Political Punch

Most of you are missing the point. Unless you have ever had your privacy invaded or your identity stolen, you have no idea what mayhem can ensue. People who make the ridiculous claim that if there is nothing to hide, it doesn't matter, are either naive or stupid. And as we have seen, in a presidential election, every tiny little thing can be exploited. If it doesn't matter, then why was a special prosecutor appointed to do an investigation and a complete overhaul of the system initiated when Bill Clinton's passport file was breached in 1991? I do agree with one of you -- the best way to hide the fact that you are looking for dirt on one candidate is to do it to all of them -- "plausible deniability" ring any bells? It is naive to think anything else.

I find it interesting that many of the same people who blame President Bush for not connecting the dots before 9/11 (thus preventing the attacks), claim that he is now spying on every American. Folks if you are not communicating with terrorists, if you are not harboring terrorists and if you are not financially supporting terrorists you have very little to worry about.

And on another note, while not specifically mentioned within this particular topic, I get a laugh when the Left brings up waterboarding and says that President Bush tortures people. Only THREE terrorists received waterboarding -- and a lot of "dots" were given up. The ones who are doing even more waterboarding are the anti-war protestors. At nearly every protest one or more individuals subject themselves to waterboarding.
Finally, SS, you wrote: "Our government can't even control it's employees..." And if we could you would probably call President Bush a tyrant.

Vickie, I realize this may be a stretch for you but...did it not occur to you that looking at other passport files is EXACTLY what one would do to make it appear one wasn't gathering information on one particular person?

Proof positive it's the thugs in this administration.

Has Mr. Hope stopped blaming Hillary yet for his passport breach?

People, please. What does government surveillance re suspected terrorist activity have to do with this? Has McCain or anyone else ever suggested that anyone in the gov't whatsoever can look at personal data on anyone whatsoever for any reason whatsoever? Obviously not. So yes, there's a presumed right of privacy that the gov't should protect. But that right isn't absolute where questions of national security are at stake. (And that qualification IS constitutional.) And jeez! Someone here accused McCain of being an out of touch paranoid! If you really believed this paranoid crap, you really shouldn't be posting here. You may be next!!

Well said, New Yorker. McCain not only does not understand the constitution, but he can't keep track of Sunnis and Shiites. It is time to honor his service with a nice parade while Obama runs the country.

Privacy as we knew it in the 20th Century is over. What were contained in those files could probably have been found using the internet (search sites, background checking, google, etc.). With enough time and persistence, you can find almost anything.

PRIVACY – RIP

keep the sense of humor, Jake!

Only people who have somethng to hide or something they don't want known would object to having their stupid passports looked at---there's not that much information in a passport file.
The candidates have to "act" like it's a big deal and that it shouldn't have happened because they think that's what most of the feeble-minded Americans would expect.

Gee guys. Americans expect to have their Social Security numbers protected by the government too. What is being done about the 8 MILLION mismatch/stolen social security numbers?

@flyover- OMG that is the scariest thing I have ever thought of...oh my ..I am speechless.

Unless these guys met someone that they should not, they have nothing to hide, so what is wrong to have a look into their passport?

It's kind of funny that Mcain is saying an investigation is in order about someone looking at his passport when he's the one that wants to continue the Patriot Act, which allows the spying of everything and everybody in this country without just cause and no warrants.

Who cares. Like these Senators can roam around the globe secretly.

Think its bad now wait until the same government manages the DNA database while trying to fund universal health care.

Whatever the case, the Bush administration's willingness to subvert the US Constitution and spy on Americans have caused everyone to feel free in spying on Americans.

Uh, has John ever heard of the PATROIT ACT!!! Hmm, an out of touch, tyrant who gets outraged at things done to him that he's more than willing to subject to other people, in the name of tempering his own personal paranoia...

I wonder if it was the same 3 guys that looked at all three of the files... Could you imagine the utter chaos if it wasn't and Clinton was looking at Obamas and MCCain was looking at Clinton's and Obama was looking at McCains LOL What a stinking mess! Our government can't even control it's employees...