The Columbus Dispatch has done some impressive work exposing the unauthorized and arguably illegal database diving done by State of Ohio employees into the records of Joe the Plumber in October. The rest of Ohio's and the nation's media have been virtually asleep.
In a previous post (at NewsBusters; at BizzyBlog), I noted that Vanessa Niekamp, the state employee who blew the lid off the underhanded undertaking, was virtually unknown, while many other past government whistleblowers have been treated as media heroes.
A story in the Dispatch this morning that should be read in full (HT Michelle Malkin) about Ms. Niekamp's testimony before the Ohio House's Government and Elections Committee reveals just how imperiled she was.
While carrying out a personal order from a superior who was trying to cover his tracks, she was reminded that she was an "unclassified" employee. In plain English, she was threatened with her job if she didn't do what she was told (bolds are mine):
The state worker who unwittingly ran an improper child-support check on the man known as Joe the Plumber told lawmakers yesterday that a deputy director later "dictated" how she was supposed to cover it up.
Here's the "unwitting" part:
..... the day after Republican presidential nominee John McCain talked about Wurzelbacher in his final presidential debate Oct. 15 with Democrat Barack Obama ..... Assistant Deputy Director Carri Brown asked her (Niekamp) to check the state child-support computer system for Wurzelbacher.
Brown "claimed that he had contacted our agency with a dispute about how much child support he owed," Niekamp said.
Niekamp, who did not recognize the name, said Brown took some notes, thanked her and left.
Here's the cover-up attempt:
A week later, (Department of Job and Family Services Deputy Director Doug) Thompson came to her office with a different explanation -- that he, Jones-Kelley and assistant director Fred Williams had requested the check.
"Doug told me that the person Carri had asked me to look up was Joe the Plumber -- the one who was talked about in the national news. He said he needed my help explaining something," Niekamp said.
"Doug then told me I must write an e-mail to our agency's information-security officer to explain why the file had been accessed. He turned my computer screen so he could see it and dictated word for word what he wanted me to write. ...
"He then told me that we needed to make sure that we answer questions about what happened the same way, so that our versions were not different from each other. Before he said that, he reminded me that I was an unclassified employee -- which, as you may know, is someone who can be fired without cause."
Fortunately for people who believe in government accountability, Niekamp immediately went to the Ohio Office of the Inspector General.
Finally, here's the smoking gun that obliterates any justification for the ludicrously lenient "punishments" state employees involved received (mostly one-month suspensions without pay):
Niekamp said she knew the checks were improper because the staff undergoes training and must read and sign a form explaining when they can access confidential and personal information maintained by the department.
In other words, agency officials involved knew that what they were doing was strictly against policy, if not illegal.
The one-month suspensions handed down by Ted Strickland are in-your-face insults to the citizens of Ohio. These people have no business being State of Ohio employees ever again, in any capacity. If they return, we will know beyond doubt that Ohio's government -- from the very top down -- only cares about our privacy as long as we don't get in their way.
Given that this news involves a person who became a national figure in a presidential race in key swing state, you would think that all of this will be reported prominently in the rest of the country. You might think that the media would be asking the President-elect what he thinks of the subterfuge that was done on his behalf. Wanna bet?
As for Ms. Niekamp, what I wrote two weeks ago still holds: "I hope (her) legal representation is strong, as it’s reasonable to anticipate that her whistleblowing will not go unpunished."
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
—Tom Blumer is president of a training and development company in Mason, Ohio, and is a contributing editor to NewsBusters
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Comments Policy
Strickland is a Boob. These
December 5, 2008 - 11:50 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarStrickland is a Boob. These supervisors/managers should have been fired on the spot. I'm sure that there will be a year end "bonus" alloted to them that magically equals their lost pay.
The only hope is that Malkin, NB, O'Reilly, Hannity etal keep hammering at this issue to keep it propped up in the media ... similar to the Jeramiah Wrong story.
"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain
These people need to be
December 5, 2008 - 12:38 ET by Scuba DudeThese people need to be fired. Period.
They knowingly broke the rules and attempted to cover it up.
And I hope Ms. Niekamp retains a good lawyer, somehow I foresee her job going "poof" in the near future.
Joe the Irrelevant
December 5, 2008 - 13:02 ET by Agrarian-DecentralistJoe the Plumber's 15 minutes of fame---about 14 more than he deserved---are already behind him. Who cares?
It's not about Joe the
December 5, 2008 - 13:05 ET by Scuba DudeIt's not about Joe the Plumber, it's about government officials breaking the law. Why don't you read the article before making such a statement?
Why would he do that? Only
December 5, 2008 - 13:13 ET by mr druidWhy would he do that? Only informed people would actually talk about the subject of the thread.
You never know, something
December 5, 2008 - 13:16 ET by Scuba DudeYou never know, something might seep into the thickness that is his cranium. Right now his head is only good for banging against the wall.
Your optimisim is
December 5, 2008 - 19:53 ET by mr druidYour optimisim is impressive.
step in front of a camera
December 5, 2008 - 13:08 ET by katainkentstate your name and where you're from. If, in the next 24 hours people know where you were born, your maritial status, your voting status, your tax status, your income, your applications for public assistance, your medical records and your school records...
please feel free to fill out a complaint form.
"If you think you're finished shopping for Christmas, why not start on next year"
kataink -- you're wasting
December 5, 2008 - 13:17 ET by Jack Bauerkataink -- you're wasting yout time trying to construct a logical argument with a leftist turd.
Leftists are all about the tyrannical suppression of political opposition. What happned to Joe is simply a warning to anyone who dissents.
I see. Unsubstantiated
December 17, 2008 - 23:05 ET by NL207I see.
Unsubstantiated allegations that the Federal Government may have, for purposes of national security, eavesdropped on private telephone conversations in foreign couuntries which had a terminal inside the US without first obtaining a search warrant are an outrage and demand prosecution ....
But proven charges that government officials working inside the boundaries of the US on behalf of the Democratic Party improperly accessed and disclosed the private information of a citizen of the United States for mere political purposes is ho-hum.
Who cares? Anyone with a scrap of intelligence and integrity cares.
Joe the plumber
December 5, 2008 - 13:26 ET by cocodrieis in the same boat with all the conservatives whose personal information including divorce records, tax records, etc. have been illegally released by corrupt officials.
This does not appear to be illegal if the information is leaked by a democrat.
Maybe if we drive right through Ohio
December 5, 2008 - 13:26 ET by Southern voterand not spend a dime... the people of Ohio will wake up and demand more from their elected officials.....this election brought out the worst in the state...
Not only
December 5, 2008 - 14:40 ET by Cooperdemand more from elected officals but news stations as well.
I wrote a station here in Cincinnati and asked them why I couldn't find this anywhere on their site and told them I find my self relying on internet news more and more and watching their advertsisers less and less.
It should be a top story because it involves state corruption within a state agency and involves the privacy of everyone in the state.
Evidently Strickland has had problems in this agency before with fund raising for Obama. His answer? If it's not systemic, than it's not that bad. !!!!!!
In other words, you can abuse the system, just don't do the same abuse more than once.
While this is going to be
December 5, 2008 - 13:53 ET by dmntd1While this is going to be ignored, the 10 poor saps in Illinois that accessed Sen Obama's driving records will be touted far and wide...
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy." - Winston Churchill
So what
December 5, 2008 - 14:41 ET by CooperWho cares about his driving record. Why can't we get a mole inside Hawaii's state birth certificate office??
So what
December 5, 2008 - 14:41 ET by CooperWho cares about his driving record. Why can't we get a mole inside Hawaii's state birth certificate office??
They tried, Cooper
December 5, 2008 - 14:43 ET by Mica the Magnificent. . . but he kept tunneling under the file cabinet.
Cooper
December 5, 2008 - 14:50 ET by littlemissmuffinExactly! Why is the State of Hawaii hiding his birth certificate? What is SCOTUS going to do about it? I want PROOF that he's a natural born citizen. If "That One" didn't have something to hide, he would have produced his birth certificate a long time ago.
(can you see the smoke coming out of my ears on this one?)
"If we conservatives moved to those seven non-existent States, the government couldn’t find us and tax us to death!"
and...once again, the major media
December 5, 2008 - 22:42 ET by Cape Conservativeare completely ignoring this MOST IMPORTANT matter!!! I haven't heard diddly-squat about the birth certificate issue...the major media of our country is so corrupt we don't even tune in to ANY programs on the major networks anymore. No News and Reality Shows don't appeal to us and it seems that is all they want to broadcast!
A PROUD member of the Oogedy Boogedy branch of the GOP!
Sue the State of Ohio
December 5, 2008 - 16:32 ET by deerjerkydaveWhy doesn't Joe sue the state of Ohio for making his private information public? Oh, I forgot, the state probably has immunity from lawsuits. One more thing to look forward to under government run health care. If they make a mistake, you can't sue anybody and get compensation.
But there will be no reason
December 5, 2008 - 18:05 ET by Scuba DudeBut there will be no reason for you to sue, it is impossible for the The All Mighty, All Knowing, All Powerful Shahinshah's Government cannot possibly make a mistake. That's blasphemy!!!
Expect a call from the Obamasquad.
Who's Joe the
December 5, 2008 - 18:24 ET byWho's Joe the Plumber?
Blue
Joe is
December 5, 2008 - 18:30 ET by Delsashades of things to come!
And Blue, are you serious?
D...are you serious? It
December 5, 2008 - 18:49 ET byD...are you serious?
It goes back to the 15 minutes of fame...and the delusional supporters into believing the a$$hole was an undecided voter with the ability-
-to pass the basic apprenticeship program to become a bonafide plumber,
-to purchase his company without any capital or knowledge to run a business,
-to pay his taxes,
-to think he's a common Joe just like you!
Blue
DELUSIONS- There is no greater joy
than soaring high on the wings of your dreams, except maybe the joy of
watching a dreamer who has nowhere to land but in the ocean of reality.
Wow, Bluebird1
December 5, 2008 - 18:55 ET by Mica the MagnificentThat's one heck of an interpretation of your original statement, "Who's Joe the Plumber."
Sorry I missed it.
I got one for you:
Who's Barack Obama?
A kenyan born terrorist
December 5, 2008 - 19:01 ET byA kenyan born terrorist who's about to be sworn in as your new President?
Blue
You talkin' to me?
a-hmmmmmmm
December 5, 2008 - 19:06 ET by Mica the MagnificentI am slowly circling you, checking you out.
Can't tell if vibes are good or bad. . . . . .
Interesting answer . . . but . . .
Hmmmm. . . .circling . . . circling . . . stare down . . . circling . . .
Will defer opinion.
Whoaaaa, little
December 5, 2008 - 19:23 ET byWhoaaaa, little doggies!
Circle the wagons, circle the wagons!!!
Them be injuns out there!!!
You is either with us or against us...Take aim...ready...
Blue
You talkin' to me?
Too bad, Blue.
December 5, 2008 - 19:39 ET by Mica the MagnificentSo close.
If only you said Obama was a 'Kenyan born terrorist trying to
fake a Hawaiian birth certificate and hide his marxist beliefs
who's about to be sworn in as your new President,' then and only
then would you get the secret code words we right wing nut jobs
use to hide our racism and eeeeevil intent.
Sorry.
Troll along.
Mica... "Who's Barack
December 5, 2008 - 19:34 ET by Clear thinkerMica...
"Who's Barack Obama?"
I can answer that one... he's a Communist at heart. All this other BS is just wondow dressing.
The Left Still Hating Gov. Sarah Palin
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
I'm with you, clear thinker
December 5, 2008 - 19:41 ET by Mica the MagnificentSeems like we got a cocky and strange little troll on our hands.
Mica... It seems that the
December 5, 2008 - 19:45 ET by Clear thinkerMica...
It seems that the longer they live in their Mom's basement, the stranger they get.
The Left Still Hating Gov. Sarah Palin
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
Mica
December 5, 2008 - 19:49 ET by littlemissmuffinMica : great comeback (troll along) hahaha
"If we conservatives moved to those seven non-existent States, the government couldn’t find us and tax us to death!"
Once again....it's time to hold the media's feet to the fire
December 5, 2008 - 18:34 ET by timotheI searched CNN exhaustively today for any mention about Joe the Plumber, Vanessa Niekamp, and the State of Ohio and I came up with zilch. So I wrote them a nice long letter:
"Why hasn't CNN covered the continuing story about Joe the Plumber and how his privacy was violated by multiple departments within the State of Ohio government. To me, the frenzy to dig up dirt on Joe the Plumber is a big story and it is frightening to me that so many people in our government can intrude on an individual's privacy just because they asked a question. It is equally frightening that the "most trusted name in news" has seen no reason to investigate those in government who illegally investigated Joe. There hasn't been any demands by the press whatsoever to hold the state of Ohio government accountable for their actions nor has their been any questions asked of our President-Elect concerning the fairness of the investigation into Joe the Plumber. Only the local Columbus Dispatch has correctly seen these events as newsworthy."
Hopefully, they will decide to cover the story. I'm not holding my breath, but at least I did my part today to fight media bias. I feel good.
Good for you!
December 5, 2008 - 19:15 ET by littlemissmuffinGood for you, timothe. What I want to know is:
Where is the ACLU??????
Aren't they the supposed defenders of right to privacy?
"If we conservatives moved to those seven non-existent States, the government couldn’t find us and tax us to death!"
"If we conservatives moved
December 5, 2008 - 21:58 ET by needle"If we conservatives moved to those seven non-existent States, the government couldn’t find us and tax us to death!"
I don’t think you understand about those extra seven states. They a make a liberal reserve, known only to the Omniscient One (and ACORN). They exist for the sake of extra electoral votes in case he should need them.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
we are indebted to jtp
December 6, 2008 - 08:24 ET by tonemeisterole' barry saw joe the plumber and probably thought "just another stupid white boy". jtp asks a respectful, relavent question and gets his answer, only since the teleprompters don't come with mile long extension cords he has to wing it. he expands his answer with the now famous "spread the wealth around". and the true agenda comes out. we have a tradesman from ohio to thank for the un-masking.something all the media couldn't or wouldn't do. so if you ever need you water heater replaced....
Ted Strickland is a machine politician
December 6, 2008 - 16:35 ET by TheHistorianThe people of Ohio elected this "preacher" as Governor because they were told by the Ohio media that the Republicans were screwing them. So they elected a Democrat machine politician over a really honest and nice black guy (Ken Blackwell) as part of what they thought was "throwing the bums out". Instead, we got Ted the enforcer, Frau Brunner (who refused to do the work to verify 200,000+ questionable ACORN registrations) and is still trying to figure out how to steal from Steve Stiver an election for one of her female buddies (Mary Jo Kilroy) in a close election, and a parraphile junkyard dog attorney named Mark Dann who was forced to resign when it looked like the state could turn deeply red if they left his corrupt derierre in office. http://blogs.wsj.com...
Don't fear, because the voters elected a Democrat House, four new Democrats to Congress, and elected another lifetime Democrat politician to replace Dann in the November election. The people of Ohio then wonder why corruption continues in the state house. Go figure.
"What experience and history teach is
this - that people and governments never have learned anything from history,
or acted on principles deduced from it."
G. W. F. Hegel
Are you suprised?
December 7, 2008 - 09:02 ET by Cleveland SteamerCleveland Steamer - suprise! Democrats and the dinosaur media are covering up the smear job done to Joe the Plumber. The person who is responsible for this should be fired and prosecuted. If this is allowed to happen to Joe, when are you and I next?
Helen Jones-Kelley, 2 managers RESIGN!
December 17, 2008 - 22:58 ET by DanSchwartzHey, fellow NewsBusters: The Columbus Dispatch just reported that Helen Jones-Kelley and two managers have just resigned after serving their 30 day suspensions!
UPDATE (FTA): Doug Thompson was fired
State official resigns over 'Joe the Plumber' affair
Score one for Joe the Plumber... And one each for the Columbus Dispatch's editors and Journalist Catherine Candisky!
Please visit my Home Page at http://users.snip.ne...
Good News!
December 17, 2008 - 23:05 ET by stratmanThanks for the update.
May not have heard about this in Cleveland otherwise.
When's the Grand Jury going to meet? (rhetorical question)
DanS... Thank you so much
December 17, 2008 - 23:15 ET by bigtimerDanS...
Thank you so much for this news, I would not have heard this anywhere else I don't think msms wise, and possibility elsewhere...this should be a major story, it would if this was reversed party wise.
At least some good news for a change to close on to-boot.
Btw...I do wonder if Joe could sue...he's probably like me and not the type, even though it may cross one's mind...especially situations like this, now if he could include the whole msm of all venues, that would be a different story...
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh