Monday, February 29, 2016

The Secret Service's Job

Is it to protect the lives and safety of the president, VP, presidential candidates, etc.?

Or is it to provide taxpayer-subsidized rent-a-cops for general event security purposes?

Why am I wondering? Well, here's a bit from TIME regarding a scuffle involving one of their photographers and some Secret Service agents at a Trump event:

Chris Morris, a veteran White House photographer working on the campaign for TIME, stepped out of the press pen to photograph a Black Lives Matter protest that interrupted the speech. A video shows that Morris swore at a Secret Service agent who tried to move Morris back into the pen. ... Unlike other presidential campaigns, which generally allow reporters and photographers to move around at events, Trump has a strict policy requiring reporters and cameramen to stay inside a gated area, which the candidate often singles out for ridicule during his speeches. The entrance to the penned area is generally monitored by the Secret Service detail, which also screens attendees at his events and personally protects the candidate.

Does the Secret Service provide ushers to put attendees in their specific seats according to some ticket numbering scheme? Are there Secret Service agents walking around the crowd selling "Donald Trump is #1" foam fingers and "Make America Great Again" hats, and maybe one Secret Service agent backstage to shine The Donald's shoes and freshen his makeup between sets?

I was about to write "I doubt it," but I'm going to hedge my bet and go with "I hope not."

Why would or should the Secret Service operate a press playpen and keep the kiddies in it for the Trump campaign?

Is the Trump campaign reimbursing the US Department of the Treasury for something that's clearly an extra service  completely unrelated to the Secret Service's job?

Or is this more of Trump's habitual welfare queenery?

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