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On the 2008 campaign trail, then Candidate Barack Obama traveled across America repeating his intent for his administration to be more accessible and transparent on the road to health care reform:
“We’ll have the negotiations televised on C-SPAN, so the people can see who is making arguments on their behalf of their constituents and who is making arguments on behalf of the drug companies or the insurance companies.”
At least 8 times during the campaign, these words rang out. With a fact-blinding charisma Obama made this promise to the American people who were so very hungry for transparency and change.
Brian Lamb, a C-SPAN chief, decided it was time to remind them of this promise and on December 30th via letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, requested that Congress open up talks to media coverage.
He wrote, "President Obama, Senate and House leaders, many of your rank-and-file members, and the nation's editorial pages have all talked about the value of transparent discussions on reforming the nation's health care system,"
"Now that the process moves to the critical stage of reconciliation between the Chambers, we respectfully request that you allow the public full access, through television, to legislation that will affect the lives of every single American,"
President Obama could make this promise a reality yet he has suddenly come down with campaign-promise amnesia so common among the politically motivated. It is no longer convenient and the complications have escalated, which would make it very awkward to have it televised.
When asked why this promise is being ignored, Gibbs has babbled a series of unfulfilling answers further forming doubt and disappointment in the minds of many. Even Jack Cafferty, who is no friend of conservatives, has spoken out adamantly against Obama saying he hasn’t even made “a token effort to keep his campaign promises for more openness and transparency in government. It was all just another lie that was told in order to get elected.”
Several newspapers have taken increasing offense at this blatant and unapologetic break of campaign promises for transparency. The news media in all its forms, has previously shown an unprecedented and unwavering loyalty to Barack Hussain Obama, but now they are pouting, feeling used and quite unappreciated. Much the same as an admirer just realizing the object of their affection wasn’t as endearing as they had built him up to be.
Even the ASNE, representing high-profile leaders of multimedia news organizations, journalism school deans and First Amendment experts, criticized what it called "back-room negotiations" over health care that should take place in full, open committee proceedings. On Tuesday, January 19th they demanded “more openness and transparency” over the $900 billion legislation, currently known as
“America’s Affordable Health Care Act of 2009 and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”
"We have been monitoring these bills in the House and the Senate and evaluating our members' needs in terms of gathering news and information they can use to inform the public,"
"It is now clear that there is an inexcusable level of secrecy surrounding this landmark legislation, especially as the current proceedings are likely to produce the final version presented to all members of Congress. To so profoundly affect the American public through closed-door proceedings is an affront to one of the core values of democracy," said ASNE President Martin Kaiser.
Many Newspapers are publishing blogs and articles in protest:
"We're dusting off the Lies, Half-truths and Contradictions hammer to pound President Obama for breaking a campaign promise to televise the health care bill talks on C-SPAN." A San Francisco Chronicle blog post
"Americans are passionately interested in this issue. The reforms eventually could affect everyone – not least by slowing the growth of health care costs. ... Whatever the process, however, the people want and deserve to see it at work." Roanoke Times
"One of the most momentous House-Senate negotiations in history shouldn't take place behind closed doors." The Philadelphia Inquirer
"The president has been conveniently silent on one of the signature issues of his campaign. That's not change we can believe in. He must demand the negotiations be public." Las Vegas Review-Journal
"Yes, we want Congress to pass a significant health care reform bill before President Barack Obama's upcoming State of the Union speech. Heck, we wanted the bill passed yesterday. ... Even so, health care reform is too big and too important to carry out in secrecy." Kansas City Star
"Open the doors and let the public in to observe and decide." New York Daily News
"Open the doors and let the public in to observe and decide." New York Daily News
This has been one of the first areas where the previously untouchable Obama has gone under fire from both sides of the political arena with only a very few faithfully standing by him.
From the very first of his campaign, Obama, seemed to have been placed in a protective untouchable bubble. To voice opposition to him or anything negatively pertaining to him was frowned upon with fervor, and added to the “politically incorrect” list. Now, however, that bubble is growing ever thinner and more vulnerable as the news organizations are carefully and cautiously beginning to take jabs at the “chosen one”. With his popularity rapidly diving, the fear of ill consequence grows less; thus beginning what could well turn into a snowball effect of stifled criticism.
It remains to be seen how the often smooth operating Obama machine will appease the media gods and once again bask in the warmth of their enamored absolutely biased gaze. However, it is refreshing to see him being treated more as an equal human than an invincible being. We need to be able to feel represented and not stifled. To have this health debate televised would be the beginning of a much needed feeling of inclusion.
The Houston Chronicle in their January 15th editorial was among other news organizations requesting the same thing.
"Count our voice among the growing chorus in favor of opening the final debate and negotiations over health care reform to C-SPAN's cameras. This is not simply making good on a campaign promise by President Barack Obama; it is the right thing to do,"
A recent survey conducted by the Palm Beach Post found that 91 percent of the respondents backed televising the negotiations. Would we ever consider hiring an employee and then agreeing to never observe them at their work? Of course not, therefore, we must demand transparency of our hired representatives. After all they do work for us. No behind door deals, no selling our future for an exemption, exception or promise, this needs to be an America health deal approved by the American people.
