Same as the old boss?
MSNBC is reporting the the Obama administration has denied its request to see the White House visitors’ log. The Bush administration also blocked access to the log.
According to MSNBC, the White House also denied Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington’s request to see the log. CREW apparently will file suit to gain access to the records, MCNBC reports.
From MSNBC:
The Obama administration is arguing that the White House visitor logs are presidential records — not Secret Service agency records, which would be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The administration ought to be able to hold secret meetings in the White House, “such as an elected official interviewing for an administration position or an ambassador coming for a discussion on issues that would affect international negotiations,” said Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt.
These same arguments, made by the Bush administration, were rejected twice by a federal judge. The visitor logs are created by the Secret Service and maintained by the Secret Service, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled in 2007 and again this January. CREW had requested records of visits to the Bush White House, as well as the residence of Vice President Dick Cheney, by leaders of Religious Right organizations.
So when Obama promised transparency, what did he mean?


Jamie Riley is the P-D letters editor and gatekeeper of the letters blog. Before joining the editorial page in May 2005, she was a reporter and page designer. Jamie lives in University City with her husband, Charles, daughter, Elise, and the world's best Jack Russell terrier, Logan, better known as Stinky.
“So when Obama promised transparency, what did he mean?”
He meant that he could say anything and people would buy it. Didn’t have to make good on any of those promises, just make the promises.