And the right wing blogs are howling in unison like frustrated banshees, of course: Obama Asserts Executive Privilege on Fast and Furious Documents.

Washington (CNN) — An extraordinary House committee hearing began considering a contempt measure against Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday even though President Barack Obama asserted executive privilege over documents sought by the panel investigating the botched Fast and Furious gun-running sting.

Committee chairman Rep. Darrell Issa, R-California, said the White House assertion of executive privilege “falls short” of any reason to delay the hearing.

However, the committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, accused Issa of setting an “impossible standard” for Holder by demanding documents the attorney general is legally prohibited from providing.

Issa has “no interest in resolving” the dispute with Holder, Cummings said.

so the Executive Privilege tally currently stands at Obama 1, Reagan 20+. #noted.

— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) June 20, 2012