Much has been made in the print media regarding the Secret Service 11 who were called home in disgrace over the weekend. However, the talking heads weren’t up to the normal blather since it was a weekend. This morning the Morning Joe crowd all gave it a whirl. Mika must have felt like she was sitting in the boys’ locker room.
There seems a wink wink nudge nudge attitude out there amongst the men. While no one ways it is a good thing, no one really condemns the action. The attitude on the street is that people are innocent until proven guilty. Ok. I wish the rush to judgement were as tempered on all subjects as it is on this one.
I heard little talk about the embarrassment this behavior caused the United States. There was no smooth sailing for President Obama to start with because of the Cuba issue. Several countries refused to attend because Cuba was excluded. Several more have stated they will boycott in the future. To date, the President has done very little regarding Cuba other than relax some travel rules for Cuban Americans who want to travel to Cuba. Hooker-gate seemed to take over the entire weekend.
The Office of Professional Responsibility, the agency’s internal affairs unit is interviewing the Secret Service men brought home.
According to the Washington Post:
The Defense Department has ordered its own inquiry after determining that five of its personnel, who were staying at the same hotel as the Secret Service agents, violated curfew on Wednesday night. All of the U.S. personnel were part of Obama’s advance team that was preparing logistics and security for his arrival.
The alleged misconduct came to light after one of the agents became involved in a dispute with a woman Thursday morning over a payment, and Colombian police reported the matter to the U.S. Embassy.
The controversy has shifted some attention away from Obama’s trip to the economic summit, at least in the United States, where the media have focused on the accusations of heavy drinking and womanizing.
Obama was asked about the matter by a reporter in his joint news conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Obama made a point to praise the Secret Service in general, emphasizing that the agency does “very hard work under very stressful circumstances.”
“I’m very grateful for what they do,” he said. “I will wait until the full investigation [is completed] until I pass final judgment.”
Too bad the focus was taken off our issues in our own hemisphere by unprofessional behavior. While boys might be boys, the boys need to do this on their own time and at their own expense, not while the world is watching. Americans need to be learning their western hemisphere countries and capitals, not how many social security guys hired a hooker. Pull anyone off the street, kid or otherwise. Ask them to name the countries of South America. Give up before you get to the capitals. There was one in there I had never heard of.
We need to continue to demand respect from this strategic area of the world. It is in our own hemisphere and we are clearly the economic leaders when one compares GDP per capita. We aren’t going to get that respect when our protective services are guarding our president with one hand and zipping their flies with the other. Shame on the Secret Service. They have disgraced the nation. If the boys feel the need to be boys, let’s replace the ranks with girls.
I am all for leaving what happens in Columbia in Columbia and avoiding a rush to judgement when done on your own time with your own money, but as to leaving it to the girls, hmmm, maybe not:
http://www.eluniversal.com/internacional/120415/hillary-clinton-tomo-y-bailo-al-ritmo-del-sabor-de-cartagena
A State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Clinton, U.S. former lady (1993-2001), was dancing on the bar. Asked if she had a good time, the official said “a lot”.
What’s the problem? James Bond in Britain’s Secret Service …. oh. Wait. Never mind.
@Blue
The Secret Service folks were on the job. Who paid for them to get there? Who paid for their accommodations?
There are standards of behavior which include keeping your fly zipped.
As for Mrs. Clinton dancing on the bar? 1. So what. 2. Bet she wasn’t ON the bar. That is just another nasty rumor
No double standards here, are there? Its ok to be on the job and frequent hookers but don’t dare go out for dancing alone if you are female.
Get over it.
How do you know it’s a rumor? But you’re right – so what if she was?
Sorry, I don’t see the big deal here. Military/paramilitary types are going to make a beeline for the hookers as soon as their feet touch dry land. It’s always been that way, and probably always will. I don’t see the problem unless The President’s security was jeopardized. I mean, I suppose it’s possible that a sophisticated espionage is operating comprised entirely of $47 hookers, but I kind of doubt it.
*espionage network*
How hard is it for the cartels to buy the Cartagena hookers? Just put out the word that any info about the SS will be bought.
Speaking as one that once held a security clearance, those members of the SS need to be heavily reprimanded.
@Cato,
There is a reasonable expectation that people on duty for the government conduct themselves professionally. If they can’t handle that part of it, don’t take the job. The behavior weakened our position at the summit.
I hear this perpetual whining that from various factions that they don’t want to pay for birth control with their tax dollars or no abortion money anywhere around their tax dollars…blah blah blah.
Well, maybe I don’t want the Secret Service getting laid by hookers or whatever else they do (spare me the intimate details) on MY tax dollars for once.
If those same people want to come home, go off duty, and go seek out the ladies, fine by me. But when they are on duty, and they are on duty when traveling like that, then keep it zipped.
People who have high levels of responsibility and who engage in activities they may not want their spouses or employers to know about can be bought. That in itself is a reason to view that sort of behavior as threatening to the security of the President and the nation.
Screech! That nausea feeling is coming over me when the earth changes direction. Agree with you, Emma.
Furthermore, just freaking behave yourself when you are representing your job, especially when the job is our country.
This reminds me of when I was in Oahu doing some training and while holding hands with Angela this agent came up to me and asked me when I was going to teach a class in Bangkok. I shrugged and told him that was up to Washington and he then said, “Ok because when you can come down he’s got some great looking yellow women he can hook me up with.”
Another agent asked me one time to join the service and that I could work on my first divorce…
Big boys club……
@marinm
Military personnel have also been implicated.
@Starryflights
Color me shocked….shocked I say that a member of our fine military would spend money on a hooker to do things their wives at home probably wouldn’t do.
Shocked!!
Well shame on those wives! They should know better than to deny their men folk~!
Um…are the military members married? I know that some of the SS were. And I use that word in the past tense on purpose…..
“Baby, my cash money!”
@Moon-howler
AMEN!!!
Thats why when I got hitched I made sure that the wife said she’d love, honor and OBEY.
@Marin, I KNOW better than that. Don’t forget, I know Mrs. Marin. 🙄