Reply #6: Obama understood, even before getting elected, that he would have to play ball.

[Vinnie From Indy]

Unless he acted like Bush on steroids in regard to terrorism, abandoning the rule of law etc. he knew that it would lead to his being set-up by BushCo and the MIC. It is child's play for these folks to manufacture some sort of attack for the sole purpose of allowing the pack of snarling right-wing dogs of the right-wing hate machine to relentlessly tear into President Obama for making America less safe and being "soft" on terrorism.

In short, Pres. Obama appears to have completely abandoned his principles and campaign promises as a political tactic to shield him from this type of attack from the right-wing.