White House gatecrashers? So yesterday

The Salahis have gotten a lot of ink. White House social secretary Desiree Rogers has taken a lot of grief. Ditto the Secret Service, which assumed responsibility for the security breach that allowed the couple without an invitation into President Obama's first state dinner. And "Saturday Night Live" has weighed in with its usual hilarious reprise on the week's news events.

Now comes this intriguing tidbit: it turns out that crashing the gates of the White House is a time-honored temptation for the truly celebrity-obsessed, dating back to the days of Jimmy Carter.

A secret 2003 report obtained by the Washington Post, along with descriptions of more recent incidents by federal homeland security officials, "places Tareq and Michaele Salahi squarely in a rogues' gallery of autograph hounds, publicity seekers, unstable personalities and others identified by the Secret Service as defeating its checkpoints at least 91 times since 1980."

-- Johanna Neuman

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Comments

[XKarenX]

I wonder if the WAPO article you link to was inspired by a press release from the WH. It's oddly diversionary, is it not? I also wonder how many of the individuals covered by the 2003 report on wackjob gatecrashers sat on a board with President Obama's friend (and Palestinian activist and Hamas supporter) Rashid Khalidi like Tareq Salahi did. And I also wonder why reputable journalists haven't mentioned that ATFP (American Task Force on Palestine) board connection, or the previously photographed meeting - if only a grip and grin - between the Salahis and Obama. That photo with the Black Eyed Peas, Randy Jackson, the Salahis and Obama isn't necessarily damning. But the public does deserve to have reporting on the extent of Mr. Salahi's relationship, if any, with Pres. Obama's friend Rashid Khalidi. Especially in light of Mr. Salahi's problematic "charity" that was cited for improprieties. Where is the reporting that should have followed these odd, perhaps innocuous, facts? Thanks again, Mr. Malcolm for your always entertaining, informative blog.

[Breaking News: EPA Rule Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is pollution (Humans Need CO2)]

SNL should do a skit on the New EPA Rule (see below):
""According to the Democrat Leftist EPA Agency Carbon dioxide (CO2) is pollution. CO2 is needed for human activity (like breathing) and , therefore, human beings can be considered pollution , according to the theory of the EPA. With New EPA pollution theories and Senate leader, Harry Reid , definition of freedom, the New 'Group Think' Democrat Party has a parrallel in the ideal of George Orwell where Freedom is really slavery , therefore, the masses need to be controlled (Big Lie Ideals) . ""

[Levinson Axelrod]

Real funny. I liked their skit with Tiger Woods as well.