Exclusive: (DNC) Democrats Ask Pentagon for Info on Potential Obama Challengers

[unhappycamper]

Exclusive: Democrats Ask Pentagon for Info on Potential Obama Challengers
By RICK KLEIN
Oct. 27, 2010

The Democratic National Committee formally has asked the Pentagon for reams of correspondence between military agencies and nine potential Republican presidential candidates, a clear indication that Democrats are building opposition-research files on specific 2012 contenders even before the midterm elections.

An internal Army e-mail obtained by ABC News indicates that the DNC has filed Freedom of Information Act requests for "any and all records of communication" between Army departments and agencies and each of the nine Republicans -- all of whom are widely mentioned as possible challengers to President Obama.

The agencies are asked to respond to the request by this Friday, just four days before Election Day.

[ET Awful]

1. One is left wondering why a "military agency" would be corresponding

with potential Republican candidates.

Seems to me that such correspondence would be in violation of their chain of command and would be insubordinate towards their Commander in Chief.

Of course, I say this knowing full well that it's exactly what any Republican would have said had a "military agency" been corresponding with Obama (or even Clinton for that matter) prior to the 2006 mid-terms.

[unhappycamper]

2. I don't think a congresscritter asking the Pentagon for information is anything new.

A congresscritter says "Hey - what's up with that burnpit?" Or "Prove to me you need to close ______". Or "Tell me why Pvt. _____ died in _______." Or "Tell me about this electrocution."

[ET Awful]

3. So all 9 of these potential candidates are in Congress?

Or were you referring to my Obama/Clinton analogy?

[unhappycamper]

4. Yes - the article is talking about 9 Rs they want info on. n/t

[ET Awful]

8. Yes, but you said that congresscritters typically corresponded with the Pentagon

All 9 of these people are not in Congress (most notably Sarah Palin).

My point is that there is NO reason that someone like Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, etc. (who no longer hold office) should be having regular correspondence with any military agency, unless, of course, it's pertaining to her son who is in the military.

[rucky]

5. I bet they're looking for something bigger than "oppo research" here.

[Gaedel]

6. A governor

A governor would also be corresponding with DOD on questions related to the military installations within his state or questions related to the state National Guard.

[Recursion]

9. Because Senators and Governors talk to the Pentagon all the time

It would be alarming if our elected representatives weren't talking to the military.

[ET Awful]

10. Sarah Palin is not a Governor any longer, and Mitt Romney hasn't been for several years n/t

[Recursion]

11. Is the FOIA request for a period when they weren't in office? NT

[gulliver]

7. That's a pretty good idea.

I've use FIA before for business purposes. It worked well. The government agency I contacted had me fill out a form, and I ended up with a conference call where I was able to get a bunch of very helpful answers to my questions. FIA is another reason to love our government. They have to respond to requests for information about the power they wield. Corporations, not so much.