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twitterSUN EDITORIAL:
How could this happen?
Couple manage to get through security and crash White House state dinner
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 | 2:04 a.m.
Guests at a White House state dinner may go through a whole course eating with the wrong fork, or they may dribble red lentil soup down their fronts. Such gaffes are amusing and forgiven. But what is not even the slightest bit amusing, and what should never take place at such an occasion, is a security breach.
Yet it happened Tuesday night as President Barack Obama honored Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur. The more than 300 invitees at the dinner were people well known in political, news and entertainment circles.
They included New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, CBS News anchor Katie Couric and record and movie mogul David Geffen.
The invitees did not include reality TV show hopefuls and celebrity wannabes Michaele and Tareq Salahi. Yet the smiling, confident couple cleared several security checkpoints, walked right in, mingled easily with the glitterati and posed for photos with the likes of Vice President Joe Biden.
Given the assumption that the White House is totally secure at all times, the breach was shocking — and frighteningly serious. It should not be thought of as just another self-promotion — like the balloon boy incident — to better one’s chance of being chosen for a reality TV show. The most important people in government were assembled in one place and somehow an unknown couple managed to appear in their midst.
Bravo, a cable station, confirmed that Michaele Salahi is being considered as a participant in an upcoming reality TV show, the Associated Press reported. The news service also reported that her Facebook page shows photos of Obama with her and Tareq in the background, and that other photos show the couple with celebrities they call their “dear friends.”
The Secret Service was responsible for security at the state dinner. Its responsibility now is to investigate and explain — without leaving anything out — how a breach of this magnitude could possibly have happened.
Discussion: 19 comments so far…
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Who was guarding the White House, Barney Fife or the keystone kops?
"Given the assumption that the White House is totally secure at all times, the breach was shocking -- and frighteningly serious."
This has alot to do with Obama approach of dropping the Bush proactive stop it before happens versus Obama's concern for police investigation and criminal legal rights after it happens.
Like Fort Hood
More will come with this approach
I am interested if it will be blamed on the secret service or a staff member that allowed these names on a guest list.
But, as so often when making an embarrasing mistake, it sounds like the couple is going to be pilloried for what they did. Typical kill the messenger, in my opinion. Was the President threatened by them or in serious danger from them? Nah. They acted properly in the context of the state dinner. They were polite, well dressed, and in accordance with those who attended. To throw the book at them for exposing a flaw is unfair. Rather, fix the flaw. Maybe not give them a medal..I am not so sure.
What's the big deal, I thought Obama was "a man of the people"? Seriously though, I agree with Future, what do you expect from a guy and a political party (Democrats) that don't even take the security of the American people seriously.
Jason Bourne would have broke somebody's neck and subdued all the Secret Service guys, then he would have escaped with all the critical information available. Menus, party favors, etc etc.
How could this happen: Because Obama has "dumbed down" the entire government.
Sun -- all that hand wringing yet not a word about the REAL issue, whose property is the White House? It's the People's. No harm was done by the Salahis, nor does it appear they had any harmful intent. Under this country's First Principles any one of us has the right to just walk into the White House, or any other government facility, like we own it. Because we do.
Rhooster -- you always live in that fantasyland or should we just declare this a reality-free zone and get it over with?
mikegino -- you're too late. That started happening a LONG time ago. Of course, as long as We the People act like livestock we deserve to be treated like livestock. The proof -- why do national elections always come down to Republicans and Democrats?
KillerB: Beacuse we have a one-party electoral system. We have the democrat (left) wing and the republican (right) wing of the national economic party. During my misguided youth, I was a democrat. During my middle years, I became a republican. Now, during my golden years I am an avowed reactionary. However, I advise you not to wait for any modern day Robespierre or Danton because they are too busy filling their garages with cheap petroleum-based trinkets from China.
Fellow Doers of Good - (those who cast in favor of Obama) This a an undefinable jeopardy of danger to all present had the unimaginable have happened and these two folks had planned crashing the White House function with a deadly chemical like anthrax or ricin concealed inside wallets or purses and then taken out all in the tent. As unlikely as it seems and sounds, and that no sane couple would even plan such, it seems that now, it could have actually happened. Our country would have been thrown into complete disaster. We are simply lucky on this one. The Secret Service needs to be taken down and disected, cleaned, showered and given a new head who has a head. Heads must roll. This couple needs prison to send a message. Thank You.
Phargo -- "if" is not reality. Tareq didn't, and he passed the gatekeepers. Nothing else you posted is relevant here.
This is not the first time that something like this has happen that we know of. Back in 1969 Tricia Nixon the daughter of then President Richard Nixon was having a tea party at the white house one of the guest was jefferson airplane singer Grace Slick who along with Tricia were both Finch college alumi and with Abbie Hoffman as her escort almost got into the white house with a real pass. She was planning to spike President Nixon's tea with 600 micrograms of LSD good thing that things back then were different they both were stop from getting in by the FBI becauce Grace Slick was at the time on the FBI black list.
Can't believe that this story has garnered the top headlines across the board the last few days. Like nothing more important isn't going on in the world..
"How could this happen?"
In case you haven't been paying attention, Obama is the president. Nothing is as it should be. Why are you surprised?
This never would have happened if The Hoff had been on duty. He would've coldcocked them with his floating device and ordered a cheeseburger.
Phargo -- name-calling as you use it is just a childish attempt to seem clever. Doesn't work here. This is a Discussion, a posting and exchange of opinions. Either learn how to chill and fit in or expect to be snubbed.