Background check on presidential candidates

Just as it is for our federal judges and members of Congress, the president has the authority to access classified information in order to carry out his or her lawful duties. And with a stroke of the pen, the president has the lawful authority to declassify information deemed secret, sensitive and therefore classified by another member of the executive branch. Is there cause for concern that Trump, in furtherance of self-interest, under threat of extortion or because of ignorance or carelessness, will spill the beans about our national secrets?

Yes, and for many of the reasons we have seen over the past 15 months. But more concerning is the prospect of Americans, out of disdain for any one occupant of the Oval Office, abdicating their unqualified right to vet their own leaders and, instead, subjecting those standing for our highest office to preliminary evaluation by the unelected personnel of the national government, themselves acting in secret.

Background Checks For Presidential Candidates

Background investigations are important for those who serve in government and have access to sensitive information. As a former assistant U. But a posting to a career appointment is a far cry from being elected to the presidency by what we all hope was the collective free will of the American people. As those of us unhappy with the president suffer his foibles, we ought to not make matters worse by diluting our constitutional right to choose whomever we prefer to hold that office without preliminary vetting by the national government. In the end, it is only the Constitution, that time-tested charter and model for democrats and free societies the world over, that stands between us and the excesses of this or any future chief executive.

Background checks for presidential candidates? Not such a good idea. Forgot password? Subscribe now. Subscribe Login. By Thimi R. Mina Special to the Press Herald.

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Mina, a former federal prosecutor, is now an attorney in private practice in Portland. President Trump raises concerns for many Americans, but more concerning would be any system in which voters lack the unqualified right to vet their leaders. Comments are not available on this story. Want the news that's vital to Maine? Our daily headlines email is delivered each morning.

By submitting your email address you agree to our terms of service. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Latest Articles. Browse more in Opinion. Warren's remark prompted push-back from former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, the billionaire founder of Everytown and a funder of Moms Demand Action, who joked in his remarks that there wouldn't be a gun control forum this weekend without the commercial success of his financial empire.

Some differences did emerge at the forum, including how candidates can best frame their message around gun control.

Former Vice President Joe Biden said that Republicans "should be exposed" for blocking background checks, and said that opposition to gun control measures was motivated by profits. It's all about commerce for them," Biden said.

Fact-checking presidential candidates at the CNN climate town hall

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, who noted that he is a gun owner and a hunter, said that activist needed to find common ground with gun owners who, like gun control advocates, are "worried about their kids" being safe in school. All rights reserved. Interested in Elections? Add Elections as an interest to stay up to date on the latest Elections news, video, and analysis from ABC News.

presidential candidates on gun regulation - Ballotpedia

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Gun regulation

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