I saved this post for the weekend, because I have a strange feeling that we may get a statement from the White House Press Office about the resignation of Social Secretary Desiree Rogers. I may be wrong, and I hope that I am, but all signs seem to be pointing in that direction. However, to me it seems that there is an elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss. I wonder if my husband and I dressed up in shiny new clothes and showed up a at a high profile White House function would we make it past the first security check point if our names were not on the guest list. Would the security personnel stationed at the door look at us and think that we look like we belong there so we must. So before we storm the castle with our angry villager torches and demand the head of Ms Rogers on a platter, I think we need to ask ourselves a question. Does the Salahis party crashing say more about the incompetence of the Social Secretary or does it shine the spot light on White privilege?
Now before some of you go all Maury Povich on me and pull out the DNA testing kits and proclaim that Mr Salahis is not Caucasian, let me state that I am dealing strictly with his phenotype and not his genotype. I firmly believe that if my husband and I with our beautiful Black selves showed up at the same State Dinner and our names were not on the guest list we would have been vehemently denied access and possibly escorted to the nearest DC cell and held for questioning. I am almost certain that there is no way we would be making the talk show rounds unless we could so from the comfort of our cell. I may be accused of playing the race card, but tell me I’m lying. How many Black people have been the victims of racial profiling when they have attempted to do something as simple as enter an expensive department store or even a drug store in a neighborhood where people felt like they did not belong? Just ask Oprah. Remember when she was denied access to Hermes in 2005?
I find it hard to believe that with all of the security surrounding the White House, the President, and the First Lady that an epic fail like this is being laid at the feet of a Social Secretary. Kudos to the Secret Service officials who stepped up and rightly accepted responsibility for security breach. There is no doubt that there are lessons to be learned in the wake of this incident. I am certain the Secret Service will be more vigilant in the future and that there will be a Social Secretary staffer placed at the entrance of every event.
As for people commenting on Ms Rogers taking a seat at the dinner, give me a break. This was not the Spring Women’s Auxiliary Tea at some church. This was a White House State Dinner. Can you imagine the layers of security that should have been in place? I am thinking that the Social Secretary’s office should be way down, if present at all, on that list. As far as Ms Rogers being the First Lady’s friend and not qualified for the position – PLEASE. Desiree Rogers is a graduate of Wellesley College and she has an MBA from Harvard. She has had high profile positions with AT&T and the Illinois Lottery just to name a few. I think that makes her over qualified. Any woman who’s attended charm school, hosted dinner parties and holiday gatherings at her home could very well qualify to be White House Social Secretary. As far as her being the First Lady’s friend, I don’t really care. If I were in the First Lady’s shoes there is almost a 100% chance that one of my close girlfriends would be my social secretary too. You want someone who shares the same sentiments as you when it comes to opening up your home to guest.
As far as reporters like April Ryan and Robin Givhan, the Sistergirl in me sends them a big virtual hug and I want them to know that it’s going to be all right. Desiree rogers is a Social Secretary so yes she should be at social events, I don’t care if it’s Fashion Week or a State Dinner, wherever she is she carries our First Lady with her and I think she does an awesome job of representing her. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that some of these Black women reporters have an ax to grind. Just look at April Ryan’s behaviour at a White House press briefing…
Despite what some may believe there is room for more than one beautiful Black woman in the room. It’s about time we start genuinely celebrating that beauty instead of creating or feeding rivalries.
Like I stated in the beginning, I hope Ms Rogers does not resign, but if she does I hope the First Lady replaces her with someone who is just as fabulous. My vote is for B. Smith. With her expertise I’m sure she would make a wonderful Social Secretary.
Posted by Aminah Hanan
38 Comments, Comment or Ping
admin
AAW Aminah thanks for bringing a different perspective. You know I wuold have been gang tackled if I strolled up there in my Sunday best.
Imma have to say NO on the B smith thing. the First lady doesn’t need another celebrity Social Secretary. Let her pick someone I’ve never heard of who has a heart of service.
I am curious about the subtext of why the Black women reporters are gunning for her, but both you and I have successfully dodged having to go THERE. Maybe we need a top secret Black women’s confab.
Dec 5th, 2009
Kiva @ Farmstead Lady
Follow you on twitter and appreciate this perspective. Totally shocked by the behavior of April Ryan at the press briefing, thankful for the video clip. Ms. Rogers is not the first Social Secretary to be a seated guest at a State Dinner, some should know their history and also stop the petty jealousy. Kudos to you!!
Dec 5th, 2009
Carolyn B.
What this episode shines a light on is high-level incompetence and how starstruck our culture is with celebrities. For pity’s sake, our President’s life was put at risk, as was his guest’s, an important ally.
From this incident to the inappropriate gifts of DVDs to the partially blind British P.M. Gordon Brown, it is apparent that Mr. Obama has a staff that is too young and inexperienced for the rigors and responsibilities of their jobs. They embarrass him with their epic fails.
If Ms. Rogers goes, that just may be a good thing. She obviously feels entitled to hobnob with the hoi polloi. Let her go work for Paris Hilton or a Kardashian sister or seek out her own reality show.
I prefer for my President to be safe and alive than to be an accessible rock star.
Dec 5th, 2009
pepper
Of course the Salahis only got in because the wife is perceived by Americans as pretty (I don’t think she is). I was watching Larry King and one of the ladies I think she was an old social secretary saying how much more black people there were. I roll my eyes.
I think Desiree is over qualified and that is why she shouldn’t be social secretary. That is her job, but it is clear that she is only interested in the social aspect.
Even though I am not a fan of Desiree. I am also not a fan of April and Robin. This is the first time I have heard about April. I don’t know what caused her to have such a violent reaction. Other reporters have gotten testy but because she is a black women this will be made more of a big deal.
I want the Obama’s to succeed especially Michelle, but all of the misstep are making them look bad and the media will pounce on it. I was just reading an article on the New York Times about the menu having typos. Even though it may be a small thing, it was a big event and they should have paid attention to detail.
@Aminah,
I’m the opposite of you I want her to resign but I don’t think she will.
Dec 5th, 2009
busbus
Admin, I agree with you 100%. This crap has gotten way out of hand and there needs to be a scapegoat for all those folks who do not live in “glass houses,” don’t fear what’s in their closets and who have NEVER erred in their decision making. It amazes me that we have so many PERFECT people in this country!
So, the White House changed the protocol. Okay, it saw that damage was done. Now it is reverting to the previous one. Might the party crashing incident have happened if the previous protocol had been in place? Possibly! This would have still caused a “scapegoat” situation. With this administration, whatever is done, it’s damn if it does and damn if it does not!
I do hope that Desiree Rogers does not resign. She is the right person for this job. Yes, a serious breach of security was made. Fortunately, no damage happened, just some “egg on our face!” Now, as far as I’m concerned, this was a tremendous learning lesson for everyone involved AND, THEY WILL BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO MAKE THIS KIND OF MISTAKE AGAIN. Believe me, each of these folks and their departments will make certain that all i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed because they will all be under scrutiny at all times. I rather these folks stay on, with having been reprimanded, than new folks who will have to go through the “learning process” and who are apt to make mistakes along the way. So I say, “Desiree, hang in there and weather the storm! Don’t let these folks force you to resign!”
As far as the video clip goes, April Ryan is “full of it!” She is forgetting that Desiree holds two positions – one, as an advisor to President Obama and one as social secretary. In addition, she is a personal friend of the president and worked hard in his campaign. Therefore, as other Executive Office personnel; select campaign contributors, workers and supporters; and personal friends were invited, WHY SHOULD DESIREE BE EXCLUDED? Ms. Ryran seems to have forgotten that President Obama’s FRIENDS sacrificed their personal time and finances to personally support their friend during every aspect of the campaign.
I will continue to pray for President Obama’s safety and the safety of his family. I also pray for the safety of Vice President Joe Biden and his family. Therefore, I was very concerned with this breach of security and I do thank God that nothing happened to either of them or the honored guests. Yes, we have “egg on our face;” but, we will be made better because of it.
I commend the director of the Secret Service. He has class! My personal thank you to him and his staff. I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR HIM AND HIS STAFF. The Secret Service should be very proud of their past and present service to the President and his family! Again, I applaud them.
Dec 5th, 2009
Eli Shrinking
Stufe White People Do had a post about this, too http://stuffwhitepeopledo.blogspot.com/2009/11/slip-past-security-more-easily.html
Margret Cho’s comment that “White people always look more INVITED than non white people” is a very interesting one. I think that it gets to the point of the privilege working here.
Dec 5th, 2009
Aminah Hanan
@ADMIN any one who becomes Michelle Obama’s Social Secretary will be thrust into the limelight and become famous. Remember Desire was just a local Chicago celeb before accepting that post.
@KIVA thanks for the kudos and the Twitter follow.
@CAROLYN B. this is all on the Secret Service. I find it kind of hard to believe that previous administrations were mistake free on the social front. I find it kind of hard to believe that the 43 presidents before Obama never made a mistake. Please. They just weren’t under the same high powered microscope. This speaks more to the issue of the privilege I speak of.
Dec 5th, 2009
lavaughan
Nonsense! People like the Salahis (be they black or white) can march into parties like they did at the White House because they have incredible chutzpah and an almost pathological ability to lie and fake their way into any situation. These characteristics have nothing to do with their race or some supposed “White privilege.” Someone should have recruited them for the CIA long ago.
Dec 5th, 2009
Kelly
I agree with the fact that whiteness and blondeness were the main reason they were able to slip past security that night. In college one of my friends was tall, blonde and very pretty, and she went anywhere she wanted. They always let her in. I have seen how that works firsthand. Furthermore, the Salahis seem to crash parties all the time and they have it down pat. For them to evade the Secret Service just shows how cunning they are.
As for Rogers, she’s not a scapegoat. In the past, somebody was always stationed at the gate checking the names off the list. Why did she change that procedure? I think she should have to answer for that. The Secret Service has taken responsibility and some of their people have been placed on leave. Rogers should also take responsibility. Right now she just looks like a crony, like you did a heckuva job Brownie!
Dec 5th, 2009
jg82567
i’m more and more beginning to see this attack on Rogers as a way to undermine on Michelle Obama…she clearly works well with Rogers and the social secretary has done a great job of pulling off some terrific events for the WH and, until this state dinner party crash came to light, was getting rave reviews and rather than overshadowing the 1st Lady, was making her and the WH look very very good…if they manage to get Desiree’s scalp like they got Van Jones and others, it will be another political win for the President’s critics and it will leave Michelle without a trusted ally who had done so much so well and made her look good in the process…
Dec 5th, 2009
Mozell
I look at this so simple. If a promoter organizes a party at a club, gives the list to security and says only the people on the list get in, no exceptions. With two large guys at the door, better believe if you are not on the list you are not getting in. If a bouncer (he just might have a day job too) can guard a posh club in Beverly Hills, why can’t the Secret Service (they are trained to take bullets). Something smells fishy here. Is it possible this was all a set up. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s not like their names were supposed to be on the list and someone forgot to add them. They were uninvited guest, real simple. Aminah, you are right. If this were a darker couple not only would they be arrested, there lives would be torn apart and scattered over every media outlet for the world to see. There mugshots, not glamour shots would be all over the tele and internet and let’s not forget the question of whether they have terrorist ties or intent.
As far as Ms. Rogers is concerned I don’t think she should resign, be let go,or even looked at for this. She hasn’t done anything wrong. “Was she on the guest list?” How foolish to be at a white house press conference and be compared to a child. In this case I don’t blame him for saying it and for supporting Desiree Rogers. That reporter seemed so silly and petty. Her questions were unimportant given all of the other more important things going on and all of the more pertinent questions that could have and should have been asked.
Dec 5th, 2009
jg82567
also, considering how tight Desiree is with Valerie Jarrett and Valerie goes back 20 years with both Obama’s, they are a very tight group…if Rogers is forced to leave, imagine the strain and wedge it could put between all of them… i think there’s more to it from the secret service angle than what has been publicized…how is it you just waive people in off the street because the social office staffer isn’t sitting there? huh?
Dec 5th, 2009
rikyrah
you nailed it in the piece, and I don’t want Rogers to go anywhere. it’s not her job to keep the President safe.
do you know how many SECRET SERVICE gaffs that had to happen in order for these clowns to get through?
Dec 6th, 2009
Aminah Hanan
@LAVAUGHAN Give me a break. As long as we keep lying to ourselves that race doesn’t play a part or affect us in America we will never be healed of the pathology of racism. I second Atty Gen Holder’s statement that we are indeed a Nation of cowards when it comes to discussing race. I would also like to add that we are also a Nation of liars.
@KELLY Are you really equating a Secret Service fail at a dinner party to American citizens dying in the street like animals and our government not lifting a finger to help them? WOW, that seems like a stretch.
@JG82567 I feel you 100%
@RIKYRAH Yes ma’am. This was all a Secret Service gaff. Next thing you know people are going to start saying that the Social Secretary’s office personnel needs to undergo tactile training and carry guns. Anything to keep from discussing the issues.
Dec 6th, 2009
ari
@RIKYRAH Yes ma’am. This was all a Secret Service gaff. Next thing you know people are going to start saying that the Social Secretary’s office personnel needs to undergo tactile training and carry guns. Anything to keep from discussing the issues
on point, i’ll never understand why all the vitriol against Rogers, even before this Secret Service gaffe. What is it? Is it because she is a competent, intelligent, beautiful black women?
meanwhile those idiots who infiltrated are becoming celebrities.
Dec 6th, 2009
Kara
April was wrong. She had something to prove. She needed to stop with that attitude. She cant get any necessarily with the same thing that these white press reporters get away with. What a disgrace one sister dogging out another sister on a national stage. I bet that she makes mistakes all the time. She is just jealous of Desiree Rogers!
Dec 6th, 2009
Kara
April went too far with her rant about Desiree. She looked like a short, little chubby jealous black chick being very petty. There was too much wasted time wasted on such a ridiculous subject….did Desiree try to overshadow Mrs. Obama?
Dec 6th, 2009
Mary
I can not believe that you just posted that these folks got in because of a white woman when the current administration has been more considerate of ensuring diverse representation of all its guests throughout the entire year. It’s time to understand that color is not always a reason especially with this Presidency. Let’s move on folks.
Social secretaries have overseen the guest list and represented the family when guests arrive for decades at the White House until now. Desiree wanted to be a guest at the event rather than manage the event. I can understand the excitement to enjoy time with her friends from Chicago, however, she is an employee of Michelle Obama – she needed to work at the event for the First Lady not attend it as her friend.
Most importantly, our President should be protected at all times. The Secret Service appropriately apologized and took disciplinary action yet the Office of the Social Secretary has not done so as of yet. It’s time Desiree apologizes and takes whatever steps necessary to showcase to the American public that the President of the United States will never be put in such a vulnerable position ever again.
Dec 6th, 2009
MKG
Just because someone is criticizing Desiree Rogers does not mean that they are a hater. Those women are doing their jobs, as Ms Rogers should have been.
And not for nothing, the White House is making a mountain out of a molehill by invoking executive privilege in this manner.
Dec 6th, 2009
Aminah Hanan
@MARY I can’t believe that you think a commitment to diversity is going to erase the subconscious of most Americans. Again we need to stop lying to ourselves. We have to acknowledge the cancer before we can be cured.
The Secret Service should have stepped up and apologized it was their fault.
@MKG Like my Grandmother told me when I was a little girl, “It’s not what you say. It’s how you say it.” April Ryan, and anyone else, are entitled to their opinion. However, there is no way her behaviour at that press conference can be condoned. She was out of pocket – period. Not because of what she said, but her delivery. It was childlike and to say “don’t play with me.” Were they at the White House or on the block?
@ADMIN We need to get on this secret Black women’s confab.
Dec 6th, 2009
jg82567
Above all else, the thing that bothers me the most is the misdirection underway. This insistence on saying “look over there! look over there!” while pointing at Desiree Rogers and distracting from what has actually happened. The United States Secret Service is responsible for protecting the President and his family regardless of what anyone else is or is not doing or where they are doing it. They decided to just let folks in off the street and not follow their own long established security protocols. Why? Why are they being so cavalier in their duties these days? Are they really committed to protecting this President? These are the questions that need to be asked and answered, not, “Who does Desiree think she is?” This is a potentially life and death issue. It should not be reduced to a high school mean girls contest.
Dec 6th, 2009
jg82567
@MARY As you stated, Michelle Obama is Desiree’s boss and she gets to say what her responsibilities are and are not. Not you or me or April Ryan or Robin Givhan or Maureen Dowd or any of the other HATERS who have crawled out of the woodwork to lay the failure of the SS to do their jobs at the feet of Ms. Rogers. I also don’t think Desiree would have been at her boss’s party without her boss’s permission. It’s not like she wouldn’t be noticed.
Secondly, when you have Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod, the president’s two main advisors and spokespersons speaking out in behalf of Ms. Rogers, that’s the same as it coming from the POTUS himself. And if they are publicly defending her, that means that the President and First Lady think she is doing exactly the job that THEY want and expect of her and are pleased with her service to them and the WH.
So, if the people who hired her and can fire her are going out of their way to support her (i.e. not sacrificing her before the alter of a committee hearing that’s more interested in grandstanding and trying to embarrass the WH by embarrassing her), then all of this faux concern people are expressing over her job performance and management style is just petty grievance and partisan theatrics. And, the people engaging in it should grow up and apologize to Ms. Rogers.
Dec 6th, 2009
rikyrah
on point, i’ll never understand why all the vitriol against Rogers, even before this Secret Service gaffe. What is it? Is it because she is a competent, intelligent, beautiful black women?
it’s because she’s a RICH, beautiful, competent, intelligent Black woman.
Dec 6th, 2009
francislholland
If responsibility of keeping uninvited people out of the White House is the job of the social secretary and not of the Secret Service, then why do we need the Secret Service at all?
I’m sorry, but I always thought the social propriety and competence of White House events was the responsibility of the social secretary, while the physical, corporal security of the president and his guests was the job of the Secret Service.
Suppose Desiree Rogers were replaced. Would her replacement personally stand at the White House gate and check people’s fotos and names against the White House guest list. If so, then again, what do we need the Secret Service for.
If these two people were on the guest list, then they would be let in, and that’s the responsibility of Rogers, although the Secret Service and FBI should still coordinate checks on the invited guests to assure that they do not pose risks.
If these party crashers were not on the guest list then, for the life of me, I can see their being let in by the Secret Service was Desiree Rogers’ fault. To the degree that there was a security breach, security is the responsibility of the FBI and the Secret Service.
I honestly don’t know whether, with a Black president, whites can crash a party more easily than Blacks. I would tend to suspect that Blacks are still more heavily scrutinized than whites.
Dec 7th, 2009
Dee
Thank you for this, Aminah. You’ve covered so much ground in your comments.
So, the couple is an apparent must-have on the talk show circuit, now, eh? Interesting. The book isn’t going to get thrown at them in any way, shape or form, it seems? Okay….
Yep, I remember Oprah and Hermes in 2005. Not as publicised is what happened to Leona Lewis (and, Dad) in some posh, unnamed, shop in 2009. They gained access, but let’s just say it was made very clear that their presence wasn’t wanted. Shop lady threatened to call the police if they didn’t leave. Sigh…..
Glad to see the weekend has come and gone, and Ms. Rogers is still firmly in post. Why so many thought she should have been ousted or made to resign was – and, is – a real puzzler to me. It clearly isn’t just about what some see as her role in compromising the President’s security, in the State Dinner incident.
I can understand why she isn’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea, but the level of animosity towards her from the likes of Ms. Ryan, makes no sense to me at all. There is some jealousy and envy going on, in some quarters, it seems……
Come on, Ladies! There’s room for more than one of us to shine, at any one time! Someone else getting theirs doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get yours!
So, here’s to competent, beautiful and intelligent Ms. Rogers and the scores of others just like her.
Dec 7th, 2009
Kelly
Re: “If responsibility of keeping uninvited people out of the White House is the job of the social secretary and not of the Secret Service, then why do we need the Secret Service at all?”
They are supposed to work in tandem, but Rogers eliminated the position of the person who checks the list at the gate, which put more strain on the Secret Service. If someone had been at the gate, the Salahis would not have gotten in. Case closed.
Obama also changed the job of the head of Protocol. That person used to travel with the president on Air Force One to foreign countries, but he stripped her of that duty. I wonder if that’s why he has made so many embarrassing mistakes overseas, like bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia and to the Prime Minister of Japan. Obamas need to respect the rules!
Dec 7th, 2009
Kristasphere
She sure is a scapegoat…you may want to check out the twibbon I created and show your support on Twitter. Go to http://twitter.com/bougiewinetv
Dec 7th, 2009
jg82567
@KELLY Case reopened. Someone WAS at the gate…the Secret Service. What are they? Chopped liver. I would think it’s incredibly embarrassing for the SS to have people who supposedly support them saying repeatedly, in public, that they lack the ability to protect the POTUS because a WH staffer isn’t helping them check names.
However, if that’s the case, they know better than anyone, esp. a party planner who is not trained in security matters, what will put a strain on their operations. TELL SOMEBODY. I cannot imagine that the WH would not have provided whatever support the SS needed to keep the occupants of the WH safe…Like they don’t value their own lives? Please!
Dec 7th, 2009
CE
Kelly: This is NOT about President Obama and his various “changes” as you insist – get your facts right!
The Chief of Protocol is a State department position usually held by a *TRUSTED* and handpicked ally of the President. Unfortunately this time around the President allowed Hillary Clinton to fill this position as some sort of compromise.
Hillary in true fashion picked the head of her “Hillaryland” movement, a die-hard, Obama-hating PUMA named Capricia Marshall – who ironically was once a Social Secretary under the Clinton admin. With this development, the position which traditionally works with the President (even has an assigned seat on Airforce One) was (wisely) automatically moved under Mrs Clinton. The Marshall woman was quite visible during the Indian Prime Minister visit – she was the one in the black lace dress who greeted the P.M and his wife as they arrived for the dinner.
It is very important to note that President Obama isn’t only having to deal with attacks from the RightWing nuts in this country, but also has to contend with and smartly stay 5 steps ahead of the devious, vindictive and vicious Clinton crowd/hangers-on who are still doing their darndest to sabotage the Obama administration.
Heaven forbid if this Barack Obama who’s deprived many of them another go round on the power, position and wealth machine exceeds the so-called “legacies” of the Clinton Presidency.
Dec 7th, 2009
CJ from DC
Let’s give Desiree Rogers some credit. I have to say, I’m really surprised by all the criticism of this woman. The Obama White House has done such a great job showcasing American culture and reflecting the administration’s knack for being inclusive, hip and stylish. The poetry readings, the jazz sessions, the picnics for school kids, the Easter Egg rolls with a twist — Surely Ms. Rogers deserves some of the credit for helping to pull off all these successful events, and to advance the Obamas’ values and own sense of style!?! If she was an invited guest at the dinner, we should remember that it was the Obamas who invited her, and by all accounts she barely sat down all evening. Yes, she looked great — do we really want a dowdy social secretary or someone who who isn’t comfortable mingling with bright and talented Americans? Some people complained about her photos during NY Fashion Week, but what’s wrong with promoting American style? From a security standpoint, I’m sure she’ll do things differently next time — but hopefully the job of protecting the president is being done by those who do that best, and Ms. Rogers can continue to do what she does best. I’d hate to see her taken down by the trashy Salahis.
Dec 7th, 2009
CE
Kelly: This is NOT about President Obama and his various “changes” as you insist – get your facts right!
The Chief of Protocol is a State department position usually held by a *TRUSTED* and handpicked ally of the President. Unfortunately this time around the President allowed Hillary Clinton to fill this position as some sort of compromise.
Hillary in true fashion picked the head of her “Hillaryland” movement, a die-hard, Obama-hating PUMA named Capricia Marshall – who ironically was once a Social Secretary under the Clinton admin. With this development, the position which traditionally works with the President (even has an assigned seat on Airforce One) was (wisely) automatically moved under Mrs Clinton. The Marshall woman was quite visible during the Indian Prime Minister visit – she was the one in the black lace dress who greeted the P.M and his wife as they arrived for the dinner.
It is very important to note that President Obama isn’t only having to deal with attacks from the RightWing nuts in this country, but also has to contend with and smartly stay 5 steps ahead of the devious, vindictive and vicious Clinton crowd/hangers-on who are still doing their darndest to sabotage the Obama administration.
Heaven forbid this Barack Obama who’s deprived many of them another go round on the power, position and wealth machine exceeds the so-called “legacies” of the Clinton Presidency.
Dec 7th, 2009
CE
Kelly:
Try getting your news from more credible sources; Much of your post smacks of *talking points* from the Faux news crowd.
The Obama is “embarrasing” and “does not respect rules” meme is so transparently dishonest, petty and silly.
Dec 7th, 2009
Kelly
The Secret Service has already taken responsibility for their mistakes and several of them have been placed on leave. It’s amazing to me how so many will defend somebody who has made such a huge mistake. It reminds me of the Republicans who supported Brownie. That’s the problem with hiring friends instead of the best person for the job. If this had been anybody else except a wealthy friend of the Obamas, she would have been fired on the spot. Remember when Calderon was fired for staging a photo-op with planes flying over New York City? He was basically fired because some New Yorkers got scared. That wasn’t even a breach of security. So there is not the same standard of treatment here.
Overall, this isn’t a job for somebody with the skill set and personality of Rogers. She needs to be the center of attention, and there is nothing wrong with that, but it isn’t appropriate for this job. They should have known that when they hired her.
Dec 7th, 2009
CE
Let’s not forget that it was this same April Ryan who in the thick of the Iraq war got the rare chance to ask President Bush a question and the best she could come up with was “how has your faith sustained you sir…”;
But now she wants to talk tough! Amazing how the Obama Presidency has given many otherwise shrinking violets the chance to poke this President in the eye with much temerity!
Dec 7th, 2009
jg82567
According to the SS director, the SS and social office met in advance to plan for the dinner and it was agreed to by all that a staffer did not need to be stationed at the gate and that if questions arose they had contact numbers for people manning the phones and walkie talkies for staffers that would be roving back and forth. The SS agreed to these arrangements. If this plan was a problem for them and would interfere with security, the people in charge of security should have said so. They didn’t and did not follow their own procedures for the event. They agreed to a plan, the SS signed off on it, then did not follow it. How is that Roger’s fault?
And, as has been reported elsewhere, the WH has put on over 170 events since January and they have gotten rave reviews. Until this incident, everyone thought Ms. Rogers was doing a remarkable job. Now, she’s being maligned as incompetent and unqualified.
The job that she was actually hired to do, SOCIAL secretary, is perfect for her personality and skill set because she’s been doing an amazing job for 10 months and continues to do so in spite of some petty, insecure, and envious people being hell bent on cutting her down to size if not getting rid of her altogether. The Obama’s have known this woman for a decade or more, they know exactly who she is and if that wasn’t what they wanted, the did not HAVE to hire her. And, they don’t HAVE to back her up now, but they do.
As, I said earlier, none of our OPINIONS matter as long as her bosses (POTUS and FLOTUS) are pleased and they clearly are by the support they have shown. The unfairness of maligning her capabilities and capacity for doing a job she has done and continues to do brilliantly, which is plan SOCIAL events for the WH and not run the SECURITY operations, reveals the disingenuousness of the attacks on her. It is about embarrassing the WH and making the WH (i.e. the President) seem incompetent and bumbling. That is the real goal and shame on those perpetrating on it.
Dec 7th, 2009
Kelly
CE: “Unfortunately this time around the President allowed Hillary Clinton to fill this position as some sort of compromise. Hillary in true fashion picked the head of her “Hillaryland” movement, a die-hard, Obama-hating PUMA named Capricia Marshall – who ironically was once a Social Secretary under the Clinton admin.”
Obama is a grown man. He chose Capricia Marshall as Head of Protocol. She was Social Secretary under Clinton and the youngest woman ever to hold the position. If he didn’t want to hire her, he shouldn’t have. Unlike past Heads of Protocol, she doesn’t fly with Obama overseas. So in my opinion, that’s why there have been some breaches of protocol overseas, such as bowing to foreign leaders and touching the Queen of England.
The rules exist for a reason. It’s best just to follow them instead of trying to make up your own.
Dec 9th, 2009
iseeisee
I hope he FAIL’S! remember those word’s people? well I never forget them, those word’s should be posted on the WHITE HOUSE front door, this may seem extreme, but, take a look at what has been going on since the President was elected,
We have a Black President in office, he has black people working on his staff, look at how FOX came after Van Jone’s! he was forced to QUIT! and what did we hear from the PRESIDENT? NOTHING! and now, Desiree Roger’s, how in this world, would Desiree Roger’s leave her post unless she was sure the Secret Service had everything in tact, this is the SECRET SERVICE! NOT rent a SECURITY GUARD!
Well, can I be BLACK, first, somewhere along the way, someone in that White House needed to be reminded they were BLACK! and when someone want’s you to FAIL, they mean what they say! and they will do whatever it take’s to bring you down! I personally think this was done on PURPOSE! Desiree did her JOB, but, someone out smarted her, don’t forget who we are dealing with! I know I don’t! I will never ever put anything past these people! never!
Dec 10th, 2009
CE
Oh puhlease Kelly!
Deliberately misconstruing facts and pushing mindless talking points will not change the truth.
Obama DID NOT pick Capricia Marshall – he LET Hillary have this one; and this bogus and ridiculous idea that you peddle suggesting that this low-level Clinton servant somehow brings any value real or imagined to a man of Obama’s incredible stature is laughable to say the very least.
You have a problem with the Obama’s fine, but to continue to whinge on about ridiculous fallacies that have no bearing on reality is pathetic and frankly crazy!
Dec 10th, 2009