Secrets at the White House
W A S H I N G T O N, March 20, 2002 -- The Bush White House has always prided itself on its ability to control the flow of information. But critics — Democrats and Republicans alike — are starting to grumble that that talent is quickly becoming an unhealthy penchant for secrecy.
"Information continues to flow, and flow freely," insisted Ari Fleisher at Tuesday'sWhite House briefing. The question, and one that has been dogging Fleisher for weeks now: Why won't Tom Ridge, the nation's homeland security boss, testify before congress?
Sen. Robert Byrd, the long-serving West Virginia Democrat, says in his 50 years in office, he's never seen a White House so secretive, or relations with congress so strained over a simple issue. "This is no ordinary adviser," Byrd explains.
"After all, the American people are entitled to know what Mr. Ridge is doing, why his is doing it. Why he needs $38 billion," he said.
However, the White House argues that since Ridge is not actually a Cabinet official, he does not have to testify, and that it would set a bad precedent.
Executive Privilege
President Bush, at a recent White House press conference, says it's a matter of executive privilege."I'm not going to let Congress erode the power of the executive branch," he said.
Nick Calio, the White House Congressional liaison, agrees. "If you are under oath, and testify in that manner, people can start to explore the advice you've given the president, and if that happens, you can't give the president free and clear advice," he said.
They say Ridge can brief members of Congress at any time, and is always willing to do so. But they do not want him to testify formally, because they say that would open the door for other advisers, like Condaleeza Rice, to be called before Congress at any time.
Still, it's not the first time the White House has been accused of being arrogant with information. Key members of Congress say they were not briefed about the existence of a shadow government that's been set up in the event of emergency, for example. Nor, they say, have they been kept effectively in the loop about any administration plans for action against Iraq.
Vice President Dick Cheney has refused to release the names of the people he met with in crafting his energy plan, citing executive privilege.And the vice president even tried, unsuccessfully, to keep all reporters off of his high-profile and high stakes trip to the Middle East.
For the president, the very definition of loyalty has been keeping quiet about what goes on inside White House offices. Staffers know they have to keep their lips sealed, and stay on message or else.
A Lesson Learned
Bush's head of the Army Corps of Engineers, Mike Parker, learned that lesson recently when he was fired for publicly complaining about the president's budget.But in wartime, with record approval ratings, advisers say Bush feels little pressure to change strategy.
"It would have been tougher for the administration to have this approach if there were not a war," presidential historian Michael Beschloss said. "During a war, Congress and the American people are willing to give presidents an awful lot of leeway."
Members of Congress from both parties are especially frustrated about Ridge and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle has not ruled out a subpoena. The real worry for Bush is that after arriving in office promising to get things done and change the tone, he could, with these moves, permanently damage his relationship with congress.