NEGATIVE/AFFIRMATIVE — POLITICAL & ELECTION ISSUES 213

POLITICIANS WANT TO AND CAN MANIPULATE PRIVACY ISSUES FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT

PRIVACY IS A POPULAR AND POPULIST ISSUE FOR POLITICIANS

THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC January 20, 2000 SECTION: FRONT; Pg. A2 TITLE: STATES MOVING TOWARD MORE PRIVACY PROTECTION // acs-EE2001

In politics, there's almost nothing more popular than fighting for constituents' right to be left alone. Recognizing a populist issue, state lawmakers are seeking to stop the data that people give bosses, bankers, doctors or Internet retailers from being shared without permission.

OPPORTUNISTIC POLITICIANS WILL RIDE THE PRIVACY BANDWAGON WHENEVER THEY CAN

BOB EVANS, editor, InformationWeek, February 28, 2000 SECTION: Behind The News, Pg. 150, TITLE: Online Privacy: Protect It Or Lose It -- Businesses Must Own Up To Their Obligations Concerning Online Privacy-Or Pay The Price // acs-EE2001

If I were in Congress, I'd jump on this privacy horse and ride it full-tilt all the way to a new amendment to the Constitution. We have met the enemy and it is us, as the philosopher Pogo so sagely intoned.

BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES WILL TRY TO USE THE PRIVACY ISSUE TO THEIR BENEFIT

Neil Munro, The National Journal, MARCH 4, 2000 SECTION: CONGRESS; Pg. 702; TITLE: A Little Privacy, Please // acs-VT2001

Privacy is an issue that "resonates with the American people," said Sen. Robert G. Torricelli, D-N.J. "There will be partisan competition to do something about it."

REPUBLICANS WISH TO CAPTURE THE PRIVACY ISSUE AS THEIR OWN

Neil Munro, The National Journal, MARCH 4, 2000 SECTION: CONGRESS; Pg. 702; TITLE: A Little Privacy, Please // acs-VT2001

But some Republicans don't want to cede the issue of privacy to the Democrats. "I don't think they can capture it," said Sen. Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., who pushed through a strong financial-privacy law last year. "This is not a Democratic issue.... (Republicans) see that this is an issue they'd better get behind."

POLITICIANS ARE WATCHING THE POLLS IN DECIDING WHAT TO DO ABOUT PRIVACY ISSUES

Neil Munro, The National Journal, MARCH 4, 2000 SECTION: CONGRESS; Pg. 702; TITLE: A Little Privacy, Please // acs-VT2001

At least some politicians are watching the polls. In a Jan. 25 survey by NBC News and The Wall Street Journal, 16 percent of the 1,010 respondents said Congress's highest priority this year should be to protect the privacy of people's health care and financial records. The only issue that ranked higher-at 23 percent-was the addition of prescription benefits to Medicare.

Much of the concern over privacy is driven by the public's increased familiarity with-and occasional fights against-the high-tech data gathering performed by Internet companies and traditional markets. In fact, a November poll sponsored by IBM Corp. showed that 29 percent of Americans believed that a business had invaded their privacy.

POLITICIANS ARE ANXIOUS TO USE PRIVACY ISSUES HOWEVER THEY CAN TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES

Mike Butcher, New Media Age, November 18, 1999; Pg. 26 TITLE: Privacy plays on US morality mind// acs-VT2001

The signs are that politicians are chaffing at the bit. With elections for Congress only months away, online privacy is a relatively safe tub for Congressmen to thump to their hearts content. Unfortunately, the success of the Internet industry in the US may well form an obstacle to dealing with consumer demands for regulation.

POLITICIANS ARE FLOCKING TO PRIVACY AS AN ISSUE

WILLIAM SAFIRE, The New York Times, May 1, 2000, SECTION: Section A; Page 23; TITLE: Essay; Consenting Adults // acs-EE2001

Politicians of the left and right are finally beginning to pay attention to the groundswell of resentment about invasions of privacy.