White House: Palin politicizing Secret Service scandal

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/ AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

The White House suggested Friday that Sarah Palin is engaged in a "preposterous" attempt to turn the Secret Service prostitute scandal into a political issue.

"It is preposterous to politicize the Secret Service," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters Friday.

On Thursday, Palin said on Fox News that the scandal is a "symptom of government run amok" and tied it to what she called the president's "poor management skills."

"And it's, like, you know, who's minding the store around here?" she added.

Palin is among the Republicans who have suggested the Secret Service scandal, along with the recent GSA spending controversy and the revelation of new photographs of American soldiers posing with dead Afghans, reflects poorly on the president. Carney said those critics are "trying to turn these incidents, one that's still under investigation, into, you know, to political advantage."

"I think on the face of it, it's a ridiculous assertion that trivializes both the very serious nature of the endeavor that our military is engaged in in Afghanistan and the very serious nature both of the work that the Secret Service does, the apolitical nature of the institution, the -- and the seriousness of the investigation under way with regard to the Secret Service and the military and the incident in Colombia," he continued.

Palin was asked to comment on the scandal after one of the agents involved was reported to have posted a photograph online of himself guarding Palin when she was the Republican vice presidential nominee along with the comment, "I was really checking her out, if you know what i mean?"

"Well, check this out bodyguard -- you're fired!" Palin said on Fox News Thursday.

She added: "The president, for one, he better be wary, there, of when Secret Service is accompanying his family on vacation. They may be checking out the first lady instead of guarding her."

[EdJBoyle]

If the Secret Service agent was scoping out Palin while she was the VP candidate then he was doing it while working for Bush. Bush was President back then, not Obama. Thank you Governor for straightening that out for all of us, it is all Bush's fault.

[EdJBoyle]

If the Secret Service agent was scoping out Palin while she was the VP candidate then he was doing it while working for Bush. Bush was President back then, not Obama. Thank you Governor for straightening that out for all of us, it is all Bush's fault.

[dogcreek]

Boy, if she could just use that pointy finger and fire him herself...then she could BE SOMEBODY. But meanwhile, on the bridge to nowhere...

[KatieAnnieOakly]

Palin consistently inserts herself into news stories that have nothing to do with her. Its the only way for her to stay relevant and in public eye at this point, since she hasn't held a public office in almost 3 years. She does this so her name also comes up when googling that particular event.

The snide remarks about Obama eating dog as a child - when she has crowed about eating moose eyeballs reeks of hypocrisy. And, let's remember - HE. WAS. A. CHILD!

Late last year Palin gaves speeches in India and South Korea; in 2009 she gave one in Hong Kong. Dog is a delicacy in many Asian countries, whether we like it or not. Palin just insulted the nations where dog IS on family dinner tables.

Cows are sacred in India; THEY think WE'RE barbaric for eating cows!

When, for goodness sake, will the media stop repeating everything that dribbles out of the Tundra Tart's mouth?

[nearl451]

It is preposterous to politicize the Secret Service. It is also NOT beneath anyone so basely partisan to politicize just about anything.

[Taloowah]

I think it's very interesting that Todd's ex-prostitute Shailey Tripp said this, 'Now I have reviewed the picture of the one secret service agent who in his FB wrote about her and posted pictures. It was completely unprofessional and creepy of him to do that. When I saw his picture I was stunned. Todd Palin had introduced me to him and two others as people he worked with. I assumed at the time they must work with Todd. Boy was I wrong. Todd encouraged me to give them a good time, make sure they were taken care of, and suggested to me they may need more than a happy ending. I hope the secret service will investigate other trips these agents have been on and I hope other people will come forward. These men do not respect women, by engaging in this behavior they put all women at risk, they violate their work ethics and morals, and they put us all at risk, and they put our national sexurity and President at risk."

Shailey's book is out now on Amazon - Boys Will Be Boys: Media, Morality, and the Coverup of the Todd Palin Shailey Tripp Sex Scandal (Volume 1)

[Tiredashell]

Ms. Palin and Agent Chaney have two things in common. They both lack class and they both lack good judgement. Perhaps they should get together.

[Paulyale]

So defensive and angry. Upset that the Obama campaign is not doing well?

[calif7]

In 2002 Secret Service Agents assigned to Dick Cheney got involved in a barroom brawl in Encinitas, California. Obviously there have been some issues in the SS that have been going on for years. This is not a political issue for either Bush or Obama. All agencies and organizations (both private and public) have bad apples that need to be discarded. Carney got it right.

[Maurice Dilick]

What a fool is Palin