Last fall, like many of you, I made a point of giving generously to a number of Democratic campaign organizations (both at local and national levels). Most importantly for our purposes here, I made a substantial donation to the DCCC.
Fast forward a few months. Every now and then I perform a search on various permutations of my name and - to my shock - found my name listed along with my home address at the FEC's website.
Up until now, I think I'd done a pretty good job of keeping my address to myself. Now it exists in plain view - moreover with information that identifies me as someone able to make political donations.
I've had three conversations: one with someone at the DCCC; two with someone at the FEC. The person at the DCCC was sympathetic; she offered to change my address, but added the proviso that this wouldn't change the information stored online by the FEC.
The FEC person was worthless. She first told me the responsibility lay with the DCCC; after I checked out that angle, she told me there was nothing to be done. My home address was now a matter of public record. Really? How on Earth is that something the public now needs to know?
"I'd think you'd publish my social security number by the same rationale," I told her, "Or did you think that was maybe best kept offline?"
There was a long, long pause and she said "I can understand where you're coming from."
Perhaps some of you are, by now, shaking your heads at my naiveté. Looking back, I can see that myself; I probably took too narrow a view of the address field when I was making donations in the fall. This was the first time my donations rose above the threshold that made them reportable.
That said, I thought this diary would work as
a.) a warning to others - think about how you fill out the address field
b.) a political issue of sorts - those of us who make substantial donations are having our privacy compromised by the FEC. If it's operating in the clear by doing so now, there's no reason why the people we just elected couldn't perform a little assist on our behalf and legally compel the FEC to exercise some common sense in publishing personal information. Internet privacy is a hot enough issue, and we're a friendly enough constituency. Why not?
(expressions of sympathy, suggestions, and pity are welcome in the comments zone)