A political ploy? Most likely. The House committee voted along party lines.

But you could look at it the other way around. The Democrats voted to protect the administration’s image.

Holder claims that surrendering some of the documents would jeopardize criminal investigations and the confidentiality of the department’s decision-making process.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/opinion/a-pointless-partisan-fight.html

After the botched “fast and furious” operation, shouldn’t someone examine that “decision making process”?

First the executive order changing immigration policy and now invoking executive privilege. Is this just more ramrodding or is Obama just flexing his muscles.