UPDATE: Guess Who Came To Dinner?
At least two people who weren't invited, we now know. Just how reality-TV-wannabes Michaele and Tareq Salahi managed to crash last week's first State Dinner (See TIME's photos here.) has been the subject of back-to-back front page stories in the Washington Post and another one in the New York Times. The story raises some serious questions about White House security, given how close they got to the President and the Indian Prime Minister, as well as so many other high-ranking government officials.
As of now, the Secret Service is blaming the debacle on a breach at a single checkpoint, though they are being vague on the details. My own experience with these things is both limited and dated. Back in 1999, I attended a similar dinner the Clintons threw in honor of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji. (According to the Washington Post account of that dinner, I got invited under the "White House always throws a bone to reporters who follow the president" exemption. Whatever. I was very, very happy to be there for what turned out to be a very cool experience.)
But what I know from that dinner tells me there were a number of places where things went wrong:
The first thing to know is what makes entering the White House for one of these big social events different from, say, getting in for a routine interview or a briefing. For state dinners, invited guests are allowed to drive a car up to the building. The guards go over your vehicle, including putting something that looks like a gigantic dental mirror under it, and then you are sent up the driveway to the White House, where a uniformed military officer takes your keys and parks your car.
According to NBC's Brian Williams, the Salahis got caught in that initial screening. This from today's NYT story:
In interviews broadcast on NBC on Thursday, Mr. Williams said the couple's vehicle was turned away, adding, “Actually the first ring of Secret Service security had worked.”
“After their vehicle was turned away, they hopped out,” Mr. Williams said. “What attracted our attention was there was at least one camera trailing them. And a makeup woman got out and fixed the woman's hair and then started powdering the man's forehead.”
Okay, the checkpoint worked. But why did they then just let this unauthorized couple go on their way? Shouldn't they have been at least a little suspicious that they would try to get in through another gate? (Hint to Secret Service: The fact that they then got out of their car, and did a quick touch-up, suggests that they were not planning to go home and spend the rest of the evening watching TV and doing laundry.)
According to The Times and other reports, the Salahis apparently managed to get in at a pedestrian entrance around the block. (This gets to another difference between this kind of event and a more routine visit; at a social event, you are not issued a little tag to wear around your neck identifying you as being there for an appointment.)
The Washington Post speculated:
A savvy pair of crashers, dressed to the nines, might arrive on foot at the visitors' entrance, announce their names -- then express shock and concern when the security detail at the gate failed to find them on the guest list. On a rainy night like Tuesday, with a crowd of 300-plus arriving, security might have lost track of or granted a modicum of sympathy to a pair who certainly looked as though they belonged there. If their IDs didn't send up any red flags in the screening process, they would be sent through the magnetometers and into the White House.
This does not at all square with my experiences at those magnetometers. I've shown up any number of times when someone hadn't sent the gate the required information--full name, birthdate and Social Security number--and (believe me, I've tried) whining has never gotten me anywhere. Sympathy is not their strong suit; nor should it be.
I'm not the only one has that impression, according to the NYT:
Representative Peter T. King, the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, called for a Congressional investigation, saying in an interview Thursday that he was shocked at the lack of security at the White House on Tuesday night. Since 2003, the Secret Service has been part of the Department of Homeland Security.
“Obviously, somebody dropped the ball,” said Mr. King, of New York. “I mean, you're talking about the president of the United States and the vice president and a powerful world leader, the prime minister of India.” The prime minister, Manmohan Singh, was the guest of honor.
Mr. King said he had seen people turned away from similar White House events, including a congressman who brought his daughter instead of his wife, whose name was on the list. He also raised concerns about the Secret Service's assertion that Mr. Obama was safe because all guests passed through metal detectors.
“The fact they went through the magnometer is incidental,” he said. “They could have had anthrax on them. They could have grabbed a knife from the dining room table.”
Is it possible that the couple was cleared in for some other purpose, and by some office other than the Social Office? If that were the case, they would have been on the list to be cleared. But their formal clothes should have set off a red flag of their intended destination in the building.
Now we get to the part that I really don't understand. Their entry to the pre-dinner reception was announced. You can see the video here. (Michaele, in particular, seems to be treating this as a Hollywood red carpet walk, stopping and posing and stopping and posing. People in Washington generally don't.) What happened here? Wasn't someone standing there with a roster? (My dim recollection is that someone was when I attended that dinner in 1999.) * update below
And once they were in, shouldn't all the happy snaps with people who didn't know them (seen here on Michaele's Facebook page) have made someone think, what's up with these folks? Again, this is not typical behavior at these kinds of events.
The couple is not saying anything, though their attorney issued a statement through their publicist that “states emphatically that the Salahis did not ‘crash' this event. We look forward to setting the record straight very soon.”
And I look forward to hearing their explanation, too. Word is, they'll be on Larry King on Monday night. A word of advice: Get there early. That security at CNN can be a real bear.
UPDATE: In response to my inquiry about how they got announced: No one is speaking on the record. But my understanding is that guests just wrote their names and titles on a card, and handed it to the emcee.
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1
Me guess: They showed up with decon's Sweet Onion Casserole and were waved through...
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2
Ironically, Napolitano, who oversees the Secret Service, was busy at an airport photo op pretending she was a TSA employee. Maybe she should have been checking up on presidential security instead. I agree with Peter King -- anthrax was my first thought, too. There are plenty of crazy people who clean up right nicely.
BTW, the Times of India has run three stories on the gate-crashers.
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
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3
"The story raises some serious questions about White House security"
As does this story:
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/the-protection-racket/
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4
"They could have had anthrax on them."
Why does that sound like a threat, Mr. King?
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/culture-of-deception/
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5
I have been involved in developing homeland security since 1998 and it is a pleasure for me to confirm that Tareq and Michaele Salahi are fine public servants who give of themselves selflessly. They both were a major sponsor of The Presidential Inauguration VIP Ball and Conference in January (www.inauguration2009.tv) and now I am glad to see that they are with our leaders making a difference. -- William Loiry
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5.1
William Loiry. What a joke.
Given that you YOURSELF have ZERO integrity and absolutely NO ETHICS - (you do recall that you stole thousands of dollars from me for your phony event which never happened and you refused to return the money...?) --- I don't know that YOU can actually vouch for anyone, you slime ball.
Anyone who chooses to do business with you or your sham of a "business" is a moron. You are, in my opinion, a con artist in a cheap suit and the equivalent of an ambulance chaser with your opportunistic events (many of which never happen, while you pocket the money).
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5.2
William Loiry. What a joke.
Given that you YOURSELF have ZERO integrity and absolutely NO ETHICS - (you do recall that you stole thousands of dollars from me for your phony event which never happened and you refused to return the money...?) --- I don't know that YOU can actually vouch for anyone, you slime ball.
Anyone who chooses to do business with you or your sham of a "business" is a moron. You are, in my opinion, a con artist in a cheap suit and the equivalent of an ambulance chaser with your opportunistic events (many of which never happen, while you pocket the money).
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5.3
Dear so-called "chasingloiry". My reputation is stellar. The only person being chased is you. My lawyers are preparing to sue you for extortion, defamation, tortuous business interference, and a long list of other offenses. Extortion is also a criminal offense.
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5.4
Did you two used to date or something? I detect bitterness.
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5.5
Ha! I highly doubt that if either of you are who you say you are, you would freely be discussing your litigation plans on an online forum. I'm just saying...
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6
Wonkette does this gossip rag crap far better.
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7
I think we can bring back a semi-retired acronym for this: BFD.
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7.1
I think if the President, Vice President (who he stood next to) or Indian PM had been attacked with a knife, had their neck broken, or carotid artery pierced with eyeglasses (have you seen Godfather 3?), you might not say that.
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8
I hate that the Secret Service is taking all the fall for this. The White House Social office was just as inept, a) by not putting a Social office rep beside the Secret Service to confirm invitations, and b) by not having a roster beside the military aide who announced the folks.
The fact that the White House is letting the Secret Service take the complete fall for this, without acknowledging their own responsibility and ineptitude is sad and unproductive.
The Secret Service is on the whole a very professional organization, and maligning their reputation through this incident, especially since White House officials should share in the responsibility, is unfortunate.
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8.1
I agree with you that the Secret Service is taking the fall for this. The White House does have some explaining to do.
If these two guests were not invited, where did they sit and at what table?
Why didn't the The White House Secretary, Ms. Rogers, have a place and name sitting chart or cards so that everyone would know who is at each table?
Why didn't Ms. Rogers notice they were not invited and ask them to leave?
Why didn't First Lady who had the list of guest not walk over there and ask them to leave?
If only 300 were invited, where was the seat for 301 and 302? If every one attended as expected, there would have been a need to add an extra table or chair, right?
While the White House asks these questions to the Secret Service, someone needs to ask the First lady and White House Secretary these questions.
Either someone in the White House does not know proper etiquette or they disregarded that major social aspect.
What is really going on at the White House if they do not know how to plan a party and recognize uninvited guests immediately? The last checkpoint was the table they sat. The best host would immediately recognize and imbalance.
It just gets me that the White House does not know how to seat people. Humph…Humpf…humpf!
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8.2
Actually, having learnt more about this, while I do think that the social office can learn from this by placing a staffer by the officers in charge of security, they did seem to take some precautions.
[ A senior administration source told NBC News that staff from the office were nearby, working "between the checkpoints" in the case of problems.
In addition, the source said, social office staff were "available at a computer to double check if someone is not on the list and also to enter them into the system for processing if for some reason they should be allowed in and are not on the list."
"A senior law enforcement source also confirmed what two White House staff sources earlier told NBC News, that the Salahis were not "waved in" or had their names manually entered into the White House computer to gain entry."]
As far as dinner goes, the Social Secretary's office did have assigned seating which is why the gatecrashers never made it to the dinner. they may have taken pics, but it seems like they didn't have a seat b/c it was assigned seating.
So yeah, everyone can learn from this, but Secret Service does seem to bear the larger burden of responsibility.
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8.3
"Why didn't the The White House Secretary, Ms. Rogers, have a place and name sitting chart or cards so that everyone would know who is at each table?"
They did have assigned seating. The crashers never got to sit at the dinner table.
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9
In the Spring of 1970 while on my lunch break as an 18 year old student at a local broadcasting school around the corner, I walked right in to the White House.
On the East side there was an unguarded opening in the steel picket fence. I walked up to the door and let myself in. There was long staircase with red carpet in front of me and believe me, I was tempted to go up. But I spent about ten minutes wandering that bottom floor looking at all the wall paintings and items on the table. Then, I turned and walked out. At no time did I see anyone nor, apparently, did anyone notice me. Just when I thought those days were over....-
9.1
Amazing. I wish they would put you on television to tell this short story. Thanks for sharing!
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10
As a former Secret Service Agent, I'm astounded that these losers got into a state dinner. Obviously the USSS's ability to provide security while under the Homeland Security Dept. and Ms. Napolitano has been severly deminished. The buck stops at the top, time to get a new head of Homeland Sec.
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11
Wonder if the Chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing about this?
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12
We have become experts at passing the proverbial buck and NOT taking responsibility for any of our actions. To Wit - I read in a related story today that the SS is planning on prosecuting the "party crashers". Uh - that's kinda like Chris Dodd & Barney Frank saying we MUST get to the bottom of the mortgage crisis while THEY THEMSELVES were the 2 Senators in charge of Banking Oversight!! Look in the mirror dudes. The SS (of whomever is the actual security force "in charge") should be thanking the crashers for showing them the gaping security holes. It's like using an expert burglar or internet hacker to attempt a break-in. But NO, let's not take the responsibility for our in-actions, let's arrest them. This is once again government sleight-of-hand; "look over here on my right side while I surreptitiously hide the quarter with my left hand." Sorry the buck does stop with YOU. Fix the problems or get out of the way and real Americans, who are once again waking-up, will step-in to take care of it ourselves.
Skier Out-
12.1
Where was it you read that the S.S. is taking no responsibility? I believe they've made it pretty clear that some head(s) will roll and the appropriate changes will be made to prevent it from happening again.
As for the crashers, it seems you believe they should be rewarded for their cunning and deceitful breach and they should bear no responsibility?Since you started your comment with the statement 'We have become experts at passing the proverbial buck...' I'm lost as to what your point is ski3r.
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13
There seems to be a lot of assuming and jumping to conclusions here. Let's not pull the trigger on the Salahis and paint them as some "wanna-bes" or some "White House Party crashers" just yet. Let's gather all the facts (ie. hear what they have to say on LKL) and then take it from there. I have nothing but love for Michaele and Tareq and will continue to provide my friendship to them. I believe 100% that they were invited and cleared to attend. Perhaps the mistake was made on somebody else's part.
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14
Who is William Loiry? He says, "They both were a major sponsor of The Presidential Inauguration VIP Ball and Conference in January." I would ask Mr. Loiry, "At whose expense?" The list of creditors? Whether they are "...fine public servants" and "give of themselves selflessly" or not, the fact is that they were not invited to the State Dinner. To make matters worse, everyone appears worried about metal detectors and anthrax....what about ricin etc?
While we're beginning to understand these people, let's assume they do give of themselves "selflessly." Where, when, to whom...do they do benefits, do they contribute to charity with time, money and organization for which they are not paid? Or do they simply do charity work to promote themselves?
Forget the Secret Service for one moment! Has the IRS looked at the deductions these people have made for all their business ventures?
Finally, part of the polo playing community? What club, what team, what are they rated, do they have a social membership or playing membership, do they ride horses, do they raise horses, do they have a barn on their property, do they have farm help, what kind of farm help etc.
Let's be clear about one last thing. As Henry Kissinger may have said, "[Blondes are] the ultimate aphrodisiac." Blondes get in everywhere and anywhere they want! -
15
There is reason for great concern regarding "crashers" Our country was again compromised--remember 9/11. The house was not being watched and security protocol was null. The whole incident needs no comedy but everyone involved need to be on lock down. Even Brian Williams felt there was something unsettling regarding these professional crashers. Photos are surfing everywhere how these "illegal and suspect crashers have been in the social light" Too close to the president, vice president and families. At the point of entrance in the driveway--they should have been swooped on and detained! Sooo, if I'm in the neighborhood of the white house, it raining and I'm dressed to the ninghs and I want to attend a highly secured function, I just say that I was invited passed through the metal detector and I'm in....remember 9/11. This needs to be investigated and resolved--donot allow them on the "Larry King Show or The Desperate Houswives of Orange County" Lets not mock our country!
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16
I think they paid their way into the dinner and will reap the rewards by selling their story on some TV show.
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17
I agree that the party crashers should be held accountable. And it's a lesson to be learned by security. They certainly dropped the ball. On another matter, I would like to know why reporters such as Katie Couric and Brian Williams were invited as honored guests. They are reporters! I can't believe that their invitations won't reflect on the way they report anything about the Obama administration.
Doesn't anyone out there think that it's wrong?-
17.1
I certainly agree, however there should have been, if CBS & NBC represented perhaps personnel from say Fox, CNN & ABC. The media play's a hugh role in the WH. The head of the security should be held accountable until every detail has been examined over and over. "Damn the Defiant" full speed ahead to uncover the truth!!!
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18
dalewalk: The point is quite simple. INSTEAD of IMMEDIATELY looking at What Went Wrong with security procedures (which they certainly will eventually do) CBS radio reported that the SS immeduately jumped to discuss prosecuting the "bad guys" who broke in. It is the timing of the actions that they are discussing taking that is the problem. The early reporting seemed to imply that Security forces were blaming others BEFORE blaming themselves. At no time did I say that the crashers should be rewarded for their actions (please read it again) -they do need to be treated like the criminals they are; I was incensed that the blame game was beginning in the wrong place, as usual with our elected officials of both sides of the aisle. The analogy of comparing what the crashers did to a hired hacker was really to show just how bad the security procedures were. These crashers were not hired security thwarters just a bunch of celebrity-seeking bums. Imagine what a real security threat COULD have done.
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19
As easy as walking into the US from Mexico. Which makes me wonder why these 2 would be prosecuted when illgal aliens are not? Maybe if they were Mexican?
Somebody better be reviewing the security arrangments--like him or not he is the POTUS and needs the utmost protection. -
20
Lots of new faces. I'm guessing somebody posted a link elsewhere.
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20.1
I was just about to remark on how weird it is for all these new handles to show up talking about the Secret Service.
.
We even have a little soap opera being acted out by Mr. Loiry & Co. (Perhaps they can get in touch with Lawyer Mommy and work out a crossover event.) -
20.2
Seriously! We've got alleged homeland security developers, former Secret Service agents, personal friends of the Salahis, and one guy claiming to have waltzed into the White House himself in 1970...
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21
If you would like to know the answer to the question of who dropped the ball at the White House during the resent Security Breach look no further than the person who is in charge of Homeland Security. She did her best to destroy the State of Arizona as Governor. She and her girl friend, which by the way she took to Washington with her, live in a fantasyland called the Alternate Universe where everybody is honest and nobody is bad or has evil thoughts. I'll wager if you were to pole those who work for her has more than once heard that phrase. It was used in Arizona so much it became a joke. More than once it has been refered to, as another universe next to the real one, which is going in the same direction but dosent exist except in the minds of those who wish it were real.
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21.1
I would love to pole those who work for her. Are you sure she won't mind?
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21.2
When I worked for the Gallup Organization, I often asked at company parties, "Would someone take my pole?"
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Invariably, someone would slap me after that. -
21.3
Janet's a carpet muncher? Seriously? Cross your legs and hope to die?
.
These people may not be who they claim to be, but they are excellent snark fodder.
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22
Help me out here. It is somehow a crime to enter the white house after getting cleared by security? Sounds like some one wants to punish these to for embarrassing the SS and other security workers. We should of course be thanking these people, whatever their motives for showing the world that a breach of security is possible. After we do that, of course the people responsible should fall on their swords.
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22.1
It's a felony to lie to a federal officer.
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23
In a just world these people would receive zero attention beyond their court apperance, but we all know what kind of world this country has become,.
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24
One time in college we had uninvited guests crash a party. They drank our beer and were rude to some friends so we threw them out... through the front window.
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24.1
Only one time?
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24.2
Only once through the front window. After that, we thought better of it and simply hurled the interlopers from the top of the front porch stairs.
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25
OMG.....My Jaw dropped to the floor when I heard that Tareq and his wife were the ones who pulled this off.
Having lived in the area where they do....I have had more than one occassion to meet this charming yet very slick and self agrandizing couple
Tareq owns Oasis winery which has in the past 10 or so years been the "new money" winery destination for any and all DC wine crowd under 35. He was more suited to the "wanna be " Miami crowd than the DC crowd. Hes slick and charming and has spent millions buying his way into DC society. As for the Polo crowd, I'm not sure he's ever even touched a horse although I'm sure he's borrowed a Rolls to do the stable tour.
Anyway....enough about them...As for the secret service, I have worked with many of them and am very sorry for their mistake as the press will eat them alive for it. The agents whom I have worked with are very responsible and accurate and I'm sure that the specific agent (s) will be dealt with harshly as the black eye will not be recieved well by their co workers
I COMPLETELY understand how this could happen for the simple fact that Tareq probably made the agents feel as though he would destroy their entire family if he was disgraced by their incompetence
all the way around... a very unfortunate set of circumstances
I am VERY confident that nobody was in danger of anything more than flash burn from the camera hogs or a case of annoyance via Tareq's over inflated sense of self worth
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25.1
Oh, that Tareq! He is such a cad! Did you know that most of the time when it looks like he's wearing an expensive silk turtleneck, he's really wearing just a cheap, rayon dickey?
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