"The Sunday Political Brunch" -- March 15, 2015

Dr. Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is an independent journalist with Mark Curtis media, LLC based in Rhode Island and is a Political Analyst for KGO Radio 810-AM San Francisco.

(Cortland, New York) – I am on the road this weekend exploring some of the politics going on in New York State. As always, former Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) comes to mind when I am in the Empire State. Her email troubles are causing major headaches and headlines, as they are for a key potential rival. Let’s brunch on that this week:

“The Timing” – Yes, the email scandal is all over the news, but the timing – at least for now – is a big plus for former Secretary of State Clinton. Why? Because it’s all playing out in March 2015, a full ten months before the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. As weary as many people are of the Clintons, the public may grow far wearier of the story. Most news stories have the shelf life of a loaf of bread any more. Advantage Clinton.

“It’s Funny, But Not Funny…” – Last week Saturday Night Live did a scorching satire about the scandal. It was funny and memorable. Any more, art imitates life. More people will remember the SNL sketch - which will live forever on You Tube - than will remember Secretary Clinton’s news conference on the subject Monday. It undermines one’s credibility when comedy outlasts policy. If you don’t believe me, ask former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK). Disadvantage Clinton.

“But He Did It, Too!” – Former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) has some email issues that parallel Secretary Clinton’s. As with her, he used a private email address and a private computer server. Bush has now made public over 270,000 of those emails, but there is a percentage of them that he won’t release because they are of a personal nature. Sound familiar? Some of Bush’s emails were with campaign donors, who then made suggestions for policy and political appointments. Quid pro quo? We’ll see. But Clinton was Secretary of State, a far more sensitive international position, i.e., Benghazi. There is bound to me more controversy, simply because the nature of her job. Slight advantage Bush.

“Transparently Opaque!” – The big buzz word in the last three election cycles has been, “transparency.” In other words, it’s about open government and the public’s business being done in the sunshine and available for scrutiny. The concept of a private email account on a private server simply flies in the face of that concept, regardless of party. It has the tone of government shrouded in secrecy out of public view. Many already view the Clintons and Bushes as entrenched professional politicians, just conducting the public’s business the old-school way. It’s a disservice and could hurt them both in contested primaries. Disadvantage Bush; disadvantage Clinton.

“The 2015 Rosemary Woods Award!” – Did it strike anyone else this week that part of this reminded me of Watergate and the “missing 18 minutes” of tape on the secret Oval Office recording made by Richard Nixon? Woods was the White House secretary accused of accidentally recording over that 18 minute of material. We’ll never know. But the accidentally “deleted” 30,000 emails from Hillary Clinton’s server and the approximate 20,000 “personal” emails that Jeb Bush won’t disclose remind me of that “missing” 18 minute of audio tape. Technology may change, but the non-disclosure of the material, and the convoluted explanations go on to this day. In other words: same song; different verse. Disadvantage Clinton; disadvantage Bush.

“The Tech Wreck!” – At one point in her discussion, former Secretary Clinton said she could have made a “smarter” choice, in her technology, using a smart phone for one email account; while using a Blackberry for another email account. I am nearly of the same generation as Mrs. Clinton (she’s about 12 years older than me), so I understand her feeble grasp of technology, which I share. But, any middle-schooler can tell you, any smart phone can now contain multiple email accounts. For example, I have three different email sources on my iPhone 4. She can’t possibly use her lack of tech savvy as an excuse. Even if she doesn’t grasp the tech aspects of this case, surely she has aids that do. Her explanation rings hollow. Disadvantage Clinton.

“Why All This Matters?” – It comes down to trust. We want to know that our leaders are forthright and dealing openly in the best interests of all of us. Any time they operate in the shadows, mistrust can set in. I agree that some of it is still bumbling with new technology. Surely political candidates are entitled to some semblance of a private life (and private emails). I am not interested in Hillary Clinton’s yoga routine; nor do I care about Jeb Bush’s dinner plans with his wife. But technology now exists to separate public versus private communications with ease. Let’s try it! Advantage all!

What are your thoughts on the email scandal? Will it affect your vote for President in 2016? Just click the comment button at www.MarkCurtisMedia.com.

© 2015, Mark Curtis Media, LLC.

Photo Courtesy: AP