President Obama promised the most transparent administration in U.S. presidential history.

Why not, then, show us those pictures of that ill-advised fly-over in New York City?

Most of us know the story: The Boeing 747 used as Air Force One flew low over NYC for some picture-taking. The White House, the Pentagon or someone wanted to take pictures of the airplane flying over the city’s impressive skyline. In this post 9/11 world, of course, the event stirred up intense anxiety in New York.

The president said he was angry about it.

But now we learn that the fly-over cost about 300 grand — of public money. But the White House says it won’t release the pictures taken during the ridiculous demonstration.

Why not? It’s our money. We deserve to see the pictures.

It is true that in the grand scheme of things, this isn’t all that big a deal. But the president has relied heavily on symbols, first during his winning campaign and in the first months of his administration.

His refusal to release the pictures is, well, symbolic of the same old secrecy that plagued his immediate predecessor’s presidency.