Remember those articles we wrote about S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford opening a Pandora’s Box when he selectively released personal emails to members of the media? And how that selective release (in response to the brou-ha-ha over his admitted affair with an Argentine lover) may have created a new standard for public disclosure?
You can read those stories here and here, in case you missed them.
Well, La Socialista (a.k.a. The State newspaper) has decided to pick up those two balls and run with them (wait, that’s kinda gross!). In fact, reporter John O”Conner penned a lengthy front-page story in the paper’s Sunday editions that delves into how Sanford conducted extensive public business over his private email.
We bring the article to your attention solely because our founding editor Sic Willie gets top billing in the story, which is obviously the way it should be in every news article … about anything.
From the story:
… former Sanford spokesman Will Folks, now editor of FITSnews.com, said he checked his private e-mail at least 10 times a day while with the governor.
“That’s where I was getting the vast majority of political e-mails,” Folks said.
Those e-mails included polling and other data from Sanford’s Maryland-based consultant, Jon Lerner, that influenced policy decisions, Folks said, adding “most of his decision-making on bills” was done through e-mail.
Sanford considers the day “a ceremonial waste of time,” Folks said, and often worked late into the evening by phone and e-mail.
Another former staffer, who did not want to be identified, had to create a private e-mail account after joining the governor’s office. The staffer used the account to communicate with Sanford about state business.
Let’s face it, people. Being governor of South Carolina is a “ceremonial waste of time” no matter what time of day it is, which makes you wonder why so many people want the job.
Be that as it may, though, this whole “public v. private email” issue obviously isn’t going away anytime soon, as evidenced by a new transparency effort that’s being undertaken by the S.C. Policy Council related to these emails.
“The fact that there is any business being conducted (on private e-mail accounts) at all is a problem,” Policy Council President Ashley Landess told O’Connor.
Indeed, which is why we hope that all of these emails end up seeing the light of day at some point.
By Anonymous August 2, 2009 at 2:07 am
This is a problem of protocol… there needs to be some tiered level of access…
By Ralph Hightower August 2, 2009 at 8:41 am
Former Alaska governor, Sarah Palin, also conducted state business using private email. State business should be done using state resources. Government should be open.
By Cooter Brown August 2, 2009 at 10:34 am
Da line betwix publick an’ private iza wiggly one! Don know whare da line outta be drawn an’ hoo outta draw it.
While it sounds gud to hab axcess t’ deese private accounts, it mae ear-ace da publick-private distintshun an’ dat don quite seem proper eitha.
Deir’s gotta be a middle way on dis issue. Sho’, da gubnor werks fer us, but heeze also a citizen.
All bitness outta be done on official acctounds an’ all personal bitness outta be done on anotha account. If deir izza a quesktun as t’ th’ nature ov th’ bitness, put it on da bitness account.
Dat bein’ said, wee caint really trust our current gobner t’ know da difference…
By Cooter Brown August 2, 2009 at 10:41 am
I beliebe dat izza a’ becomin’ an anar-kist, folks. caint see no otha way rite now: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-capitalism
if’n ye caint change da system, maybee we outta do aways wit it all togetha!!!
By BIN News Editorial Staff August 2, 2009 at 12:07 pm
But sic(k) willie, by your own admission you participated in using private emails to avoid disclosure. Makes you as much a part of the problem.
And no one believes that you’re “born again.” “Citizen journalist my @ss,” says our Funding Editor. “Political pimp,” she thinks.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
P.S. Hey, Cooter, our Funding Editor thinks your “hot.” She’d ask you to join her for a “beer” at her place if you’d clip your nose hairs, wipe the dried drool off your shirt and wear clean “hog washers”.
By Cooter Brown August 2, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Mista BIN News o’ whoeber th’ hell you is– get down off yer hi hourse an’ sho’ som dam respek fer yer elders!
While I ‘gree dat I is “hot”– jest ax Mrs. Cooter who bore me 8 young’uns– yer lil’ gal at yer pseudo-news site ain’t enough woman to tangle wit me!
If’n Missus Cooter heared ’bout her smart assed remarks about her man’s attire and groomin’ habits, she’d tan both ov yer hides jest fer fun!
‘sides, I’d ratha hav a beer wit my ol’ dawg, Jasper, on my front porch than with a know-it-all citified harlot who’d invite a married man in her domicile! Shameful!
I ‘spect ye are both bona fide haf-wits if’n ye has t’ engage in ad hominem attacks ‘ginst an ol’ feller lik me! You momma, I’m quite sho, taute ye betta than dat!
An’ one mo thang, young feller:
Th’ reezon Mista Willie is a’whoopin’ yer ass in th’ bloggin’/news game is ’cause heeze man enough to say it lik it is. Takes a brave man t’ do dat. Ye lose friends an’ mak enemies. Ain’t easy, but he does it. Dat’s why I respek him. Dont always ‘gree with Mista Willie, but heeze not ‘fraid t’ put his balls on da line!
I ‘spect dat ye dont hab no balls t’ put on da line. Probably dat editor gal keep ‘em in a jar in her desk.
Now go bak to yer little dream werld where things is fair an’ balanced… aint no sucha thing, college boy! Not in dis here wicked werld!
By anonymous August 5, 2009 at 7:47 am
Story an ‘absolute lie,’ SLED charges
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/aug/05/story_an_absolute_lie_sled_charges91455/#comments