May 22, 2013

Transparency

By Tammy Derouin

The Obama administration promised transparency.  The word has several descriptive meanings, including clear, translucent, sheer, clarity, simplicity, openness and candidness.  I wonder if Obama’s campaign understood the meaning before they decided to use it as their trademark.  When you think of the Obama administration, do any of these words come to mind? 

A house of cards has a limited life span.  A house of cards which uses deceit and deception as its foundation devastates the whole population when it finally collapses.  For a time, the house may convince those in the neighborhood that all is well.  Those that built this house have spent all their time and money on cosmetics, surface fluff.  Substance, which is what holds a structure together or makes a person for that matter, involves more than paint.  Paint is a concealer.  

The house of cards located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. has been exposed.  Many have tried to expose the inadequate structure for some time.  Ruthless intimidation and smear campaigns have tried to hush those that have been concerned about its integrity; meaning honesty, truthfulness and honor.  Do any of these words come to mind when you think of the Obama administration?

The latest of three scandals has grabbed the attention of the main stream media.  The Obama administration has misused its power to intimidate and harass those that dare to speak out against them.

The AP scandal is the reason we no longer have a free press.  The administration has used its power to intimidate our first line of defense against a tyrannical government.  The DOJ drastically increased its electronic surveillance requests to spy on phone communication over the past several years.  Combine that information with what has come to light this past week.  The DOJ subpoenaed and received two months of phone records from the Associated Press.  This included work and personal phone numbers belonging to five reporters and one editor.  It also obtained phone records at three AP offices and the main number for the reporters at the AP Press Gallery. 

The Obama Administration has prosecuted more whistle blowers in five years than all other presidents combined.  That adds up to a lot of intimidation.  Is it any wonder the main stream media cowers to this president?  With a federal government seizing records and tapping work and personal phone lines, intimidation is used to enforce the will of this administration.  Isn’t this how Russia, China and North Korea keep the people in line?

The IRS scandal is yet another attempt to control through intimidation.  Organizations that do not share the same ideals as the Obama administration have become targets.  Conservative groups or organizations that use key words in their name have been subjected to thug-like behavior by the IRS.  Organizations that are supportive of Israel have also been subjected to intense scrutiny.  One pro-Israel organization, according to The Blaze, was informed they were assigned to “a special unit in the D.C. office to determine whether the organization’s activities contradict the Administrations public policies.” 

Treasury officials were aware of the additional scrutiny and targeting of conservative organizations in June of 2012.  Former IRS Commissioner Douglas Schulman testified on March 22, 2012 on the question of targeting certain political organizations.  He said there was “absolutely no targeting” of conservative groups.  Outgoing IRS chief Steven Miller tried to excuse the behavior as an attempt to be more efficient.  He added the IRS has, “learned its lesson” and this “won’t happen again.” They targeted certain groups, they were caught and now they’re sorry.  Sorry they were caught, I’m sure. 

The IRS also improperly seized the medical records of 10 million Americans.  Why?  Isn’t it comforting to know that the IRS is going to be the chief enforcer of Obamacare?   More IRS agents are expected to be hired to help Americans make the transformation.  Now that we have allowed the government to take care for us, they are going to spy on us and make sure we make the right decisions.  Are you still using reward cards?  I’d rethink it if I were you.

Hopefully, the Benghazi crime will continue to haunt this president.  Obama’s intimidation continues.  Instead of pointing the finger at our enemies and terrorists groups, he put the blame on freedom of speech. 

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney has a job that should be keeping him up at night.  It makes me wonder if he has a conscience.  How can he continue to spin the propaganda, the lies of the Obama administration?  He recently stated, “The fact of the matter is that this administration has a record of transparency that outdoes any previous administrations.  And we are committed to that.  The president is committed to that.”  It kind of makes me wonder what the Obama administration has on him.

“We’re gonna punish our enemies, and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us.”

President Barack Obama