Obama Comes Clean, Gets Rid Of Pretense of Transparency

President Obama is finding his way, getting honest with the people, and has taken a first step by abolishing the position he devised dedicated to transparency. Obama transferred his so-called "ethics czar" Norm Eisen to the Czech Republic to serve as U.S. ambassador. I guess that's far enough away. Meanwhile, his ethics 'duties' were then handed over to a partisan ex-lobbyist who is not known as a big believer in the virtue of transparency in government.

White House counsel Bob Bauer will take over the dubious duties of ethics czar, but without the title. The title 'Ethics Czar' was retired with Eisen. Interestingly, the new man is openly antagonistic to the benefits and value of disclosure on the part of politicians. A lawyer, his resume reads more as partisan politico than crusader for open, forthcoming government.

As White House Counsel, Bauer worked to defend Rahm Emanuel's offer of a job to Rep. Joe Sestak (D), whom Emanuel wanted out of the Senate race for the seat of Arlen Specter.

Another Bauer client was New Jersey Sen. Robert "Torch" Torricelli back in 2001. When one Torricelli donor admitted he had reimbursed employees for their contributions to the Torch -- thus circumventing contribution limits -- Bauer explained, "All candidates ask their supporters to help raise money from friends, family members and professional associates."

Bauer's own words -- gathered by the diligent folks at the Sunlight Foundation -- show disdain for openness and far greater belief in the good intentions of those in power than of those trying to check the powerful.

Nice.

It would seem nothing Barack Hussein Obama said during his campaign to be president had any truth behind it. Nothing said was actually a core value of the man, no commitment to those high sounding ideas lay in the heart of the man that said them. All this brings to mind a lesson to us from Thomas Sowell, namely

"The most important thing about what anyone says is not the words themselves, but the credibility of the person saying them."

Well said, Dr. Sowell.