Reasons abound for security protocol surrounding cell phone records at the major carriers. Consumers just don't like hearing about privacy breaches. But as the presidential office moves into the wired age, for the first time a President-elect is a red flag going off in Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ)'s face.A personal cell phone account owned by Barack Obama (but that has been inactive for several months) was confirmed to have been accessed by "several" of Verizon's employees -- all of whom have been placed on administrative paid leave pending an internal investigation into which did so for a good reason.
While it's easy to imagine the thrill that might accompany viewing the phone calls of the President-elect (how many minutes to that number in Chappaqua, New York in June?), it's also easy to imagine the potential damage that could arise from such illegal access, both to Obama (or any candidate) and to the trust the public places in its cell phone carriers. Verizon is right to have taken action and made the news public; but the company should have put more preventative measures in place to ensure its sensitive customers' data was secure.
Obama Making History
Barack Obama made history by becoming America's first African-American president. Which of these other prominent African-Americans did NOT run for president before him?
- Jesse Jackson
- Colin Powell
- Al Sharpton
Obama is the first sitting senator to win the presidency since John F. Kennedy. How many have there been total?
- 4
- 6
- 8
Malia and Sasha Obama will be the new first daughters come January. Sasha will be the youngest child in the White House since ___ lived there.
- Chelsea Clinton
- Amy Carter
- Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr.
Obama is the first Democratic presidential candidate since ___ to win Virginia.
- Bill Clinton
- Jimmy Carter
- Lyndon Johnson
True or false: Obama will be the first U.S. president born outside the continental U.S.
- True
- False
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Reader Comments (Page 9 of 9)
11-22-2008 @ 3:00PM
Kate said...
He was born in Honolulu my ASS...no one has seen that birth certificate as Hawaii has now the law that no one but family with verifiable need to see that birth certificate can see it, have copies of it, etc. There is a grandmother in Kenya who says she was there at the hospital with his 2 half-siblings when he was born. Seems to me, this is nothing but a lying filled, bs'ing family. I don't think they know the truth.
11-22-2008 @ 3:17PM
RD said...
About that side note on the economy. Do you really think we would be in this bad of shape if this administration had not put us over 10 trillion dollars in debt? If they had not expanded government and government spending more than any other president in history? If they had not given the wealthy a huge tax break with no way to make up for the loss of income other than borrow from foreign countries? If they had not put us in an ill conceived, poorly executed war that is draining billions of dollars a week from our economy? Yes, there is a lot of blame for both Democrats and Republicans for putting our economy over the edge, but it was this president that brought this country to the edge.
11-24-2008 @ 5:30PM
demillicent said...
Rod said...
He's about as much african american as I am, and I'm white.
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He's much more African American than you because his dad is Kenyan which means he's African. The Father's genes determines the ethnicity of the child, not the mother. He's coffee with very little cream. Why are whites so concerned with race? Oh, forgive me!! I forgot. That's the crux of all of your arguments.
11-23-2008 @ 6:40AM
Caroleeena said...
And yet these companies let our own government violate our rights by turning our phone records over to the NSA and we are NOT entitled to protection. Apparently the only people in the country who are entitled to private phone records these days are politicians.
It's not just wrong to invade the privacy of politicians. It's wrong to invade the privacy of ordinary citizens too. Repeal that part of the Patriot Act. It's unconstitutional.
11-23-2008 @ 8:38AM
Jerry Marlow said...
The Republican parties new Watergate, those crooks never lose with dignity. Line them all up against the wall and well you know, treasonous Repukes.
11-23-2008 @ 8:51AM
Bill said...
Obama, is not an African American, he is 50% white and approx. 4.5% African American and the balance Arabic...He is more white then black..Clinton had more black in him then Obama..What is the big deal anyway?? Obama is a Marist/Socialist and we are in big trouble..God Bless America..With the Democrats in charge we will need some blessing.
11-23-2008 @ 9:08AM
Pierpoint Windsor said...
The article provides mere nugacity as usual in todays so called news stories. A breach such as this is unacceptable,the company is either responsible or irresponsible, preventative cautionary steps to ensure this never happens totally Verizon's lack of common sense management.
HOWEVER: the article, while providing little of importance is nowhere near as informative as the postings, each of which tell more about those doing so than those they target. Gosh but there are a lot of little angry people out there. Obama is in point of fact our President ELECT! He like those who went before him is taking on an immense responsibility. We might remain cautiously optimistic and supportive until he has the opportunity to take office. Then, like so many before him, he is bound to be proven less than perfect sooner or later, all vultures can then greatly enjoy their feeding frenzy.
Personally, as a retiree living on my lake in happy seclusion, this form of entertainment provides just enough contact with the outside world. Those demonstrating excellent intelligence are greatly cherished-all others, any your number is plethora, the reason for my sought seclusion. I've every confidence that these next years will prove better than each and every single anus horrendous during these past eight-'w' good riddence to you-your ilk-your targeted braces on the brain educationally challenged and welcome to the elite rather than the effete.
11-23-2008 @ 9:09AM
Vita said...
I am sorry but for the first time, some one of color has earned a position not given to him on the bases of his color, but on the bases of his education...Here is a man that doesnt fit the stereotypes that white culture has put on black people..He has a job , education, married with a family,doesnt where saggy pants, done everything white society ask of american citizens to do and you still wont except him...what else does a person have to do to earn respect...Some of you are jumping on Obama like he messed this country up...when before him were all white presidents...It is the greed of corporate heads that put this country in the state it is in ...Not Obama...Now here is someone who wants to try and clean up this mess we are in and some people dont want to even give him a chance...he cant do any worst than what Bush has done ....for 8 yrs...we americans had to live with that...your anger is directed at the wrong person ...It should be directed to the people that put this country in the shape it is in....come on now...lets be logical about this whole situation...Dont let your hatered distroy this country...Lets build it up with Love...
11-23-2008 @ 9:09AM
misa said...
General Wes Clark's phone records were hacked in 2004. Same thing. By the way, Obama voted for the FISA bill, so he is ok with wiretapping. He was against it at first. But that's ok. He is for change. He changed his mind about that, and public financing, and about Hillary. First he didn't like her foreign policy and then he CHANGED and as soon as he is elected, makes her Secretary of State.
11-23-2008 @ 9:23AM
14karat said...
This just shows they have no respect for him because of the color of his skin not the content of his character...for all who don't like it that he won...move to another country, continent, cave, rock where ever???
Verizon has probably lost A LOT of customers....2009 watch for the merger and jobs lost...blame the ones who hacked into his phone
11-23-2008 @ 9:59AM
Rick said...
As always talk revolves around the uninformed and the ignorant. I suppose the same people would complain if they released Osama bin laden's cell phone records too. Misguided anger about privacy and lash out on anything.Oh my God I called home and it's been looked at by J Edgar Hoover!!
11-23-2008 @ 2:17PM
Barb said...
Since when is Jesse Jackson and Al Sharp-tongue prominent? They are useless big mouths, always looking to get in front of a camera.
11-23-2008 @ 10:37AM
Bri said...
I cannot understand why everyone thinks he is our first African American President. People! He is not full African American.
11-23-2008 @ 12:18PM
Mike Arnold said...
It saddens me that Verizon has a long-standing policy of tolerating dishonesty. I am a father and grandfather of a Verizon employee who has been stealing from them for a long time. It is my failure as a parent this child has become the way she is. In an effort to educate my child to the evils of theft I turned my daughter in for stealing from Verizon. To my surprise instead of Verizon using some type of disciplinary action she was given a promotion. In the end my grandchildren have been taken away, Verizon has another employee capable of the current charges against them with hacking Obama’s phone records. My question to Verizon is: Would you like to borrow my dictionary to allow you to define integrity, honesty, and morality?
11-23-2008 @ 11:46AM
Vita said...
It seems everyone wants to point the finger...but just remember when you point one finger at someone three fingers are pointing back at you...you need you check yourself..are you fair...are you honest ...do you lie...do you cheat...are you prejudice...do you have hatred...are you pure american or mixed with another race..check all these things before you condem someone else....
11-23-2008 @ 11:55AM
Change said...
Good GAWD...what a bunch of ignorant comments made by people on here. From the stupid comments about Obama calling a drug dealer to calling Dem's dummocrats, and the religious fruit cakes who quote from the Bible but yet they are hateful and racist. What a bunch of MORONS!!!
11-24-2008 @ 5:35PM
demillicent said...
17011-23-2008 @ 10:37AM
Bri said...
I cannot understand why everyone thinks he is our first African American President. People! He is not full African American.
**************************************
Who gives a Sh*t if he's full African American? He is indeed full African American because he Father is African and his mother is American. That makes him African American. He's the first non white president of the United States. How's that?
http://www.nubianesse.com
11-26-2008 @ 1:35AM
mo tufu said...
i wants my stimlus chek now mofo