We are helping the Republicans by allowing them to frame the story of Rep. McKinney's confrontation with a capital policeman as proof positive that a Democratic congresswoman and (by a triple sowkow of a leap in logic) other Dems don't understand security and disrespect law enforcement.
I call bullshit, and I can prove it.
What got me thinking about the real story behind the story was the statement by the congresswoman, or one of her aides, that included references to the fact that pins alone do not serve as a good ID and that the police needed to recognize the various lawmakers to positively identify them. Not being a beltway insider, I cannot confirm the accuracy of any of the mountain of statements that have been made regarding the incident, but the bit about the pins and recogizing faces makes sense to me.
Then it hit me: why is it necessary for each police officer to be able to recognize the members on the fly?
It has to do with the power of privilege.
the practice of elected leaders escorting guests through public buildings and bypassing normal security procedures is widespread, particularly on Capitol Hill.
That's from a story by Jeff Johnson of the wingnut CNS News. I hate to recommend a wingnut source, but the whole story is worth a read. Here's another bit.
Both Capitol Hill workers said their experience has been that most members of Congress deal with security delays in the same manner, bypassing screenings themselves and extending the privilege to anyone else they choose.
"These aren't always, necessarily, best friends or close colleagues or staff," said the Senate employee. "They're often just groups of people that have come up to meet them. Some members will know them; some members will not."
Neither congressional aide felt entirely comfortable with the idea that members of Congress are allowing people, often not well known to them, to evade security screenings.
I know that the privileged will say that they need to be able to skirt the magnetometer in order to make that all important vote or be on time for that compelling testimony, but surely there is a way to accomodate the needs of our government without making a shambles of security?
Even leaving the hot button words terrorist act out of the scenario, it doesn't take that much imagination to envision some disgruntled wacko taking advantage of this privilege of bypassing the magnetometer that our lawmakers enjoy. Starting with a vague resemblance to one of the 600 plus congresscritters, our Lee Harvey Oswald wannabe studies up on the chosen critter -- learning their walk, dressing and grooming themselves to pass. The addition of a pin that resembles the one worn by the chosen ones and picking a busy day would be all it would take. An even easier scenario (according to one of the above quoted Capital Hill workers) would be for an evil-doer to attach him or herself to a group that was being waved through with one of the privileged ones.
It is ridiculous that we allow the Republicans to spin the story the way they have. What has been uncovered by this incident is that in 2006, the Republican-controlled Congress is still allowing the members of both parties to wallow in power and privilege -- security issues be damned. Prestige is more important than making the building secure. 9/11 didn't change everything for the party in power, apparently.
Shame on them for allowing this security hole to continue -- and shame on us for letting them use their own failure against us.