Harry Reid's recommendation to the Secret Service: "Hire more females"

(CBS News) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday had a terse response when asked what should be done if the solicitation of prostitutes is a recurring problem at the Secret Service: "Hire more females."

Nearly two weeks after news broke of the Colombian prostitution scandal involving a dozen Secret Service agents, CBS affiliate KIRO-TV in Seattle reports that Secret Service agents may have solicited prostitutes in El Salvador last year ahead of a presidential trip there.

Secret Service officers have told congressional investigators they are looking into the KIRO report. "This certainly does not mean that there is any validity to [the report], just that they are looking into all allegations," House Homeland Security Committee Chair Peter King, R-N.Y., said.

Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas has requested another briefing with Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan in light of the report.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today said she wasn't familiar with the latest developments, but she defended Sullivan, saying she has "great respect" for his leadership.

"He is a patriotic American committed to the protection of our president and those in the executive branch and it's hard, his reputation is such, it's hard to connect him with any culture of this kind," she told reporters. "Nonetheless, an investigation has to take place because first of all, whatever the agency of government this might be taking place in is disgusting."

Pelosi added, "That a few [agents] would tarnish and taint the image of this Secret Service in this way, in any way, but in this way is particularly disgusting, and that's what I have to say about that."

Meanwhile, Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said it concerns him that 24 hours after Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told Congress the Colombia scandal was an isolated incident, there are reports of other incidents.

"That's why we need thorough investigation not just by the White House, not just by DHS, but by Congress -- that's part of our oversight responsibilities," he said. "It's an obligation we owe the American people. But I'm confident we will get to the bottom of this."

When asked today whether President Obama agrees with Reid's suggestion that the agency should hire more women, White House spokesman Jay Carney said, "This goes to a broader question about the nature of the agency, the culture of the agency. I think for now anyway, those questions are best addressed to the agency itself."

[ammo17]

yeah,harry that is the answer,look at the females in the military,who are being sexually abused every day.maybe if they did hire more females their wouldn`t be anymore buying of prostitutes.

[nancy_naive]

Uh, Harry? That's what they did. Admittedly, they were 'temps', but...

And when all is said and done, what will the good ol' boys in the SS learn from all of this?

Pay the damned prostitutes what you agreed to!

[marychgo]

I'm not sure there's a single commenter on this thread who's tried to understand what Harry Reid is saying. Perhaps it's because most of you don't recognize that women agents are as capable of taking a bullet for the president as their male associates.

Historically, the Secret Service has had a reputation for superb professionalism. The current scandals suggest that at least some agents have traded in their professionalism for membership in a "boy's club." Many organizations (including many local police forces) that had problems with a "boy's club" culture have found that employing more women shifted the culture from "boys will be boys" to something a little closer to professionalism. For the Secret Service, that would be a good thing....

[Missbrenslaw]

Heee-heee-heeeee...

Love it... and he could NOT be more correct... You want someone to protect the Prez that will take it seriously, with style, dignity and by the book? You get a Woman with a gun and a Job -2 do~ and trust me! T-heeee...heeeee....

Our Prez is Hella Safe! and if that Woman is a Mom! OMG...... You got Flippin Rambo! lol..lol..lol... I just fell in Love with Mr. Harry Reed!!

= - )~

[wfw3536]

The folks in NV deserve more than this dope. It goes to show the disrespect he has for women. Maybe he should do something in the senate like pass a budget that he has refused to do for over 1000 days.

[Obama4more]

Oh...you must be talking about Sen Dean Heller, the (R) junior senator.

[smittyc]

Harry Reid has been in the Senate for years. Look at our national debt if you want to recognize how lame these old timers are. If Reid was in the private corporate sector he would be mopping floors, both him and Pelosi far more than any president have spent us broke with all there programs to nowhere and all there foreign aid to nations who wish us harm.

[Obama4more]

Harry Reid's recommendation to the Secret Service: "Hire more females".

But Harry...the did hire females and that's how they got in this mess to start with?!?!?!!???!?!!?

[thefatcat2]

You Know Democrat Presidents like Bill Clinton or JFK would Just Love this.

[AOCGUY]

Or for that matter Republican Presidents like Eisenhower

[pbaird2]

Obviously these people who think women would not engage in the sexual escades men are living in the dark ages. Women seek sexual pleasure as do men and many a male prostitute is making a good living off that fact. Sexual desire is greater than the desire for food or water; we will never be able to reign in the urge.

[luadda22]

by RealWorldNow April 26, 2012 4:14 PM EDT
Luadda22, bishop is vet.... maybe that might explain his attention deficit, it's expected...
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That's why I spelled it "dufus" (an old military acronym) instead of doofus.

[RealWorldNow]

Nice!

[ageofknowledge]

In my opinion, Harry is an idiot who doesn't know what he's talking about. The women would become involved in relationships compromising national security far greater than men who just wham, bam, here's your $30 now get out.

[636anton33]

Then they could rename it the Secret SXX Service!!