Should all candidates make their private records public?

[Padraig18]

Poll question: Should all candidates make their private records public?

Seems to be a division of opinion, and I'd like to see how it splits.

On edit: Feel free to say how you voted, if you like, and what your rationale is. :)

2nd edit: Clarity

[Padraig18]

1. Interesting trend...

But still no comments... :shrug:

[Padraig18]

2. I'll go 1st. I voted #2.

I think there are perfectly valid reasons why some government records should be kept private; if, for example, a discussion occurred between a Governor and his Chief of Staff about whether candidate A or B was better qualified to be Public Health Director, and the COS pointed out that candidate A had a possible substance-abuse problem whereas Candidate B did not, what useful purpose would be served in making the notes of such a meeting public? :shrug:

[maddezmom]

3. better quit talking to yourself, folks are going to think you've gone mad

just kidding ;)

[Padraig18]

4. LOL!

Who, me? :crazy:

[TeacherCreature]

5. I voted 2 also

for the same reasons. Public records that would do more harm than good (not to the candidate but to someone else) should be kept private. Everything else should be made public.

[Padraig18]

6. There are only 2 defensible positions, IMO.

The other extremes are indefensible and irresponsible--- 'all' and 'none'.

[maddezmom]

7. agree

:)

[Padraig18]

8. Kick

:dem:

[JNelson6563]

9. I chose #2 as well

for the same reasons you gave.

Julie

[Northwind]

10. I chose 2

But let's be h0nest here, the reason #1 is getting so many responses is because the thread author is a Dean supporter, so others have to try and skew the poll in a way that they think reflects badly on Dean. If it was posted by an Undecided the result might be more honest.

[Padraig18]

11. Kick!

:dem:

[Terwilliger]

12. all public and private records

that would eliminate any question about secrecy

[cirdin]

14. ...

I agree with you, but I think that personal information about candidates sometimes distracts us from the real issues. I think that the republicans like to move the discussion to specific people because they would lose with almost every American if they just focused on issues.

[diamondsoul]

17. Good point.

I still chose #2 because I think personal records, correspondence between family members and a candidate recieved through office mail, records which contain information potentially damning to others with no relation to the candidates performance as an elected official, things of a deeply personal nature should be kept private.

I'm odd about matters of privacy, it's something I value too deeply myself to insist someone else be forced to give it up, and particularly when doing so could harm perfectly innocent people in some way.

[Piperay]

13. I voted #1 because

at the time I was thinking how knowing EVERYTHING about the chimp would have ruined him but actually I would realistically go with #2. I don't think everything should be made public, it would ruin it for too many good people who would be afraid to run.

[stickdog]

15. Yes. Bush, Kerry and Clark first. (nt)

[Padraig18]

16. Kick!

:dem: