Mark Hemingway: Despite its name, CLEAR Act undermines government transparency

With all the economic and environmental damage done to the Gulf Coast from the oil spill, it’s telling that the White House seems primarily concerned with saving the habitat of the vanishing Florida Obama supporter.

This past Monday, Politico reported that the White House was sending a “2012 rescue team” to Florida to contain voter outrage over the lackluster handling of the spill affecting their coastline. Notably, Politico points out, Florida is “the only state in the region President Barack Obama won in 2008 and one he will need again when he runs for re-election.” Presumably, those residing in the Gulf states who didn’t vote for Obama shouldn’t expect special attention from the federal government.