Flying in the face of secrecy

Bill Moyers opines about the role of journalism in democracy in An Eye On Power. He also gives us a ground-level view of the state of American journalism. Between the Bush administration's attempt to keep secret after secret after secret after secret after secret after secret after secret after secret after secret after secret after ...well you get the idea. Add to that the corporate roll up of small newspapers, radio stations, magazines and television and we suddenly find ourselves in a place where the independence of the media is completely suspect.

If we are not vigilant, if we do not fight and win the small battles for access to information, we can assure ourselves of complete ignorance of the workings of our government.

So, from the department of not quite so fast, bub, there's this:

Kudos to Time Magazine for digging up an email that shows that, guess what, Cheney knew and approved of Halliburton Iraq reconstruction contracts. Now be honest, are you really surprised when you read Cheney denying any knowledge or influence in the contracting process...

Vice President Dick Cheney was a guest on NBC's Meet the Press last September when host Tim Russert brought up Halliburton. Citing the company's role in rebuilding Iraq as well as Cheney's prior service as Halliburton's CEO, Russert asked, "Were you involved in any way in the awarding of those contracts?" Cheney's reply: "Of course not, Tim ... And as Vice President, I have absolutely no influence of, involvement of, knowledge of in any way, shape or form of contracts led by the [Army] Corps of Engineers or anybody else in the Federal Government.

...only to discover an email that says exactly the opposite later:

The e-mail says Feith approved arrangements for the contract "contingent on informing WH [White House] tomorrow. We anticipate no issues since action has been coordinated w VP's [Vice President's] office." Three days later, the Army Corps of Engineers gave Halliburton the contract, without seeking other bids.

I think in most circles Cheney's statements would be called a lie. But we'll just add it to the list of secrets that will slowly leak out from this administration. In the end, this is a big reason why Bush will lose in November. Both he and Cheney are the wrong fit for America. We, the people that is, have a right to know what our leaders are doing and we like to exercise that right via the press. Get it Dick and George? Open government, transparant negotiations, freedom of information...Stay with me here. But they won't. They don't believe you have the right to know or participate in your own government. That's one reason you won't vote for them, will you?