Just six days before the Election, it’s no surprise that the crazy season brings out the worst in some folks.

But one instance strikes me as uniquely un-American.

News reports today show that just days after Joe Wurzelbacher, the Plumber, asked Barack Obama the question about taxes, it appears that no less than 3 public agencies used Government computers to illegally search his private, personal records.

According to CNet.com, the searches reportedly came from computers registered to the Ohio Attorney General's office; a County Child Support Enforcement agency (reportedly to dig into his private child custody matters); and the Toledo Police Department.  A Clerk in the Toledo Police Department has now been charged with invasion of privacy.  I hope that more charges will follow for other individuals.

We do not live in a Country where a private citizen’s personal information should be exposed simply because he exercises his right to free speech by disagreeing with a Presidential candidate. We are a nation of free speech, and more importantly, a nation of laws.  Last time I checked, we did not live in Putin’s Russia.

Word is that Wurzelbacher is considering a lawsuit against the Government agencies.  The Street will be the first to contribute to his Legal Fund.

As for Barack Obama, I am disappointed he has refused to condemn this behaviour, which clearly benefitted his campaign.  In fact, a supervisor who authorized one of the searches is listed as a campaign supporter of Barack Obama, and according to campaign finance records has contributed the maximum amount to his campaign.  If this were a McCain supporter, the Media would be all over it, and McCain would be the first to condemn it.  Shame on you, Barack. 

It makes me shudder to think this politics of personal destruction, as well as the even more alarming squelch of free speech, is something we should come to expect from a potential Obama Administration.