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Lynn7
06-27-2004, 10:41 PM
I saw this on the Drudge report. This is pretty weird territory. In the Ryan case both the husband and the wife requested that their records remained sealed. Now the press is after Kerry. it is bad although at least they are treating Dem candidates the same as REpub candidates. I think this stuff should be probably be left private unless the spouse comes out and wants to tell the story- then its a matter of free speech.

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN JUNE 27, 2004 20:34:08 ET XXXXX

CHASE ON FOR SEALED KERRY DIVORCE DOCUMENTS; PAPER FRENZY AFTER ILLINOIS SENATE RACE RELEASE

After last week's front page headlines over ugly unsealed divorce record in the Republican Illinois senate race, media outlets now face a dilemma: What to do about Democrat presidential hopeful John Kerry's sealed divorce records!

The race is on in political and media circles to gauge the import of Kerry's sealed July 25, 1988 divorce from his first wife, Julia Stimson Thorne.

TRIBUNE, which successfully sued a court to gain access to Illinois Republican Jack Ryan's divorce papers and child custody records [over the objection of both Ryan and his former wife], is considering a similar push on Kerry, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

[TRIBUNE owns WLVI-TV Channel 56 in Boston. It could use its Massachusetts connection as a jumping point to petition the court which granted Kerry a divorce, sources explain.]

Other news outlets may soon follow.

CAMPAIGN CALLS DIVORCE DIGGING 'GUTTER BALL'

The Kerry campaign late Sunday called any old divorce digging a game of political "gutter ball."

"This is a trash hunt," said a senior Kerry source, who asked not to be named.

"No, I do not have a clue what is in the papers," explained the source. "But it is none of my business. And its none of your business, or any one's business... You're playing a game of gutter ball, Drudge."

"I would argue, adamantly, the records should remain sealed. And out of the hands of John's political enemies."

JUDGE: PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW

The Los Angeles judge which ordered the release of Ryan's sealed divorce ruled that the public interest in having access to the case records outweighed the Ryans' interest in protecting their child from the publicity that would follow the documents' release.

Ryan and his former wife released a statement saying they were "disturbed and angered" by last week's ruling by Superior Court Judge Robert Schnider, who was named a full judge by California Democrat Gov. Gray Davis.

"They were aware they were in a public court system and protection from embarrassment cannot be a basis for keeping from the public what's put in public courts," said Schnider, referring to Ryan and his ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan. "The openness of court files must be maintained, so that the public ... can be assured that there is no favoritism shown to the rich and powerful."

MORE

In 1991, a court also sealed a complaint amending the Kerry-Thorne divorce, concerning economic and child visitation issues, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

MORE

Anthony4sho
06-27-2004, 11:19 PM
One question.






Who cares?

Scarface98.9
06-28-2004, 12:44 AM
I second Anthony's question, and will add one of my own:

What's the point of getting a Confidential details divorce if the public is allowed to see them?

BorderEevilIII
06-28-2004, 01:05 AM
If there was something like murder, incest, skeleton in closet....
What are they hoping to find? Some kind of juicy dirt to use against Kerry? COME ON! :rolleyes:

BubbaStrangelove
06-28-2004, 03:56 PM
I can't see there being anything damaging in there. I'm betting he is boring in the sack.

Adornado
06-28-2004, 04:18 PM
He could be an incestuous, serial killing, pill pushing neo Nazi bigot and I wouldn't care because there is one thing that he isn't: George W. Bush.

Morgana
06-28-2004, 04:33 PM
Meh, just because someone stays married to the same person all their life doesn't mean they've always been faithful to that person. (Right, Bill C.? JFK? ;))

It seems more honest to me to get a divorce than to hold on to a sham of a marriage just so one can stay in politics. And I don't think someone's marriage or divorce record necessarily reflects the type of politicians they'll make. It's always struck me as silly that some people try to dig this up as some kind of noteworthy dirt. Besides, look at the rest of the population, who ISN'T getting divorced these days? Silly smear campaigns.

Anyhoo... I think sealed divorce records should remain sealed, it's none of the public's business.

BubbaStrangelove
06-28-2004, 04:42 PM
Originally posted by Adornado
He could be an incestuous, serial killing, pill pushing neo Nazi bigot and I wouldn't care because there is one thing that he isn't: George W. Bush.



Well, at least not without a DNA sample to make sure.

Cyclonus
06-28-2004, 05:37 PM
Honestly, it's disgusting that the press is willing to go to this much trouble to pry into Kerry's personal life. Really, it's his business, and should have no bearing on his political career.