Why Isn’t This A Public Record?

United Press International: Florida's RNC delegation a secret:

Florida Republicans refused to release the names of the state's delegates to the national convention in New York later this month, citing privacy concerns.

“Some delegates are not comfortable speaking and don't want their information given out, and we've honored their requests. Our priority is putting the interests and welfare of our delegates first,” Florida party spokesman Joseph Agostini told the Miami Herald.

Reporters and editors were provided with contact information weeks in advance for Florida's delegation to the Democratic National Convention in Boston last month, including photos of some of the more high-profile delegates. Most other state Republican delegations are providing contact information as well.

I can't understand why the identity of the delegates — the result of a state-sponsored, public electoral process — is not a public record.

And it certainly makes visible the mockery of the idea that “delegates” are in some way representative of anyone but themselves.


4 Responses to Why Isn’t This A Public Record?

  1. MP says:

    While you may have a theoretical point, what practical difference or relevance is there? Further, do your sources indicate that the names will never be released, or merely not until closer to the convention?

  2. Chris says:

    You’ve probably answered your own question. The argument about privacy is lame–what Republican doesn’t boast to the world his or her pride in being a Republican? Membership in the party, after all, means one is righteous and has the world totally figured out. What is there to be afraid of? Terrorists? Certainly not the liberals!

    All of which means that something shady is going on that is well beyond the pale of the usual corruption and cronyism.

  3. Brett Bellmore says:

    Could be simply that they’re being protected from something shady; Florida is, after all, home to some of the maddest, in every sense of the word, Democrats in the country.

  4. Bill Nelson says:

    I too would be ashamed to be a GOP delegate in 2004, unless I was pro voting rights reform and strongly against Jeb Bush’s cheating in 2000 and 2002. Jeb is also attempting it again this year. He has already tried but got busted by the Miami Herald. Will he keep trying?

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