President Obama’s stated desire for an “open debate and democratic process” about the U.S. government’s surveillance activities met with open disbelief by a prominent former congressional staffer — Jennifer Hoelzer, who recently left service as deputy chief of staff to Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) — after the President’s press conference on Friday.

“Really, Mr. President? Do you really expect me to believe that you give a damn about open debate and the democratic process?”