“Why is the Obama administration taking this position?”
Because his doing so tends to legitimize the effort as being “independent” and keeps it from appearing too partisan. This is all Soros’ doing...and Obama and Hillary are playing their parts.
It might just be a puppet show, in which those who are rapidly losing their grip on American politics are wreaking whatever mischief they still can, like a demon shaking its victim just before it is forced to yield to the pressure of God and exit.