ABOUT FIRST READ

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Obama team promotes transparency

Posted: Friday, December 05, 2008 5:37 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Savannah Guthrie
Obama transition co-chair John Podesta issued a memo today to all transition staff, outlining new procedures on transparency. Team Obama has dubbed the new policy "Seat at The Table."

In a nutshell, the Obama team will post any documents from official meetings with outside organizations on its Web site. The site also will feature dates of the meetings and the names of organizations involved in the meetings. In the memo, Podesta told the staff, "this scope is a floor, not a ceiling." In other words, staff are encouraged to include additional materials.

However, for privacy reasons, information regarding hiring or personnel matters will not be posted.

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

Please.  As if we're to believe this.  I'm guessing that the meetings that cast Team Obama in a negative light somehow won't make it to the website.
More fluff from Mr. Fluffy. The trouble with doing these things is they turn around and bite you on the butt. OF course, the meetings they won't post, probably with lobbyists, will be "unofficial" meetings, and thus they won't have to be posted.

Never, ever trust a liberal.
Jeez, it's really something to see someone act like a president again. Sort of refreshing.
Jon, Washington, DC (Sent Friday, December 05, 2008 4:34 PM)
Jon:

Thanks for keeping me straight.
C A, Tuscaloosa, AL


Don't you think it's time you come out?
This is how a Democratic Government is suppose to work America. This is our Government, and we have the right to know what is going on. It has been a long, and painful 8 years of just the opposite behaviors from our Government. The GOP/RNC secretive, and dishonest version of American Democracy is incorrect. The Bush-Cheney Government of dishonesty, greed, and secrets is not a good example of American Democracy in action. That is fact!
ILL: Everyone knows that McCain was Uncle Fluffy, so come up with a new one, will ya?
It really is comical to read these nasty little nuggets from folks who don't like Obama. I assume they all voted TWICE for the BUSH.  The worst president ever who has taken "transparency in goverment" and flushed it down the toilet, right along with the economy,rights to privacy and, and the dignity and standing of the US abroad.
Not to mention lying to the American public so he could go to war with a resulting price tag with so many zeros I can't type it. And then there is the loss of life he and his administration are responsible for.  THe list is dirty and LONG.
So, don't criticize Obama until you are capable of admitting that the person you supported TWICE and the party you continue to support has done its level best to ruin this country.
The workings of a GREAT MAN:

'...Bonior Building Behind-The-Scenes Momentum For Openly Gay Union Activist as Labor Secretary

By Greg Sargent - December 4, 2008, 6:02PM

Former Rep. David Bonior, who has deep roots in the labor movement, has mounted an aggressive behind-the-scenes campaign, with letters and personal lobbying, to press the Obama transition team and top labor leaders to get behind his pick for labor secretary: Union activist Mary Beth Maxwell, who would make history as the first openly gay cabinet member.

Bonior, who has been trying in vain to get his own name taken off the shortlist for the post, is also confirming for the first time that if asked by Obama, he would take the job, though he would prefer Maxwell.

"I would do anything President-Elect Obama asks me to do, but I think it's time to pass the torch to a new generation of leadership with a fresh vision for working families," Bonior said in a statement that was sent to us by his spokesperson....'

David Bonior deserves a place at the table, too
It's time overdue to have an openly gay Vabinet member

The tide has turned

Thank you, Mr Bonior !!

ILL: '...Never, ever trust a liberal....'

Glad uyou could find a downer in a postitve action
Keep looking on the dark side, ILL

Are you a punk rocker ?


I can't believe that there are repubs here that are grumbling about this.  Compared to the last 8 years, this is SO REFRESHING.  Even if we don't get to have "a seat at the table" for every meeting, at least there's going to be SOME transparency.  Wonderful!!!  Know what else I like?...that Obama is SMART.  Finally, a President that's not stupid.  That's also very refreshing!  Thanks, P-E Obama.
What a welcome and needed change. It is obvious we cannot expect the same for the rest of 08 due to the secrecy of Paulson/Bush on how our taxpayer money is
being spent on the financial bailouts. It is criminal that they are being allowed to continue business as usual and with our money.
Do hope criminal charges will be brought and processed for all those in business and the government who are and have caused so much damage to our country.
Transparency? What's that you say...? Some kind of new fangled thingamajigy?

Seriously...I love it. Can't wait for more. It's going to be a great 8 years.

Anybody sign up for the Change America community organizing events? I plan to host one. Can't wait!!
Never, ever trust a liberal.
ILL (Sent Friday, December 05, 2008 5:46 PM)

****************************************************

Like trusting the conservative Republicans was such a good idea?!?  Don't make absurd generalizations unless you want to be called out.  

We trusted CONSERVATIVE Bush and he completeley lied to us about WMD and the need for a war that has cost thousands of lives and millions/billions of dollars.

We trusted CONSERVATIVE Republicans and allowed de-regulations (remember, McCain called himself the "De-regulator" for quite some time until he figured out too late that it was a really bad idea).  Not everyone who took advantage of the de-regulations was a conservative, but there were certainly plenty that were!

Need I go on?

I will not allow your negativity and skepticism to sckew my hope of a new administration.  We have all suffered 8 long years of lies and coverups.  But a new day is upon us.  We have to demand that we know what is going on, not sit back and blindly trust.  We are the people and we have our rights.  I hope that Obama's team always remembers his promises and they do have the transparency he promised.  


SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1700581

First Read e-mail alerts


Sign up for First Read alerts
The first place for key political news and analysis

Syndicate This Site

Add First Read to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google