State Department: Someone snooped in Obama's passport file

(CNN) -- On three occasions since January, Sen. Barack Obama's passport file was looked at by three different contract workers, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

The contractors accessed information in the file in an unauthorized way, he said. Two contractors were fired and one was disciplined by the contractor's company, McCormack said.

He said the contractors are not linked.

The breach seems like "imprudent curiosity" among the contract workers, said McCormack, adding that senior management at the State Department was not aware of the incidents until Thursday afternoon. Breaches occurred January 9, February 21 and March 14.

Obama's campaign is asking for a complete investigation to find out who looked at Obama's passport file and why.

"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," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton in a statement.

"Our government's duty is to protect the private information of the American people, not use it for political purposes."

State Department: Someone snooped in Obama's passport file - CNN.com

I can't believe they did not know "who" Obama is.what next?...

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"There are two kinds of light -- the glow that illuminates, and the glare -- that obscures." (James Thurber)

It's not even a matter of just knowing who the person is...It's a "curiosity killed the cat" thing...

When I worked at a bank (almost 20 years ago!), I handled the signature cards...Every once in a while I'd get a local celebrity or someone I knew...I have no problems admitting I broke the tape, looked at something like the city where the celebrity lived or how much they opened an account with, then taped it back up...

Do I use it for evil?...Nope...Did I pass any info along?...Nope...Did I have intentions of getting that job to look them up?...Nope...

It was just a "While I'm here" sort of thing...I didn't write anything down nor could I give a list of names or amounts or locations...Just a passing curiosity...

This, obviously, is on a larger scale and could cause way more harm, but until there's anything concrete, I wouldn't go around placing blame...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

I deal with this kind of issue from a medical standpoint. I am very limited as to what I am allowed to look at and why (HIPPA or however it's abbreviated). Anywhere I go in the computer system has my tag on it, so if someone sees me snooping in a program I don't normally use on a patient that is not in our department without a justifiable explanation and signed records release then I can expect to lose my job. And especially if that patient is one of notoriety in some way or other there will be folks checking up on who's accessing the records.

A couple of celebrities have contacted me for information on their children's appointments and I have provided it at their request no problem. But random snooping is a major no-no these days. My medical privacy was invaded several years ago by (albeit well meaning) family members before these laws were implemented, so I can understand. Not all of it is for purposes of malice, but when celebs and politicians are involved the potential for abuse is so great.

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Update...

It's not just Obama...it was all 3 candidates...

3 candidates' passport files breached

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Ummm...

I think Obama's campaign should be careful what they wish for...

Passports probe focuses on worker

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

I would rather have accessed their FBI files.....Oh thats right the Clintons already did. Nevermind it was no big deal since they only got caught accessing a thousand or so.

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"Most people can't think, most of the remainder won't think, the small fraction who do think mostly can't do it very well. The extremely tiny fraction who think regularly, accurately, creatively and without self delusion---In the long run these are the only people that count." ***** Robert Heinlein

The update is that the same people went into the files of Hillary and John. Any confirmation?

If that is the case, maybe we need to seize the contractors and find out who they are working for.

We are on a slip and slide now for surveillance thanks to Bush and Cheney. Time to rein in all the rogue elements AND THEIR EMPLOYERS.

No...

The person that works for TAC looked up McCain & Obama...There was one who looked at Hillary's and one other that looked at Obama's...

I doubt there was a plan...

And I doubt it was malicious...The TAC thing raises an eyebrow, but as far as speculation for evil goes, I'd bet it was more of a "Let's see if there's anything I can sell to TMZ" sort of thing...

And the percentages of that are low IMO...

Oh yeah...Blame Bush...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Passport Investigation Scrutinizes Employee of Firm With a Tie to Obama

The State Department investigation into how and why the passport files of three presidential candidates were breached is scrutinizing an employee at a Virginia-based company, which is headed by an adviser to Barack Obama’s campaign.

Passport Investigation Scrutinizes Employee of Firm With a Tie to Obama - America’s Election HQ

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