What do you think?
By briarose
@briarose (124)
United States
August 11, 2009 10:28am CST
I read in the paper today that a police officer is under an investigation for running a criminal backround check on President Obama. His superiors have been notified and I think he has been suspended pending investigation. Maybe I am naive or don't understand what it entails but I don't see it as a huge deal. I imagine that it may be a privacy issue and you can only run a backround check if a person is under investigation for something. However I think this was a bored police officer just pulling things up for curiosity sake, kind of like when you google someone's name to see what comes up. I don't think there was anything devious or malicious about it. I know I dated a state cop once that teased me he ran a backround check on me before he asked me out. I guess I just don't see why it made national news unless there was something else to it. So do you think this is a big deal?
3 responses
@Angelgirl16 (2171)
• United States
11 Aug 09
I know that we have our own opinion on politics and civil rights, which is partly what America is about. However, I don't think the policeman who ran a criminal background check on Presidet Obama was just bored, if that was the case he could have investigated his police chief or other co-wokers or anyone in his neighborhood.
We all know that there are many people who don't agree with the choice of the "people." Last November's presidental election results shook the nation and caused a great divide. Having said that, many people are hoping for our leader's fall and are searching for his flaws,which we all have.
I personally, think that the policeman should be investigated as to what was his motive were, and boredom should not be his defense.
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
11 Aug 09
It is in fact a very big deal. And not because he is the president, but simply because he is an american citizen. the 4th amendment to the constitution states:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized"
What the officers did was a clear violation of this as well as a blatent abuse of power in their capacity as peace officers. Further more, it smacks of something far more signifigant. Whether or not you voted for Obama is not even an issue here. We are nothing if we do not abise by our constitution, even in our oposition to policy. If we stoop as low as to go around that document, we are no better than the dictators of the third world nations we so often critisize, we are amercians, we are far better than that. If we allow things like this, we are creating the very police state so many of us are fighting against.
@Christina504 (61)
• United States
11 Aug 09
I personal don't know why its such a big deal. however since its the president it is a no no to try and dig up dirt on him.
