So, okay, I’m kind of confused here, and maybe it’s because I haven’t properly followed the news story. However, I’ve noticed that many people on Facebook have been talking about the release of 24,000 pages of emails belonging to Sarah Palin. Man, that’s a lot of emails.
It kind of makes me wonder how many emails I have stacked up should someone go through them…but that’s beside the point.
Who Has That Kind of Time?
Who is going to go through these emails? The last I checked, the government had a lot of bills to pay back. I know that for me when I have a bunch of bills I’m struggling to pay (ah…the life of the grad student/writer/philosopher), the last thing I want to do is rack up more bills.
Setting aside my commentary for a moment – I mean, after all, before I start to talk about something, I really ought to know what it is I’m talking about, what is this news story all about? So…I searched (like any good researcher). It seems that back in 2008 (oh so long ago…that was what, the dark ages?) journalists and citizens had their own version of the “birther” controversy. Only, instead of demanding to see the Alaska governor’s birth certificate, they wanted to see her emails after John McCain pulled her on board to be his running mate. Granted, after doing a bit more research, I found that the premise rides on the state public records law – but what do people hope to find in the emails?
A Weighty Issue for Sarah Palin
Evidently, the emails weigh around 250 pounds when printed. Hmm…is that really the best use of that paper? I found it somewhat funny that she’s been criticized for her unfriendly stance toward the environment, yet someone is probably printing out each email and going through it with a highlighter…Also, evidently she received death threats. Now, setting aside my own views for a moment, I’m really bummed out that people would do such things. Politician or not, she’s still a person with a family.
I wonder who will be going through these emails and what will be found that will show more about her than has already been revealed. I suppose we’ll have to watch and see. Over at the Huffington Post, people are picking out passages of interest and sharing them with others (they actually have her emails available on their site).
Getting the emails of public officials using is definitely something within the legal rights of journalists and citizens to do. Hurrah for the Freedom of Information Act. But what I fail to understand it she sheer vitriol the press has against her. I don’t think it is wrong that they are doing through this effort, I think it is wrong that they are not doing it with all presidential candidates. Think how different things would be if ALL candidates were scrutinized to this degree…even those running for congress. Think of how many bad apples could have been weeded out before they were ever elected.
Jeffrey – oh, definitely, I suppose that’s why I feel confused. It’s not over the fact that they’re doing it, it’s why her over others (it’s the same issue I had with the “birther” controversy – if you set this in motion now, I want to see our other officials’ birth certificates as well). I can think of at least one Wiener that wouldn’t have passed scrutiny. I mean, for sure we should be more…critical…of those who lead our country and set laws. Who do they do business with? Who is petitioning them with interests? Do they conduct themselves in a manner that is cohesive with the things they say during campaigns? And I mean, the thing is that I think that it’s definitely time we become more consistent with our screening processes – no matter what side of the fence a person is on.