It’s troubling that two reality TV wannabes were able to crash a White House state dinner this week, hobnob with guests and get pictures of themselves with political power players such as Vice President Joe Biden and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
It’s not only an embarrassment for the Secret Service and the White House, but the couple exposed a gaping hole in what should be a tighter than tight security detail.
The Secret Service has been tight-lipped about how the lapse occurred and rightfully has begun a criminal investigation into how the Virginia couple managed to get in, apparently without being on the guest list.
It’s likely this is just an isolated incident, but a broader probe of the Secret Service could raise questions about whether the agency has been weakened by its post- 9/11 absorption into the amorphous Department of Homeland Security. Along with investigating the particulars of this audacious stunt, we think this is a good opportunity for the administration to consider whether the service has the leadership, resources and independence to do its job properly.
Obviously, something broke down on the evening of a state dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
By now, you’ve likely heard the tale. Michaele and Tareq Salahi — she is a former Washington Redskins cheerleader, he is a polo and wine enthusiast — talked their way into the Obama administration’s first official state dinner.
There are reports the couple, trailed by a Bravo television crew, initially were turned away by the Secret Service but managed to get in another way.
Michaele Salahi is being considered for a role in the upcoming “Real Housewives of Washington D.C.,” which begs the question of whether the TV people were in on the scam. They say they weren’t, but we have to wonder whether, at the very least, the crashers were motivated by their zeal to get on the show.
If the Balloon Boy episode wasn’t proof enough of the depths some people will sink to earn their 15 minutes of fame, we now have this exploit.
Regardless of the ambitions of this couple, the serious people at the Secret Service aren’t known for getting scammed. Getting into the White House grounds, even with an appointment and the proper identification, can be an arduous experience.
If the couple lied about being on the guest list, they could be on the hook for criminal charges related to lying to the Secret Service. A thorough investigation is necessary.
Protecting the president is a crucial national security mission, one that has taken on new dimensions with the election of Barack Obama, the nation’s first black president.
The antics of the Salahis have made a mockery of the important job of presidential security. There’s little doubt heads will roll.
But we also hope the incident will prompt some soul-searching as to whether there is a broader problem at work.
