Obama discovers the separation of powers

Barack Obama has never shown much of an appreciation for the separation of powers. At an event in Argentina, in March, the president said he found it "very frustrating ... that power is distributed across a lot of different institutions."

But suddenly he's invoking the separation of powers to stop his national security aide from testifying to a congressional panel.

The New York Times magazine recently revealed that White House adviser Ben Rhodes bragged about creating an "echo chamber" among news media to confirm the administration's bogus narrative in support of the Iran nuclear deal.

It contained many lies about what the deal contained and how it was negotiated. By manipulating journalists, the administration misled the public. It was deliberate, calculated and of course dangerous dishonesty.

As we've noted, this episode is an indictment of the media, which Obama has played like a well-tuned Stradivarius since before he became president. Reporters, pathetically grateful for access to high-ranking White House officials, and susceptible to flattery (Rhodes offered both in abundance) willingly parroted the administration's talking points.