For Obama, it’s more about showmanship than sunlight

Baltimore Examiner by Byron York | Feb. 17, 2009 (Opinion)
After rushing Congress to act, why did he wait for days to sign the "emergency" stimulus bill?

Back during the presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised something he called “Sunlight Before Signing.” Obama complained that “too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them.” So he pledged that, as president, he would “not sign any nonemergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House Web site for five days.” Full Story »

Posted by Kaizar Campwala

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Subjects: U.S., Politics
Topics: Obama Administration
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Posted by: Posted by Kaizar Campwala - Feb 17, 2009 - 9:15 AM PST
Reviewed by: Kaizar Campwala (review), Jack Dinkmeyer (review), Dwight Rousu (review), Tanya J. Maurer (review)
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Edited by: Kaizar Campwala - Feb 17, 2009 - 9:15 AM PST
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Jack Dinkmeyer
1.0
 by Jack Dinkmeyer - Feb. 17, 2009

A childishly petulant "article" about Obama’s “hypocrisy”. Namely his rhetoric about taking a proper amount of time to evaluate bills then signing them doesn’t match reality. Obviously the author overlooked an economy that's worsening day by day. This intelligence-insulting “article” is no more than neo-cons' attempt to discredit the administration. Don’t waste your time on this one.

Where the Hell was the author the past eight years when Bush’s and Cheney’s Republican controlled congress slavishly fell all over themselves approving everything Bush and Cheney demanded? Or how about the speed with which Republicans jammed through their $350 billion bailout for Wall Street buddies?

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Dwight Rousu
1.7
 by Dwight Rousu - Feb. 17, 2009

Though York brings up a promise that is worth monitoring, he ignores the context of the bills he cites as examples of lack of daylight. Ledbetter had been argued and examined for a year before it was passed and he signed it. SCHIP similarly. The economic stimulus bill solicited Republican input and was publicly debated with lots of bad amendments. York's piece stinks as partisan harping.

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Tanya J. Maurer
1.4
 by Tanya J. Maurer - Feb. 18, 2009
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Kaizar Campwala
3.3
 by Kaizar Campwala - Feb. 17, 2009

While his complaint about Congressional rule bending doesn't hold much water for me, I do think its worth dwelling on the speed at which legislation has been passed and then signed by Obama.

Kaizar posted this story.
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