Obama campaigned on closing Guantanamo[1], restoring habeas corpus for "enemy combatants"[2], abolishing military commissions for detainees[3], etc.
Moreover, as an Illinois state Senator, one of Obama's signature accomplishments was a reform in how prisoners were interrogated.[4]
Obama made less specific pledges about reducing the state secrets privileges. You can check out how surprised some judges were when, one month into his presidency, the Obama administration continued the Bush-era position that extraordinary rendition was too sensitive to even discuss in court.[5]
We can argue about how much his promises mattered to his getting elected. And I agree that his rhetoric interpreted wishfully by his supporters. But even with all that, there's no question there's been a real about-face once he took office.
Moreover, as an Illinois state Senator, one of Obama's signature accomplishments was a reform in how prisoners were interrogated.[4]
Obama made less specific pledges about reducing the state secrets privileges. You can check out how surprised some judges were when, one month into his presidency, the Obama administration continued the Bush-era position that extraordinary rendition was too sensitive to even discuss in court.[5]
We can argue about how much his promises mattered to his getting elected. And I agree that his rhetoric interpreted wishfully by his supporters. But even with all that, there's no question there's been a real about-face once he took office.
[1] http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/pr...
[2] http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/pr...
[3] http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/pr...
[4] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01...
[5] http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/us/10torture.html?_r=2&...;