Obama begins the transformation: Spin, control, hide, lie
So it begins, the transformation of a candidate who had claimed to support open government and access to information, but is now heavily controlling media access and even lying to journalists. A story today in The New York Times explains how Barack Obama bars cameras from large gatherings and uses special exits to avoid journalists' questions. In February he initially wanted all campaign-trail interviews to be off the record (see FOI FYI blog item). Then there was the incident where he told journalists he would be flying to Chicago, and he sent his plane to Illinois with the traveling press corps on board. He, however, stayed in Washington, D.C. In response to angry letters from media organizations, an Obama aide said, "We wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't occasionally irritate the press."
Is it news that a politician would spin, hide, and lie to journalists? No. But it's still a shame. Here's a candidate who is running on a platform of change, yet is playing the same secretive games as everyone else. While he has made some noise about access, such as releasing his income tax returns, co-sponsoring the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (posts government contracts online at USAspending.gov) and signing the Reason Foundation's Oath of Presidential Secrecy, he should run his campaign openly. This isn't about democrats vs. republicans, or Obama vs. McCain. It's about honesty vs. deception, and openness vs. secrecy. Obama and McCain have yet to complete the Sunshine Week questionnaire regarding their views toward FOI. Can we please get a presidential candidate to pledge real change in transparency, and then stick with it? It's not too late, Sen. Obama.