New Book Says Secret Service Cuts Have Endangered the Safety of President Obama

The revelations coming from this book by a former Secret Service agent has been going around all over Leftblogostan, as well as Blackblogosphere, and while concern for the president is as high as the 400% jump in death threats (or essentially 30 threats a day), I tend to see this as a wake-up call. If they need to re/train guys, get new equipment or enhance procedures to pinpoint threats, then so be it. Separate the Secret Service from the Department of Homeland Security, which appears to be the real culprit (other than George W. Bush) in this mess. Do it and get it–now. From CBS:

Budget cuts at the Secret Service are so deep and a “culture change” so pervasive that the agency tasked with protecting the president is putting his life is at risk, because agents are cutting so many corners.

The explosive charge comes from Ronald Kessler, author of the new book, In the President’s Secret Service, in which Kessler reveals many previously unknown inside info told to him by agents themselves.

The Secret Service denies Kessler’s assertion.

On The Early Show Tuesday, Kessler said such routine moves as using metal detectors until everyone attending a presidential or vice presidential event has entered are being curtailed, and someone carrying a weapon could sneak it in.

The Daily Telegraph went further:

Instead of bringing in more agents – instantly identifiable because of their bulky suits, worn over bullet-proof jackets, and earpieces – the Secret Service directed agents to work longer hours to cover the extra load and to miss firearms training, physical fitness sessions and tests.

“We have half the number of agents we need, but requests for more agents have fallen on deaf ears at headquarters,” a Secret Service agent told Kessler. “Headquarters’ mentality has always been, ‘You can complete the mission with what you have. You’re a U.S.S.S. agent’.”

Mr Biden’s constant travel, including back to his home state of Delaware-the burden has meant that all agents on his team have ceased training. According to Kessler, however, they fill in forms stating they have “taken and passed all tests, when they have not, creating a dishonest culture”.

Beef up these guys and let them do their jobs, especially to protect Obama, his family, and the Bidens. Don’t just talk, act. Complain to Homeland Security and to the Office of the President himself. And for the chronic worriers, Muzikal over at Daily Kos had an answer:

Perhaps it’s because I’m part of that younger generation who has largely gotten this far in life without being subjected to outright racism. We came about when the racists were the minority, not the majority. Racism wasn’t the law of the land when we were born. Perhaps it’s because I never thought my own life was in danger because I’m Black.

I agree that racism is alive and thriving in some areas of this country and among some racial groups, but that group is largely becoming even more of a minority than it was before. Most of the country watching what’s going on are appalled, they aren’t cheering these wackos on. Those racists who are so proud to be racist are the MINORITY. Obama’s election did not create any racists who weren’t already that way. Maybe before his election those people were doing a better job of “hiding” their racism, but they were still racists. There are some people out there who just hate Obama regardless of his skin color, just like there were people out there who hated every president. That’s just life.

I trust the Secret Service to keep him safe.

Let’s not wish and hope. Pray, but send letters, buttonhole Congresspeople, and be vigilant.