If you don't pay, is it still prostitution?
The press was mostly ignoring President Obama's trip to Columbia - where he's discussing trade and the economy with 32 other heads of state - until they glommed on to the Secret Service prostitution scandal. Apparently one of the agents did not pay a prostitute, and she complained to the police.
So on Saturday the Secret Service placed 11 agents on administrative leave.
"....Though the agency has said Obama's security was not compromised, the allegations of misconduct have brought intense scrutiny to an agency that had not had any major lapse since 2009, when two party crashers entered the White House uninvited....."
Of course, leading members of Congress - Senator "Diapers" Vitter - will hold probing hearings into this scandal.
Seriously, the Republicans are promoting the story to undermine Obama's efforts in Columbia.
They didn't give a shit when Reagan gave weapons to terrorists .. but everything Obama is bad in their eyes.
Overall the Secret Service represents some of our finest citizens and civil servants, but I guess there are a few bad apples to every bushel. I read that prostitution is legal in Columbia, so the only "hot water" these guys would be in would be with their job guidelines .. moral clauses, etc. .. so their careers are probably over. I hope this doesn't in anyway undermine the solid work that the other 98% of Secret Service agents do to protect and defend.
On second thought, this "scandal" did not upstage President Obama's trip because the press would've given it lukewarm coverage otherwise. Obama had a successful trip to South Korea signing a free trade agreement and the press barely mentioned it.
The press is easily distracted by shiny objects, this episode is just another shiny object .. President Obama can actually use it to force the media to cover the work he is doing during this summit.
