{"id":254,"date":"2010-01-26T16:46:52","date_gmt":"2010-01-26T16:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lynnvsekulow\/2010\/01\/transparency-remains-elusive.html"},"modified":"2010-01-26T16:46:52","modified_gmt":"2010-01-26T16:46:52","slug":"transparency-remains-elusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/2010\/01\/transparency-remains-elusive.html","title":{"rendered":"Transparency Remains Elusive"},"content":{"rendered":"

Barry, <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I agree with you on the fact that most Americans don’t like government ‘secrecy’ and in many respects the vote in Massachusetts clearly reflected a total disgust with the way Washington is operating – especially with health care reform.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As you correctly pointed out, this whole health care process has been a nightmare – made worse because of decisions by the President, and Congressional leadership to keep this process under wraps – out of the view of the American people – behind closed doors.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finally, President Obama<\/a>, still smarting over the stunning loss of Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat, has come clean admitting that it was, to use his word, a ‘mistake’ in failing to be transparent with the American people on health care reform.   <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I’m not sure they really get it, though.  <\/span>Democratic leaders in Congress are still acting like the Massachusetts Senate election didn’t happen.  <\/span>They are still strategizing<\/a> <\/font>(out of the view of the American people of course) about how to move forward on passing a health care plan that most Americans reject.  <\/span>The health care plan before Congress is now opposed by nearly 60%<\/a> of the American people.  <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And, even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is dragging his feet on this one.  <\/span>Instead of swearing-in Scott Brown as the new Massachusetts Senator the day after he was elected (after all he was in Washington and even met with Reid that day) the Senate Majority Leader<\/a> has decided to wait until the election is ‘certified’ by officials in Massachusetts.  <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font>That’s an excuse not a legal requirement for not seating the newly elected Senator immediately. Absurd.  <\/span>In fact, Sen. Ted Kennedy was sworn-in within hours after his win in the 1960’s – long before the results were ‘certified.”  <\/span>With so much at stake legislatively, Senator-elect Brown needs to get to work without delay – on health care and a host of other issues.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yes, we need more transparency and we need the political games to stop.  <\/span>In assessing his first year on the job, President Obama <\/a>said he would forge ahead with his agenda – including health care reform – even it if costs him re-election.  <\/span>“I’d rather be a really good one-term president than a mediocre two-term president,” he told ABC’s Diane Sawyer.  <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font>We will see.<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/font> <\/p>\n

To subscribe to “Lynn v. Sekulow” click <\/font>here<\/font><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span>.<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Barry,   I agree with you on the fact that most Americans don’t like government ‘secrecy’ and in many respects the vote in Massachusetts clearly reflected a total disgust with the way Washington is operating – especially with health care reform.   As you correctly pointed out, this whole health care process has been a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,217,123],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-congress","category-health-care","category-president-barack-obama"],"yoast_head":"\nTransparency Remains Elusive - Lynn v. 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Jay Sekulow has also served as a faculty member for the Office of Legal Education at the United States Department of Justice.  As a member of the faculty he instructed Assistant United States Attorneys and investigators in the First Amendment issues associated with prosecution of obscenity. An accomplished and respected judicial advocate, Sekulow has presented oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in numerous cases in defense of constitutional freedoms. Several landmark cases argued by Sekulow before the U.S. Supreme Court have become part of the legal landscape in the area of religious liberty litigation.  In the Mergens case, Sekulow cleared the way for public school students to form Bible clubs and religious organizations on their school campuses.  In the Lamb's Chapel case, Sekulow defended the free speech rights of religious groups, ensuring that they be treated equally with respect to the use of public facilities.  And, most recently, in McConnell v. FEC, Sekulow ensured that the constitutional rights of young people remain protected with a unanimous decision by the high court guaranteeing that minors can participate in political campaigns. A nationally recognized and respected defender of religious freedom, Sekulow has assembled one of the most prestigious law firms in the nation.  Founded in 1990, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses in constitutional law.  The ACLJ, under Sekulow's direction, is involved in public interest and public policy issues working to protect religious and constitutional liberties. In 2007, the Chicago Tribune concluded that the ACLJ has \"led the way\" in Christian legal advocacy.  In 2005, TIME Magazine named Sekulow one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America and called the ACLJ \"a powerful counterweight\" to the ACLU.  Business Week said the ACLJ is \"the leading advocacy group for religious freedom.\"  Sekulow's work on the issue of judicial nominees - including possible vacancies at the Supreme Court - has received extensive news coverage including a front page story in The Wall Street Journal.  In addition, The National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \"100 Most Influential Lawyers\" in the United States (1994, 1997).  He is also among a distinguished group of attorneys known as \"The Public Sector 45\" named by The American Lawyer (January\/February 1997).  The magazine said the designation represents \"45 young lawyers outside the private sector whose vision and commitment are changing lives.\" Sekulow brings insight and education to listeners daily with his national call-in radio program, Jay Sekulow Live!, which is broadcast throughout the country on nearly 850 radio stations.  Sekulow also hosts a weekly television program, ACLJ This Week, which tackles the tough issues of the day and is broadcast on a number of networks nationwide including the Trinity Broadcasting Network and FamilyNet.  Sekulow is also a popular guest on nationally televised news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, and PBS.  He frequently contributes articles and commentary to national publications and is often quoted in the nation's leading newspapers including USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Washington Times. A graduate of Mercer University, Sekulow graduated cum laude receiving both a bachelor's degree and doctor of jurisprudence from Mercer University where he served on the Mercer Law Review as an editorial staff member.  Following graduation, Sekulow served as a tax trial attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service.  In that capacity, Sekulow prepared and brought to trial tax cases on behalf of the United States Department of Treasury in United States Tax Court. He also received a Ph.D. from Regent University, with a dissertation on American Legal History, and is the author of numerous publications and law articles. 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