March 11, 2009 9:02AM 

# National-ID-Backing Intel Chief Steps Down 

By [Jim Harper](https://www.cato.org/people/jim-harper) 

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No sooner had I posted [here](https://www.cato.org/2009/03/10/obama-intel-chief-sought-national-id/) about Chas Freeman’s support for a national ID than he [withdrew his candidacy](http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5296QZ20090311) to be Chairman of the National Intelligence Council.

With a number of controversies roiling, the national ID issue may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back of Freeman’s aspirations to the intelligence post. Indeed, it may have been the mighty power of this blog, the acid keyboard of yours truly, that served as the catalyst … maybe.

##### Related Tags 

[Defense and Foreign Policy](https://www.cato.org/defense-foreign-policy), [Technology and Privacy](https://www.cato.org/technology-privacy) 

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