How does one take a president seriously who preaches about a new era of transparency while sealing his complete birth certificate, college records, and passports? Why talk about transparency while hiding bare minimum information that past politicians have readily turned over? That’s not a new era of transparency; it’s a new era of secrecy.

Why talk about transparency while rushing through thousand of pages of unread and un-analyzed law that will allow government control of health decisions? A 72-hour Internet posting is ridiculously insufficient in context of the mammoth power grab the federal government wishes to pull off.

A person’s health and lifestyle are sensitive, private matters. And as we have learned from Democrats, people have a constitutional right to control their own bodies without government interference.

In light of Obama’s promise to broadcast the Congressional debates before C-Span cameras, I’m sorry, merely having a brief exposure to the two thousand pages of monstrosity known as “reform” doesn’t cut it. Mr. Obama needs to keep his word.

The health care debates were held between Democrats behind closed and locked doors. That’s not change we can believe in.

Click here to see Obama on CNN during the 2008 campaign, promising to have the health care debates on C-SPAN. “Part of what we have to do is enlist the American people,” promised Obama, “in this process.” Obama continued: “These negotiations will be on C-SPAN, and, so, the public will be part of the conversation and will see the choices that are being made.”

Mr. Obama preached that having C-SPAN cameras, “builds in accountability into the [lawmaking] system, because, ah, now that congressman is put on the spot . . . you can shame Congress into doing the right thing if people know what’s going on.”

Well, the public didn’t get to be “part of the conversation” in the manner Obama promised, but he did inadvertently “enlist the American people” to protest and demand accountability from Washington. Mr. Obama has enlisted an army of freedom-preserving patriots.

Click here to see Obama’s response to my favorite journalist reminding the president of his promise of C-SPAN covered health care debates.

Inasmuch as Obama is a man of great integrity, openness and transparency, his response of blaming Congress for not televising the debates was beneath him. In order to restore his credibility the reset button will need to be hit, if for no other reason, to partially restore the trustworthiness of the president.