Somehow the Ohio GOP thinks they are entitled to access to the phone numbers, addresses and email addresses of educators in Ohio:

Ohio’s Republican Party recently requested the names, home addresses, phone numbers and e-mails of all licensed educators in the state’s database.

The Ohio Education Association, a teachers union, obtained a temporary restraining order to halt the release of information. The association says the GOP is trying to violate teachers’ privacy.

“It is our association’s position that such information is not a public record under Ohio law,” said Patricia Frost-Brooks, president of the OEA, which represents 130,000 Ohio teachers.

The GOP says it’s merely trying to communicate with educators.

The teachers’ unions act like arms of the Democratic Party, said Kevin DeWine, GOP chairman.

I don’t really think this is a “right” for the GOP. It sounds like some serious shenanigans being pursued in an attempt to build up their failing support, with a far more serious potential. Since the GOP is using the “public record” excuse here since Teachers are state employees, then what about judges, firefighters or police? A ruling in favor of the GOP would set a precedent for any political party to obtain such information on those individuals also. Do police officers want their personal contact information so readily accessible? How about judges?

This also seems like a great way to deter people from becoming teachers, something much needed in our nation. Imagine that an aspiring teacher learns that their personal information becomes readily accessible to any power hungry politician. Yeah that is an instant turn off right there.

The Ohio GOP is really playing with fire on this one. They are exemplifying a standard GOP practice – act before thinking (see – Iraq War). I think our educators are smart enough to see where all candidates stand on the issues and make their decision from that – they don’t need an invasion of their privacy to do such.