You might not be the only one who thinks a raise would be nice — the Secret Service has requested an extra $9.5 million bucks to finish the job of protecting the presidential candidates. I know, everyone wants more money, right? Well this request seems pretty legit.
This campaign has been like no other in its length and trips abroad. That effort adds up. Not to mention changes like Obama's decision to accept the Democratic nomination at Denver's open-air, 76,000-seat stadium instead of easier policed 20,000-seat Pepsi Center, where the rest of the convention takes place.
Then there's the length of service; Obama requested and received Secret Service protection in May — of 2007. That's the earliest the agency (who started the practice candidates in 1968) has ever started tailing a candidate. McCain got his protection April 27 this year. Even though the Secret Service Agency budgeted more than $30 million above 2004 levels, it's still not enough. Congress is currently considering the request for more money.
So here's the question in my mind: is it the responsibility of the taxpayers to fund unlimited security to the campaigns? Should there be a set amount, above which if a candidate wants to make decisions like heading abroad or speaking in a stadium, the campaign has to pay?
Opening Ceremony
Flexfit
No Romeo
I think limiting coverage opens candidates up to cost manipulation too easily: the wealthier person in a race would have one more advantage, groups could keep up rumors of threats, or threats, against anyone they opposed to keep their coverage intense and costly, venues such as hotels could pull back on their inhouse security when hosting a candidate the owners didn't support. It's a price we need to be willing to pay in the society we've created.
1Shiny happy people I guess.
2I think it's just part of the cost of doing business. As time progresses, it will get more and more expensive to provide security. I don't think there's anything we can do to control it.
3I think those are wax figures! I believe I see Obama, the Pope, W, and the Clintons...
4Haha, hartsfull I'm pretty sure they're wax sculptures. I think if Hillary, Bill, the Pope, and Obama had all come together to celebrate G.W.'s birthday, we'd have heard about it.
5Yup. Wax figures. I couldn't resist, the guest list at the party was too good!
6I was under the impression that Secret Service did not provide coverage until a clear front runner was establish. In this case we had three for a while. Then you had the added rock star hysteria over Sen. Obama not to mention that pesky he's black so he might get assassinated notion. I don't have a problem paying for the extra hours.
7I shouldn't have deleted part of my comment.
I had started to say how odd, that THOSE people all together happy and all was REAL strange!
8With all the work they put in they should get a raise, in case something happens to them, so they can have more money for their families.
9I have seen quite of few of the SS agents here in DC. Whatever they are being paid is simply not enough
10I do have a question though, why did Obama get SS protection in May of 2007? Does anyone know more about that?
11I love the pic! Is that from Madame Tussaud's in DC? I have been to the ones in London and in Vegas and some of the figures look so much like the people and others are so far off. It's strange. I think it might have something to do with the fact that some people actually go to sittings to have the figures made and others don't/can't.
12Oh, and as to the issue at hand, I don't have a problem with paying for the protection. Although, the wealthier person wouldn't necessarily have more of an advantage if candidates had to pay for their own protection; the wealthier campaign would. Regardless, I don't have any problem with the taxpayers paying for the protection.
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