Around the world, various groups reacted differently to the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States.  While well-received in Europe, for the regimes most critical of the Bush administration, promises of hope and change weren’t enough. However, in recent days, the much-warranted celebraton of President Obama’s inauguration has worn off, and the governing has begun.

In his first few days of governing, the new president has drawn the ire of domestic critics. Almost immediately after outlining new ethics rules for executive branch employees, President Obama has made a key appointment for whom those rules will not be applicable. The next Deputy Secretary of Defense, if President Obama has his way, could be one William Lynn, an official at a defense contractor who, as late as last summer, was a registered lobbyist, and whose job it was to procure government contracts, something with which he will be dealing in his new post. Sadly, the notoriously wasteful spending practices at the Department of Defense will likely continue under a president who knows better. When asked about this inconsistency at an impromptu appearance in the White House press room, the President dodged the question, and criticized the reporter for asking it. The President was quoted in the Politico as saying:

“Ahh, see, I came down here to visit. See this is what happens. I can’t end up visiting with you guys and shaking hands if I’m going to get grilled every time I come down here.”

The emphasis on this quote is added for the intents of this post. The President of the United States should not expect to avoid legitimate questions when he is present in the press briefing room of the White House, particularly if President Obama desires to run as transparent of an administration as claimed.

With the Geithner scandal, and the inconsistent ethics pledges, there is much about which to find disappointment in the new administration. Perhaps, on this point, critics abroad of American policy have it right. If Obama will not do better, then Republicans must.

Last 5 posts by James Kane

• A November to Remember - November 8th, 2010
• On hope and fear - October 18th, 2010
• Expecting Different Results - September 12th, 2010
• A glaring omission on Iraq - August 31st, 2010
• Employing a losing strategy - August 7th, 2010