Obama to ABC: Pat-downs worth the price

[somone]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/11/obama-to-abc-pat-downs-worth-the-price/1

Obama to ABC: Pat-downs worth the price

President Obama says full-body screenings and extensive pat-downs are part of an evolving air travel security strategy that's needed to prevent further acts of terrorism.

Obama tells ABC's Barbara Walters that and more on a Thanksgiving special airing at 10 p.m. ET tonight.

"This is going to be something that evolves. We are going to have to work on it," Obama says, indicating the need for new technologies. "I understand people's frustrations with it, but I also know that if there was an explosion in the air that killed a couple of hundred people ... and it turned out that we could have prevented it possibly ... that would be something that would be pretty upsetting to most of us, including me."

The president's remarks follow the well-publicized outcry over TSA pat-downs that leave nothing to the imagination...

[elocs]

1. Well, it just keeps getting better and better. n/t

[FarPoint]

9. I am fine with the patdown...

I can skate thru that assessment......Seriously, it is indeed worth it in my opinion.

[flyarm]

11. well you would have loved Hitler taking your rights away as well then eh???????

this is not about safety ..it is about greed.

From a now retired 33 yr Flight crew of one of the 9/11 airlines..Based in NY.


Psssssssssssss..you do know that almostt all of the machines were turned off the day before Thanksgiving don't you? You know the busiest travel day of the year..and why do you think that was?? For your safety???????? Fuck no..it was so Americans could not protest and slow up flights ..that was done to appease the airlines..

so do you still think his is about safety?? If you do, then I have some lovely swamp land for you here in Fla ..with non biting alligattors ..they are cute..don't worry..they make lovely pets!


I guess we will always have sheeple..just like hitler did!

[Individualist]

16. Reading suggestions...

They Thought They Were Free by Milton Mayer
It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis
1984 by George Orwell

[Webster Green]

25. Really? Are you that scared?

Your chances of getting killed driving to the airport are higher than terrorists grannies or little kids blowing up your plane.

USA...home of the fucking cowards.

Very sad.

[sabrina 1]

40. So when the left got these pat-downs abolished in 2004, you were

supporting Bush back then? I'm so confused about this. This isn't about whether YOU are fine with it. This is a Constitutional issue and has been opposed on those grounds, in Court for six years. Not everything is about 'me' and how 'I feel'. Some things are a bit more important than that. And I would thank people who view it as just something they don't care about, NOT to compromise the rights of everyone. It is way more than just an inconvenience. Which is why so much effort has gone into the fight to stop these abuses of our rights. What next? Encroaching totalitarianism started under Bush, and rushing ahead under Obama.

Of course he's happy about the sale of these machines. One of his good friends is the CEO of the company that manufactures them, and a donor to Obama's campaign.

WE the people have to fight for our rights. It's clear where the loyalties of elected officials are and it is not with the people. I'm sure Obama will be well rewarded by Corporate America for his efforts on their behalf. But he doesn't get to sell our rights without a fight.

[krabigirl]

42. wow...

[Raine]

45. I guess "all we have to fear is fear itself" no longer

applies in today's America. It's really shameful the way American's have become such cowards. Pathetic the way just the FEELING of being safe is all it takes, even though you really aren't safe at all because these measures do nothing. As for myslef I would rather "die on my feet than live on my knees".

edit: typo

[FarPoint]

57. There is room for great improvement

...but we are not there.......I'm willing to work it thru..........I just won't echo any right wing talking points....thts the simple truth of the matter.

[northernlights]

61. and when "work it through"

turns into cavity searches, with strangers shoving their hands up your butt and vagina, will that work for you too?

Out of curiosity, where does it end? Where does it become something you, personally, aren't willing to sacrifice in the name of "safety?" Which, btw, doesn't make you one bit safer from terrorist attacks, never mind all the other far more likely things to get you...

pathetic. really and truly pathetic....

[Xicano]

58. You don't get it.

Besides the money motive aspect of it. You just don't get what our country is about, and what so many Americans fought and died for, and, against.

Tell you what. Using your logic, then why don't we install security cameras all over the place throughout all our communities. Just think of how much crime could be stopped. While we're at it, why don't we put up random check points all over the place too where we can all be made to go through the same screening/pat-downs while we're moving through public spaces. Just think of all the crime we can put a stop to if we do that. Heck since security is trumping human rights, then, I don't see no reason why we can't have security cameras monitoring inside our homes too. Can't be too extreme you know, because after all just think of how much additional crime can be stopped. Security, security, security.

Yeah, security the age old cry of all tyrants.

[lumberjack_jeff]

2. Time to reload and start shooting the other foot, Mr President. n/t

[Individualist]

3. Gotta catapult the propaganda

:puke:

[SammyWinstonJack]

+1. And he certainly is good at doing so.

:puke: No matter the propaganda.

[leftstreet]

4. I wish they wanted to keep us as safe from poverty as they do from 'terrorism' n/t

[katandmoon]

5. He's fine with treating ordinary citizens like criminals while his DOJ won't prosecute REALones

Soooooooo not what I voted for ... and never will again.

[City Lights]

6. After you and yours, Mr. President.

Ditto for the Orange Boner.

I promise I'll get in line quietly just as soon as I see all Americans subjected to the same fucking bullshit.

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

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[Vinca]

7. Cargo, cargo, cargo. I just read an item about a container of radioactive

material for a CT scanner that was lost by FedEx. What the hell are they putting below the seats? FedEx found the item, but only identified it after an employee had it partially opened.

[flyarm]

15. when was the last time you mailed a package from the post office and you were asked to open it?

Most of that mail goes in the belly of Airliners.

[Vinca]

19. Exactly. Like the toner cartridges from the last scare.

They wouldn't have been discovered if someone hadn't blabbed.

[Betty]

8. how about all that cargo that doesn't get checked?

if a plane blows up because of something in unchecked cargo, would that be upsetting too? Here's an interesting article:<http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/dhs-admits-not-all-airline-cargo-checked-while-tsa-gropes-passengers>

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. After reading that article, I clearly understand the problem now.

This one sentence by Napolitano makes the whole problem crystal clear:

"We (currently) have one consistent security regime in the aviation environment for the United States,” she told Bloomberg."


Who the hell THINKS in that convoluted syntax, much less talks that way?????
Ok..besides Palin, I mean.

She is revealing one twisted reality, one I don't live in.

she also said essentially that cargo is not searched because people are easier to search.

I am glad to hear that a great many people understand the whole "terra see-curity" game has nothing to do with
"fighting terrorists".

[flyarm]

10. The fuck they are! what a freaking joke! How's your buddies pocket books Obama?

You are not having incompetant boobs Xray me and expose me to radiation Mr Obama..no way, no how! Nor anyone in my family. Go ahead and grope me , I will wear nasty underwear to the airport and I will not use deodorant..I will make it just as bad for your TSA as they will make it for me!

From a retired flight crew!

[Name removed]

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[flyarm]

13. he is the last gate keeper to the police state! eom

[CreekDog]

14. Ugh. Thanks a lot.

so much for minimally invasive.

that's okay. money that could've gone to the DNC went to the ACLU to fight his policy.

[Catherina]

17. Hope you feel the same in 2012 Mr O. n/t

[woo me with science]

24. Time for a primary challenger who defends our Fourth Amendment rights. nt

[FrancisTreptoe]

59. I hope he doesn't

Because he won't be getting my vote if he does.

[vi5]

18. Well, in the words of Britney Spears...

"Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision he makes and should just support that, you know, and be faithful in what happens."


For clarification I think this is a moronic statement and outlook on life and politics. But it's both sad and frightening that far too many people on DU have now seemed to adopt this approach.

[Mimosa]

31. ^ LOL!! ^

vi5, I know somebody in 'real life' who speaks like Britney. She loves our fabulous President Obama but knows NOTHING, NADA, ZILCH about policy or issues.

[vi5]

36. I remember explicitly...

The mocking and derision heaped on Britney Spears when she said that about president Bush. And rightfully so.

But that so many of those same people are more or less saying the same thing and not at all seeing the hypocricy in it is just galling to me.

[frylock]

21. and in the event "there was an explosion in the air that killed a couple of hundred people..."

with this bullshit policy in place, then obama just took full ownership.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

47. He's had full ownership since he was elected Mr. Hyperbole.

[LisaL]

22. Easy to say for someone who doesn't have to go through it.

[woo me with science]

23. NO.

He is WRONG, and this is not the end of this fight. We are talking about fundamental American rights to liberty, privacy, and dignity. We are talking about our Fourth Amendment.

This is not over yet.

[blonndee]

26. I hope he thinks it's worth the price if he doesn't get reelected

because liberals decide they've had enough of all of his support for authoritarian, right-wing policies, including this one.

This better change, as far as I'm concerned. His support for these policies alone is enough for me to not vote for him again. His job is to protect and defend the Constitution, not to continue to dismantle it a la Bush.

[boston bean]

27. the price of what, our freedoms....... and people are worried about marxists and communists they

better start seriously worrying about facism.

[Desertrose]

28. I keep thinking...maybe they aren't telling him what's really going on....

to have him be so out of touch.

[Individualist]

29. He knows exactly what's going on.

Only someone extremely incompetent and stupid would not know. He's neither.

[Desertrose]

32. Yeah...I know.

:(

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

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[Gin]

33. Mr. President...if the threat is so strong...why did it take 11 months

to change the pat down procedure? This is all about money for the machines.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

35. Who makes those porno-scanners and what is their connection to the TSA

That's what I want to know.

[nc4bo]

54. Who makes, what's the connection and why is it tolerated?

My hubby and I had a conversation after watching one of the Youtube patdown videos and he said to me, no terrorist in their right mind would go the airport passenger route. He said it's much easier to either go via cargo or begin targeting large groups of people in public areas.

He was pretty disturbed at watching a woman getting her breasts patted down in public and a photo of an old woman in the process of the patdown.

He's a flyer, I am not. Now he's not. He's glad we don't have a need to fly anywhere these days.

[lib2DaBone]

34. Mr. Obama has no problem with the TSA, or waterboarding or Gitmo..

or the Patriot Act or escalating the WOT.. it's all good.

[earth mom]

37. Bullshit! This is about controlling the populace to turn them into compliant submissive sheep!

Looks like the real terrorists, * & Cheney, are still calling the shots and getting Obama to do their dirty work for them! :puke:

[Initech]

38. It's official: We live in the Matrix.

[Tatiana]

39. **Sigh** Almost feels like it could be Bush making some of these comments. n/t

[Swamp Rat]

41. "This is going to be something that evolves..."

[krabigirl]

43. Lol,typical.

And of course, Walters was on the View a few days ago agreeing with Whoopi, Behar, Hasselbeck et. al. that people opting out are "terrorists."

[Raine]

44. Uh YOU first!

Unless you do it too, don't tell anyone else it's worth it. Don't ever tell anyone to do something you and yours haven't done. :mad: I remember President Ford took a flu shot as an example for the American public, President Obama LEAD BY EXAMPLE!

[Historic NY]

46. Its is ridiculous but the same people complaining would be screaming...

if another underwear bomber got through, or if the TSA did what they really want to do is profile. It then would make this whole aggressive issue seem reasonable. Hey we could go the Israeli route but then people would complain about that. What is your safety worth? If you have flown to Europe on European carriers they have had pat down policies for years. I've had it happen several times in the late 80's & 90's. I've had two previous enhanced screening before the scanners flying into Chicago from Detroit. Yeah its a PITA but isn't flying now anyway. My last trip to Ireland I was asked at least 4 times the same questions ot the point it was a complete distraction. Your luggage is fondled, your toilet articles gone through, dirty laundry. etc. We have been going through detectors of one form or another for years. You won't get into a court, museum, & many public locations w/o scanning. Our country has always lagged behind safety & security measures. Personal freedoms, invasion of our space. If you spent any time in England you would find the people seem more aware of security. I've been caught up in several incidents over the years. They seem to take it with a grain of salt. ,I've seen the pictures of old women & children, people in wheel chairs. I've seen the stories some now found out to be hyped by the media. Hey you know that question did you carry or did anyone ask you to carry anything or a bag? It comes down to the same thing, find a dupe to do your business. WE are all screwed and perhaps thats what the outcome the terrorists wanted, fear, indecision, intrusive, distrust..sure makes you think. This isn't some casual game, I think it was ramped up due to intelligence or some behind the scenes activities. Just hope there isn't another incident or we all will be flying nude air. :yoiks:

[woo me with science]

48. There has been consistent argument against TSA and encroachment on civil liberties by progressives.

However, I would bet a million dollars that the apologists would be screaming bloody murder now if it were the Bush administration with its hands on your underpants.

[Mimosa]

51. The TSA didn't stop the underwear bomber.

He boarded in Europe.

And passengers observed his actions and put out the flames.

[Historic NY]

52. Exactly & the shoe guy too all came here...........from europe

sooner or later some idiot is going to try leaving from here.

[frylock]

55. the underpants bomber was on the no-fly list, boarded a flight in amsterdam..

and was reported on to the CIA by his own father. remind me again how this shit is keeping us safe?

[cherokeeprogressive]

49. Well if President Obama said it, surely it's true. Now we return you to this evening's episode of

The Twilight Zone...

[Mimosa]

50. I couldn't let myself watch it.

I was scared of losing my last illusion that there is any hope. Or change. :(

[Raine]

53. Me either

I can't stand to watch him or listen to him on anything any longer. :-(

[TBF]

60. This is just like the congress voting to send other peoples' children off to war -

let's see him and his family go through the pat-down on every flight.

[LaurenG]

62. Yeah because elderly ladies in wheelchairs have a long history of

doing things to warrant pat downs. I'll say it again. If he thinks this is worth it then we need to see him and all the other congress people and their families hit the pron scanner and/or a pat down every time they fly. This just infuriates me and we are a bunch of "morans" for allowing this to happen.

[leftygolfer]

63. I voted for Barack Obama b/c I trust him...and I still do!

If he says it's needed, fine, it's needed. I'm not saying I'm going to compromise all principles. I'm just saying I trust that he knows more about keeping this country safe than I do. If we have to go through some security measures, I trust him to know that's best.