Press groups, prominent journalists and administration critics have all accused President Barack Obama of failing to live up to his commitment to have the "most transparent administration in history."
To some, that pledge is now a punch line. But the commitment endures, newly appointed White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in an interview on CNN's "Reliable Sources" on Sunday.
Earnest said he had seen the letter to Obama signed by more than 40 news media organizations, including the Society of Professional Journalists and National Press Foundation, urging the President and his federal agencies to be more transparent -- to "stop the spin and let the sunshine in."
In spite of aggressive prosecutions of whistleblowers and other actions, he said that he thought the administration had lived up to it so far -- "absolutely" -- and pointed to the quarterly release of White House visitor records and reporters' access to presidential fundraisers at private homes.
Press Secretary Earnest can pretend that this is
the “normal” working relationship between the press and the President, but it’s just not true. The media has been overly generous with the Obama administration, thanks in large part to their liberal proclivities but even they must have a line.
Yes, the press and the White House “should” have an antagonistic relationship, but it should be because the press is pushing hard to hold the administration accountable, not because the White House obfuscates, covers-up and lies.
The Obama administration can pretend that they are “transparent,” but anyone paying the least bit of attention knows the truth, and this is just one more reason that President Obama is considered
the worst President since WWII.