Dean had his records sealed for 10 years. What is he trying to hide?

[aeon flux]

I'm not trying to attack him, I just want to know what the deal is here. I support Dean, but my support is not blind. I will defend as well as criticize Dean when I think it is warranted, as I feel we all should.

btw, Bush also had some of his records sealed when he was Texas governor, even though under Texas law he wasn't supposed to do that. Why Dean is stooping to Bush's level in this case?

---------------------------------

Dean is asked to release gubernatorial records
Documents sealed under 10-year deal
By Sarah Schweitzer, Globe Staff, 10/2/2003

A conservative, Washington-based group formally requested yesterday that Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean release papers he had accumulated as governor of Vermont, nearly half of which have been under seal since he left office in January.

Dean, who served as governor for 11 years, negotiated an unprecedented 10-year seal on correspondence from his administration, saying at the time that he didn't want the documents made public because he feared embarrassing revelations in future endeavors.

In a letter to Dean, Thomas Fitton -- president of Judicial Watch, the group pushing for the document disclosure -- wrote, "Failure on your part to provide full disclosure of your records as governor raises disturbing questions concerning accountability and transparency."

Judicial Watch is exploring legal action, Fitton said in an interview. The group brought a legal challenge seeking the release of records detailing the activities of Vice President Cheney's energy policy task force. The public request for unsealing the documents was made as Dean attempts to craft an image as the plain-spoken candidate in the field of 10 Democrats.

In a written statement, the Dean campaign said: "The vast majority of his records have been made public, including all official correspondence, proclamations, declarations, pardons, extraditions, and appointments. Those documents currently under seal will remain under seal until January 2013 as per the agreement with the secretary of state."

It is not entirely clear which records Dean has sealed; he has not outlined their contents to the state. A review of documents that he did make available suggests that internal State House documents -- particularly those from him to his staff and vice versa -- have been withheld from public view.

link

[realFedUp]

1. We had endless threads on this yesterday

Try doing a search and add your thoughts onto the
rest of the flamebaits.

[wtmusic]

2. Blind love

So any post critical of Dean is flamebait? Ya surrre...

:eyes:

[realFedUp]

12. Not every post critical of Dean

is flamebait...just the dupe threads
from yesterday. :-)

[Bandit]

3. State law

Read up some on it. Dean didn't seal his papers the State of Vermount did by state law. Bush* got around his state law by putting his records in his daddies library so they could not be viewed. One abiding by state law the other avoiding state law. You decide.

[bryant69]

6. Plus look at who's asking

Judicial watch. They are trying to make this an issue to embarass Dean. This isn't an honest search, but a stab for the heart.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[maddezmom]

4. ....

:boring:

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Dupe

Mods please lock.

[madfloridian]

7. Bush did not open his voluntarily either. Read about them.

Why isn't he being criticized.
Besides Bush's records are not really that open...does Perry have a hand in deciding as well?
Another day, another Dean records thread.

http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2003-11-07/pols_feature.html
Read all about Bush open records.

[Hep]

8. Who even listens to records anymore?

He probably had them sealed so that they'll retain their value. Do you know what a 1st run Zoso record goes for these days?

[La_Serpiente]

9. Read this article if

you want to find out the truth about the Bush records in Texas. They are not so open after all.

http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2003-11-07/pols_feature.html

It is kind of long, but we read a lot here at DU.

[ibegurpard]

10. OMG!

Your sig line scared the shit out of me for a minute until I read it!
LOL!

[Terwilliger]

13. hell, I remember the Bush records story

for some reason, it was deemed OK that Bush kept just about ALL of his records sealed. The press didn't seem to care, and I haven't heard back from Judicial Watch on THAT one!

[Terwilliger]

11. Oh this is SOOOO rich

In a letter to Dean, Thomas Fitton -- president of Judicial Watch, the group pushing for the document disclosure -- wrote, "Failure on your part to provide full disclosure of your records as governor raises disturbing questions concerning accountability and transparency."

Why don't you ask Georgie boy Bush about his sealed gubernatorial records, eh Tommy? Repuke liar!

[9215]

16. Judicial Watch is a pathetic lap dog

of the Right. They got bitch slapped trying to get the VP and White House to come clean on the early 2001 Bush admin energy meeting so then decided to go back after the Clinton's for awhile.

If I was Dean or any other dem candidate I would expose their blatant partisanship.

"If you can't get the White House to come clean, don't expect me too!"

[blm]

14. How conservative he is and his dealings with energy companies

while pushing for deregulation of electricity in Vermont.`

[Hep]

15. LOL

YEs, it's a histogram. A year by year analysis of how conservative he is! How many liberals he tortured in midieval chambers under the governors mansion.

I love it. The haters never sleep.

[newyawker99]

17. This is a dupe and it is inflammatory.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=815392


I am locking this thread.


NYer99
DU Moderator.

[9215]

18. You missed the point

Dean is making an issue of the double standard applied to Bush and he.

What is good for the goose......

[aeon flux]

19. I understand it may be a conservative source

asking for Dean's records, but Dean admits the sealed contents would be 'embarrassing' for him. This is a valid criticism, regardless of where it came from.

I wish Dean would just come clean on this and stop trying to hide his record. No record of public service should be secret from the people. I thought this was the m.o. exclusive to the GOP! Disappointing!

I don't want another President who wants to hide his actions. Having said that, I will still support Dean if he gets the nomination, but with less enthusiasm than before! Another 4 years of Bush would be much worse. Kucinich is the more progressive choice and would probably be better for the people instead of the corporations but I doubt he has any real chance (I know, it sucks).