Secret Service Cuts Endangering Obama?

(CBS)  Budget cuts at the Secret Service are so deep and a "culture change" so pervasive that the agency tasked with protecting the president is putting his life is at risk, because agents are cutting so many corners.

The explosive charge comes from Ronald Kessler, author of the new book, "In the President's Secret Service," in which Kessler reveals many previously unknown inside info told to him by agents themselves.

The Secret Service denies Kessler's assertion.

On "The Early Show" Tuesday, Kessler said such routine moves as using metal detectors until everyone attending a presidential or vice presidential event has entered are being curtailed, and someone carrying a weapon could sneak it in.

Kessler also told co-anchor Harry Smith about incidents from the personal lives of first families, among other things agents see and hear.

He also said Mr. Obama is still smoking "on a regular basis," despite the president's protestations to the contrary.

"Some agents were absolutely outraged that the Secret Service has been cutting corners lately, to the point where they'll actually shut down metal detection when an event is about to start and there are stragglers or even, in the case of Joe Biden, when he threw the first pitch at the Orioles game, they'll have no metal detection," Kessler told Smith. "That means that gunmen, terrorists, can bring in weapons, can bring in grenades, and they will not be detected. So, they're really takng a chance with the president's life."

"It's sort of hard to figure" whether the cutbacks are just about budget, Kessler observed, adding, "It's the culture which has started since (the Department of) Homeland Security took it over. It is partly budget. They should get much more money. They're overworked. But also, it's just a corner-cutting culture, and yet the threats are up 400 percent since (Mr.) Obama became president."

"That is a sea change," Smith pointed out, "in terms of an African-American president and all he history he made, but it also makes a huge difference in terms of his day to day protection."

"It's scary," Kessler agreed, "and the Secret Service has not really changed to take account of that, because they're cutting corners."

Would he go so far to say that you think, because of these budget cuts, the president's life might be at risk?

"Oh, there's no question his life is in danger. How basic can it be that they don't do metal detection when you go to an airport? Everyone goes through a metal detector. When George Bush was in the country of Georgia, someone got through with a grenade because metal detection was shut down. It's exactly the same thing, the same chance. Tomorrow, (Mr.) Obama could be assassinated, Biden could be assassinated, simply because the Secret Service was not doing what it used to do until Homeland Security took it over."

The Secret Service says Kessler's allegations aren't true. "The Secret Service assisted Mr. Kessler as we would any author writing a book about the agency," the denial states. "We provided briefings, on the record interviews and accurate responses to his numerous questions. However, Mr. Kessler chose to base his criticisms of the agency on unnamed sources whose motives, knowledge and experience level remains unknown.

"Any suggestion that the Secret Service has "cut corners" in carrying our protective mission is just false. It is always difficult to defend your record against anonymous sources. However, it should be noted that we currently dedicate more personnel, funding and technical assets to our protective mission than at any time in our history and our protective measures and methods continue to increase in scope and complexity, not diminish.

"The safety of those we protect remains this agency's highest priority. Failure is not an option."

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To read an excerpt of "In the President's Secret Service," click here.

[erasmus111]

by debinok1 August 4, 2009 6:47 PM EDT
In case you have never read the constitution, it states quite clearly, that anytime the government becomes dangerous to our life, liberty or pursuit of happiness, We the people have the RIGHT to alter or abolish said government and institute a new one that better serves our safety and happiness


It's too bad you couldn't have figured that one out while Bush was in office. Maybe then, things wouldn't be so bad.

Obama is actually TRYING to make things better.

[rightbehind]

This president has inherited a mess.

[tautomer]

Does anyone really care about Obama's safety?

[erasmus111]

Some of you Americans are a disgrace.

It's really no wonder your country is in the state it is, with losers like you.

[sandy19731]

Yes, I do.

[mason_man112]

I live in St. Louis and when Obama came to throw out the first pitch at the All-Star Game, it did not look like they had cut cost at all. Black cars, suits, and personnel out the wazoo before the plane landed, while it was on the ground (on every overpass down I-70), and after he left. Yes, there is cost to be cut, that seems to be the practice these days, but realistically, this is not one of them. You'd be out of your mind to think they would even think to do this. Not buying it...

[TheMasses2009]

10-4 SWB.

[legacyabq]

SS agents are fanatical. FANATICAL, about their jobs. Only the very best, smartest, strongest, best-trained, and mentally stable people get jobs protecting the POTUS personally. The bureaucrats what grenade, worry me.

If SS agents see a grenade, they will leap on it en masse and die with smiles on their faces.

Those guys are very, very, very tough-minded:very dedicated.

[legacyabq]

sorry, bad keyboard. "...bureaucrats are what worry me."

[wilc4u]

None of this story makes sense,the SS is not going to do anything that would allow harm to come to those who they supposed to protect,THIER jobs are on the line if they do and they know it,more likely is that compared to what was being spent to protect Pres Bush they are spending less because Pres Obama is not asking for 10 layers of protection.Hi Guys

[SouthwestisBest]

Oh good grief, for anybody to get to Obama they'd have to get through 32 czars, 500 government synchophants, his hair dresser, his valet, his basketball hoopster aide, and 100 secret servicemen that travel with him constantly. Why do you think the back of his motorcade when traveling south has to travel the Canadian border just to start and follow the rest.

[ibsteve2u]

That comment went a long way to establish the credibility of your opinions.

[TheMasses2009]

I think the administration has added several more czars than your estimate. 2 were unceremoneously picked last Friday at the end of the workday - 2 Muslums I might add. I think the total is well in the 40s by now.

[woeisme1]

Stories like this are designed to evoke something from people, I am sure. I am just not sure what. All I see so far is a bunch of stupid posts.

[TheMasses2009]

And yours is no exception ........

[credibility2]

If Homeland Security is scaling back vital protection of the president and others, regardless of whether or not they're a Dem or Repub, HS is foolish and ignorant of the ever-present dangers in our diminished society. Of course, I agree that whenever Obama appears, he tends to be swarmed by the security detail. Contradictory.

[woeisme1]

Like the first poster posted - the source of this story is an author trying to push sales of his book. Perhaps he's disgruntled or just using drama to hoist book interests and sales.