Quite. Not everything need be a conspiracy.
Especially since current reports indicate McCain and Hillary both had their files breached as well. Not a conspiracy, just lousy security.
I’m not sure I feel any better.
The breach could have been political, but not directed by any campaign. Let’s say you’re a strong Hillary or McCain supporter, and you work for the government where you have access to passport records. You might think, “Hmm, I wonder if there’s anything in Obama’s file that would be damning?” And you have a look. Maybe if you find something, you’ll just E-mail it anonymously to the other campaign as your way of helping out.
In other words, a freelance fishing expedition. I wouldn’t surprise me at all if this happens all the time, and only makes the news when it gets caught in an audit or information in the file goes public forcing an investigation.
I wouldn’t think another campaign would be involved unless they had very good reason to believe that there was something incredibly damning in the file. Too much risk of blowback just to go fishing.
Just wanted to say, as a long time federal employee, this is one of the few things that folk get fired for. Every fed employee gets regular warnings about accessing personal info not related to their job. And I have handled disciplinary cases concerning just this type of thing. Hell, you can’t even check your own records!
Of course, the fact that it continues to happen attests to the number of stupid and reckless people in the government employ. But I assure you, the vast majority of the teeming millions are far to astute to be tempted to jeopardize their career in this manner. 
This is quite plausible. If a little clandestine passport fishing yields some juicy info, it could be a great way to pick up a few bucks on the side.
Doesn’t even have to have the deliberate intent that the word “fishing” connotes. Could be simple curiosity.
In my job, I work daily with extremely confidential personal data and could easily get hold of some very sensitive information on a few people whose names those familiar with the business world would immediately recognize. I don’t do it, because I’m a professional and I have neither work requirements nor personal compulsions to go snooping. Nevertheless, the opportunity is there, and somebody with less discipline may decide to take a peek, for no other reason than that they can do it. Doesn’t mean they plan to relay anything incriminating to the press, or the competition, or whatever. It’s just plain human weakness.
Given my experience, I’d say that’s a lot more likely than the idea that these are operatives of some kind, either retained or freelance/speculative. Until more information comes to light, I think that’s the safe bet.
I’d say it’s not really a “Big deal”–but it is a good deal for Obama. He can play it up, making himself look like an innocent victim , and it will push his scandal with the radical pastor off the radar screens.
I’m more interested in a facet of this story that nobody has mentioned: what type of info is in a passport file, and why is it so secret? Your date of birth, mother’s maiden name, etc…Sure, that info should be stored carefully, because it could be used for identity theft against an anonymous citizen. But against the candidates for president?–what actual, practical damage could be done?
:dubious: That is as nothing next to your sacred duty as a Doper to enlighten and amuse the Teeming Millions.
Those in security know that people on the inside are a far bigger risk than people on the outside. What I want to know is why it took 3 breaches for anyone to notice.
BTW, the SSN is included in the files, according to the story on Yahoo.
What about Huckabee, Romney, Edwards, Richardson, Kucinich, Nader? Any candidates other than the “Big Three” get taken on this joyride?
Maybe I’m missing something, but what could be in the passport files? Obviously, all three candidates have traveled…or is it more sensitive info, like SSNs and stuff?
My passport expired ages ago and I haven’t been out of the country since I was 12 or so, so please forgive my ignorance.
I did an extensive search and was able to find this article which talks about what’s in the file and some possible uses of that could be made of the information by interested parties.
“What kind of personal information do these Passport Records actually contain? Contrary to what you might expect, the system doesn’t have information about your entries into the U.S. (That’s in a separate system run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that actually swipes your passport when you come into the country.) The State Department’s records do, however, hold every application for a passport and copies of any supporting documents like birth or marriage certificates. That application has your address, Social Security number, phone number, the name and number of your emergency contact and your photograph. The records also have information on any attempts to change the status of your citizenship, which is what employees in the elder Bush Administration were suspected of looking for in Bill Clinton’s records in 1992. A search by name or passport number can also dredge up other items that have been attached to the file, such as court orders, arrest warrants, financial reports and even medical reports, according to the public State Department records.”
Is it just me, or does it seem as if something like this happens in just about every election, no matter if the Democrats or Republicans are in power? Always seems to be something that looks inappropriate at best connected with the administration’s handoling of something connected to candidates.
Pastor? Pastor? Nope. No bells.
What 5-4-Fighting said – its unclear to me that the information in a passport file is all that sensitive. Here’s another cite from the Washington Post that contains similar information.
5-4-Fighting’s cite implies that there may be other sensitive information: “However, a search by name or passport number can also dredge up other items that have been attached to the file, such as court orders, arrest warrants, financial reports and even medical reports”, but the WaPo article mentions none of this, but WaPo’s quality is pretty uneven at times.
So CNN is reporting that the contractor who looked into Obama and McCain’s file works for a company called Analysis Corp., whose CEO is one John O. Brennan–a campaign contributor and adviser to the Obama campaign.
All indications are that the contractor in question (this is the third one, not the two who worked for Stanley) did this out of idle curiosity. Apparently he was/is considered a great employee, and has worked for Analysis Corp. for years, and always with a State Department contract. The State Department has even commended his work in the past.
I think this is just idle curiosity. But I can’t even imagine the response we’d be getting on these forums right now if the CEO of Analysis Corp. was an adviser to Hillary or McCain’s campaigns. (His being a contributor isn’t really of note, a lot of corporate executives donate equal amounts to both campaigns. For example one year Donald Trump donated $2,000 to Kerry and George W. Bush.)