Most Transparent Administration Ever

Most Transparent Administration Ever Says: "Stop Asking Questions"

Barack Obama has promised to preside over the most transparent presidency ever. Those were his words. Well, hope in one hand, and poop in the other. See which one fills up faster.

The "Open for Questions" forum on Mr Obama's website is apparently only open to questions deemed acceptable by the committed Obama supporters who police the site and "vote" on the best enquiries.

At lunchtime today, Not a single question about Governor Rod Blagojevich's alleged attempts to sell Mr Obama's vacant Senate seat was included in the top 50 questions on the site.

Instead, questions such as "What will you do to establish transparency and safeguards against waste with the rest of the Wall Street bail-out money?" and "What will you do as President to restore the Constitutional protections that have been subverted by the Bush Administration?" were deemed the most pertinent.

Questions like "Is Obama aware of any communications in the last six weeks between Rod Blagojevich or anyone representing Rod Blagojevich and any of Obama's top aides?" and "When did you and Blagojevich last speak and about what?" could only be found by searching on key words.

Each inquiry mentioning Mr Blagojevich – even polite ones asking about "ethics legislation being crafted to actually curb corruption" – was marked: "This submission was removed because people believe it is inappropriate.

And the faint rumble of goose stepping gets louder...

"If You Leak, You're Gone" -- The Man Who Promises to Run the Most Transparent Adminstration Ever Sews the Lips of All Around Him

Barack Obama has promised to preside over the most transparent presidency ever. Those were his words. And 7 days go, his transition chief echoed that sentiment:

Barack Obama promised to run the most transparent White House in history—disclosing donations, shunning lobbyists, and broadcasting important meetings on C-SPAN. Transition captain John Podesta reiterated the point Tuesday when he said Obama's would be "the most open and transparent transition in history."

It would appear, however, that one man's "transparency" is another man's "secrecy". The same transition chief that promised the most transparent administration in history is allegedly now telling anyone within earshot to zip it. This report from The Atlantic:

"If You Leak, You're Gone."

Several Obama transition staffers have put a version of that quotation in transition co-chief John Podesta's mouth.

Many of the major staff appointments so far - Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff, Greg Craig as White House counsel, the fact of the Clinton meeting, along with details about internal thinking on Gitmo and other subjects - have escaped whatever barriers the Obama team has set in place.

Every transition staffer and adviser has signed a non-disclosure agreement, and staff members are regularly warned by their superiors not to talk to the press.

This is not the transparency Obama once knew.