Obama Bans Criticism Of Economic Stimulus Spending
And he’s doing it in the name of tighter controls on lobbying, but note that the new restrictions apply even to people who aren’t actually lobbyists:
A new White House policy on permissible lobbying on economic recovery and stimulus project has taken a decidedly anti-First Amendment turn. It’s a classic illustration of Big Government trying to control every aspect of a particular activity and in the process running up against civil liberty.
Check out this passage from a post on the White House blog by Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President on Ethics and Government Reform (emphasis added):
“First, we will expand the restriction on oral communications to cover all persons, not just federally registered lobbyists. For the first time, we will reach contacts not only by registered lobbyists but also by unregistered ones, as well as anyone else exerting influence on the process. We concluded this was necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program.
Given that we have a government “of the people,” doesn’t the definition of “anyone else exerting influence on the process” include, you know, citizens? Speaking out? Criticizing? Sending letters? Making phone calls?
Isn’t the very definition of democratic, representative government one in which the people exert influence on the political process?
Maybe that’s not how it’s going to work on Obama’s world.
