Not Without an Invitation…!
At the end of 2009, gate crashers managed to breach two clear areas of security and attend a state dinner arranged to honor the Indian Prime Minister, so we are told. The cheeky and socially ambitious Tareq Salahi and his wife Michaele managed to get past reportedly impregnable security checks, including at least two Secret Service checks and a scanner, and mingle with the great and good at a glittering affair attended by everyone who is anyone.
After bluffing their way into the East Room where cocktails were served, the Salahis were photographed with Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and continued to meet and greet dozens of honored (and presumably invited) guests such as United States Vice President Joe Biden and the Indian Embassy Chief of Mission Arun K Singh.
White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs, presumably with President Obama’s approval, emphatically stated that crashers Tareq Salahi and his wife Michaele were NOT invited – NOT on the guest list – despite the Salahis’ assurances that an invitation was issued.
Yet some interesting observations have surfaced concerning the alleged ‘gate crashing’ of this White House formal dinner. Mr Obama’s attitude to the incident and reported anger ‘apres dinner’ at the ‘sloppy’ security measures taken to exclude unwanted guests suggests the crashers were unwelcome strangers and in no way acquainted with the first couple.
Weeks later, we are presented with photographs taken of the once Senator Obama being obviously chummy with the Salahis: smiling faces; arms linked – in what is becoming a typical contradiction in so many matters that concern the new president.
Why the song and dance routine about the incompetence of the Secret Service and the call for tighter security? Sceptics are suggesting that the President is attempting to ‘throw the Secret Service under the bus’… If so: why?
Whatever agenda there might be behind closed doors, the Secret Service has since been forced to review security policies on state occasions, resulting in stringent and probably costly adjustments to existing procedures.
Not for the first time, the chameleon-like Obama appears in a totally different light to the one we all originally perceived. Or did we? Did the president ever really categorically state that he had NOT INVITED the Salahis? Or did he actually criticize the Secret Service security procedure simply because the Salahis were not in possession of a valid invitation? Did Joe Biden present an invitation? Did the Indian Chief of Mission present his? What did Obama actually complain about? Does anyone know, apart from the Secret Service itself?
Was he really enraged about sloppy and ineffective security or was he simply ticked off because a pair of social climbers he would prefer to forget he ever met managed to freeload a fancy White House formal reception? The question marks that concern the motives of President Obama typify the mysterious personality of America’s newest and most unpredictable president and lead us to wonder what will turn up next…?
The Salahis’ presence at the White House State affair was certainly knowingly contrived without a formal invitation, explaining why they did not attempt to take seats at dinner: the absence of their names on the seating plan would prompt an immediate security check, however inattentive the Secret Service might have been.
If publicity was the true motive of the Salahis, they have certainly achieved a level of attention with their party crashing stunt: so has Obama.
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Feb. 15, 2010:
Check out this link for other interesting information regarding Obama administration affiliations:
Massive takedown of Obama’s and Baucus’s playing footsie with Big Pharma | Corrente
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