(3/16/11 AP) According to his public schedule, Obama has four behind-closed-doors meetings from 10 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.: his daily briefing, a talk with the USAID administrator, a session with senior advisers, and a huddle with his defense secretary. All of the meets are in the Oval Office, and all of them are “closed press,” the White House says. But at 2:55 p.m., Obama will emerge to “accept an award from a coalition of good government groups and transparency advocates to recognize ‘his deep commitment to an open and transparent government—of, by, and for the people’ in conjunction with Sunshine Week,” the White House said in guidance to reporters.
Turns out that Obama canceled this meeting and awards presentation. No reason was given. Two weeks later, we have this rather surprising news:
(3/30/11 AP) Obama met secretly in the Oval Office with Gary Bass of OMB Watch, Tom Blanton of the National Security Archive, Danielle Brian of the Project on Government Oversight, Lucy Dalglish of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and Patrice McDermott of OpenTheGovernment.org, without disclosing the meeting on his public schedule or letting photographers or print reporters into the room. On of the participants issued this comment: “Our understanding going into the meeting was that it would have a pool photographer and a print reporter, and it turned out to be a private meeting.”
I am wondering if he will hang this award on the wall next to his Nobel Peace Prize?
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