Obama Blocks Visitor List Access, Echoing Bush

The Obama administration has denied requests from both reporters and government watchdogs to reveal the names of White House guests, echoing Bush administration policy.

MSNBC.com reports that their attempt to get visitor logs was denied:

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.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonpartisan watchdog focused on special interests, was also rebuffed.

CREW sought records of visits by top coal executives in an effort to learn the extent to which these individuals may have influenced the administration's energy policy. Taking the exact same position as the Bush administration, 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. In prior litigation U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth agreed with CREW that the records are agency records that must be disclosed under the FOIA.

The group is filing a complaint against the Department of Homeland Security.

We are deeply disappointed," CREW attorney Anne L. Weismann told MSNBC, "that the Obama administration is following the same anti-transparency policy as the Bush administration when it comes to White House visitor records. Refusing to let the public know who visits the White House is not the action of a pro-transparency, pro-accountability administration."

President Bush fought for years to keep White House visitor logs private, arguing that they should fall under the presidential communications privilege. In January of this year a judge rejected that argument.

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Comments

[wantthetruth]

per rich misty: "My position on this is clear. There is a real, and present, danger of violence against people close to the President. It is documented, and undeniable to any sane person who stays informed. Do you deny the threat, or do you simply wish to expose innocent people to it??? It has to be one or the other."

Tell us how you really feel about the Patriot Act.

[Yermammy]

BWA HA HA HA HA! It looks extra special looney when you summarize it! :) Good one, wantthetruth!

[rich misty]

Let's put some facts into place here tho... I am sure facts are okay with you people right?

The Southern Poverty Law Center Intelligence Report: (see the Editorial sidebar too)

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=1062

DHS report on rightwing extremism:

http://www.fas.org/irp/eprint/rightwing.pdf

It is okay by me if you deny the facts... But denial is not a position.

[rich misty]

I feel that the Patriot Act violates the Constitution because is removes the necessity for probable cause and shortcuts the Judical Warrents and Subpoena process.

Law Enforcement can be performed adequately without requiring or using the Patriot Act. When you have probable cause, no Judge is going to deny things like wire taps or surveilance unless he is derlict in his duties.

[Yermammy]

""We are deeply disappointed," CREW attorney Anne L. Weismann told MSNBC, "that the Obama administration is following the same anti-transparency policy as the Bush administration when it comes to White House visitor records. Refusing to let the public know who visits the White House is not the action of a pro-transparency, pro-accountability administration."

President Bush fought for years to keep White House visitor logs private, arguing that they should fall under the presidential communications privilege. In January of this year a judge REJECTED THAT ARGUMENT."

Your sure don't read too good, do you? Too busy defending the indefensible to comprehend text, hunh?

[FrozenNorthObserver]

still waiting for your WH to rtu re tri als link. Apparently goo gle knows nothing about it. Perhaps you enlighten them.

[wantthetruth]

The Patriot Act passed in the Senate with a 98-1-1 vote. The Freedom of Information Act was passed with a 2/3 majority and was upheld by a federal judge (vs. Bush).

You don't support either piece of legislation. I suppose you enjoy ever increasing executive power.

[Jazzier]

How the H do you expect to establish "probable cause" of an "unknown" terrorists IF we are not allowed to wire tap??? "Violates the Constitution"???

And how does Obama's cyberspace czar & company of hackers of all internet-users avoid the Constitution?

[OldFreddie]

The people who sneak in the back door of the WH for secret meetings with administration officials are hardly "innocent people", or there would be no reason to try to keep these meetings under wraps. Wake up.

[wantthetruth]

notice the quotation marks?

[Matthew Harrison]

The last thing the WH wants to get out is that Bill and Bernadine are coming over for dinner on tuesdays, and watching History Channel docs about Stalin, Marx, and Mussolini! That would just prove the hateful right, right about the grand plan they are hatching!

[darnsannity]

Was Mr.J Wright there ?

[AsianAfricanAMERICAN]

Yes...plotting your demise. HIDE

[weatherwaxx]

I can see short-term blackouts during sensitive negotiations--very short-term, and very rare. But ... somehow, I don't think we'll get the interesting overnighters like we saw with Bush... who had overnight guests like fake newsman and gay 'top' prostitute Jeff Gannon (real name Guckert, you can see why he changed it).

President Obama has done a number of things I disagree with, and has not done some of the things he said he'd do. On the other hand, he's been in office for just about 6 months, and has done more good than Bush did in eight long years.

There's a feedback page at whitehouse.gov. Why not use it?

[rich misty]

Fanned and faved

[Yermammy]

I don't see any black outs. Or Signing Statements. Or State's Secrets Privilege. Or refusing to honor a judge's decision to allow habeas corpus at Bagram AFB (a Bush appointed judge, no less!). Or blocking the release of CIA memos describing the 92 tapes the CIA has already destroyed. Or the blocking of photos of detainee abuse that even Bush allowed released. Or worse abuse at Guantanamo SINCE January 20. Or a willingness to sign the ultra secretive Graham- LInsay Bill when it gets passed (to circumvent the Supreme Courts inevitable support of the previous four judges ruling FOR releasing the photos).
Barack is protecting Bush's crimes. Explain that, please.

[rich misty]

"Barack is protecting Bush's crimes. Explain that, please."

How can that be when the case has already been assigned to an independant Judge for investigation and prosecution?

[Jazzier]

weaterwaxx....But Obama's all about TRANSPARENCY? As with everything else, it's selective transparency. You remember ABSOLUTELY NO LOBBYIST....check the long list he excused by Obama waivers. Reminds me of his STILL MISSING LOGS from his Illinois days in the senate. "Can't find them?" "They're missing".

[rich misty]

Neocons are simply rabid in their efforts to convince people to hand over a jucy list of T A R G E T S
for their heavily armed right wing extremists.

[rich misty]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/opinion/14rich.html?_r=1

The Obama Haters' Silent Enablers ^

http://www.mediamatters.com/columns/200906120037

^ Right-Wing Media And The Fringe: A Growing History Of Violence (And Denial)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-sessions_06nat.ART.State.Edition1.4c9e094.html - Jeff Sessions is on record advocating tactics used by enemies of America against the US Government.

[Yermammy]

What color is the atmosphere on planet paranoia you come from? You might want to wear Depends if you really feel that way.

[rich misty]

Dude, you are the one talking about conspiracies between Cheney and Obama.

I am simply posting documentation of a real and present danger to the President and his associates.

[OldFreddie]

A run on Depends! Who makes those? Might be the hot stock pick for the week if they continue to push this narrative.

[FrozenNorthObserver]

she's the female version of Glen Beck.

[OldFreddie]

I thought "fear-mongering" was a Republican tactic that we criticized loudly and incessantly.. Aren't you now attempting the same thing just to defend that which cannot be defended otherwise? Quite hypocritical and ingenuous when the motives of those who are asking for disclosure are much more about protecting your right to know what the heck is going on in your country. Or maybe you don't care, you're just interested in giving Obama a blank check to do whatever he wants? Sorry, I heard those campaign promises loud and clear, over and over again. Now I want results and actions in line with those promises, not rationalizations and excuses for every broken promise, every disappointment, every indication that it is truly just "business as usual" in our nation's capitol.

[rich misty]

Yermammy : Yeah, like all the "visitors" being in danger if we had transparency! WOWEE!
How low can you go in apologizing this criminal behavior? Pretty low, I see :)
---------------
So privacy is criminal now????? Really?????

The Southern Poverty Law Center Intelligence Report: (see the Editorial sidebar too)

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=1062

DHS report on rightwing extremism:

http://www.fas.org/irp/eprint/rightwing.pdf
--------
http://www.examiner.com/x-4317-Denver-Roman-Catholic-Examiner~y2009m6d9-Pastor-who-prayed-for-Tillers-death-now-prays-for-death-of-the-president

Pastor Drake was a Prayer Warrior for Operation Rescue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GeXVKb2hbM

He is now praying for the death of the President of the United States of America.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2141655/posts von Brunn on Freerepublic
-------

How much more shall I post, you are ignoring the direct evidence from credible sources I place right in front of you.... Just like a neocon.

[Yermammy]

Sorry, I'm not biting on the "fear" gig. I didn't bite when El Smirko and SO! tried and I'm not biting now. I'm not sacrificing my freedoms for security and Ben Franklin thought that was an OK philosophy. I like Ben... you... not so much :)

[rich misty]

Just like the neocons ignored the warnings of impending attacks... In order to advance their personal agenda.

[OldFreddie]

Wait!! How many posts have we read on the "fear-mongering" of Bush that got us into the Iraq War? "Fear-mongering" is for those evil Republicans, not us enlightened Democrats. Sorry, I agree, this argument is a no-go for all who realize that freedom is not free.

[Yermammy]

"So privacy is criminal now????? Really?????"
For a public official in public office that has a legal requirement to log all visitors in and out of the White House- yes.

[rich misty]

All visitors are logged. I do not advocate disclosing the logs to criminals who would exploit them for criminal purposes.

[bascombe]

gee! isn't that just like DicKKK Chainey?

[Yermammy]

Sometimes I wonder if they're not working as a team. Good cop/ bad cop. Same result.

[rich misty]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2xtVd6QS0o

On of the indentifiers on my Republican psych profile is the belief in conspiracies.

[rich misty]

Except _everybody_ knows Cheney is a criminal...

http://www.republicanoffenders.com/Abramoff.html

We knew for a fact Bush was meeting with felons because the White House photog inadvertently released Oval Office photos.

http://images.google.com/images?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS331&q=bush%20abramoff&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

[Yermammy]

And yet you think Obama has the EXACT SAME RIGHT to secrecy... What's wrong with this picture? Hmmm?

[dukeitout]

The president is perfectly within his rights not to reveal who enters or leaves his house during his presidency. It may result in disappointment for Fox News or MSNBC or whomever in their never ending attempt to generate or create news but, hey, the president is entitled to a little privacy. Tell the media to go bug some congressmen. They'll tell them to stuff it.

[Yermammy]

HIS HOUSE? Where'd you go to school, Devry? Are you even TRYING to make sense now, or has the fever made you delirious? The Government in a democracy is open and without secrets. Up until Bush took office, EVERY OTHER President followed this policy. NOW, it's just Bush (the war criminal) and Obama (the one protecting the war criminal). His house, my eye! That's just too funny!

[rich misty]

As long as you persist in retelling the same old debunked lies... I will stand my ground and call a neocon a neocon... Always a neocon.

[OldFreddie]

YES!!

[jmpurser]

Except it's not his house, it's ours. And it's our business.

[rich misty]

Republicans want to claim it is theirs, and they want to burn it down if they can't have it.

[Rule Of Law]

jm, good to see you here. You, of course hit the nail right on the head. It is the People's house. The People's business. I'm sure that Mr. Obama is well protected by his secret service agents. What we who worked for his election apparently need to be most fearful of here, now, are attacks from his current supporters who will brook not even the most basic questioning of their hero.

The worst of it is that they employ the same ad hominem abuses that they used to scream about when the neos used them before Obama. It's seeming more and more to me that idol worshipers, whether they were for Bush then, or Obama now, have more in common than differences.

[rich misty]

Normally, I would disagree with you completely. But the political situation in America is far from "normal" or anything even close that I have seen in my lifetime, or read about in history except for turmoil related to the Civil War.

This Presidency requires some privacy that takes these current conditions into consideration.

http://www.huf-fingtonpost.com/2008/02/10/nobel-winner-obama-will-b_n_85875.html

Remove the dash to get the link to work.

[Jazzier]

dukeitout....."HIS HOUSE". It is OUR house....Obama is occupying it temporarily!

[rich misty]

OldFreddie: Bush is gone, this is Obama we're talking about, so defend his actions, if you can, but stop pointing the finger at Bush and trying to deflect the valid criticism of this action by Obama. If it was wrong when Bush did it, it's wrong now, period.
--------------

If Bush is gone to you, why do you drag him out to justify your post?

My position on this is clear. There is a real, and present, danger of violence against people close to the President. It is documented, and undeniable to any sane person who stays informed.

Do you deny the threat, or do you simply wish to expose innocent people to it??? It has to be one or the other.

[Yermammy]

So you supported Dick Cheney having mysterious business tycoons, defense industry goons and lord knows who else coming and going and him refusing to release his visitor's log? Hmmm? Your credibility is about zero now. At least TRY!

[OldFreddie]

"Transparency" has become a fairy tale, folks, and the sooner you drop the pompoms and admit it, the sooner we can get this President to follow through on all his campaign promises. The more you blindly support him, the more he feels empowered to do exactly this kind of thing, something that you crucfied Bush for. Your blind support enables him, your rationalizations and excuses embolden him to throw more and more campaign promises to the wind. Why has he already reneged on so many campaign promises and become Bush-lite to many of us? Because he knows he can, and you will blindly support him regardless. Wake up.

[rich misty]

http://www.republicanoffenders.com/Abramoff.html

We knew for a fact Bush was meeting with felons because the White House photog inadvertently released Oval Office photos.

http://images.google.com/images?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS331&q=bush%20abramoff&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

[OldFreddie]

Bush is gone, this is Obama we're talking about, so defend his actions, if you can, but stop pointing the finger at Bush and trying to deflect the valid criticism of this action by Obama. If it was wrong when Bush did it, it's wrong now, period.

[Yermammy]

We have a Winner! No prize, just the knowledge your head is still screwed on straight :)
Thanx, OldFreddie. Good to see independent thinkers here and not sheep.

[Yermammy]

Thanks, OldFreddie. Like a breath of fresh air to have common sense back, isn't it?

[rich misty]

So you would cheer if White House guests were made vulnerable to people who have already stated they will do anything to destroy the Obama adminstration...

People with really, really, cool guns and stuff.

[OldFreddie]

The blind support for the stuff Obama is doing just amazes me. And because there are just no good arguments for some of his actions, we have to go back and relive the Bush administration all over again. If it was worthy of criticism just six short months ago, it's certainly worthy of criticism today, especially in light of the campaign promises of Obama for "transparency" and a new way of doing business in DC. I've had it with the rhetoric, give me the substance or admit that the differences between Republicans and Democrats are not really that great, just amplified by the politicians to keep us sniping at each other while they go about their business as usual.

[Beowoof]

Sometimes it seems as if you "non-apologists were born in 2008. I don't care if he breaks 500 campaign promises in this year alone. Embolden? Please? He knows he can? It's OK to hold his feet to the fire if you like, but some of our loyalties go farther than not getting the things that we want-----NOW.

[rich misty]

Yermammy, what is going to happen to the innocent people on the White House guest list if it were released?

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=1052

As the first months of the Obama Administration unfold, a growing consensus is emerging that a resurgence of right-wing hate groups and radical ideas is spreading across the United States. Law enforcement officials, civil rights groups, and many others have all expressed worries about this troubling trend.

[Yermammy]

America- Land of the Free and the Home of the BRAVE. Buck up and quit wetting your pants. That's what got Bush so far along- fear mongering. It didn't work then on me and it doesn't work NOW :)
See, wasn't that easy! Now, go change and resume your ranting.

[rich misty]

What happened to America when Bush and Cheney ignored warnings of a clear and present danger?

Oh I remember, we all got popcorn.

[Jazzier]

What? 9/11 attack on America and its after effects was fear-mongering....where were you?

BO traveling the country for 3 years fear-mongering about a 1932 depression....daily bringing down the markets with his rhetoric.

BO pushing his near trillion dollar stimulus plan through more fear mongering...."Pass now or all is lost!" How many months have passed and only 1/4th of the money distributed???

[Yermammy]

So, let me get this straight :), when G.W. (El Smirko) withheld information it was covering up for crimes... and when Barack (the Serene One) does it, it's because he's in danger! He just HAS to be secretive or people will be in DANGER!!1!
You apologists for Barack sound just like the blindly (stupidly) loyal "Bushies" before you. Everything is a softball game to you lemmings. If it's Red, it's bad- if it's Blue (doing the EXACT SAME THING), it's GOOD! I wonder what some of you see when you shave... I'm guessing Daffy Duck :)

[rich misty]

So the Southern Poverty Law Center is publishing warnings because??? Why??

[Yermammy]

Forewarned is forearmed. That doesn't mean we sacrifice our liberty for perceived "security". Ben Franklin was RIGHT and you are sadly mistaken.

[mgloraine]

Obama says: "We want to do everything just like our heroes, Cheney and Bush! We want even more secrecy, so that we can help cover up our national crimes and suppress the truth whenever it's in danger of being revealed! Cover up that torture! Cover up that domestic spying! Cover up the fact that we take orders from corporate lobbyists and routinely sacrifice Americans lives and livelihoods for our personal profits! See? We're just as "patriotic" as the Reaganites and the Bushniks!"

[Yermammy]

Ha HA! It looks absurd in print. It's even more absurd because IT'S TRUE. They're protecting Bush and Cheney, that you can be certain of. Actions speak louder than any words can.

[rich misty]

Why do you lie like a neocon, you persist in propagating falsehoods after you have been soundly debunked.

[hidenout]

Could be they are protecting themselves as well.

[rich misty]

You do know that the Bush War Crimes case has been assigned to a very competent, NON-PARTISAN, Judge who has documented experience in prosecuting International Law violations?

I thought that would make your day ;-)

[Yermammy]

Name the Judge, sparky. From what country? Spain? Been there done that, but that's not HERE.

[wdw505]

it will not matter.....even if true

[Jazzier]

Obama and his robots have already begun protecting their many illegal and unconstitutional activities!

[rich misty]

FrozenNorthObserver: and this is how I know your hero is full of it.

"As a candidate last year, Mr. Obama decried his predecessor for running "the most secretive administration maybe in our history."

"I think it is very important to remember that this is a government of, by and for the people," he said on May 13, 2008 at a campaign stop in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. "
---------------------------

Let's look at reality shall we?

http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13496418

The Economist predicted the market collapse, and carries a lot of weight with the Chamber of Commerce, who no longer caucus with the Republicans btw...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNIQG7WXpSM

The Media Matters companion video of Glenn Beck is 1:33
------------
http://www.examiner.com/x-4317-Denver-Roman-Catholic-Examiner~y2009m6d9-Pastor-who-prayed-for-Tillers-death-now-prays-for-death-of-the-president

Pastor Drake was a Prayer Warrior for Operation Rescue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GeXVKb2hbM

He is now praying for the death of the President of the United States of America.

Bush also talked to God, and Republicans acted on his prayers too:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/oct/07/iraq.usa

Then there is the James W. von Brunn crowd:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2141655/posts James W. von Brunn on Freerepublic
----------

[rich misty]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/opinion/14rich.html?_r=1

The Obama Haters' Silent Enablers ^

http://www.mediamatters.com/columns/200906120037

^ Right-Wing Media And The Fringe: A Growing History Of Violence (And Denial)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-sessions_06nat.ART.State.Edition1.4c9e094.html

Jeff Sessions on record ^ promoting tactics taken directly from enemies of America

[rich misty]

The Southern Poverty Law Center Intelligence Report: (see the Editorial sidebar too)

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=1062

DHS report on rightwing extremism:

http://www.fas.org/irp/eprint/rightwing.pdf

From the Southern Poverty Law Center Editorial:

As the first months of the Obama Administration unfold, a growing consensus is emerging that a resurgence of right-wing hate groups and radical ideas is spreading across the United States. Law enforcement officials, civil rights groups, and many others have all expressed worries about this troubling trend.

[Yermammy]

When I served this Country, the motto was "the Land of the Free and the Home of the BRAVE".

I wasn't cowed by fear on 9/11 or ever since. Stop quaking in your boots and be a man, boy. You sacrifice your freedom for safety, you have NEITHER. Wise up.

[FrozenNorthObserver]

sorry, you can make excuses for b**ls**t but its still b**ls**t. Besides when he increased his power to spy on am eri cans were you not of the "if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to worry about camp? Well then by that logic O must be up to no good.

[Rule Of Law]

Crickets.....

Yes, he increased his spying powers, and taken all together it's a wonder that people like Rich keep making excuses for Obama.

[LemonMeringue]

There are rumors that neocons have hired kids to post here, and they are paid by the response.

IGNORE

[weatherwaxx]

Not only kids, but persons of limited mental capacity. I suppose they should get some sort of credit for that.

[FrozenNorthObserver]

LOLOL.

[FrozenNorthObserver]

that would certainly explain "misty" and a couple of her ilk that are here. For a supposed dem she seems to positively yearn for a tota litar ian sytsem. Which is the brass ring for ne o co ns. First create a en emy then create fe ar of that ene my, then promise prote ction from that en emy for the simple price of giving up rights and freedoms. It's text book classic. That's how Ol' Ad olf did it.

[LemonMeringue]

President may be right on this one. The right-wing extreme pundits will seize anything to twist it into some lie.

24/7 news ruined the news. We get 1% news and 99% unqualified people telling us what we should think about the news. I miss the old days when 3 times a day someone just read the news.