Sunday, August 24, 2008

Obama’s Security Plans

This is pretty funny, but I’d be a bit ticked off if I was in the Secret Service. 

“People ask me, ‘why did you decide to run for president?’” Obama told a few hundred supporters gathered on a park lawn in Eau Claire. “I’ve decided that the real reason is Secret Service protection for my two girls as they enter into their teenage years.”

The shorts-and-t-shirt crowd burst into laughter as Obama gestured toward a cluster of men in dark suits.

“So whenever a young man comes by…for a date, we’re going to have one of these guys –- see these mean-looking guys with the glasses who don’t crack a smile?”

Obama chuckled with the crowd as the stone-faced agents, who are meticulously trained to avoid diversions even from their own assignments, gazed straight ahead without a twitch.

“They’re armed,” said Obama, whose daughters are 7 and 10 years old. “They’re dangerous.”

(5) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2202 hrs
Politics + Politics - General

  1. Assuming one term in office, the girls would be ~ 11 and 14.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 24, 2008 at 2238 hrs


  2. Actually, I rather like that line of thinking.

    But as it stands, my daughters have to pack their OWN weapons on dates.

    Posted by dad29 on August 25, 2008 at 0653 hrs


  3. I wonder if when he travels to foreign countries, he’s going to make faces at the guards outside of royal palaces in an attempt to make them smile?  Yes, our future president might be that guy.

    Posted by Recess Supervisor on August 25, 2008 at 1207 hrs


  4. Tim, I assume your point is that 11 & 14 is too young to date.  However, after leaving office, the president and his immediate family continue to get Secret Service protection.  The girls would be protected while living at home.  I assume, but I don’t know as fact, that the protection for the daughters expires when they leave home (e.g. go off to college).

    Respectfully,
    Leonard.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 25, 2008 at 1655 hrs


  5. Earlier today I looked this up (http://www.secretservice.gov/protection.shtml)

    Today, the Secret Service is authorized by law to protect:
    The president, the vice president, (or other individuals next in order of succession to the Office of the President), the president-elect and vice president-elect
    The immediate families of the above individuals
    Former presidents and their spouses for their lifetimes, except when the spouse remarries. In 1997, Congressional legislation became effective limiting Secret Service protection to former presidents for a period of not more than 10 years from the date the former president leaves office Children of former presidents until age 16 Visiting heads of foreign states or governments and their spouses traveling with them, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United States, and official representatives of the United States performing special missions abroad
    Major presidential and vice presidential candidates, and their spouses within 120 days of a general presidential election
    Other individuals as designated per Executive Order of the President
    National Special Security Events, when designated as such by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 25, 2008 at 1703 hrs


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