GOP operatives may have broken the law in spreading 'Obama's aunt' smear
By David Neiwert Sunday Nov 02, 2008 4:00pm
Another day, another gimmick. Republicans are digging out every possible turd they can find to fling and seeing what will stick on Barack Obama's wall -- and so far, no luck. Earlier this weekend they were peddling a dumb smear about Barack Obama's aunt being an illegal immigrant who had been ordered deported.
But there's one little problem with that tale: As the Washington Post reports, the release of that information was a violation of confidentiality laws for immigrants seeking asylum:
Federal privacy law restricts U.S. immigration agencies from disclosing information about citizens and permanent residents, and DHS policy similarly limits disclosures about the status of legal and illegal immigrants. Asylum-seekers are granted greater protection, because of the sensitive nature of their claims and the risks of retaliation.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the matter has been referred to the agency's Office of Professional Responsibility and its parent department's inspector general.
"They are looking into whether there was a violation of policy in publicly disclosing individual case information," ICE spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said. "We can't comment on individual cases."
As Kyledeb at Citizen Orange observes:
There are very specific confidentiality laws around asylum cases. Why? Because it could be dangerous to disclose information about potential asylee. It could result in their further persecution. This is true, of course, even after an asylum case is closed because then there would be a huge disincentive not to apply for asylum.
... In other words, while nativists are screaming "ILLEGAL" at the top of their lungs and "progressives" are refusing to defend unauthorized migrants, it appears that everyone's lost sight of who the real "ILLEGAL" is. That "federal law enforcement agent" broke U.S. immigration law. Perhaps the anonymous source should be deported?
Of course, at this point, the GOP seems to believe it has nothing to lose; after all, any investigation will be too late to do anything about it.
And the intent is obvious: Scare those white suburbanite undecideds with the notion that Obama is going to open the floodgates to Scary Brown People. In a related vein, the GOP hopes to revive the wingnut conspiracy theory that Obama's being elected with a foreign donor base.
But talk about deja vu all over again. Back in 1992, GHW Bush's operatives were caught illegally riffling through Bill Clinton's passport files and disclosing the information therein. Of course, the Republican operative -- Joe DiGenova -- appointed as "independent counsel" to investigate the matter rather predictably found no serious lawbreaking had occurred.
This time, they shouldn't be permitted to get away with it.
[H/t to Heather for the video.]
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It'll get taken care of in the blanket parden Bush issues on his way out the door.
Remember...only real people get in trouble.
There was a way to hold people accountable for violating migrant rights. Many migrants don't vote though, so I don't imagine many heads will fly for this.
don't hafta heed no stinkin' laws.
Laws are for lesser men.
I would have said "We don't need no stinkin' laws." But you are so exactly right, That Mick Piobr. The federal government under Bush had no hesitation about outing an undercover CIA agent, Valerie Plame, in the past, and did so with impunity. So naturally they would have no hesitation in spreading the information about Obama's aunt. Will these lawbreakers ever be brought to justice?
I'm sure they'll get away with it ... they always do.
win at all cost. that's mccain's strategy. they're NOT concerned about right's
Sounds like somebody belongs in an asylum.
A GOP operative in breach of the law?!?!?!?
Holy fucker of mothers, that's the most shocking news ever!
Look at how the right-wingers are winding themselves up over the invasion of privacy of Joe the plummer.
Pot, meet kettle.
On a different note.
I found this online petition to make Obama invite the Dixie Chicks to the White House. They took a lot of flack from the right when they openly criticized George Monkeyface. It seems people have woken up and have seen the Chicks had it right all along. They saw what we already saw. The hijacking of the US of A.
Sign here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/have-obama-i...
And Kodos to Lewis Hamilton for winning the F1 championship this year and being the first black to win that title!!
It's a solid documentary about this, called "Shut Up and Sing." They earned their place in the First Amendment annals.
Outing a CIA agent didn't bother them either. They have no morals.
1. national boycott of fox news
2. kick Joe the Plumber and Sean Hannity out of the country
3. jam rush limbaugh's broadcasts
4. pass legislation to outlaw insipid morons running for public office, title it Palin's Law
5. Public trials of bush, cheney, rumsfeld, and wolfowitz for genocide and treason
6. Levy a special tax on all registered Republicans to reimburse the country for the deficit due to the war in Iraq
if obama wins, in the first month:
Sun, 11/02/2008 - 16:22 — Rick Street
1. national boycott of fox news
2. kick Joe the Plumber and Sean Hannity out of the country
3. jam rush limbaugh's broadcasts
rush would just eat the jam.
the prices of pitchforks and torches. We're going to need plenty to route out these Rethuglicant asswipes!!!
...about your points #1, #2, and #3. First let me say that I basically agree with everything... but especially:
FOX News, Sean Hannity, and Rush Limbaugh must, seriously, be taken to task for misleading their viewership and purposefully lying to Americans for personal gain and questionable political reasons.
Hannity's GREATEST FEAR is that the Democrats will re-introduce a re-born FAIRNESS DOCTRINE... and I say IT CAN'T HAPPEN SOON ENOUGH. When BROADCASTERS USE PUBLICLY HELD AIRWAVES to spread their vile and venom... there should be public consequences. RESTRICT THEIR LICENSING or FORCE THEM onto privately owned media distribution venues, like premium fee-based cable TV channels or commercially owned satellite radio channels. GET THEM OFF public airwaves!
AMEN!
GOP Claims Obama’s ‘Illegal’ Aunt Was Hollywood Elite
Administration passport file leaks, haven't they already gotten in trouble once this cycle for Obamama's and Clinton's files going off reservation?
when curious people did LEGAL background checks of public records on the FAKE JOE, THE LYING NON-PLUMBER. Don't you s'pose that the FBI was tapping his phone too?? I wonder how long it took the CIA to bug his house and put a GPS tracking unit in his car... you know... just to keep track of his movement. Of course, we'll never know about that stuff.
But when it comes to an issue that might muddy-up Obama's character... or SLEAZE-UP something about his family... well, then, let's BREAK THE LAW to expose PRIVATE SENSITIVE FEDERAL DOCUMENTS... what the hell. No Rove-appointed AG is going to prosecute something like that anyway!
I just returned from the McCain rally in Petersborough, NH. I left b4 McLame arrived after spending 4 hours outside in the chilled air with a long line of wackos. I truly cannot believe what I heard from ostensibly upscale, intelligent fellow New Englanders. Just a few samples:
"He's a Muslim"
"His aunt's an illegal"
"He's out to steal our money"
"Why can't his supporters get real jobs instead of waiting for handouts?" (a variation of this was uttered many times.)
And there was this doozy from a gold-clad 50-something woman who kind of whispered it, "I don't want to be racial (sic) or anything, but I really wonder if his black street thugs would not allow protests at an Obama rally"
It was all I could do to just shut up and listen. It was barely worth it, since most of us weren't even allowed into the large hall (capacity:800, allowed in: 200).
More as I recall, but one GOP operative did say that they were coming out with a blitz of ads tomorrow including a big hit piece on Obama. Probably just blowing smoke, but since they thought I was a fellow wacko, maybe he was spilling some inside beans.
-your roving reporter
PS. Curt Schilling is a moron.
I think there's about to be a job opening at the US Immigration office. You know someone is getting fired for this.
While I was standing out in front of the town hall, waiting to see if I would get into the McCain talk, a song began blaring out of the speakers. "Centerfield" from John Fogerty. It got to the line, "rounding 3rd and heading for home is a brown-eyed handsome man", and a warm feeling came over me on this cold evening amongst a cold crowd.
He certainly IS rounding 3rd, and Tuesday night, the brown-eyed handsome man scores the winning run.
Ehh...
The law's probably unconstitutional
Denying the freedom of speech and all
Do'ntcha know?
If nothing else this election will have shown how much racism is still part of the Amerikkan landscape. It is f...n scary and makes the baby Jesus weep.
The Republican Crime Syndicate is the greatest threat to the rule of law and the freedoms of Americans more than any force in history.
They must be knocked down a peg and contained!
and by any means necessary
Joe DiGenova and his equally repugnant wife, Victoria Toensing?? Haven't seen them around recently. They used to be omnipresent as Republican shills on cable news.
. . . they've seen the light. When a republican "sees the light" they have very painful retching, fever, fox news withdrawals, tormented by severe guilt, and hallucinations of FDR, LBJ, JFK, all of Lincoln's "better angels". It's quite traumatic. After a few months of this misery, they re-emerge into society as rational and considerate human beings. But it does take a while.
in my Italian-American neighborhood. His father and brother were hairstylists but his mother was a classically trained pianist and opera singer and they had a big grand piano in their living room. I guess Joe got his highbrow attitudes from his mother's side.
It's also possible that Joe has seen the light now that Joe Biden (also from Delaware) will be our new VP. DiGenova was a very nice guy growing up. He had talent and was a very good actor and had to choose between Broadway and Washington as a career.
trucks were seen unloading super capacity paper shredder's at the White House. (only kidding), but i do bet the paper shredders will be very busy between nov 5 and jan 20.
Watch boosh chop his hands up into a bloody mess in the paper shredder trying to retrieve his MAD fold-in page.
Or the persecution of their _family_ remaining in country. But when did a Republican give a rat's about a ferriner's life?
the GOP breaking laws? Smearing relatives? Really? Wow, I would have never thought they would have done something like that. Those GOPers are such upstanding individuals. How could they do this? Call me disillusioned from now on.
*end snark*
It's like everyday I add some form of lawless GOP deed on my ever growing list. Has anyone been able to compile a complete list of all the law breaking that has happened over the past 8 or so years?
the attacks on the la times for not releasing the tape from a story they did back in april
another red herring just to embarress the candidate
being done to scare the shit out of jewish voters, as if something sinister was planned at that going away party for khalidi
the observant jews are buying into it...at least some are, as the president of young israel of america, an umbrella org for many orthodox congregations, has written a scathing letter to the times
ive had it with my people
there was a time when we prided ourselves on being intelligent
the fact that so many have bought into the fear mongering and racism of the right...the same people who would like to see us all either converted or dead...makes me sick
oh, and here is the letter
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+N...
if you guys wish to write to the president of the young israel, here is his email
president@youngisrael.org
im tired of supporting these idiots
My money is on the same administration that illegally leaked Valerie Plame's name to punish political opponents.
"They are looking into whether there was a violation of policy in publicly disclosing individual case information," ICE spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said. "We can't comment on individual cases."
Note: policy, not the law. This is how they turn black into white, via ten shades of grey.
Don't expect anything to come of this, just like the CO DA scandal re threats on Obama that will never be.
lest we forget New
Sun, 11/02/2008 - 17:19 — Uncle Joe Mccarthy
McCarthy's a Jewish name? Oyld lang syne....
Yiddish Gaelic?
for real
grandfather on mothers side is from dublin
i have never supported attacking my own people...until now
it is one thing to have differences in positions...another to grab the talking points of the right and run with them...and quite another to equivocate on our morality being that of the religious right
one of my mentors was an aide to patrick moynihan
he is an observant jew...he has a phd and is a rabbi...he is also a democrat and a progressive
i am sure that he too is none too pleased at the hate coming out of our community
i do not agree with people like khalidi, but i understand where he is coming from...and i like the fact that a possible future president has exposed himself to all sides....it is truly absurd to say that obama should never have befriended a coworker...truly absurd
it is more absurd that voice is given to a piece of excrement like levin...who supported a true jew hater and nazi sympathizer for president, has embraced wingnut christians, and says he does all of this with the stamp of approval by greater rabbis then himself (yet no one has ever come forward to claim ths)
i am done being silent
Silly Rabbi, twx has been replaced with texting.
Whatever the reasons for the original denial of Auntie's asylum request in 2003, this election changes things. She has a greater risk of harm at home just by being related to Obama. It would be most unwise to send the President-elect's aunt back to a country where Al-Qaeda is active. I hope the outgoing Bush administration has a fit of sanity and grants the asylum.
Always happy to see compassionate people in a traditionally "nativist" online climate.
How will folks with family or friends dealing with immigration issues respond to this...?
David's the first person to take the right angle with this though.
and they'll be turning over all those hard disk images they take of everyone's machine in the government to the new boss.
Oh, right. You really need to plug your laptop into the government network for at least an hour a week for "maintenance and security updates" (don't worry about the mail servers, they're plugged in 24x7).
David! I can't believe you linked to my post on this one. Thank you! I've been trying to get the wider blogosphere to pay attention to the asylee rights that were violated in this case.
The Washington Post had an article on it today but it didn't gain much traction.
Thanks for writing about this.
I am glad this is almost over with.
Boy, everything is sexist, socialist, real Americans, anti-Americans, Joe this and Joe that, I have experience (when in reality, NONE of them have experience) and since we can not WIN by attacking Obama, we must attack him for every person he has ever met, spoken to or even seen. Let's not forget he has to be accountable for everything they has said and done and everything people they know have said and done. And if that does not work, there is always fear and MORE FEAR and any if anyone on earth supports OBAMA, they will have the complete ability to CONTROL his mind.
All things said and done, if his aunt(the sister of an estranged deceased father) is now his responsibilty, I want to know why was Bush not RESPONSIBLE for the acts of Prescott Bush????? hmmmmmmm
that GWB is still enjoying the spoils of a NAZI regime and nobody says jack shit about it. But Obama has a half aunt whom he hardly knows who may be in an illegal status, and it's appropriate news to be released just 3 or 4 days before the most important election of our lifetimes.
Whenever anyone uses a US Government data base involving sensitive personal information such as Social Security, military records, etc., you gotta log in, and then you have to digitally sign your request with your initials. If the people who give a shit can force their own governmental investigative offices to do their jobs, finding the culprit is easy!
The so called "fairness doctrine" is one of the biggest steps taken so far in the liberal attempt to take away freedom of speech.
The young voters who were so easily swayed by the smooth-talking Obama were uninformed in the majority, and how many of you can honestly say you did not vote for Obama because he is black? And without a doubt, anyone who disagreed with Obama was considered a racist, even by the great Obama himself, playing the race card when he had no better reply.
you did your job, you proved to the world your not a racist by voting for Obama. thank you for ruining any hope of a future economy of the US.
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