The decades long effort to open up secret government files on UFO's went viral this week when President Obama's outgoing political adviser (and soon to be Hillary Clinton campaign advisor )
John podesta revealed that his biggest regret was failing to desclassify the government evidence on extraterrestrial life.
If his tweet sounds like a snarky joke, it wasn't. The former White House chief of staff has
been pushing for greater transparency on evidence of UFOs for years.
“It is the one door they cannot keep closed indefinitely,” Stephen Basset, America's only registere UFO lobbyist
Unlike other big capitol hill lobbyist who have millions of dollars at their disposal to influence of Congress, basset is armed only with social media and an old-school fax machine in his efforts to open up the government's records on UFOs, His most recent campaign generated over a million Facebook posts and tweets urging the government to come forward with more evidence.
"There is an extraterrestrial presence engaging us," he said. "Its the biggest news story in history."
Back in 2013, Basset famously held a citizen hearing in Washington, DC in which former members og Congress and the U.S. military spoke to the likelihood of UFOs among us. He also successfully sparked an online petition that drew a formal response fron the whitehouse .
"The U.S. government has no evidence that any life exists outside our planet, or than an extraterrestrial presence has contacted or engaged any member of the human race," read the reponse from Phil Larson, a senior advisor to the White House of Science and Technology policy. "In addition, there is no credible information to suggest that any evidence is being hidden from the public's eye.
Needless to say, Busset and oither ufologist were not satisfied with the white house response and he thinks Podesta could do more to push transparency efforts.
To say Busset passionate about the issue is a major understatement. When RYOT interviewed him, he essentially held an impromptu 45 minute TED Talk on the politics of UFO conspiracy theories.
"What he has not done is acknowledge the Rockefeller Initiative, his role in that initiative and the role of his employer Sec. Hillary Clinton and other members of the Clinton administration including President Clinton," Basset said about Podesta.
So, what's the Rockefeller Initiative ? Back in the early 1990's, Rockefeller heir and acclaimed conservationist Laurance S. Rockefeller became actively involved in UFO declassification efforts. He financially supported the efforts of UFO researchers and supposedly wanted to present President Clinton with a portfolio evidence that would convince the president to lift the veil on UFO landmarks like the Roswel Incident .
When Rockefeller met with Bill and Hillary in 1995 at his JY Ranch, Basset and other conspiracy theorists belive he pushed the first couple to support transparency issues, including offering amnesty to any government employees who came forward to testify on UFOs. However, the White House has denied that such an exchange ever took place. Three years later, Rockefeller Initiative quitely drifted away, only popping up today bon fringe UFO sites where it has become something of legendary document.
But there's no denying Clinton was interested in the issue, reportedly asking Associate Attorney General Webster Hubbel to research UFO's shortly after taking office.And along with podesta, his administration was sprinkled with other disclosure proponents such as former Energy Secretary New Bill Ricahrdson .
Clinton himself had basically been silent on the issue until an April 2014 appearance on Jimmy kimmel when he was famously asked if he ever looked into the UFO issue.
"Sort of," Clinton said. "First I had people go look at the records on Area 51 to make sure there was no alien down there." Kimmel then asked Clinton if he'd tell the public about aliens if they existed. "Yeah. i would." he said, later adding, "If we were visited someday. I wouldn't be surprised."
