What is it about progressives that makes them so determined to keep the public in the dark once they enter public office?
Exhibit A is our own mayor. Last year, as public advocate, he unveiled a “Transparency Report Card” accusing Bloomberg-era city agencies of failing to “obey the law and make records public.”
But a new report from the Associated Press says that “from the first moments” of his mayoralty, Bill de Blasio has “established a record of frequently conducting public business in private, with dozens of events closed to the press.”
The AP reports de Blasio has barred the media from 53 events and limited access to 30 more, with some days being completely off limits. The story quotes the AP’s executive editor as saying, “The most used rubber stamp in his office is the one that says ‘closed to the press.’ ”
De Blasio’s not alone. In Albany, where everything important is done behind closed doors, state agencies have made an art of delays for freedom-of-information requests.
Perhaps they’re taking a cue from President Obama, who promised the most transparent administration ever, only to deny press photographers access to Obama events. Thus news organizations were limited to photos taken and approved by the White House.
We attribute it to the idea that liberal government knows better.
This paternalism was best expressed by the House speaker who said Congress needed to pass ObamaCare before we could find out what was in it.
Yes, all pols try to control how they are depicted. But if progressives are really acting — as they claim — on behalf of the people, why are they so keen on keeping a free press from seeing what they’re up to?