Okay to publicize or use the SSN of a political opponent?

[Anonymous]

Allen West in Fla is the latest politician to have his SSN published or used by an opposition candidate.

It was done to Sarah Palin in 2008.

And it was done to Michael Steele in 2005.

Why is this permitted? Well all are minorities (black or women). All are conservative. All publication or use of the SSN was done by opposition (Democrats).

I am fond of one of the two, don't have time for the others, but really where is the outrage? Has a GOP candidate done this to a Democrat opponent and I just don't know about it? I personally feel the national party in all its forms should pull its funds from any candidate, of any party, that stoops this low.

[jsteele]

Can you provide more details about the publishing of these SSNs? I am not familiar with the incidents. I see no legitimate reason for publishing someone's SSN.

[Anonymous]

OP - no it is not ok to do this. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Birthers have been passing around Obama's social security number. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2010/0513/Hawaii-slams-door-on-birthers-who-turn-to-Obama-Social-Security-number

And I know it's been done to other candidates in both parties before, white and black, republican ad democrat.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the candidate approves such operations, or even if it's a "who will dig up dirt on this troublesome opponent" sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:Can you provide more details about the publishing of these SSNs? I am not familiar with the incidents. I see no legitimate reason for publishing someone's SSN.

http://www.postonpolitics.com/2010/09/klein-mailer-includes-wests-social-security-number-challenger-claims-unprecedented-new-low/ For Allen West

Palin: The Politico received and published an opposition research file from the Alaska Democrats.
In the file, the Democrats have released Sarah Palin's social security number minus the last four digits. Also tied to the information are her various home addresses.

http://snappedshot.com/uploads/Dictatorship/PPM41_palin_2006.pdf

Steele: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/20/AR2005092001534.html

I followed the link about Obama's SSN and didn't find that it had been published. Am I missing something? It does reference an internet rumor ABOUT the SSN, which is hardly the same (although loony none the less). I tried a few google searches and found lots of talk about the SSN but not a single reference that indicated it was published.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the candidate approves such operations, or even if it's a "who will dig up dirt on this troublesome opponent" sort of thing.

Really? The West mailer was paid for the by the Fla. Democrat Committee. It is not some PAC that no one can identify.

[jsteele]

Let me say again that I see no legitimate reason to publicize someone's social security number. That said, I've learned not to unquestionably accept every anonymous claim emanating from the right wing. Since the OP did not do me the favor of providing details about these disclosures, I took time to research them myself.

Allen West's SSN was disclosed in an advertisement produced by the Florida Democratic Party. I condemn that disclosure. The OP was correct in describing this incident.

Michael Steele's SSN does not appear to have been disclosed. Rather, two researchers working for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee obtained Steele's SSN and used it to obtain his credit report. Those researchers were subsequently fired. As far as I can tell, neither the SSN nor the credit report were publicized.

In 2008, Politico obtained a long opposition research document that had been prepared in 2006 by Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Tony Knowles who ran against Sarah Palin. Politico did not say who provided the report other than to say that it did not come from the Obama campaign. Palin's SSN was included on the last page of the document. Politico placed the document in its entirety on-line without redacting the SSN. While it's probably a good assumption that the document came from a Democrat, there is really no proof. In addition, one could argue that Politico, not whomever provided the report, publicized the SSN.

So, rather than a trend of three occurrences, we really only have one clear cut case.

[ Edit: while I was typing this, someone posted the details I had requested. I haven't reviewed that yet, but will do so now. ]

[ Second Edit: The PDF now on the Politico website has blacked out Palin's SSN. I assumed the complete number had originally been there. Now, I see it was missing the last four digits. Even that should not have been made public, but it just goes further to negate the claim that Democrats publicized her SSN. They didn't. ]

[Anonymous]

No. It is not okay. Ever.

Next?