As the battle over healthcare reform reaches a fever pitch, today came news that the Obama administration is refusing to release the names of health industry insiders who have met with Obama officials at the White House. From the LA Times:

Invoking an argument used by President George W. Bush, the Obama administration has turned down a request from a watchdog group for a list of health industry executives who have visited the White House to discuss the massive healthcare overhaul.

"As a candidate," the Times reminds us: "President Obama vowed that in devising a healthcare bill he would invite in TV cameras - specifically C-SPAN - so that Americans could have a window into negotiations that normally play out behind closed doors." Anne Weismann, chief counsel for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, called the move "extremely disappointing" and "completely at odds with the president's commitment ... to bring a new level of transparency to his government."

Indeed, this pledge was one of the most welcome promises of Obama's administration. After eight long years of "the most secretive administration in U.S. history," such assurances by Obama were more than welcome.

Unfortunately, from keeping White House visitors a secret to the repeated use of State Secrets privilege to block torture and spying lawsuits, what we have seen since has been a major disappointment. This latest move is unjustified, Dick Cheney-style obstruction, a slap in the face of Americans who have a right to know who is visiting -- and influencing - the president they voted into office.