January 15, 2010
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News: Congressman Upset Over CC Breach
Insurance and credit cards? Ok, what's the connection? Representative Bart Stupak, (D-MI), expressed his concern of receipt of 139 faxes his office received during recent weeks from the ExposeObama.com website. The website, a political action committee, is managed by the National Campaign Fund. According to Stupak, the faxes contained details on credit card contributions of the site. What was most disturbing to the Representative was that the faxes included personal information on the contributors including names; addresses; email address; credit card numbers, expiration date and three digit card security code; computer IP number; employment information; and, contribution amounts.
The unexpected and unsolicited faxes were sent to lawmakers with an attached note petitioning them to oppose the new health care legislation proposed by President Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats. Stupak, who is Chairman of a House subcommittee on investigations, said the faxes were a serious breach of personal information placing the contributors at risk for credit card and identity theft if the information falls into the wrong hands. Representative Stupak released an announcement on his website warning individuals to be cautious if considering making a donation on the ExposeObama website. His office also contacted all of the 139 credit card donors to warn them of the breach.
The ExposeObama is an anti Barack Obama site created by Floyd Gregory Brown. Brown is a conservative activist and co-founder of the National Campaign Fund for GOP presidential candidates. He is also an American author, speaker and media commentator. Stupak wrote a letter to Mr. Brown informing him of the credit card and personal information breach. He explained that he was concerned that if the website was sending the same information out to other lawmakers, it would further jeopardize the security of the 139 individuals. The faxes were apparently addressed to nearly 50 lawmakers. Brown was contacted but refused to give any comment.