Reply #8: I see a potentially-serious security breach here ... [View All]

[Lisa]

If people get used to the idea that there are guys pretending to be part of the presidential security detail -- and nobody prosecutes them -- just think of the problems. I really hope the Secret Service take this seriously, because if it allows someone who isn't what he or she seems to get close to the protectee ...

Republicans should be just as concerned. Suppose someone pretended to be one of them, in order to gain that kind of access to the current officeholder?

One of the RCMP guards at the APEC meeting (which Clinton attended) was asked why he was so harsh on the protesters. He replied that anybody, engaged in any kind of activity on the site, which wasn't under the direct control of security staff, should be removed as quickly as possible. That included pretending to have clearance, or assuming someone else's identity (e.g. pretending to be someone who had a job to do there). When someone asked if he regretted clearing people out who maybe should have been allowed to stay, he snapped that it was better to sort things out after than have an incident happen on your watch. I would hope that the Secret Service aren't slackers by comparison.