Trick Or Treat: A Homeland Security Embarassment

By: Peter Maer
Topics: Field Notes

Peter Maer is a White House correspondent for CBS News.

There's no way for the administration to mask red faces of outrage and embarrassment over a top Homeland Security official's role in an offensive Halloween incident.

Julie Myers, assistant secretary in charge of Immigration and Customs enforcement has apologized for awarding "most original costume" to a federal employee who dressed in prison stripes, dreadlocks and dark make-up for a Halloween celebration at the agency.

Myers was one of the judges who praised the costume. She even posed for a photo with the costumed worker, a picture snapped by a government photographer. In the apology e-mailed to employees, Myers said, "I and other the senior management of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) deeply regret that this happened." The Associated Press obtained a copy of the message.

The incident occurred last Wedesday but Homeland Security waited until today to tell the White House. Press Secretary Dana Perino said, "We do not tolerate inappropriate behavior." She declined to answer questions about potential discipline of Myers as the Homeland Security Department reviews the matter.

Peter Maer
Peter Maer is a CBS News White House Correspondent.
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by adamsmits November 7, 2007 10:04 PM EST: Eric I agree with your point that we should focus on more serious issues. But I think to do so there needs to be a culture change in public service. In the federal government over the years there has been a trend towards a less formal approach to work especially among the new younger set. Most join public service as a resume builder to help them negotiate for more money in the private sector and don''t take the job seriously enough. However, I think people need to get more serious about the personnel in government and how they perform and question their motivations. The event involving Ms. Myers was not truly an off duty event as it was in conjunction with CFC (its an event where fed agency raise money for charity) and a government photographer was present. In addition, ethics officers in the federal government do not issue a list of dos and donts before events. Mainly the agency''s ethics officer in conjunction with the general counsels and inspector generals office provide resources to employees who have questions regarding ethics issue and to provide training for general office ethics considerations. Bottom line... I just wish we started holding people in our government to more of a standard whether it be an issue of potential impartiality or even more pressing concerns such as the inability get anything through congress that won''t immediately be vetoed by the president. A standard must be set across the board that for all the taxes we pay we deserve better.; Reply to this comment


by ericmichael1 November 7, 2007 8:20 PM EST: I would not go to a government halloween party. In DC (the home of the Politicians) or anywhere else.

But, to me, if you are off duty at a leisure activity and no guidelines have been issued through an ethics officer on what is worn, why would you put an employee on administrative leave for violating someone else''s "ethics" or "propriety"???!!! Because a politician told you to?

This is one reason, people, why I would never go to Washington. There is too much politicking up there and too little sense.

Go to any federal prison. You will find a lot of "costumes". Are you going to place an employee at a costume party on administrative leave who is dressed as Martha Stewart with stripes? It could offend women. Or Osama bin Laden with stripes? It could offend the muslim community.

It is time to put aside the juvenile politicking and to instead tackle the serious issues dealing with the security of the homeland.

Congress should get to work and pass the FY 2008 Justice budget, for one (Yes, we are already in FY 2008).

Eric; Reply to this comment


by adamsmits November 7, 2007 6:26 PM EST: I think this is an important issue. Although in every day life I don''t think this merits any sort of strong reaction, for the case of Ms. Myers it does. When you decide to undertake a public life in service to your country you unfortunately are held to a different standard than the average citizen. She is not a politician where showing you''re an average joe is the objective. She is a public servant who ideally is supposed to represent all that is best in the united states especially when she is representing it as an assistant secretary. I highly doubt that you would ever find a general in our military posing with a picture of a dramatized POW nor would you find the Secretary of Transportation posing with a picture with a person dressed up as displaced by the wildfires or Katrina. It''s just not the type of behavior that befits our government. Our government has been a shining example to all the world for many years because of its impartiality and good judgement and such behavior just serves to further diminish that. It was an unfortunate mistake, but the message needs to be sent to all public servants currently and the next generation that these jobs are serious, and although they don''t pay much, as an employee of the United States government you are expected to further not detract from the stellar record of this nation.; Reply to this comment


by edweirdness November 7, 2007 2:15 PM EST: To my credit, I was able to wrestle a 7 year old dressed as a tribal bushman, grass skirt and all, to the ground and hold him so the police could prosecute him under my states extensive "hate crimes legislation". Doubtless Senator McCaskill was equally alert for racists trolling for treats at all of her several domiciles. Unfortunately, the local police thought I was crazy, and threatened to put me on some sort of "secret government watch list". After that, I just chose to chase offensive children away from my door, and profusely rewarded those who chose only politically correct, non-gender specific, ethnic appropriate costumes.

Seriously, I do agree that DHS is far to easy going on employers who hire illegals, and that should have been the reason for the hold, and not a party that Myers attended.; Reply to this comment


by ericmichael1 November 6, 2007 10:13 PM EST: Costume Enforcement. Good one, VB.

Good one.

:)

Eric; Reply to this comment


by ericmichael1 November 6, 2007 7:13 PM EST: Katie,

I am far more concerned with those who wear masks on the job in government.

We have far more important issues to tackle dealing with homeland security.

WMDs, homegrown radicalization, internet training and recruitment: your Washington Bureau would be better tasked focusing on these issues.

The very existence of the capital itself one day could rest on the proper governmental response to these challenges.

The rest is just politics. And a little makeup.

Take care, Katie,

Eric; Reply to this comment