December 2010

...your eyes and ears for the next two years

Volume 2 www.obamabidenwatch.org Issue 11 December 2010 www.citizensunited.org Obama’s “Unprecedented” Transparency About To Face First Test To this day, President Obama has the fol- Not only did President Obama enjoy a non- lowing statement posted prominently on inquisitive Congress, but he continues to be mired www.whitehouse.gov: “My Administration is in a love affair with wide swaths of the main- committed to creating an unprecedented level of stream media. When there was a question worth openness in Government. We will work together asking, chances are The New York Times, The to ensure the public trust and establish a system of Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, NBC, ABC, transparency, public participation, and collabora- and CBS all obediently dropped the ball. Let’s tion. Openness will strengthen our democracy and be honest, it’s easy to be for unprecedented trans- promote efficiency and effectiveness in Govern- parency when no one is asking you about any- ment.” thing politically inconvenient. And that’s the Being a Washington politician, he talks a point: can the true measure of a politician’s devo- good game, but President Obama’s promise to run tion to government openness be judged before it’s his administration with unprecedented transpar- put to a legitimate test? By most accounts, it’s ency is about to face its first true test. In early about to be put to the test in a big way. For January 2011, more than 20 committees in the Obama and congressional Democrats, being in U.S. House of Representatives will change hands. total control of Washington for the past two years Republican chairman will now have the power to has turned out to be a double-edged sword - all conduct the first oversight of the President and his the questions that went unanswered over that du- administration. How Mr. Obama will handle this ration will be asked again - this time with sub- new dynamic is anyone’s guess. From the outset, poena and deposition authority. Obama & Co. have been subject to no congres- Which path will President Obama take? sional scrutiny whatsoever. Outgoing-Speaker Either you cooperate or you drag your feet. Ei- Pelosi and Senator Reid and their liberal lieuten- ther you are forthright with Congress or you pick ants made the conscious decision to let the ad- a fight. There are several issues that the President ministration do as it pleased for two years, essen- needs to consider. Many of these congressional tially putting a hold on any meaningful oversight investigations and public hearings will play out so they could concentrate on passing their anti- during his re-election campaign. If he cooperates growth agenda. To the detriment of most Ameri- with Congress and releases all the requested in- cans, Democrats were largely successful in doing formation for public inspection, it could adversely this. affect him in the polls. Continued on the next page...

© Citizens United ~ 1006 Pennsylvania Ave SE ~ Washington D.C. 20003 Page 2 If he decides to stonewall Congress instead, it also could hurt him in the polls. Picking fights with Congress conjure up memories of the In this Issue Clinton years - not exactly evidence that you tried to change Wash- ington. Obama’s “Unprecedented” Transparency About To Face First Test Pg. 1

Government Motors Pg. 3

What Are the Democrats Giving You this Holiday Season? Pg. 5

Citizens United Productions Presents Pg. 7 U.S. House of Representatives Hearing Room Final Thoughts There are no easy answers for the president. If Mr. Obama Pg. 8 thought his first two years were a challenge, he hasn’t seen anything ______yet. The Obama Administration being arrogant is a narrative that’s Published By already in the works. How he interfaces with Congress in a divided Citizens United government will be a big chapter in that narrative one way or the other. Here are just a few of the contentious issues Congress will Editor almost certainly be asking questions about: David N. Bossie

 Wikileaks Managing Editor  The executive order to close GITMO J.T. Mastranadi

 Civilian terror trials Contributors  Terrorists given Miranda rights Chris Berg  Investigating the CIA Jeff Marschner  Stimulus fraud Alexa Moutevelis  Health care bill deliberations  Health care law constitutionality Publication Design  Missile defense Kirk Risinger  Iran policy Julie Drinkard  Climate change evidence  Joe Sestak’s job offer Copyright © 2010 by  Taxpayer funded bailouts Citizens United  The federal budget deficit

Americans have a unique relationship with The restrictions of the past are too numer- their cars. From the days that the first Model T ous to count, but those of the Obama Administra- rolled off Henry Ford’s assembly line, to the clas- tion are poised to make them seem trivial. The sics of the 1950s and 1960s, our cars have served Obama Administration has gone far beyond their as a symbol of our freedom and independ- predecessors in attempting to reinvent the driving ence. We all remember the first time we were en- experience. The Department of Transportation, trusted with the keys to our parents’ automobile led by Obama’s token Republican Cabinet Secre- and were able to set off on the open road. tary Ray LaHood, is at the forefront of the

Today that freedom is being encroached Obama Administration’s attempts to define your upon. The Obama Administration is seizing on ride. its perceived regulatory authority to restrict every aspect of our driving experience.

Long ago the federal government sought to regulate how fast we could drive by offering federal funds for highway repair to states that would cap speed limits. In 1974, when the Emergency Highway Conservation Act was signed into law, the new “national speed limit” was set at 55 miles per hour. This was done in an attempt to reduce oil consumption. It wasn’t until 1987 that the federal government saw fit to raise the “national Ray LaHood accepting President Obama’s nomination as Secretary of the Department of Transporation. speed limit” to 65 miles per hour.

The Federal government should not be in the business of setting state speed limits. Con- Secretary LaHood and his team of bureau- gress finally acknowledged this in 1995, when crats feel that too many drivers are driving they repealed the law and completely returned the “distracted.” You may wonder what exactly is power to set speed limits to the states. “distracted driving” and what can the government

Along with the ability to set speed limits do to stop it? The Department of Transportation the federal government has long exercised control seems to think that a public relations campaign over new automobile gas mileage and emissions will help explain the problem and prevent it -- as standards. Rarely does a year go by where we do a result, they launched the website distrac- not see the federal government propose more on- tion.gov. From this public relations campaign, featured on Oprah, we learn that: erous restrictions on the automobile industry, thus increasing the cost to purchase a new car. Sadly “Distracted driving is any non-driving ac- we’ve all come to accept the federal govern- tivity a person engages in while operating a mo- ment’s ability to dominate private industry and tor vehicle. Such activities have the potential to private activity in this fashion. We’ve been so distract the person from the primary task of driv- complicit, no one batted an eyelash when the fed- ing and increase the Continued on the next page...

© Citizens United ~ 1006 Pennsylvania Ave SE ~ Washington D.C. 20003 Page 4 risk of crashing.” “I think the technology is there and I think you’re going to see the technology become adaptable in So in short, distracted driving is anything automobiles to disable these cell phones. We need one does in a car other than drive. Does that in- to do a lot more if we’re going to save lives.” clude trying to calm screaming children? What about listening to the radio? Maybe listening is This ludicrous effort caused Michelle Mal- allowed, but singing along is problematic. kin to dub LaHood “Obama’s Power-Mad Cell

The real target of Secretary LaHood’s war Phone Czar.” If regulation can really prevent dis- against distraction is cellular telephones. At distracted driving accidents, why is LaHood stop- traction.gov it is promised that they “will not rest ping with disabling cellular phones? Perhaps he until [they] stop” distracted driving. Many states should ban radios and CD players, or prohibit have passed “hands-free” laws and restricted children under the age of 12 from riding in a vehi- one’s ability to legally send text messages while cle, because they may fuss and distract the driving in an effort to reduce accidents and inci- driver. Such efforts would be met with significant dents stemming from the use of cellular tele- opposition. The real truth is that all driving is dis- phones. Secretary LaHood does not believe these tracted driving. The federal government cannot eliminate risk in our lives and it should not at- state efforts go far enough. tempt to by taking away our personal choices and In the days preceding Thanksgiving, Secre- freedoms. tary LaHood sought to further promote his public relations campaign against “distracted driving.” During the course of an interview on MSNBC he explained that “there’s a lot of technology out there now that can disable phones and we’re looking at that.” LaHood wants to prevent your cell phone from working in your car. He further explained:

Michelle Malkin likens Secretary LaHood’s war on cell phones to a “Power-Mad Cell Phone Czar”

All this over-regulation makes us long for the days when we could get behind the wheel, roll down the windows, and enjoy the open road. Those days have long passed. Now, it feels as if Secretary LaHood is in the passenger seat with us every time we drive. Marketing materials for Secretary LaHood’s new program

© Citizens United ~ 1006 Pennsylvania Ave SE ~ Washington D.C. 20003 Page 5 What Are the Democrats Giving people for the holidays. And let’s face it – nobody wants a fruitcake! You This Holiday Season?

The Pelosi agenda was sent packing in 2010 to the tune of 63 House seats. As everyone knows (except the out-of-touch Democrats in the U.S. House), when you lose that many seats in an election, the American people are sending you a not-so-subtle hint to make some serious changes. But Democrats reelected Nancy Pelosi as their leader once again in the House of Representa- tives. By sticking with Nancy Pelosi, one has to Sadly, the similarities between Nancy Pelosi and wonder if House Democrats are denying reality. a Christmas fruitcake don’t stop there. Do they actually think Pelosi did a good job over According to recent polling data, “Leader” the last four years? Whether it’s 9.8 percent un- Pelosi’s approval rating just before the Republi- employment, record debt, the government take- can electoral tsunami was at a dismal 29 percent. over of health care, or cap and tax, Democrats That is painfully low and represents a total rejec- have announced their strategy for the next two tion of the failed policies she championed over the course of her infamous Speakership. In fact, years: more of the same failure. Apparently these tone-deaf Democrats Pelosi is only 1 percent more popular than fruit- don’t understand what the American people cake according to public opinion polls. Maybe wanted: real change, not more of the same liberal over the course of the next two years the fruit- agenda. But it appears that the Obama-Pelosi- cake can rebuild its image and overtake the em- Reid machine will remain intact. Nancy Pelosi battled soon-to-be former Speaker in the ratings. will remain the Democrat leader in the House, To spoof on the embarrassingly unpopular Harry Reid will remain the Democrat leader in duo, Citizens United produced three 30 second the Senate, and President Obama will continue parody web ads that highlight the obvious: no- pushing his big-government, job-killing agenda body wants a fruitcake. as if nothing happened on November 2nd. De- In the first video, called “In the Dog- mocrats proceed at their own risk. house,” a dinner date goes horribly wrong when an unsuspecting young man attempts to gift the The Nancy Pelosi Fruitcake Nancy Pelosi fruitcake.

Nancy Pelosi’s decision to seek the posi- tion of minority leader in the 112th Congress was like giving the Democrats a Christmas fruitcake: it was politely accepted but nobody really wanted to have it around. When the Democrats went ahead and re-anointed Pelosi, it was the equiva- lent of re-gifting the fruitcake to the American

© Citizens United ~ 1006 Pennsylvania Ave SE ~ Washington D.C. 20003 Page 6 The second video is called “Recurring Night- Recipe for the Pelosi Fruitcake mare” and a woman is haunted by the repeated gift of a Nancy Pelosi fruitcake year after year.  1/2 pound of delusion  2 cups of liberalism  6 Obama policies  1 cup of Cap and Trade  4 tablespoons of Rangel ethics  1 tablespoon of pork barrel spending  1 1/2 cup of bourbon (AT LEAST)  3/4 pound of chopped nuts  1 pound of health care takeover  1 pound of amnesty  1/2 pound of backroom deals  1/4 pound of tax increases  1/8 teaspoon of positive approval rating  1 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg  5 cups of San Francisco Values  1 pound of debt  2 pounds of mixed fruit

 Whisk together delusion and liberalism; add failed Obama policies, then set aside.

 Sift tax cuts and all common sense ingredients out, then take the debt mixture and add the bourbon and gradually add the socialist agenda. In the final video, “Nervous Breakdown,” a flat tire turns into a mental breakdown when the  Make sure this is mixed well before adding Nancy Pelosi fruitcake pops up in an unexpected the nuts, cap and trade, health care takeover, place. bailouts, and mixed fruit.

 Bake at over 13,000,000,000,000ºF in a pre- heated oven until bankrupt.

 When finished, wrap foil pan with lies and ex- cuses and let stand in unemployment line until ready to eat.

Log on to www.PelosiFruitcake.com to see all of our fruitcake videos and to get more information!

Citizens United is proud to announce that we have three new films now available to order online or by phone. These are wonderful, informative films hosted by the likes of Dick Morris, Rep. Michele Bachmann, as well as Newt and Callista Gingrich. Call (202) 547-5420 today to get your copy or for special bulk order prices!

America at Risk Hosted by Newt and Callista Gingrich, this film vividly demonstrates the dangers facing America, nine years after the attacks on 9/11. Today, Washington refuses to tell the truth about the war we are fight- ing. According to experts, we are at war with Radical Islamists -- and it is a war we are losing. Shot in high definition, America at Risk, features terrorism, national security, and Middle East experts, including Ber- nard Lewis, former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Debra Burlingame, Walid Phares, An- drew McCarthy, former UN Ambassador John Bolton, former CIA Director R. James Woolsey, Tony Blankley, Steven Emerson, Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, Michael Leeden, Frank Gaffney, Michael Scheuer, Reihan Salam, and others. Every citizen who is concerned about our nation’s safety and security should see this compelling and powerful documentary.

Fire from the Heartland Congresswoman Bachmann (MN-6) and other powerful, conservative women share their personal stories and their ideas about the root causes of our crisis; how our country got into its current economic predica- ment; what impact the crisis will have on Americans today and future generations; and what steps our country must take in order to solve its daunting problems. Featuring commentary from Ann Coulter, ac- tress Janine Turner, and others involved in the Tea Party protests, this film is certain to shed a new light on our nation’s most pressing issues.

Battle for America Battle for America: with Dick Morris is a no-holds barred look at the “Imperial Congress” and what it has to done to the United States. This film is a call-to-action to bring America back to the great nation it once was by restoring government into the hands of responsible legislators. Battle for America will explore the de- cline of America during sixty years of Democrat rule from 1932-1994 and remind viewers how government needs to have limits in order to function effectively. The film will further detail how “The Contract with America” and the “Gingrich Revolution” took the nation by storm and led to one of the most profound changes in the American political landscape.

Please visit www.citizensunited.org for the latest updates and to view the rest of our film library!

Check out the websites for our latest releases available for purchase:

www.AmericaAtRisk.com www.BattleForAmerica.com www.FireFromTheHeartland.com

© Citizens United ~ 1006 Pennsylvania Ave SE ~ Washington D.C. 20003 Page 8 FINAL THOUGHT FROM Our Supreme Court CITIZENS UNITED PRESIDENT case also made President DAVID N. BOSSIE Obama furious. He attacked the decision at the State of Dear Friend, the Union, and slandered the What a year 2010 has been for Citizens Supreme Court Justices who United! We made big gains in the pursuit of lib- voted in the majority. He erty in just twelve short months. Beginning back continually brought it up on in January with our victory at the United States the stump and in his weekly Supreme Court, we reclaimed one of the most radio addresses. While our fundamental principles in the Constitution, our economy slumped and unemployment remained right to free speech. near ten percent, President Obama’s focus was on legislation like the DISCLOSE Act. The DIS- Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul CLOSE Act never passed Congress and was Stevens recently said on 60 Minutes that the Su- viewed by many as an incumbent protection piece preme Court is damaged because of its ruling in of legislation that chilled free speech. The result Citizens United v. FEC. Stevens alleges that the of these legislative missteps was an historic elec- majority opinion in Citizens United will tion loss for the President and Democrats in Con- “undermine the integrity of elected institutions gress. across the Nation.” I find it hard to believe that the Supreme Court’s defense of the First Amend- Our film Hillary: The Movie prompted our ment will somehow undermine electoral democ- Supreme Court case and Citizens United Produc- racy. tions continued to turn out five impactful docu- mentaries in 2010. Generation Zero, Nine Days One premise of Justice Stevens’ argument That Changed the World, America at Risk, Fire is that as a result of Citizens United, one side may from the Heartland, and Battle for America were have greater “resources than the other.” Implied all released this year to great reviews. Battle for in this statement is that corporate and conserva- America was even named “Film of the Year” by tive interests will dominate the airwaves and have Fox Nation. Coming in 2011, we will be doing a an unfair advantage. Stevens misunderstands the number of new projects…so stay tuned. First Amendment if he believes that it exists to balance the resources of speakers. I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. American soldiers are In addition to being based on a false prem- deployed around the world to protect the free- ise, Stevens’ statement is fundamentally untrue. doms you and I hold so dear. Please remember On Election Day, Republicans won 63 seats in the these patriots during this holiday season. Without House and gained 6 seats in the Senate; but three these protectors of liberty we could not celebrate of the top five biggest spenders in the 2010 elec- this most joyous of seasons. God Bless! tions were unions according to the Wall Street Journal and these unions spent overwhelmingly in favor of Democrats. When you look at the facts, Sincerely, Justice Stevens’ argument just does not pass mus- David N. Bossie ter.