Evidently, [the president] wants to shield virtually any communications that take place within the White House compound on the theory that all such talk contributes in some way, shape or form to the continuing success and harmony of an administration. Taken to its logical extreme, that position would make it impossible for citizens to hold a chief executive accountable for anything. He would have a constitutional right to cover up. Chances are that the courts will hurl such a claim out, but it will take time. One gets the impression that [the administration] values its survival more than most people want justice and thus will delay without qualm. But as the clock ticks, the public's faith in [the president] will ebb away for a simple reason: Most of us want no part of a president who is cynical enough to use the majesty of his office to evade the one thing he is sworn to uphold -- the rule of law. [edits are mine]
That pretty much sums it up nicely. Snow believes that privilege is a way for presidents to avoid accountability. I'm sure that the White House will now be completely cooperative with the investigation, after all its spokesman is on the record saying it should.
Of course the quote is from 1998 and he's talking about Clinton. I wonder if he's changed his opinion since then? Flip-flop, flip-flop.
No comments:
Post a Comment