

In case after case, the Espionage Act has been deployed as a kind of ad hoc Official Secrets Act, which is not a law that has ever found traction in America, a place where the people’s right to know is viewed as superseding the government’s right to hide its business.

In other words, our government is charging reporters and whistleblowers with the Espionage Act if they dare to dig deep into what the government is doing. And get this – the Obama Administration has used it more times than all the Administrations COMBINED since its inception.

Um, I am pretty sure that is the opposite of “transparent” and “open,” but that’s just me.

Considering the incredible vindictiveness of the Obaam Administration, it was courageous of Tapper to raise the issue:

[snip] Mr. Tapper said that he had not planned on raising the issue, but hearing Mr. Carney echo the praise for reporters who dug deep to bring out the truth elsewhere got his attention.

“I have been following all of these case, and it’s not like they are instances of government employees leaking the location of secret nuclear sites,” Mr. Tapper said. “These are classic whistle-blower cases that dealt with questionable behavior by government officials or its agents acting in the name of protecting America.” [snip] (Click here to read the rest of this disturbing story.)

Tapper is spot on – this is not about National Security. This is about the Administration threatening people who dare to speak the truth.

In case you were wondering, none of the prosecutions have held up. Big surprise. (Kind of reminds me of what they did to the Gibson Guitar Company, too, though in that instance, they still have not CHARGED them with anything. They have simply harassed them instead.)

One thing is clear, though – the Obama Administration plays dirty pool in a big way. It is an extension of the way Obama waged his campaign then (and now), if you ask me. The difference is that now, at least, a few people are willing to stand up to make sure the truth is out there. I mean, really – it is telling when the New York Times even covers it (despite some of the snarkiness in the article). Gee, shocking.

And while I am mentioning people using “dirty pool,” I have to say, I am disappointed that the Santorum Campaign is using the same tactic as Democrats in Wisconsin to try and get Santorum the win. They are engaging in robo calls to Democrats asking them to come to the polls and vote for Santorum over Romney. In other words, they are using the same tactics as Democratic strategist, Joe DiSano, who is practically gleeful in his description of how he is working to contact Democrats and wreak havoc:

[snip] Michigan Democratic strategist Joe DiSano has taken it upon himself to become a leading mischief maker.

DiSano says he targeted nearly 50,000 Democratic voters in Michigan through email and a robo call to their homes, asking them to go to the polls Tuesday to vote for Rick Santorum in attempt to hurt Romney.

“Democrats can get in there and cause havoc for Romney all the way to the Republican convention,” DiSano told CNN.

“If we can help set that fire in Michigan, we have a responsibility to do so,” he said.[snip](Click here to read the rest.)

Apparently, Santorum wants them to be “mischief makers,” too. Sad, really, that Santorum has put himself in the same camp as DiSanto, and DailyKos, but there you have it.

I guess we will know by tonight if Santorum (and DiSanto) was successful or not in Michigan, and of course, the results for Arizona will be known then, too. Should be interesting, especially with the dirty pool being played. We already see how that dirty pool is playing out with this Administration. It is worse than we thought…

Finally, I have to say, my heart goes out to the families in Chardon, OH, who have lost their children, or had them wounded, as a result of the shooting yesterday by a fellow student of theirs. They are in my thoughts and prayers after this terrible tragedy…