All Three Candidates' Passport Files Breached

[BlueJessamine]

Source: AP

The passport files of the three presidential candidates - Sens. Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain - have been breached, the State Department said Friday.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the breaches of McCain and Clinton's passport files were not discovered until Friday, after officials were made aware of the privacy violation regarding Obama's records and a separate search was conducted.

It is unacceptable that it happened a first time to any candidate. For there to be three seperate breaches is outrageous.

The State department is investigating, while Bush's Justice Department monitors.

Hopefully Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi will show support to Rep. Henry Waxman's investigation.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBAMA_PASSPORT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[LulaMay]

1. KO should be fired. People here need to stop with the absurd Hillary hate.

[Divine Discontent]

5. I'll trust Andrea Mitchell, Howard Fineman, and Keith Olbermann's shocking disgust over this

over you, sorry. The fact that this happened to Obama 3 times in less than 2 months is what is ABSURD, LulaMay. His social security number was compromised, his travel history from the 60's forward, and his 4 decade old passport travels breached to 3 unknown individuals - so take off your support of Hillary hat for just a moment and think about how much of a breech of privacy this is.

[barb162]

20. His security, privacy is more important than HRC or McCain?

Is his SS number more important than Hillary's or McCain's somehow???

[mac56]

9. Whaaaat?!

How in hell does this post even possibly qualify as Hillary hate?

Really. Tell me. I'm waiting.

[barb162]

21. Tell me; Time to write to MSNBC and GE over Olbermann's sickass coverage

of the Clinton/Obama races. His favoritism and partisanship toward Obama over Clinton is just sick. At one time he was an objective commentator. No more.

[maryallen]

30. Olbermann's election coverage has been excellent and ...

I commend him for his ability to see through the superficiality of some of the candidates.
Wish I could say the same for some of the voters ...

[barb162]

51. I'd basically agree with you until the last few weeks.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

39. I can't understand the hate being directed at Olbermann.

...You guys believe him when he puts down a republican. You cheer and trust him when he nails FOX, but can't believe him when he puts down Hillary?


I think the guy's a smart man and I trust him.

[barb162]

50. Hate? Where do you get that?

I'm specifically mentioning his crass partisanship when there are two candidates in the Dem. race.

[Divine Discontent]

45. partisanship? he's calling it as he sees it barb162, that's why we like him

I was an Edwards supporter before he left, and I really don't care a ton for either of the two left, so I am extremely impartial. he is pointing out the horrible behavior of the B*sh administration, nightly, and then, when he makes an impassioned request at Hillary, the Hillaryites come out in mass anger. Well, tough, he's a partisan commentator - that's what he does - and that's why we love him. I cannot see anything wrong with what he has said about Hillary. He could be ripping her to shreds but he doesn't. I would have a hard time not doing it, after watching her claim McCain has a great wealth of experience he will bring to the White House! (FIVE TIMES IN ONE DAY) and then following that up by frowning, and saying Obama has a speech... she went way guttery with that, and lost a lot of respect.

[barb162]

49. Check how long he spent talking about Obama's passport yesterday

And look at how long he's talking about three candidates' passports today. It seems one person's passport is super important and the other two are of a bit of importance. He mentioned the dates the passports were peeked at for McCain and Clinton but not much more.

PS I was an Edwards supporter too.

[hifalutin]

29. I'm sick of it too it is

getting really tiresome.

[fascisthunter]

42. Clinton "Hate".... give us a break

:nopity:

[NMLobo]

43. Did you post to the wrong thread???

WTF does this have to do with Hillary Hate? Did you watch Keith's show? I did. He didn't say a thing about Hillary regarding this issue which he spent the whole hour on. :wtf:

[lligrd]

61. Hey, This Is America. You Are Free To Watch Faux News

to your hearts content but leave my viewing choices alone.

[indio55555]

2. Wrong.

The person accessed Clinton's passport as a training session for another employee back last summber and that has been documented and was cleared.

Seem's strange right? She throws her name in there.

[Divine Discontent]

3. sounds like the obvious get em all routine, so they can say it was just curious workers

Obama 4 decade old passport has lots of info, beyond the SS# and birthplace, and groups who want that info would pay someone to get into it. just saying. I think it is ridiculous that they didn't have a lock on the passport access of gov't officials or party candidates running for major office (congress, gov, president)

[bow-tie]

13. You're right

threw them all in there to deflect to attention on Obama, when in reality Obama was the only one really targeted.
As for the "Hate Hillary" stuff, I left this forum a year ago because I couldn't understand or take the Hillary hatred. However, since this campaign I'm beginning to understand it a little more. Go Obama!

[Donnachaidh]

17. ya know, one should really only WEAR the tinfoil hat on one's head.

:tinfoilhat:

Chewing on it is said to hurt like hell and messes with one's brain. Care to verify that? :sarcasm:

[Divine Discontent]

46. thank you, and I laughed at your further comments, ha.. I agree bow-tie! eom

[Quantess]

40. I think so too. (eom)

[enid602]

4. apology

I think the obamatons owe Hillary an apology.

[indio55555]

6. LOL

Wait for few more days then we'll see who owes who an apology.


Here's a hint: Laura Hardy

[enid602]

8. cult

Yes, everything's going just as you've planned it. For years you've sweated it out in mommy's basement, hoping that the right political candidate would come along to appeal to your , er intellect, and prove that all the others have been wrong all those years. Ah yes, everything's going just as planned. . .

[uberblonde]

12. We're going to need deprogrammers...

Lots of them.

It will be so hard for DUers when they find out Obama is a mere politician.

[Donnachaidh]

16. Ain't THAT the truth!

However - I plan to build up a popcorn concession for those of us who already KNOW what is going to happen. Then we can all sit and have a nosh while the Bamaheads start realizing just how badly they've been played, and he really doesn't walk on water. He's only in it for the nice neighborhood, the benefits, and the retirement plan - making speeches to the other masters of the Universe for 100K a pop.

:shrug:

[Divine Discontent]

7. not going to happen

The fact that this happened to Obama 3 times in less than 2 months is unacceptable. His social security number was compromised, and his 4 decade old passport travels were breached to 3 unknown individuals for who knows what purpose - so take off your support of Hillary hat for just a moment and think about how much of a breech of privacy this is. If these facts were applied to Hillary I'd be just as disgusted.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. Bullshit.

One of the clearest cases of "equalizing" bullshit that I've ever heard.

[uberblonde]

11. Yep, Hillary Clinton does it all.

She's a fundie religious robot ... who also steals passport records and kills anyone who gets in her way.
She tried to cut Obama's brake lines... but Obama sealed them back up with his heat vision!
She never sleeps, thinking of ways to destroy Barack Obama. Too bad she doesn't have any KRYPTONITE!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[rainy]

14. I think the justice dept. is trying to cover their asses here. They are saying

the other candidates were also compromised so that it wont seem so outrageous. I don't believe it for one second.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

19. I agree - you beat me to it.

As did others. Total BS ass-covering.

[LeftHander]

15. My guess is it is part of a National Security vetting of candidates...

Homeland Security don't you know.

[Deny and Shred]

18. Mukasey said: "I don't want to speculate but if somebody walked

... in here with a box full of evidence, they wouldn't be turned away."

He went on to add, "Unless that evidence implicated a Republican, in which case, of course, we would wait a week, report that we took a look, but found nothing to the charges."

[Javaman]

22. well, now that mclames passport as been peeked at, something will be done!!

:banghead:

[Chalco]

23. So sorry Obamatons!

I guess you'll have to turn your anger elsewhere!

Boo, Hoo, Boo, Hoo.

[Divine Discontent]

47. well aren't you the little negative one?

grow up Chalco! Obamatons? Boo Hoo? Would you please post your social security number, address, and all family names and info online at this time? If you have traveled overseas, please put that info in as well, and the dates, and why you went there.

[Chalco]

60. My point was that the Obamaton's blamed Hillary for his

passport file being breached until OMG it was discovered that hers had been breached as well and OBG McCain's also. Hmmm. My comment had nothing to do with social security numbers.

[FloridaJudy]

24. Who suggested it was Hillary?

When I heard about the breach, my mind immediately leaped to Bu$h and Company. It's the kind of crap they've been pulling for over seven years, and I expect they're digging like crazy to find dirt on any possible successor. It might give them a running start toward the nearest country without an extradition treaty.

"The State department is investigating, while Bush's Justice Department monitors". Oh gee, do you think they'll find the truth? :sarcasm:

[sudopod]

26. In other news

OJ Simpson is still hunting for the real killer. :p

[BlueJessamine]

27. No,

just stonewalling.

[Hugin]

25. "The State department is investigating, while Bush's Justice Department monitors."

:rofl:

THAT is the single funniest thing I've ever read on DU...EVAH!

:rofl:

[BlueJessamine]

28. Thanks Prag!

:rofl:

[Thepricebreaker]

31. Passport Security Breach on McCain, Clinton & Obama

Source: ABC

An embarrassed State Department admitted today that the passport files of all three presidential candidates -- Sens. John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton -- have been breached by its employees.

The bombshell announcement came within hours of the admission that Obama's personal file was improperly accessed several times earlier this year and no one was notified of the breach.

Read more: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4492773&page=1

---

Is this now just information up for the highest bidder??

[stray cat]

32. And its still a story and still offensive and the other candidates should be concerned.

[State the Obvious]

33. And when did the State Department inform Clinton and McCain?

And where is the Clinton and McCain outrage?

(I don't believe it.)

[global1]

34. Is My Tinfoil Hat Too Tight - But My Thought Is This ......

what better way is there to cover-up an intentional intrusion or invasion of privacy of a candidate for political purposes than to also say that the other candidates info was breached as well.

One needs to look back on the primary timeline and see on which candidate the information that could be garnered during such a breach - it was used on. My case in point - Barack Obama - and not ever visiting NATO countries or South America.

Am I being too suspicious here?

[DURHAM D]

35. I don't understand why this is such a big issue.

I have been traveling out of the U.S. for more than 40 years - including in the 70s and 80s to soviet block countries. I assume that my travel has been monitored all of that time and is looked at particularly closely whenever I renew my passport. I am surprised it is some sort of privacy violation for a State Department employee to look at my file. I could care less.

[stray cat]

36. I assume you also have no trouble with warrantless wire taps then?

since you are not guilty for anything

[DURHAM D]

37. Not related.

The state department has always monitored travel out of the U.S. - so what.

[Peace Patriot]

38. An "embarrassed" (Bushite) State Department??!!

:rofl:

[fascisthunter]

41. BULLSHIT! Time for Impeachment of Bush and Cheney

and time to clean out the Justice Department.

[BlueJessamine]

44. Too many unanswered questions

for the multiple breaches and what motivated the responsible parties.

This is the outcome of allowing government spying with no oversight.

We cannot trust the Bush Administration or it's employees who have the power to spy and collect data on the activities of its citizens.

It is a serious abuse and there needs to be an independent investigation.

[Peace Patriot]

48. The DynCorp connection...

Maura Harty - appointed to South American embassy post (Paraguay) by Clinton, 1997-1999.

"Plan Colombia" - Clinton plan to lard Colombia with billions of dollars in military aid. Chief beneficiary: DynCorp.

Contractor at issue in spying on Obama passports: DynCorp. Official now in charge of passports: Maura Harty.

-------

The lowdown on DynCorp in South America:

The premise of the policy (Plan Colombia/"war on drugs"), that revving up the Colombian military to fight the guerrillas who protect coca plantations will affect the street price of cocaine, has been thoroughly discredited. So we might ask: Who, besides the corrupt Colombian military, has benefited from the $5.5 billion appropriated for Plan Colombia since 2000? The No. 1 beneficiaries in dollars are the U.S. companies that produce Blackhawk gunships and run the program of chemical warfare in Colombia’s coca fields. These include the companies providing the U.S. government with “services” to aid the Drug War.

DynCorp Interntational has signed contracts with the State Department for about $150 million annually since 2000 for its operations in Colombia. It also also handles most of the operations at the Manta base (U.S. air base in Manta, Ecuador--recently used to bomb Ecuador*). The company’s corporate offices, like those of many of the growing band of mercenary outfits, are located in suburban Virginia, outside Washington. (The company’s headquarters are in Falls Church, which is adjacent to the Congressional district of Representative Frank Wolf, the ranking Republican on the House of Representatives Foreign Operations subcommittee that marks up the hundreds of millions of dollars in funds that Congress approves for DynCorp.) The company in turn has consistently given thousands of dollars to Wolf’s campaign. Such a blatant conflict of interest is another demonstration of Plan Colombia’s corrupt underlying dynamics, which should be cause for a fundamental re-casting of the policy.

http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/5042

---

*More on U.S. Manta air base/U.S. bombing of Ecuador
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3237617

Background on why:

The Struggle to Industrialize Venezuela
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2689

Venezuela: Not What You Think
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3027

Changing Income Distribution in Venezuela: Sorting Out Data and Bias
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2794

NYT's Tina Rosenberg Goes to School on Venezuela's Oil, and Flunks
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2808

The Bank of the South: An Alternative to IMF and World Bank Dominance
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2770

“Crisis in the Americas” – A Page Out of Washington’s Propaganda Playbook on Venezuela
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2771

Latin America's New Petro-Politics
October 31st 2007
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2791

Latin America’s Shock Resistance
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2822

“We’re Number 2!” And Other Stories You’ll Never Read About Venezuela
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2887

Keeping the Record Straight on Venezuela
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2980

Venezuela: Reality versus reporting
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/3008

The Big Oil Leak: The Secret Plan to Beat Hugo Chavez
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2862

"The Smart Way to Beat Tyrants Like Chávez," by Donald Rumsfeld, 12/1/07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/30/AR2007113001800.html

------------------------

In summary: Why would DynCorp want to help Hillary Clinton's campaign, and hurt Barack Obama? Cuz Hillary Clinton fully supports Plan Colombia (her husband's policy) and Bushite policy in South America (toppling democratic governments in the Andes and regaining global corporate predator control of the Andes oil fields). And Barack Obama might think twice about it, and perhaps bring some common sense to the table. I'm not saying he's great. I'm just saying that Hillary Clinton is a sure bet for DynCorp war profiteering, and Barack Obama isn't.

A caveat: God knows what is going on in our government and our political establishment. The obscurity of events and people, as brought to us by the corporate media delusion, is extreme. For all we know, Maura Harty could be a patsy--set up to take a fall, for some reason--to sully Hillary? It could be spying on Obama, and feeding info to the Clinton campaign. It could be something else. And the whole Clinton vs. Obama contest could be a set up to tear the Democratic Party to pieces--in a year in which we should sweep the elections, totally--designed by Karl Rove and Diebold et al (in the early primaries). It is SO HARD to know what is really going on. But one thing that helps is INFORMATION. Facts. Data. Hard evidence. The above DynCorp connection provides a motive for them to help Hillary Clinton. It helps concretize this controversy as to BIG MONEY, the root of all evil, the mother's milk of politics, and the HIDDEN HAND behind virtually everything we see in the foreground.

Needs further investigation--is all I'm saying--that a major beneficiary of Clinton's "Plan Colombia" is the contractor at issue in the Obama passport spying, with Maura Harty (in South America at the time that "Plan Colombia" was initiated, and now in the midst of this controversy), as possible connective tissue--or possible completely innocent party. Clinton may also be completely innocent--and herself the victim of this plot--but it don't look good. (Her detailed knowledge of Obama's travels--in her criticism of him--is a suspicious circumstance.)

[FreeStateDemocrat]

52. Passport Files of 3 Candidates Breached, Officials Say

Source: NY Times

By HELENE COOPER and MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM 26 minutes ago
The breaches involved electronic files that contained personal information about Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain. A State Department spokesman declined to say what was in those files, but he said they were likely to contain biographical information and passport applications.

Mr. Obama’s passport file was breached on three separate occasions earlier this year and as recently as last week, by three employees working for independent contractors who did not have authorization to access the information. The breaches occurred on Jan. 9, Feb. 21, and March 14, according to The Associated Press.

The State Department’s computer system had flagged each incident, but senior department officials were not informed until they looked into the matter, after receiving inquiries from a reporter on Thursday, a department spokesman said. “That information didn’t rise up to senior management levels,” the spokesman, Sean McCormack, said at a Friday news conference. “That should have happened.”




Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/us/politics/21cnd-passport.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

---

BO can now stop whining, "Why's everybody picking on me."

[The_Casual_Observer]

53. Olbermann will claim that Hillary did herself as cover.

[Barrymores Ghost]

57. Doubt it, but I find it interesting that the Asst. Secretary of State for Consular Affairs...

...during the break-in (you know -- the administrator in charge of the federal office that handles PASSPORTS) is one Maura Harty, who resigned her post three weeks ago, after the break-in was discovered but long before it was announced, just also happened to have served a stint as U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay under the Clinton Administration.

Mere coincidence? Possibly. Does it mean that she had anything to do with the delay in the report of the break-in up the food chain. Not necessarily.

But I find it exceedingly curious that, for every "bad" revelation that hits the MSM about Barack Obama, there is a Clinton Camp connection, and usually no more than one degree of separation.

Mere coincidence, like I said.

[ultrabrown]

54. This is why I oppose relaxing the FISA laws

Any official could use the pretext of terrorism to snoop on any rival candidate or any private person with impunity. And FISA opponents know this.

Hopefully the Democrats will be firm and stand up against this attempt against civil liberties.

[Virginia Dare]

55. Not that I disagree with you.

about opposing it, but J. Edgar Hoover was doing this shit way before FISA. It's abuse of power is what it is, and you can't tell me that some low level staffers thought this up all by themselves.

[blayne]

56. I'm sure those were the only 3 files that were breached.

[badgervan]

58. What's With the Crack....

... at the end: "BO can now stop whining, "Why's everybody picking on me."?
I'd say the big whiner, not to mention cheater, is Ms. Hillary ( The Entitled One ) Clinton. Many Dems see what she's been up to, her methods and her employee's methods, and we have had it with the Clintons. When you're losing, you don't get to change and bend the rules. Sorry.
I think she lost a lot of us over the past couple months. What a whiner!

[Johnny Harpo]

59. Maybe Some One Thought

they would have something to sell, no matter who won in November