More Transparency from the White House

[volinbham]

So did they or didn't they? We'll just have to take their word for it.

For Sestak Matter, a ?Trust Us? Response From White House - NYTimes.com

“Lawyers in the White House and others have looked into conversations that were had with Congressman Sestak,” Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said on Sunday on the “Face the Nation” program on CBS. “And nothing inappropriate happened.”

“Improper or not, did you offer him a job in the administration?” asked the host, Bob Schieffer.

“I’m not going to get further into what the conversations were,” Mr. Gibbs replied. “People that have looked into them assure me that they weren’t inappropriate in any way.”

Even if the conversations were perfectly legal, as the White House claims, the situation still challenges President Obama’s attempts to present himself as a reformer who will rid the town of dirty politics. Refusing even to discuss what was discussed does not advance the Obama White House’s claim to be “the most transparent” in history.

When Mr. Gibbs was pressed on the matter last Thursday, he resolutely referred back to his original statement exonerating the White House, and refused to elaborate.

“But you never really explained what the conversation was,” said Jake Tapper of ABC News.

“And I don’t have anything to add today,” Mr. Gibbs said.

“But if the White House offers a congressman a position in the administration in order to convince that congressman not to run for office—— “ the reporter continued.

“I don’t have anything to add to that,” said Mr. Gibbs.

“But do you really think the American people don’t have a right to know about what exactly the conversation was?”

“I don’t have anything to add to what I said in March,” Mr. Gibbs said.

Meet the new boss....

[IBlvNTmWrk]

'bout as transparent as a block of wood... and apparently just as smart.

[BigPapaVol]

Of course they did, but I don't get the big deal.
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[distrovol]

Ordinarilly, it woudn't be a big deal. But when you bill youself "the most transparent in history" it gives the Repubs an opening by the media going on a possible feeding frenzy, if they dare. Most of them are pretty heavily invested in Obama's success. I think this story could get legs, as they say.

[BigPapaVol]

Originally Posted by distrovol

Ordinarilly, it woudn't be a big deal. But when you bill youself "the most transparent in history" it gives the Repubs an opening by the media going on a possible feeding frenzy, if they dare. Most of them are pretty heavily invested in Obama's success. I think this story could get legs, as they say.

Meh? Republic openings are worthless with potential replacements out there being equally shoddy as Obama. Obama losing credibility is helpful, but if he still has any, this won't matter a lick.
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[volinbham]

The big question is "will it help Toomey" win the Senate seat. This looks worse on the Obama Admin than it does Sestak but he kinda opened the door and is likely to have to give more details before it's over.

Interesting to me that the NYT is calling BO out a bit. The bigger story may be when do we hit enough of these to create a press tipping point.

[BigPapaVol]

Originally Posted by volinbham

The big question is "will it help Toomey" win the Senate seat. This looks worse on the Obama Admin than it does Sestak but he kinda opened the door and is likely to have to give more details before it's over.

Interesting to me that the NYT is calling BO out a bit. The bigger story may be when do we hit enough of these to create a press tipping point.

Agree on both.

NYT might be starting to find the anti-gov't sentiment giving them a reasonably protected firing position at the admin for a while. Hell, money is starting to matter more than ideology for many papers, including theirs.
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[distrovol]

Originally Posted by volinbham

The big question is "will it help Toomey" win the Senate seat. This looks worse on the Obama Admin than it does Sestak but he kinda opened the door and is likely to have to give more details before it's over.

Interesting to me that the NYT is calling BO out a bit. The bigger story may be when do we hit enough of these to create a press tipping point.

My thoughts exactly. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. It would be interesting if there was a completely cohesive Rep Party that could agressively exploit such openings. A couple these type of things go the right way they can tip an election. Gotta have the right political types in the right spot, though.

[volfanjustin]

I am pretty certain there are some possible criminal charges that could be brought to whom ever made the offer to Sestak. Two possible felony charges, trying to bribe a US Congressman and tampering with an election.

[OrangeYankee]

Which is the norm for the Chicago Machine which is where a good chunk of the White House is from.

[gsvol]

Not exactly the same tpoic but when it comes to deceptiong by the obama admin, the NY Post reportedd yesterday of padded numbers.

Naomi Cohn said she was hired and fired a number of times by Census. Each time she was hired back, Census 2010 was able to report the creation of a new job to the Labor Dept.

[gsvol]

Originally Posted by volfanjustin

I am pretty certain there are some possible criminal charges that could be brought to whom ever made the offer to Sestak. Two possible felony charges, trying to bribe a US Congressman and tampering with an election.

Change could to should and you would be more accurate.

Nothing will happen though, whereas the dims crucified Scooter Libby over a non issue nothing will happen to the obot and if any ag tried to prosecute he would be fired and the case suppressed just as happened with the indictments against new party panther members for voter intimidation in Philadelphia.

[volfanjustin]

Originally Posted by gsvol

Change could to should and you would be more accurate.

Nothing will happen though, whereas the dims crucified Scooter Libby over a non issue nothing will happen to the obot and if any ag tried to prosecute he would be fired and the case suppressed just as happened with the indictments against new party panther members for voter intimidation in Philadelphia.

You are right, someone should be charged but won't. They will get away with it. This regime lives by a special set of rules, for example paying taxes is optional.

[volinbham]

It's not at all clear that any laws were broken. The problem is we just don't know what happened.

[KB5252]

Exactly, we don't know if any laws were broken because at this point the admin has clammed up and refuses to act on the allegations, which are serious by the way. So much for the most transparent administration ever.