I think fundamentally the guard has to understand two things. One, he was on duty, if he thought he couldn't resist the photo opportunity he should have excused himself from the assignment. Two, carrying guns around the president can be a hazard. He has to bring that up with his superiors. Thinking this is business as usual does point to a little bit of incompetence.
I got to shake hands with Ex President Clinton Wednesday, and one of the guards took my camera and got a picture of him with me and my wife. He does have secret service bodyguards, but of course not so strict as Mr. Obama's. Besides, Bill Clinton is a ham, he really likes getting to the crowd.
Inhuman robots are the preferred option for security of the future which is a pretty sad commentary on the direction we are going as a race. Bureaucracies will demand androids as the zero risk option.
This news story does not say he took a photo in the elevator. It says that he took the photo outside of the building once the President got in his limousine.
feels like collateral damage time again. when security, intelligence and law enforcement organizations (secret service, I'm looking at you) are embarrassed, someone is taking a fall. this is a great example of why freedom of the press matters so much.
Thanks for giving us "the rest of the story." How many other times have lower level employees like Mr. Tate paid the piper because the suits could not get their act together? A lot more than most of us know, I am sure.
Mr. Orel is right, if you're issued a firearm for the conduct of your job you never disarm on your own initiative without direction from above. That said, I'll bet there was no, zero, zilch time for him to approach an agent to inquire what the protocol was, they move the man as quickly as they can. Hi bosses knoew he was armed, they knew he was with the president. They, and.or the agents on scene, are the ones who should be disciplined. Then they pour salt in the wound with retribution against the son for the "sins" of the father? This has become the American way, and it sickens me.
Well, I would not go THAT far. I am sure there are many hard-working and dedicated people working in both places and are not to blame. On the basis of being a military officer for over 20 years, I would say that the fault lies in leadership and supervision. Apparently, there is very little of either at the Secret Service. And less than is needed at CDC.
He got fired before the GOP even heard anything about. According to the story, he was fired the same afternoon and they caught up with his son only a few days later.
Why not when we have an Attorney General who decides what laws he chooses to obey?
In this case, I didn't read that he had been told what could and could not be done. And since we have seen BHO taking selfies with others, and to paraphrase Ms. Clinton, "what difference does it make?"
it's the Secret Service who is responsible for the President's safety. They should be fired for not checking Mr Tate for weapons.
I hope that so eons on the president' staff will read the article and alert President Obama to this injustice. no doubt a simple phone call to Mr. Tate's boss will do the trick.
Come on, use your head no pictures - dumb mistake he deserves to be fired, if you're security while you're on the clock you are in security mode at all times, using your eyes and ears...no time to fraternize or take pictures. This guy doesn't know the concept of professionalism or security. I have received high profile politicians at restaurants I've worked in in Manhattan, the restaurant secretly closed to the public for one very high profile visitor, no i didn't take pictures, the entire restaurant staff were briefed before the politician came, we knew the rules and respected them. I wouldn't expect someone experienced in security to need to be told not to take pics.
Typical CYA in a bureaucracy. I'm sure the report of the firing, from CDC to Secret Security, to the President, made it look quite appropriate. The watchword failure of this administration has been "reactive management" - Libya, ISIS, Ebola, Health Care implementation, etc, etc......And this is just one more example. I'm sure Mr. Tate will find a. Umber of new lawyer friends willing to help him attain justice, but what a poor way to run a country!
Another reason to get rid of "at will" employment.
I read the article early this morning and am disheartened at the end of the day to see that Obama has not urged that Mr. Tate be reinstated.
