Dean Admits Sealing Records to Avoid Embarrassment (1/27/03)

The Caledonian Record ^ | 1/30/03 | Mark M. Smith

[Rebelbase]

Dean's Sealed Records

Thursday January 30, 2003

One hundred and 50 boxes of Democrat Howard Dean's records while governor of Vermont have been sealed for a decade.

According to Green Mountain Democratic Secretary of State Deb Markowitz: "For the first time in Vermont's history, the governor asked for records to be closed for a decade." According to the secretary of state, that was negotiated down from 20 years. As indicated by Markowitz, the records of Governors Democrat Madeleine Kunin and Republican Richard Snelling were sealed for six years.

As reported by WCAX-TV, Jan. 27, Dean was asked about the records at his final press conference as governor, and he mentioned his presidential campaign. In Dean's words: "There are future political considerations. We wouldn't want anything embarrassing appearing in the papers at a critical time in any future endeavor."

Come on Mr. Presidential hopeful, you don't do your campaign any good when you make statements like that. You've said many interesting things on the campaign trail. Why make it sound like you somehow have something to hide about your years as governor?

We've been told a governor needs to keep some matters private while negotiating with a business that might relocate in Vermont. But you're not governor now. You're no longer doing business in the name of the state. Your records, however, are the business of the public and should not be sealed. We have the same opinion of the Snelling and Kunin administrations. That's why we think the Legislature should bar Gov. Douglas and any future chief executive of Vermont from sealing records.

On a national level, we have previously editorialized about misadvised attempts of the Republican Bush administration to hide behind closed doors and seal records of previous administrations. If it's really information that could get us into war in 90 days, of course, national security should be the top priority. But all too often, the secrecy is intended to protect politicians, not America. The politicos don't think taxpayers should know about embarrassing moments in an administration.

But if in the performance of official duties, a president or governor does something most people would find reprehensible or stupid, the public has a right to know.

[Rebelbase]

Dean admitted it.

[Support Free Republic]

Rank	Location	Receipts	Donors/Avg		Freepers/Avg		Monthlies
31	Alabama	70.00	2	35.00	215	0.33	279.50	17

Thanks for donating to Free Republic!

Move your locale up the leaderboard!

[Texas Eagle]

"There are future political considerations. We wouldn't want anything embarrassing appearing in the papers at a critical time in any future endeavor."

Give us a fer instance. Heh, heh.

[FreeAtlanta]

Good Grief!!! If this man has something in his records that might embarrass him, it must be a real doosey!!!

[river rat]

Dean is a typical leftist elitest asshole...

They are perfectly capable of telling everyone else what to do and how to do it -- but they can't stand scrutiny of their own lives or performance...

If Dean won't come clean about how he "managed" a state the size of most medium sized cities in California - he should be laughed off the stage when he asks to be elected President of the United States...

The silly arrogant clymer.

Semper Fi

[Prime Choice]

[stylin_geek]

My God, with what Dean has said while on the campaign trail, this statement leads me to believe he has some really incredible stuff in his sealed records.

[mabelkitty]

"DEAN KNEW!"

[mabelkitty]

It is.
Corporate welfare and tax breaks.

[Rocky]

The hits just keep coming. Dean makes himself too easy a target. I don't think he's going to end up being the Dem candidate. But it's a wonderful time to be a Republican.

(I think the date of the article should have been 1/3/04, not 1/3/03. Right?)

[OldFriend]

Probably the very first truth uttered by this psychopath.

[okie01]

It is.
Corporate welfare and tax breaks.

For Enron.

Hehehehehehehehehehehe, giggle, snort...

[Rebelbase]

I found the reference in a Vermont Newspaper story about Dean sealing his records last year.....well before the election hype.

[Cultural Jihad]

It mentions an event which happened on January 27th, probably not 2004.

[Rebelbase]

AH! Year ago to the day!

[fightu4it]

Are his college records sealed also? Is his doctorate an honorary one? If not what was his doctoral dissertation on?

[Rebelbase]

You've got me trippin. It was 1/27/03 that Dean made the statment.

[A Citizen Reporter]

You know, for being so "internet-savvy" Dean is incredibly stupid about what is available on it.

[Rebelbase]

I don't know about his College stuff.

[Gabz]

The authorities have been alerted!!!!