Biggest PLUS for Obama: Open the doors on Senate and Congressional NEGOTIATIONS

[blm]

and the drafting of legislation.

When he said that those lawmakers who carry water for special interests and corporations have to show themselves publicly to the people while they're doing it, it struck a chord for those of us who reside on the anti-corruption, open government wing of the Democratic Party.

EVERY other issue will benefit from real open government. EVERY. OTHER. ISSUE.

Why more Dems are so slow to realize this is just bizarre at this point.

[Kittycat]

1. This was a HUGE plus for the night.

[blm]

5. I think this should be the lead theme of his campaign.

Especially since every other issue is effected by whether it is dealt with openly or secretively.

[debatepro]

2. Loved the idea....

we need more transparency in government...

[avaistheone1]

3. That was BIG. Obama also said he wanted to dilute the power of lobbyists in our government,

That was powerful.

[blm]

4. Exactly. That's what happens when you have a REAL open government.

The power of lobbyists is GREATLY diminished.

[jackson_dem]

6. Did he say that for the health care bill or for everything?

Both are good but obviously it would be better to make this policy apply to all bills.

[blm]

8. ALL bills.

.

[jackson_dem]

15. Awesome

Just having the cameras there alone would cut back on a lot of behind the scenes games on behalf of corporations.

[blm]

22. Exactly why I came down on Obama's side. I take this issue seriously

because it effects every other issue out there one way or another.

[avaistheone1]

21. I didn't hear ALL bills, but I hope I just missed that.

If Obama could really keep that commitment, it would be a major change in our government, and he could be one of of our greatest presidents. Our government could really start working for our people.

[Egnever]

43. take a look at his tech platform

He lays it all out there. His goal is to make government not only more open but more accessible to the average joe through things like on line town hall meetings and a cooling off time between legislation being offered up and it actually going to vote where it is posted online and people can look at it and comment on it.

He is really about enlisting the american people in their government again and it is why I support him. all inspiration aside.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/

Its really well worth reading.

[blm]

54. I'm not a tech geek at all, but have been an open government crusader for years.

Witnessing the damage to this nation and the world that closed government has brought on, should make ANY true Democrat a crusader for open government.

If not us, then who? The Republicans will NEVER even contemplate it.

[BluegrassDem]

7. The most underrated thing of the night

This should've gotten more attention from the press. This was big news. I hope Obama talks about that some more.

[blm]

9. Same here. I said above THIS should be the driving force of his campaign.

.

[MH1]

16. There was a very underrated thread earlier today about open government.

I'll leave it to the reader to surmise why this excellent topic didn't get more attention:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4314431

DUers say they want to talk about the issues...then threads like that drop like a stone!

[avaistheone1]

25. Aha!!!!!!! Why would corporate media want to highlight that?

That smells of the populist rhetoric of John Edwards!

The media won't have any of that.

[EFerrari]

10. Parenthetically, I watched Michelle Obama speak in Delaware via CSPAN.

She's every bit as good a speaker as he is. :wow:

[Abacus]

11. /agree

Open government is one of my favorite things about Obama.

[agdlp]

12. Video: Hillary Clinton floated the idea of putting bloggers in each government agency

During a Q&A with voters at Tennesee State University in Nashville Saturday, Hillary Clinton discussed freedom of information, and floated the idea of putting bloggers in each government agency.

Watch the video:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/hillary-clinton-transparency

[MH1]

18. Interesting idea, but it's barely a nod to the idea of open government

If Hillary thinks that putting bloggers in every government agency is how you bring about open government, then she's worse on this issue than I thought.

[blm]

23. But protect secrecy and privilege of the executive - no thankyou....

We lived through that the last time and we ended up stuck with Bush2.


http://consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html

There are serious consequences for this country whenever you side with protecting the Bushes.

The cost is TOO high.

[Yael]

30. People blogging what they want vs people being followed by cameras

These aren't even in the same continent.

[blm]

41. Like government propagandists don't blog already.

heh

[Egnever]

44. floated the idea

It has been on obamas site for months and it goes way further than bloggers. read his technology platform it lays it all out.

I am glad hillary is starting to come arround but Obama has a concrete plan allready.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/

[JI7]

13. one of the biggest reasons to support him

and one of the things that would bring about positive change.

[KittyWampus]

14. Open Government. WHY he doesn't mention tax returns, I don't know.

[jackson_dem]

17. What do you mean?

Does he have a tax return reform proposal too? Or does he want to make the tax returns of elected officials public?

[KittyWampus]

19. Oh, Clintons won't release their 2006 tax return. Obama already did.

[gateley]

24. Just when I was starting to trust her, another instance of the secrecy she

seems to surround herself with.

CAN a prez candidate NOT release tax records?

[KittyWampus]

26. it's unusual. McCain won't either.

[gateley]

34. You just can't help but wonder why.... nt

[jackson_dem]

32. Gotcha

Thanks.

[blm]

37. The tax returns are the LEAST of the secrecy.

.

[ursi]

20. I can see Clinton using that in her ads tomorrow

[MH1]

27. That really was an excellent statement

and this issue (open government) seems to be a key differentiator between Obama and Clinton. It should be raised more on DU, I think.

[beachmom]

28. I KNEW that would be music to your ears, BLM!

Of course, the "gas bags" in MSM land completely missed that, acting like Hillary "won" that part of the debate. Pardon me if I didn't hear a key way we can get health care reform through. I wonder if that one will resonate with voters under the radar. A lot of people want this.

[Yael]

29. This Edwards gal agrees. This and the IWR thing were HUGE for him tonight

:applause:

[Beregond2]

31. Obama

And this is an example of the positive influence of Edwards on his campaign.

[Yael]

33. Indeed.

:)

[cooolandrew]

35. YES, he believes in the process his biggest selling point, the constitution or bust. ..

... I know, I know impeachment but clearly the overall plan was keep Bush there to generate a sizeable majority seems to be working dandy, with GOPers retiring left right and center and nearly 30 seats up.

[blm]

36. Yes. If Dems are smart enough and patriotic enough to only elect open goverment

Democrats to fill those empty seats, THEN this nation will have a chance to HAVE the open government that has been promised all this time.

[agdlp]

38. Hillary has been fighting for government transparency longer then Obama has been in the Senate

Copy and Paste politics...

The issue I intend to explore briefly this morning is whether we are applying the fundamental principles of democracy, rule of law, transparency and accountability, informed consent, not only to what we do at home, but to what we do in the world"

"If we are to lead this world commensurate with the power we possess, the ideals we proclaim, into a free and hopefully democratic future, we must first be consistent in the principles we champion and pursue. Nowhere is this more important than in the transparency of government decisions."

"Without such transparency, how can leaders be accountable? How can people be informed? And without such transparency, the openness and information that is required for the lifeblood of a democracy to be healthy and strong, the pillars of that democracy are shaken."

"Since September 11th, this question about transparency, about adequacy of information and informed consent of the public has become even more salient. The war on terror will be, as it is now, being fought in the darkness, outside the public limelight, new doctrines of pre-emption and a commitment to secrecy raise profound questions about the democratic oversight of decisions effecting war and peace."

"The lack of transparency on the part of the Bush administration has forced Governor King, former Republican Governor of New Jersey, to threaten subpoenas. This should not be happening."


http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/kfiles/b11179.html

[blm]

39. HAHAHAHAH...yeah, we saw how Bill facilitated the ongoing investigations into

IranContra, Iraqgate and CIA drugrunning. HE DIDN'T.

Bill Clinton deep-sixed all the serious matters outstanding in the BCCI report he was handed when he took office.

He would NOT facilitate access to documents that had long been stonewalled by Reagan and Bush administrations.

You have GOT TO BE KIDDING when you try to push the idea that Hillary is FOR open government.

Clintons talk about transparency out loud the same way Bush talks out loud about 'clean air' initiatives.

How DUMB do you think we all are? Clintons believe most Democrats are as stupid and gullible as Bushes believe many Republicans are - and that NOT ENOUGH Democrats are even familiar with the FACTS on record, so they have a base of protection - just like Bushes get from their gullible wing.

Don't even TRY to pretend with those of us quite familiar with the deep-sixing of IranContra, Iraqgate, BCCI and CIA Drugrunning matters that were still current when Bill took office - and current again since 9-11, Iraq war and future war with Iran.

http://consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html



The ONLY reason Bush2 was even able to mount a presidential campaign in the 90s was because they KNEW Bill Clinton was protecting the secrecy and privilege of Bush1 and his powerful cronies involved in those illegal operations.

[mtnsnake]

50. That would be correct, despite blm's ongoing witch hunt & propaganda towards Bill Clinton

Notice all the naive sheep who fall right in lockstep with her divisiveness.

[blm]

52. Too bad the historic record backs ME up. Heh - even Bill's BOOK backs ME up.

You can play with your......faith.

I know the hard facts.

[Ravy]

40. I believe it is beyond the power of the Executive Branch to do

such a thing. Maybe he will get to work on that as a senator...

[Egnever]

45. He allready has

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Funding_Accountability_and_Transparency_Act_of_2006

[blm]

46. No. President has a bully pulpit and ALLIES in Senate and Congress to push it through.

.

[Egnever]

42. Couldn't agree more

It will change everything. His open government tech platform is what drew me to him in the beginning. The inspiration is just a side benefit.

[beachmom]

47. Kick for the Open Government Democrat!

[blm]

48. Thanks. We need to GROW the anti-corruption, open government wing of this party.

And THIS is the year to do it.

[flpoljunkie]

49. Thanks for pointing this out, blm, cause the media sure as hell, won't!

[mtnsnake]

51. Thanks, blm, for returning & using your same old lame ploy to crucify Clintons & create divisiveness

at any cost, as if this place isn't hateful enough. Congratulations!!

[blm]

53. Clintons earned YOUR faith. And the faith of the Bush family. Not mine.

.