"'The president has been consistent in his views on this issue and been consistent on what was lacking in order to ensure justice, in order to ensure protection, and most of all to ensure that this process goes forward with and doesn't see repeated legal stalls in going through the court system,' press secretary Robert Gibbs said in his daily briefing."
Obama realizes that he is alienating voters who supported him as the article continues:
"The administration moved quickly to soothe some of its critics on the left. White House counsel Gregory B. Craig led a conference call yesterday afternoon with human rights groups to explain Obama's reasoning. But most participants said they left the conversation unconvinced.
"'I did not hear him make the case why commissions are necessary,' said Elisa Massimino, the executive director of Human Rights First. 'They seemed fixated on making the case that this is not inconsistent for Obama. But I heard nothing on why this is part of a smart counterterrorism strategy.'"
Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, said that "by resurrecting this failed Bush administration idea, President Obama is backtracking dangerously on his reform agenda."
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