"Also, earlier this year, the newspaper provided his campaign with a spreadsheet containing the names of dozens of characters in "Dreams," asking that the real person's name be provided in the adjacent cell.

The Tribune was told Obama wanted to protect the privacy of those in his book and a completed spreadsheet was never returned, although the campaign did provide names and contact information for some people it approved for interviews."

In other words, the Trib allowed Obama to dictate what people the Trib interviewed for an Obama profile.

An Obama PR firm would allow Obama to dictate who it could interview. But what self-respecting newspaper would agree to that?

What is the point of this article? About the poems, of course, even presidential candidates are allowed to have their privacy. The media has no respect for people's privacy and continues to ask for more and more until it gets an answer "NO."

About his record of 8 years' of Illinois state senator, how many state senators do keep record of things that they are not required to keep? If they do use extra rooms and staff to store these files, people (at least I would) would complain that that is not wise use of tax money. All the important documents are already public records.

There is one motive behind this request. Some people raised it to destract people's attention from asking for Hillary's records of being the First Lady. There is a fundamental difference between the two requests. Federal or state senators have their important records in the public dormain. While Hillary has no evidence to show the public how she contributed to the Administration while being the First Lady. She is running on something the public do not observe and thus can not verify. This is why she is asked to open up.

Did it ever occur to you nosey people that the other people may not want their names revealed or facts about their past lives made known? Its their right. If they want it, they know who they are and could come forward on their own.

This article is pointless! What is the Swamps deal with all these absurd arguments toward Obama.
Barack has nothing to hide he made that clear on Meet The Press last weekend!! Lets just have Edwards and Obama Team up!! It would be the best thing for the country!!
Obama-Edwards 08!!

Pulleeese....This article is obviously a whining anti-Obama piece. If I were in his place, I don't think I'd want things I'd written (that have no bearing on anything), to be opened up for public mocking and ridicule which would undoubtedly happen by newspapers trying to find something else to sell a story. And as for people in his books that the campaign "approves", maybe they approve because those people have agreed it's OK to release their names. If I were one of those people and I wanted my privacy, I may feel violated if the campaign sent back a spreadsheet with my name on it.

I think we should be more interested in where Barack Obama stands today on issues that affect all Americans, which he has published on his website and been consistent and clear in interviews.

Maybe John McCormick, would to tell the world about his private life, as well as his professional life. Go on John, we are waiting.

Please.......... He is not running on his experience as a poet. But Hillary IS running on her experience in the WH. Release the WH papers. End of story.

Seriously. You're seriously complaining that the man isn't releasing his short stories and poems as if that has any equivalency to the Hillary Healthcare debacle papers not seeing the light of day.

This is just sad.

The man was a lecturer, he was a state senator, and he's in the Senate now as well as having written two books. This is all public information. His votes, his positions, and his fund raising. What in the world do you need to read a bunch of poems and short stories for?

IS THIS A TABLOID?
I have only minimun personal entertaining interest in Barack's poetry?
What's yours?

Reeeediculous. This is one of the weakest, most pathetic hit pieces I've ever seen. Shame on the writer, shame on the swamp, and shame on Americans who think this kind of thing has any relevance whatsoever.

The Tribune has really shamed itslef with its coverage of Obama. The Sun-Times isn't much better. It seems like they're just fighting to see who can dig up the most dirt on Obama or bring him down first. Every story these writers put out soldifies their place in the hall of hacks.

This has to be the most vapid piece of "journalism" I have ever come across and I am a conservative Republican. I suggest that Mr. McCormick write about something more weighty like whether on not Barack wore penny loafers or not 30 years ago, and if so, whether they were black or brown.