Especially if you are opposed to the adminstrations policies or a political opponent. President Obama, along with the DNC, are making unsubstantiated charges against the U.S. Chambers of Commerce and others regarding illegal use of foreign funds for political contributions. And, according to David Axelrod, Obama's senior advisor, when questioned about proof of this by CBS Newsman Bob Scheiffer (certainly no right with shill) the response is: “Well, do you have any evidence that it’s not, Bob?” along with stating that they (the DNC, administration, etc.) don't need proof -- it's up to the Chamber of Commerce to prove it isn't true
I can understand the DNC releasing fear ads and charges like this, after all, there is no policy that they can stand on so their whole election strategy is to make people fear republican challengers, especially with charges that are as insidious as "Have you stopped beating your wife?". However, for the administration, especially the president, to make these unsubstantiated allegations is reprehensible and shows just how little respect that Obama has for the law and for the American people. And then to state that they don't need proof, that they can basically make any assertion that they want and it is up to their opponents to prove them wrong, shows how little respect that they have for the constitutional premise of innocent until proven guilty. If you or I made allegations like that against someone we disagreed with we would be slapped with libel and or slander suits if we had no proof.
And then there is the fact that there is no investigation into the Chamber of Commerce or others in regard to these allegations. Although Al Franken is calling for one, even though he admits that there is nothing illegal going on.
Of course, we have caught glimpses of this. Remember the " Cambridge cops acted stupidly" comment of Obama when he had no clue or inkling into what really went on. He condemned the Cambridge police force before reviewing evidence. But then again this is the same president who as a candidate complained about no arugula in Iowa, criticised Americans for not knowing French, and attacked those in Pennsylvania who supported Hillary against him as clinging to their guns and religion (although he is unwilling to make similar statements about Islamic militants). And how about more recently when WH chief economist Ghoulsbee Goolsbee started discussing the tax status of Koch Industries making certain allegations (a no-no on the tax status statements) and the President himself making allegations against Americans for Prosperity without presenting any proof of either the allegations or his implications of what this meant.
The full story can be found in the NY Times article and this Baltimore Sun review.
Some may call this politics as usual, but isn't this the administration that promised no politics as usual?
Comments(13)