State Department: Someone snooped in Obama's passport file

[lily]

Dirty tricks (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/20/obama.passport/index.html?eref=rss_topstories)

State Department: Someone snooped in Obama's passport file


(CNN) -- On three occasions since January, Sen. Barack Obama's passport file
was looked at by three different contract workers, said State Department
spokesman Sean McCormack.


Sen. Barack Obama's passport file was breached three times since January,
the State Department said.


The contractors accessed information in the file in an unauthorized way, he
said.

Two contractors were fired and one was disciplined by the contractor's
company, McCormack said.

He said the contractors are not linked.

The State Department hires contractors to design, build and maintain their
systems and help employees with searches. McCormack said two of the
contractors in the Obama case were "low-level" personnel and the other was
in a mid-level position with no management role.

The breach seems like "imprudent curiosity" among the contract workers, said
McCormack, adding that senior management at the State Department was not
aware of the incidents until Thursday afternoon. Breaches occurred January
9, February 21 and March 14.

Obama's campaign is asking for a complete investigation to find out who
looked at Obama's passport file and why.

"This is an outrageous breach of security and privacy, even from an
administration that has shown little regard for either over the last eight
years," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton in a statement.

"Our government's duty is to protect the private information of the American
people, not use it for political purposes."

Doug Hattaway, a spokesman for Sen. Hillary Clinton, Obama's rival for the
Democratic presidential nomination, said, "If it's true, it's reprehensible,
and the Bush administration has a responsibility to get to the bottom of
it."

The White House declined comment Thursday evening, just hours after the
State Department upper management learned of the breach.

State Department officials say Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was told
Thursday what happened and that she told her staff she wanted a full
investigation.

The department would not speculate whether the information had been shared
with anyone else.

"That obviously is something we are investigating," said Under Secretary of
State Pat Kennedy. "I have no reason to believe they did, but I certainly am
not going to be dismissive of what is a serious and valid question."

Kennedy said he will brief Obama's senior staff on Friday.

The news was reminiscent of a breach of Bill Clinton's passport information
during the 1992 presidential campaign. The FBI launched an investigation
after the State Department reported that someone had ripped out pages from
his passport file from the late 1960s and '70s.

The department concluded that a search of Clinton's passport records was an
attempt to influence the presidential election, reportedly by trying to show
that Clinton tried to seek citizenship in another country to avoid the
draft. Clinton was running against President George H.W. Bush.

Then-State Department Inspector General Sherman Funk found no evidence the
White House ordered department staffers to dig for political dirt in
Clinton's passport files. However, Funk said the White House probably knew
it was happening.

Sen. Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
issued a statement late Thursday.

"I am deeply troubled that State Department contract employees sought access
to Sen. Barack Obama's passport files. Firing or disciplining those
responsible is an important first step. But we need to understand why these
employees had access to this information in the first place, why they sought
the information, and why it took over two months for this matter to come to
light. I urge the Secretary of State to promptly refer this matter to the
State Department Inspector General for investigation."

[Pookie]

Hmmm. I know I have nothing to hide with my passport, and I probably wouldn't care if anyone snooped, but what makes him so different?
Just wondering.
Purrs,
Pookie

[Go Fish]

Man, they won't let Hillary do ANYTHING!

[lily]

Well, for one, it was a breach of secuirty, unauthorized and not to mention an invasion of his privacy........but here, the article said it better than I could

"Our government's duty is to protect the private information of the American
people, not use it for political purposes."

[suedanim]

Having anything to hide is not the goddamn point.

The three people who did it broke the law. They went fishing for someone hoping to find something, anything to smear Obama with. This story is just beginning. I won't be surprised to find theres a lot more to it than just 3 people who had access who simply were curious.

:grrrr:

[Troubadour]

Hmmm. I know I have nothing to hide with my passport


Surely an embarrassing admission. :ponder:


and I probably wouldn't care if anyone snooped


Yes, what harm could it do? Unless identity theft was involved, or an ex had hired a PI to dig up dirt, or some federal employee was selling your information to telemarketers, or someone with a grudge was stalking you, or you're a popular presidential candidate stepping on all the "wrong" toes...


but what makes him so different?


He knows what freedom is.

[suedanim]

Clinton connected to scandal... ???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lM1LhD7-Qw

[suedanim]

This does not look good...

Maura Harty: State Department Official In Charge During Two Of The Breaches An Ambassador Under Clinton (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/21/maura-harty-state-depart_n_92693.html)

Huffington Post | March 21, 2008 01:19 AM

After the news broke Thursday that two employees of the State Department had been fired and a third disciplined for accessing passport records of Sen. Barack Obama, MSNBC noted a Clinton connection to the story. The network MSNBC reported that the State Department official, Maura Harty, in charge of the Bureau Of Consular Affairs during the first two breaches of Obama's passport had served as an ambassador under Bill Clinton.

"Harty was a consular affairs chief until the end of last month when she retired from foreign service work. Before her stint as the assistant secretary of state of consular affairs, Hardy was an ambassador to Paraguay under President Bill Clinton," MSNBC reported.

Harty served as Clinton's ambassador to Paraguay from 1997-1999.

Ms. Harty began serving as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs in November 2002.

[ViolaLee]

I think there will be an investigation into this one. The first security breach was in January and then another one later and the third one just last week on March 14. Finally the Obama campaign was told about it today. Why did they wait so long to inform them that there was a security breach? Obama has secret service protection. Why were unauthorized people looking at his private passport records?

Maura Harty, Clinton's ambassador was one of the people, who were the other two? Were they connected to eachother?

So many unanswered questions.

[preservanation]

I think there will be an investigation into this one. The first security breach was in January and then another one later and the third one just last week on March 14. Finally the Obama campaign was told about it today. Why did they wait so long to inform them that there was a security breach? Obama has secret service protection. Why were unauthorized people looking at his private passport records?

Maura Harty, Clinton's ambassador was one of the people, who were the other two? Were they connected to eachother?

So many unanswered questions.
Don't fall for the rumor that this was a Clinton thing.
It was Bush, just continuing his illegal spying on Americans from his basement.

[PostmodernProphet]

The news was reminiscent of a breach of Bill Clinton's passport information
during the 1992 presidential campaign. The FBI launched an investigation
after the State Department reported that someone had ripped out pages from
his passport file from the late 1960s and '70s.

hmmmm......pages ripped out of government files?......I wonder if Berger was in the building that day......

[preservanation]

The news was reminiscent of a breach of Bill Clinton's passport information
during the 1992 presidential campaign. The FBI launched an investigation
after the State Department reported that someone had ripped out pages from
his passport file from the late 1960s and '70s.

hmmmm......pages ripped out of government files?......I wonder if Berger was in the building that day......
Actually, they probably were paid Clinton operatives.
Who else would this help?
If his passport records weren't flagged by the State Dept, a flood of "anonymous source" reports would have flooded the media.

[Trish]

Maura Harty, Clinton's ambassador was one of the people, who were the other two? Were they connected to eachother?

So many unanswered questions.


No, she wasn't. According to the Huffington Post article, Harty was "in charge of the Bureau of Consular Affairs" during 2 of the breaches and not still "Clinton's ambassador." Nowhere is she accused of being one of the 3 individuals that accessed the files or even knew any of the people who did!

Is it too much to even ask that we wait until a person falls under suspiscion of something underhanded before we start spreading rumors much less inventing those rumors?

[PostmodernProphet]

Is it too much to even ask that we wait until a person falls under suspiscion of something underhanded before we start spreading rumors much less inventing those rumors?


yes....next question!........

[Elrathin]

Who else would this help?


McCain, he had his people snoop for later if Obama get the nomination. How's that one?

[brien]

hmmmm......pages ripped out of government files?......I wonder if Berger was in the building that day......

:madlaugh: Using those same old socks and oversized underwear.:lmao:

[AlanC]

Has anyone ever applied for a passport? There is precious little information on that application and in Obama's case, it is already well known.

What exactly is it that you all seem to think would be in that file that would make it worth it for any campaign to attempt to access the information?

Unless someone has lied about their age or their place of birth, there is nothing in that file that can be embarrassing or of value in going after a political candidate.

If one was an identity thief, there is valuable information in those files. But if an identity thief is smart enough to access those files, they are smart enough to take the information from one of the other millions of people in there who don't have Secret Service protection and the FBI at their disposal to hunt you down.

[AnnEsthesia]

So someone's private information is violated and it is "no big deal?" If this happened to John McCain, I am sure ya'll would be screaming foul.

[AlanC]

Apparently it did happen to McCain. I wasn't saying it isn't a big deal.

I'm saying that it is highly unlikely that there is a political motivation or a political campaign behind this. I don't think Hillary, the DNC, the RNC, McCain, or any of their operatives or stratigists were behind this.

[suedanim]

Word now is that all three leading candidates files were breached.

Interesting. Obama's breached after each major victory and at the time the Wright story broke. Timing very suspicious.

Passport files of candidates breached (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23736254/)
Records of Clinton, McCain, Obama inappropriately accessed, officials say

Aside from the file, the information could allow critics to dig deeper into the candidates’ private lives. While the file includes date and place of birth, address at time of application and the countries the person has traveled to, the most important detail would be their Social Security number, which can be used to pull credit reports and other personal information.

[suedanim]

So someone's private information is violated and it is "no big deal?" If this happened to John McCain, I am sure ya'll would be screaming foul.


They would be screaming foul if it had only happened to McCain. NO doubt! They get their panties in a wad and rant for days and days over every word Obama utters.

And therein lies the interesting part of this. First, Obamas' story breaks, with each breach after a big win and the Wright story....

Now...we are told .. ho hum, it was all three, just curiosity folks, nothing to see here, move on. Bullshit. There is a distinct pattern to the breaches done to Obama... and more to the story than we know at this point.

[PostmodernProphet]

Has anyone ever applied for a passport? There is precious little information on that application and in Obama's case, it is already well known.

though there would be information on where one has been since the application....and in Bill Clinton's case that would have included some interesting trips to the Soviet Union in his *cough* formative years.....

[4Reaganomics]

ATTENTION to the members of this forum

John McCain and HRC did have their information accessed. Clinton News Network might not cover this type of thing because they have annointed Obama, but here you go.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a.sAG1LCpnuo&refer=home


Some people just don't do their homework

huh sue

you just say it is BS that all three are accessed because they caught Obama's breach first????

[nevadamedic]

Hmmm. I know I have nothing to hide with my passport, and I probably wouldn't care if anyone snooped, but what makes him so different?
Just wondering.
Purrs,
Pookie


Because he feels he is better then everyone else.

Also I love how Barack Hussein Obama and Hillary Clinton are blaming this on President Bush, which he has no control over any of this. This is just like the nosey employees at the Hospital Britney Speakrs was at who were accessing her private records. No difference. Also Senator John McCain's was looked at too and you don't see him raising a fuss like this. Barack Hussein Obama and Hillary Clinton are just trying to get attention and play the victim to gain support.

[brien]

Anyone who thinks the government doesn't illegally pry into the background and privacy of it citizens, and generally snoops on anyone it wants to, is naive. We should never accept this activity no matter whether it happens to a sitting Senator or Joe Blow down the block. Herbert Hoover was famous for this type of activity. The queen had the goods on most everyone who was anyone around the US, and Frank Costello had the goods on him, when it came to gambling and fixing horse races. Government as usual.

[4Reaganomics]

I don't get how this is a conspiracy againt Obama. They found his breach first

[nevadamedic]

So someone's private information is violated and it is "no big deal?" If this happened to John McCain, I am sure ya'll would be screaming foul.


They would be screaming foul if it had only happened to McCain. NO doubt! They get their panties in a wad and rant for days and days over every word Obama utters.

And therein lies the interesting part of this. First, Obamas' story breaks, with each breach after a big win and the Wright story....

Now...we are told .. ho hum, it was all three, just curiosity folks, nothing to see here, move on. Bullshit. There is a distinct pattern to the breaches done to Obama... and more to the story than we know at this point.


Ummmm, all three did get accessed and im not screaming foul. It is people just being nosey. If there was a real threat to this the Secret Service would be all over this since all three candidates are under their protection. I think it is inapropriate and I think certain people's passports should be restricted so only certain people can access their information, or maybe put limited information on their passport files and classify the rest.

[suedanim]

Word now is that all three leading candidates files were breached.

Interesting. Obama's breached after each major victory and at the time the Wright story broke. Timing very suspicious.

Passport files of candidates breached (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23736254/)
Records of Clinton, McCain, Obama inappropriately accessed, officials say

Aside from the file, the information could allow critics to dig deeper into the candidates’ private lives. While the file includes date and place of birth, address at time of application and the countries the person has traveled to, the most important detail would be their Social Security number, which can be used to pull credit reports and other personal information.


huh 4reagan?

Hey I was already on it! Where were you a page back? :madlaugh:

you just say it is BS that all three are accessed because they caught Obama's breach first????

No... I say its bullshit that we should accept an explanation that Obama's breach was simply curiosity, when the invasion of his privacy occurred after three significant events.

And ... I am saying we do not have the full story and the breeches of all three should be investigated.

The breeches that occurred to Obama since Jan. 2008 were not even reported up the chain of command... until what... yesterday or the day before, at which time, all three personel were disciplined. Its as if once revealed an attempt was made to remedy the situation quickly.

[PostmodernProphet]

I certainly agree it wasn't simple curiosity....I expect they were all hoping to find something they could sell to the news for a pot of gold......

[nevadamedic]

I certainly agree it wasn't simple curiosity....I expect they were all hoping to find something they could sell to the news for a pot of gold......


Very doubtful.

[lily]

Word now is that all three leading candidates files were breached.

Interesting. Obama's breached after each major victory and at the time the Wright story broke. Timing very suspicious.

Passport files of candidates breached (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23736254/)
Records of Clinton, McCain, Obama inappropriately accessed, officials say

Aside from the file, the information could allow critics to dig deeper into the candidates’ private lives. While the file includes date and place of birth, address at time of application and the countries the person has traveled to, the most important detail would be their Social Security number, which can be used to pull credit reports and other personal information.


The first thing that came to mind when I heard all 3 were accessed, was what was the date of the McCain access and did it coencide with the rumor that he was born in Panama and not an American citizen.

[lily]

Ummmm, all three did get accessed and im not screaming foul. It is people just being nosey.

People being nosey and people invading your privicy ware two different things........I also believe one may be against the law.

If there was a real threat to this the Secret Service would be all over this since all three candidates are under their protection.

??? How would their secret service even know about this???

[apdst]

What information is on a passport that isn't already public information, anyway?

Personally, I think this is a trick by Obama to distract from the Wright contraversy. Obama arranged this as a just in case measure. Obviously, when the Wright Affair didn't go away with a few racism accusations, it was time to drag this out of the bag of tricks.

I think that some people put too much stock in what is private and what ain't so private, anyways.

[lily]

What information is on a passport that isn't already public information, anyway?

Personally, I think this is a trick by Obama to distract from the Wright contraversy. Obama arranged this as a just in case measure. Obviously, when the Wright Affair didn't go away with a few racism accusations, it was time to drag this out of the bag of tricks.

I think that some people put too much stock in what is private and what ain't so private, anyways.


You know.......if he's this good and can get access to Clinton's back in 2007 and we don't know when McCains was.......then I want him for president! I like magic tricks.

[nevadamedic]

Word now is that all three leading candidates files were breached.

Interesting. Obama's breached after each major victory and at the time the Wright story broke. Timing very suspicious.

Passport files of candidates breached (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23736254/)
Records of Clinton, McCain, Obama inappropriately accessed, officials say

Aside from the file, the information could allow critics to dig deeper into the candidates’ private lives. While the file includes date and place of birth, address at time of application and the countries the person has traveled to, the most important detail would be their Social Security number, which can be used to pull credit reports and other personal information.


The first thing that came to mind when I heard all 3 were accessed, was what was the date of the McCain access and did it coencide with the rumor that he was born in Panama and not an American citizen.


Ummm, he is an American citizen. He was born on a Military Base which is considered American Soil and by parents who were American Citizens. Also his father was in the military stationed overseas. Also his campaign checked the laws before he ran in this election and in 2001.

[nevadamedic]

Ummmm, all three did get accessed and im not screaming foul. It is people just being nosey.

People being nosey and people invading your privicy ware two different things........I also believe one may be against the law.

If there was a real threat to this the Secret Service would be all over this since all three candidates are under their protection.

??? How would their secret service even know about this???


It maybe against the law, but this isn't that big of a deal unless it is proved that a rival candidate was behind it and for political gain.

The Secret Service would know the same way we know, then should investigate it since all three candidates are under their protection and have full details.

[suedanim]

What information is on a passport that isn't already public information, anyway?

Personally, I think this is a trick by Obama to distract from the Wright contraversy. Obama arranged this as a just in case measure. Obviously, when the Wright Affair didn't go away with a few racism accusations, it was time to drag this out of the bag of tricks.

I think that some people put too much stock in what is private and what ain't so private, anyways.



:madlaugh:

Ok... first.. This is the file of a US Senator, not your average joe blow. There could be national security issues that a political opponent could us to their advantage I suppose. Certainly, personal data accessed could enable them to access even more personal records. In addition, ones file could potentially be tampered with, altered. JMO! I could be wrong, but I imagine there are people here who would know about that more than I.

Second... you're trippin'!!! :madlaugh: Obama did it!!?? A diversionary tactic....?? Well, you righties sure know a lot about that, eh?

Do you REALLY think Obama told 3 different people to infiltrate and prepare to access his files as a means to divert attention away from the Wright story back in Jan. or much earlier??

I do agree with you that someone has a "bag of tricks"... but its not Obama.

[nevadamedic]

What information is on a passport that isn't already public information, anyway?

Personally, I think this is a trick by Obama to distract from the Wright contraversy. Obama arranged this as a just in case measure. Obviously, when the Wright Affair didn't go away with a few racism accusations, it was time to drag this out of the bag of tricks.

I think that some people put too much stock in what is private and what ain't so private, anyways.


I totally agree. Barack Hussein Obama was starting to slip in the polls big time and was going down like the Titanic and was getting desperate.

[suedanim]

What information is on a passport that isn't already public information, anyway?

Personally, I think this is a trick by Obama to distract from the Wright contraversy. Obama arranged this as a just in case measure. Obviously, when the Wright Affair didn't go away with a few racism accusations, it was time to drag this out of the bag of tricks.

I think that some people put too much stock in what is private and what ain't so private, anyways.


I totally agree. Barack Hussein Obama was starting to slip in the polls big time and was going down like the Titanic and was getting desperate.


I refuse to believe you two seriously believe that. :unreal:

That clever Obama... Get the hell outta town! He actually could foresee the future and planted 3 operatives in the State Dept. to access his file immediately after two big wins, which he also knew he would win.... and then once again right after the Wright story blasted across the media. He knew the media would do this too, so he carefully planned to have a third operative.... in place to access his file... one more time.

[lily]

Ummm, he is an American citizen. He was born on a Military Base which is considered American Soil and by parents who were American Citizens. Also his father was in the military stationed overseas. Also his campaign checked the laws before he ran in this election and in 2001.


Yes, nevada.......I know that.......that would be the reason that I said the rumor started. I don't have a passport, but I believe that your place of birth would be required, as it is on most documents. Since they so far haven't given the date when his was accessed, and I'd have to check back and see if it was around the same time as the rumor started,
I can't say for sure............but it was the first thing I thought of.

[lily]

It maybe against the law, but this isn't that big of a deal unless it is proved that a rival candidate was behind it and for political gain.
Maybe it was against the law? You know, I don't know if it's so mundane now that things like wire tapping are no big deal.....but your personal files are just that........personal.

The Secret Service would know the same way we know, then should investigate it since all three candidates are under their protection and have full details.

The secret services job is to protect leaders and candidate.......they don't have investigative skills or even access to investigae.