Columbus Dispatch:

Editorial: Privacy violations
Officials shouldn’t be snooping for private records on Ohioans who are thrust into public eye
Gov. Ted Strickland should order his agency directors not to snoop on private citizens who land in the campaign spotlight. Such scrutiny could have a chilling effect on the willingness of people to stand up and be counted prior to elections.
It also undermines the confidence of all Ohioans that their state government is serious about protecting sensitive information.
The director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Helen Jones-Kelley, confirmed on Monday that she approved a records check on suddenly famous Joe the plumber, who was mentioned frequently by John McCain in his Oct. 15 presidential debate with Barack Obama.
Joe the plumber, real name Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, of Holland, near Toledo, was thrust into the spotlight because he told Obama at a Toledo appearance that he fears the Democratic presidential candidate’s tax proposals would prevent Wurzelbacher from buying the business that he works for.

The rest here.