Most transparent campaign evah confiscates cell phones, gets Media Matters stamp of approval

Jenn Taylor | 7:21 AM on May 15, 2012

https://twitter.com/#!/DeliciousJoe/status/202197627905912832

Pool reporter David Nakamura of the Washington Post reported that at a $35,800 a head fundraiser at the home of Blackstone COO Hamilton “Tony” James in New York City Monday night, the 60 attendees were asked to place their phones in plastic bags by the door.

An Obama aide called the move it “standard operating procedure,” but veterans of a range of other campaigns said they’d never heard of the practice, which is common in secure White House spaces where there are concerns of espionage, but unknown in contexts in which only political secrets are discussed.

Yes, the campaign dedicated to ensuring four more years of the most transparent administration in history is confiscating cell phones from donors. Can’t let video of another “bitter clingers” moment hit Twitter before there’s time to orchestrate the spin, huh?

https://twitter.com/#!/jaycaruso/status/202205104902909954

And since we mentioned “spin,” here’s some from Media Matters flunky Oliver Willis:

https://twitter.com/#!/owillis/status/202199439551631360

But, but, Mitt does it too, right?

https://twitter.com/#!/owillis/status/202205365071392769

Yeah, not so much:

https://twitter.com/#!/ZekeJMiller/status/202203733508108289

Still, Willis is sure he’ll be proven right eventually:

https://twitter.com/#!/owillis/status/202206020976640002

Clearly the Obama campaign realizes The One has no room for error this time around.

And really, don’t his donors get what they want? Obama will have more flexibility to whisper the sweet nothings they want to hear after they deposit their cell phones at the door.