Dear John,
I am gravely concerned about the fate of Muntazer al-Zaidi, the courageous Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George W Bush. The current claim by the Iraqi government is that they are keeping him in protective custody... that they fear he wil be assassinated if he's released back into Iraqi society. I don't know if that's true - I would imagine he's the most popular man in Iraq... he's certainly one of the more popular men on facebook - he has 200,000 fans (admittedly only 1/20th the size of the largest Barach Obama group, but still impressive).
The Iraqi government has protected him from the rabble, breaking his arm and ribs in the process, but protecting free speech is a bit like making an omelette, isn't it? You have to break a few arms in the process.
His family is seeking asylum for him in Switzerland, but I have an alternative proposal. I propose that Team Obama hire him as the administration's press secretary! How perfect would that be? Who wasn't stirred by al-Zaidi refreshing candor when he had a chance to confront one of the biggest enemies of democracy and mankind?
There was no equivocation - "This is a farewell kiss, you dog," the Iraqi TV journalist shouted. "This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."
I could quibble about how unfair it is to dogs, but I still find the gesture beautiful, affirming, uplifting, vastly preferable to peaceful transitions, praise for war mongers, taking prosecution for criminal behavior off the table and so on.
It would be nice to have stirring words like this coming out of the White House press room instead of the bland fare we are getting now.
I hope you will carefully consider my idea.
Dear Matt,
Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States tomorrow, marking the beginning of a new era.
It also marks the end of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition, which you have helped make the most transparent, accessible, and effective in history.
Thousands of you hosted health care discussions in communities across the country, gathering and providing feedback that will guide the Obama-Biden Administration efforts to overhaul the current system. You've participated online like never before, sharing your stories, collaborating on fresh ideas, and asking important questions.
The Transition has also been the most open in history. Transition staff published meeting information and thousands of documents received from outside groups through our "Seat at the Table" program, and published the name of every one of our donors.
We couldn't have done it without your active participation -- and as President Barack Obama will need your help more than ever, join his new online community at the White House and stay involved:
http://change.gov/joinus
Your participation in this Transition has been truly inspiring -- thank you.
John
John Podesta
Co-chair
Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Project
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