General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)In case you thought I never criticized Obama: Today was a screwup. [View all]
The Obama admin should never have invoked executive privilege on these documents. It takes a tiny story that the Republicans have been trying to make something out of for months, and it immediately super-sizes it and puts it on every political news segment for a week at least. Plus it was Obama's first use of executive privilege in what has otherwise been a privilege-free administration, which adds to the newsworthiness. They simply shouldn't have done it. The appearance of trying to hide something is far worse than whether or not you're actually trying to hide something.
If the documents couldn't really have been turned over, then Eric Holder should have fallen on his sword months ago and tied this thing off. There's no real way to deny it was a colossal fuck up, and Holder either knew or should have. Him getting out was the fastest way to cut the footing out from under the Republicans who now have just been handed a shiny new hammer.
No, I don't think it makes a big difference long term. It's not going to bring down the Obama administration. But it's a distraction that takes time away from hitting Romney on the economy, and lets the Republicans play to their strengths.