‘Science-Fiction Dream of Political Operatives’: Obama App ID’s Registered Democrats on Your Street
- Posted on August 6, 2012 at 9:33pm by
Liz Klimas
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Obama campaign app last week can identify registered democrats, which has some concerned about privacy and others noting this information was already available. (Image: YouTube Screenshot)
Fox Nation headlines it as “creepy.“ Hot Air deems it as one of those ”just when you thought the Obama campaign couldn’t get any weirder…” moments. The Politics and Government Blog of the New York Times calls it the ”science-fiction dream of political operatives.”
It may just be a simple campaign app for the iPhone that the Times points out could help replace the traditional clipboard for information collection during door-to-door canvassing, but some are concerned about a particular feature of this app. It’s a feature that allows you to see if your neighbor is a registered Democrat.
ProPublica points out that all this is public info — name, age, gender and voter registration — “but you no longer have to schedule a visit to a field office and wait for a staffer to hand you a clipboard and a printed-out list of addresses.”
(Image: YouTube Screenshot)
ProPublica reports Lori Carena, a registered Democrat, acknowledging the useful aspects of the app but also saying it doesn’t necessarily sit well that her political affiliation is so easy to find.
“My neighbors across the street can know that I’m a Democrat. I’m not sure I like that,” she said, according to ProPublica.
Carena said she believes there is a difference between using this app and canvassing the old-school way with a clipboard and print-out.
Here’s more on the app from the independent, non-profit news site:
It’s unclear if the app displays all registered Democrats who live in a certain area, or only a subset of voters President Obama’s campaign is trying to reach.
Asked about the privacy aspects of the new app, a spokesperson for the Obama campaign wrote that “anyone familiar with the political process in America knows this information about registered voters is available and easily accessible to the public.”
The information included in the app has “traditionally been available to anyone who walks into a campaign field office,” said the spokesperson, who declined to be named.
ProPublica reports the spokesperson saying safety and privacy regulations are being adhered to with regard to the app. The spokesperson also noted voters requesting not to be contacted will be removed from the database.
Still, ProPublica reports some privacy advocates calling the app a “privacy fail,” while others say specific measures have been put in place to ensure data is not being used or downloaded inappropriately.
Read more about the app, its privacy concerns, and the distribution of private addresses during campaign season in general on ProPublica’s post here.
Watch this promo video about the canvassing app:
According to the YouTube description for the app video, the Android version is expected to be coming soon.
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cliffchism
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 5:50am“The spokesperson also noted voters requesting not to be contacted will be removed from the database.”
What percentage of the US citizenry even has a “smartphone” and even knows that this is going on? I call bunk.
Report Post »rob2d2
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 5:14pmIf you run this app and….
…walk by an abandoned house – ding! ding! ding!
…walk by an empty lot – ding! ding! ding!
…walk by a cemetary – ding! ding! ding!
…walk by house with an NRA sticker – silence
…walk by a house with the doesn’t have welfare checks in the mail box – silence
Report Post »insaneserenity
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 12:19pmThis always amazes me. There is no such thing as privacy. Anyone can go to your local town hall and find out who lives where, what party they are, where they work, and several other things. All for 100% free.
If they want to pay, there are databases out there that have collected almost everything anyone has ever known about you, and they can find you with an old address or an old e-mail you forgot you had. These databases have everything about you, including ss#’s, places of work, and literally everything else anyone ever wanted to know about you.
Privacy is dead.
But no one tracks how you vote. they cannot. Anyone who has voted should know this. The ballots have no unique identifiers on them, and they are placed in no order into receptacles to be counted. There is no tracking info at all.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:44amJFK was the first Presidential candidate to use computer generated data. I read a book in graduate school in 1972 that covered the process. If I recall correctly, the book was “The 534”.
Report Post »Rolandd
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 9:07amGosh Darn! This is such a nifty little app. Now you know who the Libs are, by process of elimination conservatives and libertarians too. Don’t ya just love transparency?
Report Post »Donatello
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 9:01amThis can backfire on the Dems… Here’s the upside: In theory, One can see if their dog/dead Republican grandfather/goldfish is a REGISTERED DEMOCRAT… Not to mention just *******-off privacy concerned Dems.
Report Post »Cosmos102
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 8:47amMy Democrat FIL used to be in local politics. Everytime he ran for office, he’d get a print out of how each and every person voted in our county. It shocked me many years ago, when I first saw that print out on his desk. This app doesn’t shock me. Trust me when I tell you, every person running for office local, state or federally, already can get his hands on how you voted. This app just made it easier to take with you as you canvas the neighborhood.
Report Post »I support God's Israel!
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 9:58amIn the primaries, you are handed your party’s candidate voting sheet and YOU decide who you want.
NO ONE CAN EVER SEE THAT – OR, THEY SHOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO.
Anyone can get a printout at the Election Board to see who is what party, BUT THAT IS ALL. NO ONE can see HOW YOU VOTED or HOW ANYONE ELSE VOTED. AND DOING THIS CAN BE VERY DECEIVING. A lot of people swing back and forth BETWEEN PARTIES. I did so. I switched my party and voted Democrat in the primaries and then picked the best conservative Democrat. Then in the major election in November, I go back to Republican and vote for the most conservative Republican. I don’t do this much anymore because MOST ALL THE DEMS ARE SO PATHETICALLY LIBERAL, IT IS REALLY SICKENING AND I GAG EVERYTIME THE SAME IDIOTS TRY TO RUN AND THEN…………………LOSE. We have a sort of conservative Democrats for Mayor here where I live, but he is crony, and very CONCEITED. I think this is his last term. People are fed up with his ignorance, pride, ego, and nastiness. However, he does do well in his office. He get things done, but his attitude is so high and mighty – HE LOOKS DOWN TO EVERYONE ELSE – HE SHOWS IT, ACTS IT, AND VERBALIZES IT.
Report Post »Rolandd
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:07amThere is a difference between having this information in the hands of local, state and federal canvassers and the general public. I can think of a couple of scenarios where this could get someone hurt or property vandalized.
Report Post »Melika
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:12amHang on a second, did it actually say how a person voted or what their party affiliation was at the time? There’s a big difference between the two. If it listed how they voted, then that is against the law and we should all be looking into it in our own states to make sure this isn’t happening.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 8:07amWho needs an app for that?
It’s pretty damned obvious in most cases simply using ones naked eyes and ears, and often the olfactory is useful in this end.
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:30amPeople are going to start leaving these parties if they find themselves targeted with such ease.
Silversmith
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:48amWhat if Sweet Old Barack gets reelected and they use the app to locate republicans that voted against him?
Fat Janet (where are the doughnuts) Napolitano and her Homeland Security army could use it to arrest (intimidate) those of us who think that Sweet Old Barack and his posse are the worst thing to ever happen to our political system.
Sweet Old Barack thinks he is the smartest man in the world and feels that we would be better off if he were King. He does not take critizism well and will retaliate against those of us who oppose him.
OMG Nov 6, 2012
Report Post »t00nces2
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:50amIt probably works just as well for Republican canvassers.
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 7:47amMyself, wife, 3 sons, and 3 daughter in-laws all registered Democrats all fell for Hope & Change. We all have been affected by the Change and don’t like it and know friends that have been affected by it and have given up on the Hope part. I believe that this story is true because our phones have been ringing off the wall for Obama surveys. We have been telling these callers what they want to hear and telling them we will vote for Obama again. Remember when the race between Carter and Reagan was so close but Carter failed to get the vote and was beaten off the charts.
Report Post »I support God's Israel!
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:08am@Bill Rowland:
It seems fairly clear that YOU SIMPLY DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT ELECTIONS. NO ONE can tell how you voted. Just because you are registered as a Dem or Rep, doesn’t mean you will vote with your party. AND, no one can ever find out WHO YOU VOTED FOR.
Just because I am registered Republican, does not mean I won’t vote for a Democrat in November.
THEY JUST CANNOT TELL. THE PARTY ***ASSUMES*** because you are registered as a Dem, that you will vote Dem. THIS YEAR, THAT MAY NOT BE TRUE. A LOT of Dems will be voting for Romney, especially in my area. In our Tea Party in my area, we have gained a LOT of Democrats who are crossing over because JUST LIKE REAGAN BELIEVED, the Democrat party left THEM; they did not leave the Democrat party. So, they are angry, confused, and upset over Obama’s eagerness to discard and ignore our REPUBLIC. YES, there are still some good Dems out there HIDING.
So, talk to your friends, family, and neighbors. Have your talking points ready and kindly tell them what Obama has NOT DONE FOR THEM. BE PREPARED for any question they ask.
Dems complain and moan and groan about things BUT MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THEM DON’T HAVE ANY CREDIBLE ANSWERS BACKED UP BY FACTS. Conservatives always do. BE PREPARED!
I do a lot of canvassing. I have that Election Board listing of WHO IS WHAT PARTY. I love to go to the Democrat household and talk to them. 9 out of 10 times, I answer every single question for them SUCCESSFULLY. ROMNEY WILL
Report Post »canuck44
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:15amThe guy next door is an ******* from New York that thinks Florida needs to be more like the state he and those like him ruined….I don’t need this app.
Report Post »jcldwl
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:07amWho cares. I am active politically and I believe the yard signs I have put in my yard let people know who I support. As well as my U.S. Flag I fly. Oh and the bumper stickers on my cars. And of course anyone can ask me and I will tell them I support conservative, Christian, candidates. Hmmmm…seems you can only find those in the Republican Party.
Report Post »Candertwin
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:47amRepulicans do the same thing, they are just not as up to date with the technology. After being elected on the local committee, one of the first things for campaign initiatives was to pass out information of republican voters.
Report Post »DeOppressoLiber
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 12:00amIt all sound nice and handy right now in an innocent way, but I bet Hitler would have loved it after burning the Reichstag. It would come in handy when you have your Ubermensch police up Utermensch.
Like I asked before what is the DNA difference between Mao, Hitler, Stalin, Mother Teresa and George Washington. Nothing they where all human. Some decide to do good things and some decide to do evil things.
Our founding fathers new this, that is why we have a Constitution with a Bill Of Rights. The Constitution is full of a lot of No’s in the Enumerated Powers.
It is time to wake up, and embrace the Constitution.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 11:56pmI stay registered democrat in case of such emergencies.I do not want some commie burning down my house.
Report Post »LameLiberals
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 1:32amThat is actually a great idea.
You will get flyers and letters from candidates running for offices asking for your vote or money and who don’t have to reveal whether they are democrat or republicans on the actual ballot – like judges or school board members. If they lean left, they will reach out to other democrats for support and you will know who NOT to vote for.
Report Post »williemcd
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 9:30pmI get the calls all the time and try to keep them on the phone as long as I can take it. I figure that I’m suppressing at least 5 other calls being made. Plus I just got my “I Obamacare” bumper sticker!… I encourage them to send me all of their crap!
Report Post »iwillnotbequiet
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 11:55pmAnd every rapist will know where single women live.. And on and on. You name the dangerous uses and I’m sure it could happen. Find and ex that’s in hiding. This is not just big bro it just the start of much worse. The other day a friend told me that if they come to my door to convert me to keep my mouth shut..LOL( like that’s going to happen) because he was afraid I could get hurt or harassed. I‘m old not stupid but I’m always prepared..
Report Post »DeOppressoLiber
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 2:34amYou are correct about safety. Here is a link to a Gallup Poll that states that only 32% of Democrat house holds have a gun. So 7 of the 10 houses on your screen will be unarmed and defenseless.
It was the top Google site, and it took about two minutes to come up with this information. http://www.gallup.com/poll/21496/gun-ownership-higher-among-republicans-than-democrats.aspx
I recommend not using this App. How about engaging your neighbor in a civil conversation.
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 11:20pmStep back and see this app or what it realy is – a tool for Dems to keep fellow Dems in line.
This is designed to keep registered Democrats in-line, this isn’t about reaching out to Republicans trying to win them over.
This is the act of a desperate politician… And creepy.
Report Post »Copper Catfish
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 10:40pmAnyone with access to Voter Vault has all this information – Name, Address, Political Party and how strong you support your party. It’s very helpful when campaigning. This information has been available for years. What IS new is that it’s an iPhone app.
Report Post »team1blazer
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 10:38pmWTSHTF, the lemmings of the left will be the first eliminated….then the “soft target” middle of the road republicans…. finally the war will be on, between the communists and those of us who are willing to risk all to defend the U.S. Constitution…..WE WILL WIN.
Report Post »FloridaFarmGirl
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 10:21pmThe next app will list all Republicans and Independents with our names and addresses so that the OWS and more of his liberal followers can track us down and harrass us. Surprised it hasn’t already happened.
Report Post »normbal
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 10:32pmI’ve already got a Gadsden flag flying to advertise. And I’m ready for whatever grief the left wants to give me. Bring it.
Report Post »Lord_Frostwind
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 2:09amOooh, that might be fun. I’ve always wanted to pull an Eric Cartman on a bunch of loud mouthed hippies. Though I still haven’t field tested the hippie repelling devices yet, oh well no better time than the present I say.
Report Post »seeker9
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 10:13pmCreepy things from creepy people. This ain‘t your father’s Democratic party! If you are a Dem, time to abandon ship!
Report Post »LameLiberals
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 1:34amHate to disappoint you but it ain‘t your father’s republican party anymore either. While not as infected with progressives as the democrat parties – the GOP IS INFECTED. Snowe. Scott. McCain. Graham. the list goes on.
Report Post »rcguy
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:38amDon’t forget Chief Justice Roberts.
Report Post »Bruce1369
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 7:09amStarted weeding in 2006, still at it. It won’t be long….
Report Post »burned at edges
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 9:53pm“My neighbors across the street can know that I’m a Democrat. I’m not sure I like that,” she said, according to ProPublica.
I would be embarassed too to be exposed as a closet democrat. The light just got turned on, now watch all the closet democrats scatter…lol.
Report Post »hayesstephen
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 9:47pmWell hell what are the Liberals crying about after all its their guy who is running the party. Hey quit crying and carrying on. Wait until your man steals the election or declares martial law. Hum he’ll eat his own people first. Traitors are always the first one to be executed by the new dictator. Oh he will get around to the Jews and Christians by and by but you are the first to go!!!!
Report Post »Critters58
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 9:44pmI think this should call or class action lawsuit. I don’t want people to know this about me and be able to track me!
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:11amHOORAY for Common Sense! You should bottle and sell some o’ that stuff.
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:15amI can be such a Paine in the ass. …hee hee hee…
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 9:41pmhahahaahahahaha
really not surprised , and let me be the first to admit our pet trolls are not smart enough to figure out why this is a bad idea, but it sure will be interesting to watch them spin it
Report Post »Recceman90
Posted on August 6, 2012 at 9:37pmPart of the Divide and Conquer/punish strategy the failing Obama Admin is instituting!
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