Unauthorized Attendees at the Whitehouse

While many of us are concerned with national security, the Whitehouse is now concerned with local security. Recently, a couple somehow got past the Secret Service detail and into a state dinner at which they got to meet several celebrities including President Obama. After the event, careers were put at risk and Larry King gained two new potential interviewees.

One guy on a news show quipped: “All they have to do is the check the IDs of the people against the guest list.” This sounds like profiling or a variation of that to me and is much too simplistic. Another person commented that the bad weather may have prompted the gate keepers to allow this couple into the event. If they had a tent for the event, why couldn’t they have had a security tent? Maybe they did. I remember going to see the Vice President once, I had to show several forms of ID just to get into the gate and again to get into the building for the event. However, I want to address the issue of checking ID cards against the guest list.

Why should their credentials be checked when we hesitate to check IDs for voters in federal elections and those of illegal aliens. Furthermore, if an illegal alien couple would have showed up, they could have claimed discrimination if denied entry. They may have even claimed some other type of minority exemption.

I know this all sounds a little ridiculous, but it’s now far from the foolish reality of our day. If checking IDs is required for getting into a state dinner, why isn’t it required for getting a job or for voting? You tell me.