Here's a column that asks how transparent Sarah Palin would be as vice president.

Meanwhile, count me among those who had no idea the Green Party candidate for president visited Salt Lake City earlier this month. But when I found out, after the fact, I sprung to action.

I e-mailed the Cynthia McKinney campaign and immediately asked what I've asked other presidential campaigns: What are your views on the Freedom of Information Act and have you ever filed an FOIA request?

The McKinney campaing called me within 15 minutes!

A spokesman told me McKinney favors an open government and pointed out McKinney, while she represented Georgia in Congress, sponsored two bills which would have made records public: The Martin Luther King, Jr., Records Collection Act and the Tupac Shakur Records Release Act.



As you can guess, the Shakur Act would have released documents concerning the death of the rap star. The King Act would have released early documents relevant to the King assassination. Neither bill passed committee.

The spokesman did not know, off hand, whether McKinney had ever filed an FOIA request but said he would find out and get back to me. That was 11 days ago. Hey, she may be a minor candidate but she's still a politician.

— NC

Labels: Candidates, FOIA