Obama's Passport file was breached! Two firings at the State Dept. UPDATED
By John Amato Wednesday Mar 19, 2008 8:20pmMSNBC is reporting that there was a breach of Barack Obama’s passport file that led to two firings at the State Department and a suspension…
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Two contract employees of the State Department were fired and a third person was disciplined for accessing passport records of Sen. Barack Obama "without a need to do so," State Department officials confirmed to NBC News...
A monitoring system was tripped when an employee accessed the records of a high-profile individual,” a department official told NBC News. "When the monitoring system is tripped, we immediately seek an explanation for the records access. If the explanation is not satisfactory, the supervisor is notified."
Does this surprise anyone of us that has followed the Bush administration for all these years?
Statement from Obama campaign:
"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. Our government's duty is to protect the private information of the American people, not use it for political purposes. This is a serious matter that merits a complete investigation, and we demand to know who looked at Senator Obama's passport file, for what purpose, and why it took so long for them to reveal this security breach.
Update from Will Bunch:
...from Nov. 1992:
A State Department official who carried out the two-day search of passport files for information about Gov. Bill Clinton said today that he had resigned, just 48 hours before Federal investigators are expected to issue a report criticizing the search.
The official, Steven M. Moheban, was a top aide to Elizabeth M. Tamposi, the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs who was dismissed last week by President Bush for her role in the search of files on Mr. Clinton, his mother, Virginia Kelley, and Ross Perot, the independent Presidential candidate.
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bastards! I'd be willing to bet this will be the tip of an iceberg that will sink the whole rotten BushCo ship.
America really needs to pay attention to this one.
The fact that they were fired,right away, instead of one of their phoney investigations, means this is BIG!
The Bush Administration knew long ago and did not notify Obama.
These were contract employees... we'll probably find out that these fired contract employees were working for the Clintons.
What kind of information would be available to someone who accessed these files?
Well...it doesn't surprise me! How will he play this? "I have nothing to hide but this is just another example of how corrupt our current administration has become!"
Now it is time for impeachment.
Could this be the smoking gun to bring down this adminstation? I friggin hope so!
condi must resign.
Okay, for the slow people like me...
What does a "breach of Obama's passport file" mean?
That someone gained access to his personal data?
Wow......could this FINALLY be the straw that broke this corrupt, pompous administration's back?
In addition to this story, Drudge is running a picture of Rev Wright and Pres Bill Clinton.
Benjamin @ 5:
Are you sure? i thought one was a contract employee who was not fired, but disciplined. This is all fresh, facts are most likely a bit fuzzy yet.
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 4:
Browsing the records was a crime. Not reporting it to the victim immediately was a bigger crime.
the bread crumbs will lead right to clinton
As, likely, have all of our passport files. Why the F do you think we've been decrying the FISA travesties all of this time!
Sven @ 11:
Yes, and confidential. Also i thought i heard they interviewed consulates.
Holy crap. Americans shouldn't be afraid of terrorists. They should be afraid of what is loose in Washington. I knew the last couple days was way too quiet.
Frank @ 16:
That may be a stretch, remembering that Bill Clinton was a victim of the same stunt during Bush the First.
Frank @ 16:
You are right!
She has secretly been President since 2000!
tsk tsk tsk
Frank @ 16:
You must be kidding! It's possible, but much more likely that you are just another paranoid Obamazoid.
I'll bet anyone $100 condi, bush and cheney all knew about this
Someone was looking for dirt on Obama. There are several comments here hoping that this is the smoking gun that will sink the rethug crime syndicate. Let's all hope that this is the case.
The first thing came to mind were Hannity and Fox
So does this mean the Rev. Wright story now moves to Page Six?
This is huge. Watch Oberman! At least we know he'll report it and not bury it.
Rico @ 27:
It moves to page 76.
Holy shit!
Here is what this boils down to: The possible Democratic Nominiee for the President of the United States has been illegally investigated by employees of the State Department, two were fired one was disciplined. Obama was not informed until today although the Bush Administration was aware of this since at least January.
Rico @ 20:
Sorry i got caught up in the moment and imagined Billary looking into his confidential data.....
Rico @ 27:
It more likely means that the GOPers are going to try to smear Obama (again), then compile a list of his alleged offenses. Rev. Wright will still be part of the list.
Goodbye, Rev. Wright.
Hello, you lyin, schemein rightwing, motherf**kers.
Buuuuussssssssshhhhhhh!!!!
Jan 9, Feb 21 and March 14 when records were accessed by 3 different people
blatz @ 336:
robyn williams @ 360:
Sorry premature submition lol What I meant to say was Amen.......
There have been suggestions in the media that the contract workers who were peeking at passport date were "low level" and "possibly involved in tasks as innocuous as data entry". One of the questions I haven't heard asked is "what company did the 'contract workers' actually work for?" Were they temps from ManPower or a friendly local clerical temp agency?
A source of mine suggests that at least one of the "contract workers" was employed by The Analysis Corporation (www.theanalysiscorp.com).
Looking over the corporate site suggests to me that low level "data entry" is not on their menu.
I can't verify that one or more of the "contract workers" was, in fact, working for that company. I pass this along for what it's worth on its face.
There are at least 4 administration colossal, criminal adventures that have been back-burnered by the continuing debate on security vs. liberty: 1. Cheney's secret energy summit that generated and perpetuates this OIL WAR (where is Ken Lay or UNOCAL when you need them); 2. the lies and intelligence cover-ups about pre-911, the false path into this war and the administration's ensuing conduct (the Boy King and his Vassals may be headed for a visit to the Hague); 3. the complete corruption of the Justice department (in the US Attorney Firings issue was just the divining rod pointing to voters' rights, workplace equalities, whistleblower protections and more); and 4. Ms. Rice's continued presence, a silver-tongued huckster outside the big tent, making the administration's pitch, lying through her teeth in order to fleece any "sucker" who is foolish enough to listen.
Are Bush, Rove and GONZO?? Clever enough to have hired a gaggle of zealots who could simply spin the brains out of our Congressional committees. The parade of neophytes in the US Attorney hearing, were all, perhaps with the exception of Ms. Taylor, were 37 or younger and given almost plenipotentiary powers in the administration – clearly not for their seasoning and wisdom. Sounds like King George one more time.
So NOW, let’s see what sophistry Secretary Rice can spin on the breach of security with Obama’s passports. Little people are quickly being fired already so it can’t be the standard “National Security” cover-up blanket. Maybe she’s just trying to avoid ANOTHER subpoena.
Angelene @ 339:
Angelene @ 339:
Did I hear you right when you said "Keith is trying to be fair to Obama"? I would say a little more than fair is sufficient, he spent all of Countdown last night on the Obama Passport File story, the full hour! No worst persons, oddball nothing but Obama and the passport story. Would he do the same for Clinton? Well we shall see tonight seeing hers has been hacked too. I bet you he doesn't. I am not anti Obama like you are anti Clinton but rather want to see fair reporting of the news and not so one sided as faux noise is so well at doing. I have followed Olbermann since his ESPN days but am now getting turned off by his one sided slants. One would think instaed of attacking Clinton he would concentrate on the right wing spin machine. He has been our voice thus far.
Molly @ 344:
This is just how babies act. If that's your reaction to an Obama nomination, you deserve whatever you have coming to you.
Losers.
ALL this fuss about information the voters should know. Obama says Hillary's papers from 15 years ago are important so they were released. Now they want her telephone records. What about Obamas records from his offices in Chicago and his phone records for the last ten years? Why doesn't he talk about the bill he is sponsoring "Global Poverty Bill that will cost us 850 billion more than we are paying in foreign aid now, and explain how in addition to an extra .07% increase on trade we will be paying as much as $l.00 per gallon tax on gasoline. AND we are not elgible for any aid. How will that ring for our devestated flood and hurricane areas and for those in America living in tents? He is going to save our economy, yeah, RIGHT.
Frank @ 16:
Indeed, since Clinton is still in office, it must be them.
It is secretly 1998 still, keep it quiet.
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 30:
Chalk this up as another scandal for the Bush administration.
I say it's Bushco looking for dirt on Obama.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are working on a retroactive immunity deal for this, no doubt.
Gee looks like all the crap they have pulled on the Clintons is coming to light now that they are trying it on obama. Wonder if we would have ever known they were messing with Bill and Hillary's passports if obama's passport hadn't been done also. Just goes to show what this country has done to the Clintons and are now trying it on obama.
Lies will come out that will implicate Obama as an extreme Muslim, those lies will fly around the internet just like the emails that claimed Obama was a Muslim. This will sink Obama. Maybe this is what Clinton was waiting for and why she stayed in the race. This breech happened last January, about the time that everything was going south for Clinton. I hope Obama rises above this and finally buries Clinton.
Remember that this happened back in January 2008. Back then Hillary was the defacto nominee and so she would have been the only one with motive to get rid of Obama.
If 1,000 FBI files didn't bring down the Clinton administration, why would this bring down the Bush administration? Honestly, too many of you think with your hearts instead of your brains.
The story is about 2 minutes old and you're calling for impeachment? Get real. Bush is a dick...and he's almost gone. If dems don't focus on the next race we will be stuck with another republican president. Bush is yesterday's news.
RHM
Earth Abides @ 41:
LOL, they were just screaming that he had a crazy, racist pastor. It would be a bit tough to now turn around and declare him an extremist Muslim.
Just another reflection on our horrible and corrupt government as run by the Bush crime family.
Wright was Invited to the White House:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&add...
Benjamin @ 42:
I have extra tin foil hats if you would like one.
Can't tell you how I know this but low level government workers sometimes browse celebrity records. Most get caught and are promptly disciplined or fired. This could be such an event. Time will tell.
The real issue is that the victim (Obama) was not notified sooner by the government. Now, THAT'S the real story. Hope it's not missed.
What kind of information can they get from this???
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 47:
No thanks, I belive it's needed inorder to read CrooksAndLiars ;).
Olbermann reporting three separate incidents, the latest being on 3/14. It is unthinkable that Rice was unaware of the security breaches and that investigations weren't launched. That Obama was not notified tells me it wasn't the Clintons, more likely Rovians from the RNC.
Benjamin @ 42:
Plus, she was the President of the US with appointees in all of the government positions. Or, she could turn herself into electricity and sneak in through the electrical outlets undetected.
I forget which one it actually is.
No, they'd never do that!!
Rico @ 48:
I doubt it will be, we won't let it not be asked.
OH golly gee whiz jumping yhminy Hillary Clinton is president and has done all this ....then why in the hell are we having this campaign somebody should have told us...oh maybe frank 16 knows something we don't .....what's going on...but then of course no matter what happens Hillary Clinton will be blamed for it by obama's supporters.
This was a republican tactic, hillary has no access through anyone at the state dept, anyone thinking otherwise is delusional.
Rico @ 48:
Good analysis. And I bet after all is said and done it turns out to be something like this.
RHM
Obama voted for the "Patriot Act".
I wonder if he regrets it.
Rico @ 15:
Can I get confirmation of the laws?
You think whoever looked into Obama's file saw all the notes that the FBI had on him in connection to Wright and thought, "well hell, that's right there in plain sight."
Is this freaking 1972 again?
This is the tip of the iceberg.
Shameful!
trud!
Reality check, folks: if all of Bush's crap hasn't gotten him impeached YET, this isn't going to do it. The media will ignore this. As usual.
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 47:
You can't borrow those from people you meet on the internet! What, are you insane?!
Do you wonder if Karl Rove and the Bush/McCain dirty tricks committee already have this stuff in their hands? How do you think these "contract employees" got their jobs? They are probably some relatives of people within the GOP. Maybe these "contract employees" were placed at that specific area to get access to those files.
Perhaps some graduates of either Regent or Liberty University looking to pad their rapture portfolios.
Two more people to add to Bush's midnight pardon list. Maybe he was on that fabled terrorist watch list along with 900,000 others with funny sounding names. They're trying to protect are families. There should be retroactive immunity for these brave patriots. Not lawsuits brought by class action trail lawyers. It is a vital tool in the war against terror. If there's no retro active immunity, civil servants everywhere will refuse to break the law.
Hi. CAN WE IMPEACH THEM NOW?
Hey - you can't investigate this!
Nobody higher than the Janitor was involved!
No, maybe Executive Privilege!
Wait, National Security too!
Marge @ 40:
Totally agree with you Marge. We ought to be able to write the playbook by now.
Wow! I have a feeling this my lead to FNS. That Murdock guy has the money to pay these people off.
This is standard operating procedure for a loyal Bushie; it's all fair game when it is political. You think the Spitzer 'hooker news leak' wasn't a result of a loyal Bushie opposition research specialist? It is obvious.
Total information Awareness is still with us, and it isn't anything more than a tool for opposition research and political shakedowns. Why do you think the Congress has not impeached?
me and myself @ 56:
This story has just broken and, amazingly, you know who "must" have done it and who "couldn't" have done it.
Go back to your bong.
RHM
Part of me is angry. However let's be calm until we get the whole information out. I know, I know. It's hard.
ConcernedHusseinCanuck @ 19:
Just enough time to call Obama on some bs.
This is more serious than Rev. Wright's beliefs.
Why is MSNBC the only one reporting this on TV?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23736254
I think the headline should rather be: "Someone left evidence that Obama's passport file was breached!"
I think we already know that it was breached.
yellow dog @ 51:
Who files were breached beside Obama.
Benjamin @ 42:
Apart from every Republican.
How do you know that your going to have video in a little while?
I want to start knowing inside knowledge like this.
Breaking... Keith is talking now.
This is why ... all hands on deck.
BoyWonder @ 74:
Maybe Obama was notified?
anybody with insight into what exactly this means?
forgive my ignorance, but i find myself saying "whoopee fizz, they see his travel history,"
what am i missing...
Jon @ 6:
thought someone should answer this. The records show when you left the US, to which countries you entered and exited and when. My dad was in the military and I lived overseas for a few years as a child. This just smacks of someone trying to dig up dirt and it creeps me out!
Phil @ 79:
You don't have clearance.
BoyWonder @ 74:
Yeah werd isn't it ?????
Old Billy Hussein @ 81:
I mean this is pretty breaking and neither CNN nor Fox is even recognising it as of 15 min ago. Olbermann has been covering it for an hour.
Of course they were looking in his file. They got this very scary email that said he is a radical Muslim bent on destroying America. Besides, haven't you heard, his middle name is Hussein!
tHeGaMeHusseinOfLiFe @ 77:
Just Obama - 3 times
Cherokee Fats @ 1:
The Bush administration had nothing more to do with this than a CEO of a bank where an employee steals customer information. Put down the Doritos and the Nintendo and find something valuable to do with your time.
This shit right here is some Committee to Re-Elect the President type shit.
ashton @ 44:
not for the reich-wingers; the bigger the lie the better!
Jan 9, Feb 21 and
when records were accessed by 3 different people
Wright was on Hannity&Colmes on
, 4/30/07, 03/01/07
Old Billy Hussein@84
Yes I do actually.
BoyWonder @ 86:
It's on CNN online.
BoyWonder @ 86:
Fox and CNN are waiting to hear back from their corporate masters. And Blitzer is still babbling about Jeremiah Wright.
APPLES ARE BETTER THAN ORANGES!
“ This is a serious matter that merits a complete investigation, and we demand to know who looked at Senator Obama’s passport file, for what purpose, and why it took so long for them to reveal this security breach.
It takes patience to delete all the emails to and fro the White House and the OVP.
Come on now 3 times?
Security should have been re-enforced the first time.
You mean there wasn't a meeting after the first breach not to access the files?
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 47:
Are they having a sale on Tin Foil Hats again??? WHERE? WHEN?
I need a couple of new ones......mine got scrunched.And I look so stylish in a nice new shiny one.
What the hell people?
Everyone is trying to blame Clinton, but not one person questions Mccain's innocence on this? You know, Mccain- the Republican; the same man who has the entire crooked Executive and Judicial branches supporting him; the same man who's campaign leaked the Wright videos to Pox merely 'suspended' them; the same man who would benefit most(even more so than Bill) from Hillary pulling ahead and Obama out of the race?
Come on folks, wake up the Rethuglican games have started, let's please not start playing into the neo-CONS hands and continue the infighting.
helmsfan @ 89:
Helmsfan has done a thorough investigation. Please move along, there is nothing to see here.
Two contract employees of the State Department were fired
Ah yes -"contract employees". No links to Bush/Cheney or Karl Rove. Very convenient, wouldn't you say. So tell me, House and Senate Democrats, does it still feel good that you went along with Bush on his illegal wiretapping scheme? Sure is making America safer from those damn terr'ists, eh??
tHeGaMeHusseinOfLiFe @ 98:
Not to mention that EVERYONE was talking out loud how NOTHING was being said about Obama, and suddenly a deluge of anti-Obama stories in the media.
Why is there not a criminal investigation into these 'contract employees'? When the 71-year-old actress who portrayed MaryAnn of Gilligan's Island gets a criminal record and probation for a few joints, why do these temporary employees just get fired for such a grievous breech of public trust?
For the love of all that's holy, IF something comes out of this in the media and the story gets legs, DO NOT put anything like the word "gate" behind it. We need a new suffix for possible scandals. Like maybe "goat" or "sauce". I just know we can come up with something. Ideas?
I'm sure the justice department will get right on this.
I hope Olbermann covers this past the Hour.
Informed Voter @ 96:
If Oranges is not the fruit nominee there is no way we will beat the vegetables!!!!
geneHUSSEIN214 @ 102:
Not to mention "outsourcing" key government functions. Great idea that is.
People don't steal information for no reason.
Old Billy Hussein @ 62:
You can't borrow someone else's tinfoil hat, period! Don't you know the magic doesn't work if someone else wore it first?!? Sheesh....
spank @ 105:
How about "passgate"?
Come on, folks -- it was just a few bad apples!
Just like Guantanamo...
And Abu Ghraib...
And the mismanagement of Iraq...
And the dilapidation of Walter Reed...
And the subprime loan fiasco...
And Halliburton's tainted drinking water...
Just checking to see how many would blame Hillary.
Wasn't disappointed.
This is a serious breach of privacy...then again, what would be in a passport that's so sensitive? I don't have one, so can someone enlighten me about this?
WHY was the information stolen?
State has determined there is no need for investigation.
If the white establishment take down a black presidential nominee like they are trying to, the cities will burn.
This is worse than the whole Rodney King mess.
It's a grave, grave situation no matter on whom the ultimate responsibility lies. It shows how afraid the "establishment" all across the board is of the possibility of a President Barack Obama. Let's not speculate but make a serious effort to find out who was at the root of it. The fired and disciplined workers weren't doing this just to satisfy their own curiosity. Waxman and/or Conyers and Leahy need to get at this fast.
I don't think you guys realize, this could be BIG!
Very BIG!
If the fired employees of the state department say that the Bush administration put them up to this, then it's all over for the Nazis.
Wow!....All three networks ot it now..
Obama's on Larry King for an hour tonight.
Sidney Scooter III @ 112:
Personally, I think "PassportGate" does the job adequately...
Okay, I spoke too soon, I ctrl+f'ed 'mccain' which skipped the comments. My bad.
Still though, let's not start blaming our own so soon, especially when so far all signs are pointing to the right.
115,
A passport has Stamps for what countries you visit and when, and shots (ahem vaccinations) you had, your photo, and god knows what else now that they have those wonderful freaking RFID chips.
BoyWonder @ 117:
Course not.....only happened three times.....nothing to see here
Jay Severin Has a Small Pen1s @ 118:
And the blacks will have white brothers and sisters with them this time.
jdw @ 120:
Sort of like if they were caught lying in order to try to justify attacking and occupying a sovereign nation?
One Word: DMCA
BoyWonder,
Do you have Evidence? Or are you just playing CyberWarfare Troll?
Phil @ 125:
Wow. They have RFID chips? Thanks for answering.
Archives show Clinton lied: Obama campaign
"WASHINGTON (AFP) - White House documents reveal that Hillary Clinton lied to voters about her opposition to a trade pact blamed in industrial states for killing jobs, Barack Obama's campaign said Thursday."
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/us_vote
I know it's a wee bit off-topic...sorry.
euthyfro @ 90:
What planet are you from?
Yawn..... Why does none of this surprise me? Everything associated with the current maladministration is tainted with the shit that is guaranteed whenever you hear the name bush.
Note too that the bush crime syndicate tried to fuck over Bill Clinton prior to his election by doing something quite similar. The plots that have led us to the quagmire that is America today really started to pick up speed when the initial repuke PNAC sock puppet, reagan, was given the presidency, and have only increased in both frequency and criminality since then - all aided and abetted by bush the elder, bush the lesser and cheney.
131, My understanding is yes.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/25/AR200510...
John Hussein Clavis @ 113:
Don't forget KBR electrocuting the troops in Iraq
I believe we can all relax and let the government handle this complex matter which is certainly beyond our understanding of how things work.
I don't know about you but I've got more important things to do...like cleaning my toliet.
I keep looking over on FOX to see if there is any mention...NADA...they're more worried about girls on spring break and Obama's grandma.
137, your another CyberWarfare troll
RFID CHIPS PEOPLE!!
If I were to suspect anyone of ordering the breach, that person would be Dick Cheney. He has shown that he has no regard for the laws.
They're saying "Imprudent curiosity of individuals" - looks like it was just some clowns doing some digging...
....on three separate occasions
...a month apart each
...of a candidate for the Presidency. Condi just found out yesterday.
Nothing to see here....just another case of the devolution of our democracy into a pathetic circus....
9ll changed everything...more than you'll ever
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