This story on the First Lady taking the kids to a Broadway show in New York has an interesting element: a warning by the Secret Service that anyone taking their picture would have their cameras confiscated. Perhaps the Secret Service General Counsel could point us to where in the Constitution and federal law the Secret Service has the authority to ban photographs by the public and the confiscation of cellphones and pictures to enforce the ban.
Michelle Obama – with Sasha, 8, and Malia, 11, and about a dozen other people in tow – attended the matinee performance of “Memphis” Sunday. After the block was cordoned off, the large group entered the theater. Secret Service members did not like all of the pictures being taken that issued the warning. If the First Family wishes to avoid pictures, they may want to watch the play on video rather than confiscating cellphones and cameras of citizens. I find it outrageous that the Secret Service would consider it within its authority to confiscate phones to avoid annoyance to the First Family. The Secret Service at times seems to view itself as a Praetorian Guard rather than a public law enforcement agency.
For the full story, click here.
John:
“They say EVERY Democracy has ended in a Dictatorship…I used to laugh at that…
I’m not laughing any more!”
It wont be so bad, we are pretty much there now. A little less freedom shouldn’t be to bad. And anyway most people in this country don’t care either way so why should you?
The entire history of the 20th century has been leading up to this point, a people cant sustain that type of attack. It is like a crazy person that just keeps coming and coming and wont give up. A sane person has 2 options only let the crazy person have what they want or kill them.
A little more servitude will be good for the soul or so I am told by the religionists and the Marxists. It will be interesting to watch our further decline. But this is what compassion and altruism do to a society, it has happened many times before and it will happen many times in the future.
Secret Service Agents have loved ones and families who understand the nature of the job but I’m not certain losing one’s spouse to a bullet while he/she was protecting Michelle Obama’s gang of partyers would be justifiable in the eyes of their loved ones.
Perhaps the First Lady needs to weigh the lives of her Secret Service Agents against her daughters’ need to party.
And as for adding a dozen additional people to the load on the Secret Service Agents’ shoulders … reckless.
And then we have all the local people who were mightily inconvenienced so that the Obama retinue could enjoy their royal passage into the theater. If taking pictures is now forbidden will the next proclamation be that we lowly citizens must avert our eyes when the Obama court passes by?
This seems odd to me. I can seem them asking the theater manager to make an announcement requesting that photos not be taken, but the threat of confiscation? I suspect that might have come from an overzealous theater manager and not the USSS. I just don’t see them acting in that fashion – comondeering the house sound system and making threats to the public. In fact, they are likely very sensitive to these kinds of issues with protesters, etc… An over excited theater manager might have gotten a little to big for their britches. And the NY Daily News (not a glowing bastion journalistic integrity by any means) might have gotten the events a little mixed up. I’m giving the USSS the benefit of the doubt on this one. I’m sure they’ll be asked about it by the press.
The Press probably would not have noticed.
Imagine had they decided to go out in DC vs NYC yesterday.
… so Michelle Obama’s “right” to a night on the town is superior to the first amendment rights of ordinary citizens?
I have sympathy for the SS … the First Lady should have never placed so many people in danger simply to take her kids to a show.
Jeannie tell it to Reagan. Every president suffers from the threat, foreign or domestic.
Secret Service members, alarmed by the rash of audience members who reached for cellphones and digital cameras to photograph the First Gals, warned at intermission that they would confiscate anyone who tried to take anymore pictures.
alarmed by the rash of audience members who reached for cellphones and digital cameras.
All it would of took was for someone to scream he’s got a gun and pandemonium would have broken out.
I was scared by the implications of the topic of Professor Turley’s post. I’m terrified by the tone and topics of the responses, to the point of not recognizing my country any longer. I suppose it was always thus, but, really people…
LoL
Quote “death threats must be staggering given the mood of the country”
Then WHY would you bother to pass a bill that you say is so hated??
And if ya think people hate it now, just wait till they find out how its really going to work!!
The irony of the Secret Service and the Schutzstaffel having the same initials does not escape me, but it doesn’t provide that little smile irony usually does.
It’s not like the president and first family have not had to many photos taken and now all of a sudden don’t want anyone taking more pictures.
How many times can one be on the cover of Time and Vogue. If you work for the SS I would go with security first.
The most unique weapon that I have seen to date was an ordinary looking pen which turned out to be a .22. Not sure what the purpose of it was other than an instrument of death.
you can put a gun in a camera, and after the vote last night there are a good many upset people. I see their point and understand completely.
If I was Obama I would not want people pointing cameras at my family. The number of death threats must be staggering given the mood of the country. I don’t think this is Sig Heil at all, just common sense.
They say EVERY Democracy has ended in a Dictatorship…I used to laugh at that…
I’m not laughing any more!
A little extreme, IMHO, but I see Bdaman’s point.
Hey if it was my job to protect, I wouldn’t want all those clicking sounds either, especially last night.
Freedom on the move
Sig Heil.