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MCDONALD: The party crashers...or how people get to enjoy the People’s House
Two senators say authorities ought to pursue criminal charges against the Virginia couple who crashed last week’s state dinner at the White House.
Democrat Evan Bayh, of Indiana, and Republican Jon Kyl, of Arizona, say such behavior should be strongly discouraged. Bayh says it’s no laughing matter that two people could get so close to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden without being cleared.
Come on fellas, it’s the people’s house, and if anyone should be prosecuted it is the White House staff who apparently lacking diligence and communication let a couple slip through. Besides, I think you two might be using this as an opportunity to get your faces on television, which any politician would, but redirect this at the White House staff, the Secret Service and any other offices that were responsible.
Besides, did you guys get invited, or maybe you didn’t get your picture taken with Michaele like Vice President Biden.
Michaele (mih-KEL’) and Tareq Salahi (TAH’-rehk sah-LAH’-hee) were allowed into the White House dinner last week even though they were not on the guest list. They were simply following the time honored rules of how to crash a party.
1. Dress well so you look like you belong.
2. If it’s a wedding, a gift-wrapped empty box is a good accessory.
3. Smile with confidence. Make small talk with people around you. (Nothing gives away a party crasher as someone who is just lurking quietly near the buffet)
4. Bring an accomplice so you have someone to talk to.
Heck, Michaele even wore a dress in the fashion of Indian tradition, which is probably an unofficial step five. She and Tareq were even photographed with the president and vice president (was he invited?).
No offense, but the interesting and perplexing fact is given their ethnic name, they weren’t given more scrutiny.
The Secret Service has apologized for the breakdown in security. Perhaps the Secret Service should employ the best-of-the-best of the party crashers to test their security as companies employ professional computer hackers to test computer-system security.
Our world is a much different place than that of the world of President Andrew Jackson. In his day, anyone could come to Andrew Jackson’s public parties at the White House, and just about everyone did!
At his last one, a wheel of cheese weighing 1,400 pounds was eaten in two hours. The White House smelled of cheese for weeks. I kind of think that working in the White House security detail is going to stink for a few weeks, as well.
Of course, the Secret Service did not exist in Andrew Jackson’s day and only came into existence after the assassination of President William McKinley and was mandated by Congress. In order to maintain a safe environment for the president and other protectees, the Secret Service calls upon other federal, state and local agencies to assist on a daily basis.
The Secret Service Uniformed Division, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Park Police patrol the streets and parks nearby the White House. The Secret Service regularly consults with experts from other agencies in utilizing the most advanced security techniques. The military supports the Secret Service through the use of Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams and communications resources.
In 1994, a deranged individual piloting a Cessna 150 glided over the treetops of the south lawn and crashed into White House. Two Secret Service agents had just seconds to scramble out of the way as the plane headed straight for them.
Tareq Salahi’s brother stated in a national news broadcast that this episode does not surprise him, as the couple enjoys the media and the exposure. He even stated that if one were to dig a bit deeper, more episodes that he views as unethical and immoral would be found.
The upshot of this whole episode is a couple who demonstrated an abundance of chutzpah — which in Hebrew, is used indignantly, to describe someone who has over-stepped the boundaries of accepted behavior with no shame.
Maybe it was hubris. In ancient Greece, hubris referred to actions which, intentionally or not, shamed and humiliated the victim, and frequently the perpetrator as well. It was most evident in the public and private actions of the powerful and rich.
Tim McDonald can be reached at timothy.mcdonald@agsfaculty.indwes.edu
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