Good Government Group Sues for White House Visitors’ Logs
EmailThe good-government group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, filed a lawsuit today to force the President Obama to share White House visitors logs with the public.
“We’re suing because the Obama Administration has made it clear that they are continuing the policies and practices of the Bush administration and claiming that White House visitors’ records are off limits to the public,” said Anne Weismann, chief counsel for CREW.
Weismann said White House visitors’ logs can “offer a great deal of insight about pressures and influences people can bring to bear on policies.”
Last month CREW requested through the Freedom of Information Act that the Secret Service provide the organization with information related to top coal executives visiting the White House.
“Taking the exact same position as the Bush administration,” CREW claimed in a press release, “the Obama administration claimed the records are presidential, not agency records, and otherwise exempt in their entirety because of the possibility in some instances they could reveal information protected by the presidential communications privilege.”
“We know that President Bush is a major component of clean coal,” Weismann said.
When it was pointed out to her that she mistakenly referred to President Obama as President Bush, Weismann said that was likely due to “disturbing similarities in policies between the two presidents.”
The denial of CREW’s request, as well as another request from MSNBC.com for all visitors’ logs from Inauguration Day until now is “completely at odds with a president who says, ‘I want to be transparent,’” Weismann says.
Despite the President’s insistence that he is running the most transparent administration in history, Weismann doesn’t give the actual transparency policies a good grade.
“I think it's at best a low C,” she said, “especially given the rhetoric and the policy. There's just a big gap.”
Earlier this year, U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth agreed with CREW that White House visitors’ records must be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act. “We have every reason to believe we'll win this battle,” Weismann said.
-jpt
UPDATE: White House spokesman Ben LaBolt emails to say "We are reviewing our policy on access to visitor logs and related litigation. The letter represents how visitor logs have been treated historically."
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Obama is outdoing Nixon with his secrecy and corruption. Now would be a good time to start taking bets on the date of his upcoming impeachment.
Posted by: paul | June 16, 2009, 10:55 am 10:55 am
This should be interesting! I hope we get to see the visitors list.
Posted by: Peggy | June 16, 2009, 11:17 am 11:17 am
Did we ever find out who was riding along in Scare Force One?
No?
Move along?
Okey dokey…
Posted by: WhereWasThePress | June 16, 2009, 11:26 am 11:26 am
Obama is letting us all down with these moves…I would like him to share his list with the same zeal I look forward to someday seeing Bush’s and Cheney’s…particularly in regards to Jeff Gannon. Or how about that energy task force Cheney got together I’m sure it was a real super group of Einsteins trying to figure out the best way to screw the American people.
Posted by: Patrick in Chicago | June 16, 2009, 11:27 am 11:27 am
A reasonable suit, although there does need to be some limitations; Sasha and Malia’s slumber party guests should not be released to the public. Although the below doesn’t make sense – Obama’s rhetoric should have nothing to do with the factual accomplishments or failures of his administration, just like Bush Jr should not get bonus points because his rhetoric was good in 2000 (but actual actions deplorable).
“Weismann doesn’t give the actual transparency policies a good grade.
“I think it’s at best a low C,” she said, “especially given the rhetoric and the policy. There’s just a big gap.””
Posted by: jhw539 | June 16, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am
paul:” Obama is outdoing Nixon with his secrecy and corruption. ”
Wow, is our education system really this bad? Could you state SPECIFICALLY a single instance – just one – where Obama is outdoing Nixon with secrecy OR corruption?
Posted by: jhw539 | June 16, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am
Personally I don’t think the logs should be public. You have to realize that this would open up a whole new craptastic political ball of wax.
If say, the ambassador to Isreal visits the WH, and that’s made public, then there will be a line of ambassadors demanding a visit immediately after, from Jordan, to Syria, etc. It would add more crap to the already saturated political climate.
Leave it be. We don’t need to know every visitor, beyond the political ramifications of doing so, there is the security implications. Think about it, right now what if the President had a secret meeting with the Joint Chief? People would assume we were about to bomb Iran or something.
No, keep them secret please.
Posted by: KR | June 16, 2009, 11:43 am 11:43 am
jhw539 “Wow, is our education system really this bad? Could you state SPECIFICALLY a single instance – just one – where Obama is outdoing Nixon with secrecy OR corruption?”
I think that firing (without cause) the IG who uncovered Americorps corruption is a good example. And can you tell us who was on the flight manifest of the AF1 plane that buzzed NY? What about ACORN running the census?
Perhaps you need to educate yourself. Your man is not what he says he is.
Posted by: Susan | June 16, 2009, 11:46 am 11:46 am
I think Weismann was reffering to the “rhetoric” as in transparency and the “policy” of withholding the information she wants, nothing more.
Posted by: Rican | June 16, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am
I believe jhw is just coming to the realization that Obama will only be a one term President; thus, explains his blind defense of his hero based upon opinions and not hard evidence nor facts…
Posted by: Looking forward too 2010 | June 16, 2009, 11:54 am 11:54 am
How clear is this administration?
Can’t tell because the water is too muddy and getting darker everyday.
Now the WH or queen is firing IG for doing a good job.
The golden tongue has limited experience and his staff is not much better. They are trampling on those who will fight back at some point….I hope.
Posted by: jim payne | June 16, 2009, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
Wow, his claims of the most transparent administration ever is going down the tubes fast. Is he starting to feel the pressure? I for one, think he’s in trouble and will have increasing difficulty in getting his programs pushed through.
Posted by: Free America | June 16, 2009, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
politicians are like everything else. If they seem to good to be true….
Posted by: Mike | June 16, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
Hey Jake – what is the deal with ABC going all love the administration? Broadcasting from the White House?
Jake save yourself before the borg takes over your network.
Posted by: Jay | June 16, 2009, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
throw back from the sixties err truth try it….Auh there is always one who throws out the “race card” when intelligent thought ceases….
Posted by: Looking forward too 2010 | June 16, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
So much for transparency. Heady, rousing campaign rhetoric turning 180 degrees in practice. The list is growing.
Posted by: bct | June 16, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
And where in the Constitution does it grant the President this privilege?
Posted by: consitutiongone | June 16, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
Are the logs of every person who meets with a Congressman public?
Posted by: MayBee | June 16, 2009, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
Don’t hold your breath too long people….Barry is going to show you what he has shown you all along.
ZILCH….ZERO….NADA….NIL….NOTHING!!
Hows that Hope and Change workin’ so far ya’ll?
Posted by: American Infidel | June 16, 2009, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
Transparency CZAR.
Posted by: Freedom | June 16, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
Do you expect Iran to be open/Transparent?
Posted by: Freedom | June 16, 2009, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
That’s the gate pass for Tony Rezko, Norman Hsu, Angelo Mozilo, Madoff …..
Posted by: Freedom | June 16, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
Susan:”I think that firing (without cause) the IG who uncovered Americorps corruption is a good example.”
He had plenty of cause, including complaints from a Republican appointee, and followed the letter of law in the firing. That is not corruption (seriously, look it up).
“And can you tell us who was on the flight manifest of the AF1 plane that buzzed NY?”
As soon as you tell me who was on AF1 when it went joyriding around Mt Rushmore, or any of the other photo ops under any other president, ever.
“What about ACORN running the census?”
ACORN running the census? This sort of absurd tinfoil hat nonsense is why I have difficulty taking the Right seriously, even after 8 hard years of them proving how much damage they are willing to wreak.
Posted by: jhw539 | June 16, 2009, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
“We know that President Bush is a major component of clean coal,” Weismann said.
A major component? What is that? Did Weismann mean to say “proponent” or “opponent”?
Posted by: coffeetime | June 16, 2009, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
Republicans are to funny, when Bush would not release these it was ok, now that it is a Democrat and a Black one at that they have a double standard. Why don’t the Republicans go and try to find a plan and make policies. Do as I say attitude is what lost you seats. And as for ACCORN McCain was involved with them too, and were was ACCORN prosecuted for this? Oh yes the Republican prosecutor said they were not causing Voter fraud, this was a bunch of lazy workers trying to make money and not do the work. Young Political Majors” whose workers were allegedly tricking shoppers into registering with the Republican Party, these people were arrested.
Posted by: Truth try it | June 16, 2009, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
Meet the new boss….same as the old boss. We sure were fooled again.
Posted by: Willbill | June 16, 2009, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
I am not a supporter of BO but I think they should share this information unless it’s part of a criminal investigation. These groups just want to exploit the list for petty politcal points such as “Clean Coal”. Didn’t this all start because the wanted to know about Cheney and Enron meetings?
Posted by: Don't bankrupt the U.S.Bro! | June 16, 2009, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
I am not a supporter of BO but I think they should NOT share this information unless it’s part of a criminal investigation. These groups just want to exploit the list for petty politcal points such as “Clean Coal”. Didn’t this all start because the wanted to know about Cheney and Enron meetings?
Posted by: Don't bankrupt the U.S.Bro! | June 16, 2009, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
Since it is his personal residence, as well as office, he should have some privacy.. (everything I have said today is favorable to the POTUS..weird)..
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | June 16, 2009, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
Apparently, they are trying to hide who their friends are.. but then again, we already know who they hang out with. I would tend to think their old friends do come by to visit now and again.. does Ayers, Rezko and Rev. Wright ring a bell??
He sure did a number on you all.. you voted for this “agent of change”.
Posted by: mjl | June 16, 2009, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
Oh, for cryin’ out loud… anyone he wants to keep REALLY secret he can, and probably does, bring in through Kennedy’s secret passages. He is, after all, the New Kennedy. The media kept all JFK’s dirt quiet, too.
Posted by: Eyes Open | June 16, 2009, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
TRANSPARENCY? YEAH!
Posted by: Ed Taylor | August 29, 2009, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm