CNN

The secret service personnel is worked thin. They are over stretched .Watch for fatigue at work .

Mr. President should no that he has many enemies like, Palin, Beck, Hannity and entire G0P! pls dear president shake up ur security service for ur dear life n family!

This should be viewed as the ultimate failure by the secret service. It lucky that President Obama was not assassinated. Surely this deserves more scrutiny than social calls. A" sorry for what happened" SS apology for their near treasonous failure is ridiculous. Is everything okay because the guests were photogenic? This would not be the consequences in any other G8 country. This is a dangerous precedent for those now looking for the right opportunity. These people deserve more than a mere slap on the wrist, otherwise the SS was right to let them in originally. Clearly they were wrong.

The secret service fell down on their jobs, I fear this will be the norm. Notice this only happens when the President is African American.

For crying out loud, it sounds like I had to go through more security at the bloody Oprah Winfrey Show than these two jokers faced a the White House!

The Secret Service has to be REMOVED from Homeland Security and returned to the Treasury Department so they can concentrate on their main job – protecting the President. This is an absolute embarrassment.

The head of the secret service should be FIRED and brought up on reckless endangerment charges.
Next, EVERY single person in ANY position of security that witnessed these people should be FIRED and brought up on charges.
What a monumental FAILURE at every level. Heads must roll.

Two things really bother me about these "party crashers"

1. The people in charge of security at the White House are trying to downplay the situation by saying that the couple passed a weapons check. What if they had been carrying cyanide or some other form of poison? The outcome could've been horrendous for many other guests, not just President Obama.

2. The fact that these crashers had the nerve to show off their photos for all to see on facebook. Where are the charges? Had that woman not been blonde, flirtatious and white as it shows in some of the pics, how far do you all think any other couple of another race would have gotten?

It just goes to show that even with a black president in office, discrimination will never be completely gone. Lock those crashers up or better yet, let's just give them their own reality show!

We have to be right 100 percent of the time, a terrorist only once. Government regardless of who is in charge or what they are running is sloppy. What good is it to invite people to a state dinner when you don't even know who they are? It just shows our "leaders" throw state dinners for a photo op. When was the last time you invited people to dinner and not know who they were?

Excellent protection! The elite protection providers haved failed our president. Imagine that! If it were me I'd resign. I don't trust devils.

Let's see, white folks show up with guns out in the open at presidential speech...walking around like it's nothing. Hey...not a problem. White folks sneaking in the back door of the white house pretty much. Hey, not a problem. If these were blacks behaving this way with a white man in office...they would have been arrested and criminally charged.

"If you don't have anything worth dying for then there's not much worth living for is there." MLK Jr. Be safe Pres. Obama! Our prayers will be with you...because obviously your racist protection isn't.

These two publicity seeking lunatics need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

What were they thinking. Don't you have to show an invitatin or something? Well I hope somebody takes a roll for this. This couldhave been a disaster. The nerve of these people. Fame seekers.

this is very scarey. it takes only one such "embarrassment" to bring about tragedy and chaos. somebody's got to be held responsible; something's got to change

Had the intruders not openly bragged about it, this would not have been caught.

I think Mr. President and his family should not make themselves accessible too much. I understand that they want to reach out to people but they put themselves in danger and our country can't afford to have them getting hurt. Secrete Service has a tremendous pressure to protect them. It's not excusable for the incident at the State dinner, but due to the popularity and the exposure of the First Family, we have a concern.

Well, of course there should be some heads rolling at Secret Service. That's an inexcusable breach. Beyond that, those irresponsible imbeciles the Salahis need to be languishing in separate federal prisons for the next 10 years - at a minimum. If you don't meet this kind of foolish "reality TV" stunt with a definite and extreme response, you're going to invite some other idiots to give it a shot themselves. When you're talking about the security posture of the White House and members of the Administration, regardless of their political party, you cannot afford to allow such a ridiculous turn of events. Fire the agents who broke protocol. Lock up the Salahis, and give them a decade to learn the difference between "reality TV" and reality.

Well, in the unfortunate but somewhat foreseeable event that some REALLY serious security breach is committed upon the president, I can already foresee the Faux News response:

Heck, Obama couldn't even control access to his state dinner so nobody should be blamed if a right-wing wacko goes wild and ...

Even the most lowly security guard knows that you don't let people who don't have access to an area in. Secret service, more like Secret Joke.

This is an event that will allow the security around the president to improve. Thankfully, the event demonstrating the weakness was an innocent one. Perhaps this will allow them to prevent a situation in the future that might not be so benign.

Now, punish the malfaitteurs with 200 hours of community service in a soup kitchen to remind them that the world does not revolve around them.

When the "People's Militia Party" has replaced the Federal government (per the voting majority). This will not happen, we will also not allow our border to be compromised, our wealth to be stolen, or our children to be sacraficed via illegal military action......

This woman would have never got passed the Secret Service if she had been a minority–never in a million years. That's what I hate about it.

No one should lose their job for this, but some serious reprimands need to be made, and some tightening of protocal. Because of the increase in threats more personel should be added.
In order to assist in preventing this from happening again, the perpetrators should be given jail time to discourage others from attempting to do something similar. Perfection in protection will never be accomplished, but they should strive for it at all times. Please press charges against the perpetrators.

What reality show is the secret service going for?

Quick! One of you lefties find a way to blame this on Dick Cheney!

This is a non-story. It is being overblown by the media so they can distract from (ignore) the Climate Research Unit scandal.

Outrage over 'balloon' boy which posed a threat to the security / safety of airspace but nothing but headlines for these people. The fact that they were able to breach security and shake hands with Obama is incredulous. They need to be arrested as others who have trespassed on WH property. Heads need to roll in the SS because not all 'weapons' can't be detected. Let's be real, this has made the security of this President and VP a laughing stock.I guess all it seems to take is a pretty blond face ....... give me a break.

Tom,
Please crawl back into your playpen and wait to be changed. The Secret Service is NOT a partisan organization, only there to protect the President of the United States. Duh.

The million dollar question is how the Secret Service overlook the fact that these two people were imposters? While I dont wish to turn this into a race debate, I could not imagine a black couple showing up like these two did and being allowed to get further than the parking lot. These people were given a pass simply based on the fact that they were white and nontreatening in the Secret Service mind. Again, I hate to bring race into this situation, but that is the only explanation for this snafu.

I'm sure this couple thought this was all in good fun but i'm sure they've cost people their jobs over this, i hope they go to jail.

Our Secret Service agents perform a critical and often unacknowledged service for our country. This incident was unfortunate, but no one was hurt and incidents like this are extremely rare. It seems it's easier to focus on the few things people do wrong than the thousands of things they do right... and our Secret Service agents do a lot right. They're actually pretty amazing.

The Secret Service is an anachronism and should be re-organized out of existence, with its functions going to DoJ/FBI. In addition, DHS has always been and apparently still is a joke; would like to see a major shake-up there.

This is just another attempt to make the Obama administration look ineffective. All these tactics will not work. It is time for all Americans to realize that we need to change our course of direction in terms of humans relations. This is not a democrat/republican issue. This reflects on America and the rest of the world will look upon us as squabbling idiots. One party just can't come to grips with the fact that they lost the election. Time to move on!!!!

Tom: At least we have an administration now as opposed to the the sock puppets that we've had over the previous administration

funny how the black suited goons are tracing my ip right now but still let in a pair of clowns to a state dinner! my brother in-law is a virgina trooper and he says w. had 110 times the security, obama is maybe too relaxed about it? I love our president, i want him to be safe from kooks like these.

I'm wondering does the secret service know that we have people that are praying for this president to be killed like that pastor in Arizona that is praying for that to happened? This is a shame for the country and the president especially when there is a president from another country is involve.

So how can the same secret service individuals who guarded Bush and Cheney and the republicans NOW BE AMATEUR HOUR. Did their intelligence drop off all of a sudden. Or is it just that a republican nutso is trying to make everything that happens political.

How about FBI did they turn them all out in the streets when Obama took over. Or maybe they sent the military to Timbuctoo. Gee what a dope.

Secret Service Screwed up. Hey Mike what has Obama done? Really since he has been in office what has he done. Stop getting mad and look at facts! Your right Palin isn't the best person for president, but that doesn't mean Obama is any better. Give me ONE thing he has done since he has been in office? Just because you yell louder than me doesn"t make your point any smarter! And buy the way your party made it a priority to drag down Bush every day he was in office. Save your political B.S for somebody else, and before you go on your I'm a Rightwing loving tangent I havent voted Republican in 8 years!

This would never happen under a caucasian president.
The lack of effort to potect this Pesident is unexceptable.
I think there needs to be a shake up in the secret sevice.
You people can say what you want, but if anything happens to this president America will not be the same, take that however you wish, but you better pray to whom ever you pray to that no harm comes to President Obama.

Lets take this serious no matter who the President is, be it Democrat or Republican. This should never have happened and if there is a shortage of agents etc. then give th dept. more money and lets protect this man properly.

"The Secret Service is deeply concerned and embarrassed by the circumstances surrounding the State Dinner on Tuesday." Embarrassed? That's it? Honestly they shouldn't have even made a statement about this. Way to strip away the mystique of the US intelligence community...

this is so frightening! we have a president with the highest ever taget on his head and these idiots waltz right in, i guess the secret service should be renamed the kkk maybe? hecks u wannas sees that big old boy? step rights up missy and massa! i hope the entire secret service contingent is fired!!!! this is a disgrace!

This couple has actually done the President a big favor. There has been a 400% increase in the number of death threats made against the President since Obama took Office, mostly from domestic extremists. I'm just glad the first people to crash a party at the White House weren't among them.

There's a lot of unemployed people who'd gladly take their jobs from them.

As for the darling couple ...they belong jail.

But wait...they'll (the S.S.) will screw that up too.

The SECRET SERVICE MAN who let the couple in without an invitation should TERMINATED for POOR JOB PERFORMANCE and the COUPLE should be charged with TRESPASSING and/or INVASION OF PRIVACY to the fullest extent of the law.

What an awful deed! GOD BLESS ....AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!

Well can't any one. Obama has the White House door wide open to the public.

Corretion.

OMG, she even shook Obama’s hand. How in the world did someone said they were not invited?????????? Maybe Obama invited them but refuse to tell because they’re not politicians.

more Bush holdovers at the White House caused this.

To Tom:
I can't beleive how stupid you republicans are to not understand that this new administration has nothing to do with the secret services assignments.
Let me tell you that what you've been plotting will return against you. This is not the 1960's when you kept killing democrats leaders without paying any price. Folks like Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh or your tea party leaders should be aware that if something bad happens to president Obama or one of his family members, it will be the Armagedon that the Bible talks about in the book of revelations. The ground will set on fire under your feet. Make no mistake about that. All of you right wings extremists will run from this same country you're claiming to be only yours.
And let me tell you that we will close our borders here in Canada, to prevent you from running away from the fire you set. So be wise and well aware!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Secret Service made a HUGE mistake. In addition to our President and VP, there were other foreign dignataries in attendance also. (Haven't they been having trouble in India in the past year or so?) Had anything happened to anyone, it could have been catastrophic.

Tom, please tell me how the previous administration was so much more professional than this one. Perhaps giving the woman head of state of Germany a neck rub, reading books upside down, an inablility to pronounce basic English, even with the assistance of a teleprompter, telling Al Qaeda to "bring it on" or declaring "mission accomplished" while showing up in a flight suit.

The Secret Service is not a partisan organization and the President and his staff have nothing to do with the services practices or hiring.

I suggest that you grow the hell up and argue policy and not things that have nothing to do with the President's decisions.

This is frightening and very upsetting. The good thing about all this is that the Secret Service now knows that they had a major flaw in their protocol and will most likely tweak their entire operation. As for the crashers, if they actually weren't invited then they need to be severely punished. If someone has the nerve to do this and lie about it, they're too daring and that makes them dangerous. They need to pay for this.

Just really unbelievable that apparently anyone can get all dressed up and crash a White House state dinner with both the President and Vice President in attendance.

Man, if I was President Obama I would demand an entirely new Secret Service detail and hand pick them myself.

ESPECIALLY, given how many freaks out there would love to assasinate this President, he needs EXTRA protection not less.

I also hope they press charges against the Salahis, if nothing more then to show that being rich and glamorous doesn't mean you can do whatever the hell you want.

As Henry Kissinger meant to say, "[Blondes are] the ultimate aphrodisiac."
Seriously though, look at her 'dress,' the blonde hair and, yes, she turns heads. Call it a caper, attention seeking, whatever you wish. They certainly would not set off any profile alarms! These people knew how to blend in and move past the Secret Service. She could be the MOTHER of all Osamas! Praise God, they were not REAL terrorists!

This is a serious understatement. President Obama was put in jeopardy because the crashers wore nice clothes. Maybe the Secret Service has never seen a James Bond film ( he often wears a tuxedo). This is not mere social gossip. It is a serious breach of the law. Ask the Kennedy family how they would feel about it. Heads should roll. No more visits to vineyards in Virginia. The President deserves better especially in the White House.

what a joke. send them to jail and the agents back to school. how much will we sell our souls for to get our names in the limelight??????????????????

What is the big deal...Harry Truman, used to go out the gate and take walkes down Pennsylvania Ave....This guy needs a 10 ton armoured Cadillac to go to the bathroom.. I am glad they made a joke out of the CLOWN.

Yes, fix the Secret Service.
But also follow through with legal consequences for these two "crashers" who did so with premeditated motives. Failed system or not, they committed a crime, no?

More than one person employed by the Secret Service needs to be immediately dismissed.

It doesn't matter how many millions of people have been properly screened. It only takes one improperly screened to do damage. It doesn't matter how many magnetometers have been used. They wouldn't find a vial of anthrax or sarin. The Secret Service really screwed up, and they need to fire the people responsible.

This story never seemed quite right from the time I first heard it. You mean to tell me that two unknown people get all dressed up, go to a state dinner and actually get in by pure luck by meeting a Secret Service agent who didn't do his job, something that he could normally do in his sleep. Yeah, right. You can't get into a silly pop concert without someone checking your ticket. For the couple to attempt it in the first place, you have to suspect there was some kind of plan and some kind of help getting in. Otherwise, why would they even try such a crazy thing?

Mr. Sullivan, all the past success mean very little in a job like yours, when all it takes is "one" failure and we all know failure is not an option.

They should fire every member of the Secret Service who was responsible for screening guest. Period.

Hey Tom-This admisnistration as every one before it-is not in charge of the Secret Service. Get a life and stop blaming this administration for any little thing you feel like. Now Bush on the other hand-we could really get into blaming and there'd be no denying it. No amateur hour with Bush/Cheney-just lies and fear mongering. As far as that dumb blonde and her husband who lied their way into the White House-I feel they need to be prosecuted. They lied. They literally broke into the White House-Our House! Let them get a dose of reality-and I don't mean TV!

they should be fired at once! The people that snuck in and lied to federal agents should go to prison! BUT President Obama should be very very upset and demand answers. This would have never happened to another president. The secret service should be COMPLETELY at fault and all should be fired! UNREAL!!!! AND NO HATERS, this is NOT Obamas fault, he didnt hire these fools!

This is a very serious breach of security in the white house.
Highly trained killers need no Gun or weapon to kill.
What is more shamfull is they had access to the president the vice president and his guest.
Mark Sullivan need to resign period. There is Zero tolerance when it comes to the security of the president of the USA due to history of assasinations of former presidents.

Tom, if there is anyone who is an amateur; it's you. No only are you an amateur, you are also quite ignorant.

The Secret Service is not a part on the direct administration of the White House.

Tom,
The same secret service team that guarded Bush now guards the current president. The current administration does not "run" the secret service.

I have to agree with Ken in that people are going to lose their jobs over this one. Make light of it if you want, but the simple fact is, those two had access to areas in which they shouldn't have. They met the president, vice president, among others. The president's life is in the hands of the Secret Service and they screwed up big time.

What a joke. These people could have picked up a knife from the dinner and went on a stabbing spree. They could have been those nut teabaggers. These people made the secret service look like a mickey mouse club organization. Fire all of them.

Having worked in a hotel where we had presidential visits, I find this hard to believe from the Secret Service, they used to be quite thorough in their clearance of those to be near the President.

I realize that not every one is happy with this president, having this position, but are they trying to get this president assasianated??

These high-class nut jobs need to be prosecuted to the fullest.

Oh please. The couple looked nice and no harm was done to anyone. If it were a fantasy or a reality, the last time I checked you may be a social climber in this country if you want regardless of how much money you spend or borrow. By the way, I do not think we are in an economic position to give more funding to the secret agents. Regardless of the whole or entire story, I believe I heard a lot about maybe there was a problem with under-funding for the secret agents. Anyway, I am glad the couple could dress up and get out of the house; eventhough, a lot of us are trying to stay a float with tax, gas, and food prices on the rise to say nothing of health care, another issue.

Potential terrorists are definitely going to be in touch with this daring duo and try to find out how they did it. Copycats with a much more evil agenda. Tea baggers and some fox news commentators are probably licking their chops as more of this fiasco unfolds.

The Secret Service could learn from the security guards used at Walmarts for the Black Friday sales.

I agree with Bob – there needs to be major shakeup at the Secret Service Department from the top down. Obviously, the Secret Service needs retraining on an active and public president. The have forgotten skills from eight years of the VP hiding out in a "undisclosed" underground location and a president who went to bed at 8pm and traveled only to his "ranch" in Texas. The Secret Service should be embarrased.

Had this happened in England, the head of the Secret Service would have already resigned in disgrace.

In Japan, he would have committed suicide by now.

In China, he would have been executed by now.

In America, he has "the full confidence of the White House".

Tell me, if you were a cross-dressing terrorist (see that Adam's apple?)prepared to die for your beliefs, wouldn't it be fabulous if you could poison the President of the United States (and the PM of India, and the Vice-President and God knows who else) with a contaminated handshake? Interesting also they have 'disappeared'.

Amateur is not the word, Tom – I believe you were looking for 'ghastly', or maybe just 'holy s*** we're a bunch of idiots'. My two cents.

The sad part is that the media is giving these wannabe celebrities just what they want. It is pathetic that these people crave attention and people like Larry King give it to them. He should not be giving them air time on Monday night. Ignore them, charge them with lying to the Secret Service, let them serve some time and then maybe this whole reality junk will stop. They don't deserve all of this attention. They should just be charged and that's it. What makes people like Jon and Kate, balloon boy's parents and these two losers think that they should be able to manipulate people this way. It is a sad state of the current culture.

I think the Secret Service Department should be fired. Even though they passed the security check. If they wanted to kill him, they could have easily used a knife or fork on the table.

Also, I think the President makes the American people feel that the White House is an open door policy. He should have never started inviting any and everybody to the White House. That house should always be secret and confidential. I disagree with Michelle that it's the people's house, no it's not it's the White House. I understand that you want your family to try to live like normal people. He should have never taken the job, it you want to live like normal people. He is putting himself and the people around him life in jeopardy.

Really Monster Zero,
Your comments demonstrate what is wrong with this country over and over again. Even if you do not like the President's agenda he is still a human being, someone's husband and father. A threat FROM anyone towards our President is a threat against US and what United States should represent for ALL people freedom. Grow up.

Investigate the Agents involved and you will have your answer.

I think that anytime someone can walk up to the POTUS wiithout security clearance, that should be a concern for all US citizens, whether you suppot the POTUS or not.. Some people in the Secret Service should be polishing up their resumes right about now!!!

Personally, I smell a rat. This couple got themselves all dolled up for a State Department dinner assuming one of the checkpoints would screw up? Does this even make any sense? What are the odds of that happening?

I say we've not heard the last of this, and the Secret Service's "we're embarrassed" was nothing more than the most palatable way for them to deal with what might be a much more serious internal issue, like pay-offs to guards to look the other way, or worse.

Amateur hour is not an accurate call. This is more like gameday at the zoo. A real four year jaunt into fantasyland. Anyone with half a brain will be leaving this country really soon...definitely before this four year tour into surrealism is over!

Washington is so pretentious and phony. This doesn't surprise me at all. It's worth a laugh.

Tom, the reason you think this administration is "amateur hour" is BECAUSE the presidency is filled by amateurs every four years and has been since George Washington became president.

Maybe you would like a dictatorship? They start out as amateurs but eventually become professional dictators by virtue that they, like Fidel Castro, stay in power till they are ancients or dead.

We all make mistakes and fortunately it wasn't catastrophic. They did send all the guests through the metal dectors so live and learn, I'm sure it won't happen again.

I totally agree with you Bob, i find they are almost if not certainly waiting for something bad to happen. How is it that these kinds of things never happened when Bush was President? It is incredible how they work and also incredible what they choose to ignore. Obama is one of the Presidents who truly is interested in the well being of the american people and looking out to make it a better America all together. And here we are allowing Mr and Mrs Whoever, not only enter the WH but they allow them to shake hands and eat and be fully accessible to doing just about anything to the american #1. They wanted to do all but kill the guy who shot his shoe at Bush but they are thinking of only charges? I am totally blown away, with the H1N1 and God only knows what else this couple could have spread, this is totally unbelievable if not certainly planned.

No doubt the secret service agents in question were so ga-ga over the fake blond little bimbo that they forgot what they were there for....

Guarding our president!

I wonder how many other snafus the secret service let happen.

Or, maybe they WANT things to happen, maybe there are secret service people who themselves have sneaked into the Secret Service ranks in order to bring harm to the President.

Ain't impossible............

While I'm not a big fan of President Obama, the comments here which attempt to turn this into a political matter are absurd. Secret Service goes to great lengths to protect our President and it should concern all of us that this would happen to any President! I would imagine these mistakes are very rare, but it only takes one mistake for a serious problem to occur.

The Secret Service is not a partisan agency. It really is scary that they let someone slip in like this, and I am a conservative. To start a conspiracy theory that they are intentionally under-staffing and making a mistake to let something happen to Obama is really an irresponsible thing to say, bob.

This was not at all a funny incident. This could have been an international incident that could have harmed our country for years to come – the President was entertaining the Prime Minister from India for God's sake. The Secret Service needs to be interrogated and there should be people doing time for this failure of duty. Seriously, from calling the President a liar, to threatening to secede from the union, and generals who are arguing their case in the media, to now failing to protect the leader of our country, we don't have to worry about Al Queda – we will destroy our county ourselves.

Dear Director of Secret Service Mark Sullivan, I am quite sure that the Secret Service men and women at still at the top of their game. Even without watching 'The West Wing', I know that you and your people are a really special group of Americans. I am sure that this screw-up is not due to anything you or your staff did, but rather, once again, you step up to the plate and take the blame. I know that things will get tightened up and that others recognize how important it is to listen to your guide lines.
I sleep better knowing that President Obama and his family, and Vice President Biden and his family, and others are protected by the Secret Service. Be assured that not all of the American Public just sit on their brains. Thank you for all your fine work. Gloria Oberste

put the jerks in jail.
It was premeditated tresspassing on federal property. Make up truck and cameras were with them to the gate.
Then the morons who let the pass to the next station, fire them. There is no place for this neglegence. Or better still make them gate guards in the Somalia embassy.

Shame on the common folk mingling with the royalty! Heck, the secret service, along with the military are probably as sick of the incompetence as the rest of us are...can you imagine having to work and protect those incompetent idiots?? They're the dangerous ones; and the sooner the stupid libs in this country grow a brain from their brain stems and realize it...the better off the country will be. 2010 and 12 cannot come soon enough!

This is not a political issue, Tom.

Nice try.

OMG – I agree with a Libertarian.

GASP. (I'm smiling)

Well put Erik

Tom – Obama is protected by the Secret Service, a federal law enforcement agency. Though he is doubtless on a first name basis with the agents and many of the uniformed officers, he does not select or train them. In fact, no one in the WH does either any more than they select and train FBI agents or DEA agents.

It's time for you Freepers to do what you shouted from the rooftops in 2001 and 2005. (We won you lost) "Deal With It."

Now, I wonder if the party crashers gave any thought to how their actions will impact the careers of the people in the thin line that protects POTUS. I'm betting their only thought was a few moments of fame and a television contract. Adult spoiled brats.

someone needs to be fired for this most severe mistake. The Office of the Presidency is the most high office in the USA and the world> The person who occupies that Office deserves to be protected by professionls.

Don't doubt for a second that there aren't a couple of Right Wing Republicans serving in the Secret Service, a couple of ex Cheney guys, and just itching to "make a mistake." This country is heading towards Civil War.....

The Secret Service made a huge mistake and has acknowed its mistake having said that< some heads need to roll. the person holding the Office of the Persident is to important on a world wide basis to have just anyone walk into a White house event. after the investigation is complete disscipline, should be severe and quick.to ensure that a repeat of this mistakte does not reocurr.

This is really scary..... and the problem was supposed to have happened at the FIRST checkpoint, and not caught at any of the others. The fact that she and her husband got close enough for her to grasp the President's hand is downright unbelievable. Since the President's inaugural the risks against his life have increased by nearly 400%, which should mean, logically, that security would be ON THEIR TOES. Get with it!!!! God protect President Obama and his family... it seems those hired to do the job are looking the other way.

@ Tom. The administration does not run the secret service. It is ridiculous that Obama gets blamed for everything including stuff that happened when he was a child. Tom, your knowledge of the functions of government is obiously very limited.

All day long every news chanel has pointed announced that :"a magnetometer was employed and therefore no one was in any danger at any time."
Any child in America knows that everyones life and they welfare of our Nation was endangered yet these stupid idiots kept reporting this ignorant tidbit

In the US it is very common to find icompetent fools in critical positions. It is disgusting. I feel like vomiting. How difficult is it to follow proper procedures. Shame on the Secret Service!!!

They should be embarassed but that is the end of the story. The republicans will blame Obama directly for this but it is minor compared to going to war with Iraq. These people meant no harm to the President and in fact are much more harmeless then the hatred and scare tatics the Republicans and Sarah Palin seek on the defenceless. I do think this couple should be charged criminally so that idiots get that seeking fame crimainally will not be tolerated.

What aren't these people arrested?!!!!!!!! This is even more embarrassing. Can't the secret service find them? What the H?!!!!!!!!!!!

Tom, you might read up on who is in charge of the Secret Service and that IS NOT the President. Then again, you probably think the quitter is still a politician, just like CNN.
If anyone is showing what an amateur and ignoramus he is it's you.
Those two jokers need to be charged with something (DOJ can figure it out) and the Secret Service needs to get their rear end in gear. This is NOT the first time that this President has been, on what I consider, the inexperienced hands of this department.

while a little funny, these two need to go to jail

Common courtesy is normally granted to ANY and ALL Presidents of these UNITED States of America. Sometimes we do not agree with the philosophy of the sitting President. That is understandable; please promote one's self to help us define a course of action. But disrespect of Any President diminishes us all. Show respect – I did for the past eight years and the eight years before that.

A mistake has been made by the Secret Service. You can believe that heads will roll, usually from the bottom up. Now close the barn door boy's and girl's and protect our President!!

The public was immediately told that they were never close to the President, why are we always lied to first before the facts come out?
In the pictures, our celebrity leaders look very happy to be with them.
So what crime ???

Tom & Mark both want to make this about Dems vs Republicans, the secret service is independent of party. This constant them vs us mentality is just bad for the country, and neither one of you know what you are talking about, or you wouldn't have tried to make it a party issue. Someone at the Secret Service screwed up, end of story.

it`s ok to be embarrassed, and it`s ok to make mistakes and learn from them, nobody and nothing is perfect, it`s not ok to let them go without braking their legs .

The trash pick-up was late today as well. Even more evidence this administration is strictly amateur hour and has been from day one.

"Squawk..."

Concerned and embarrassed?! This is completely unacceptable! And now there is a photo of this woman shaking the President's hand.

You're right Marc, this is quite a difference – for the worse.

Why should they be embarrassed? Barack Obama himself invited them to the white house. Now he is keeping silent.

This was a major mistake and I am sure a rare one, but it is important that it doesn't happen again. People who see this as something other than what it is, are just unpatriotic.

I am going to Christmas Carol at the White House this year. Actually, I really cant. I am thousands and thousands of miles away from the White House.

The Secret Service SHOULD be mega-embarrassed! And, someone should be oh-so-FIRED!

If you can leave your guns at the door, anybody should be able to shake Obie's hands

I will not make a good secret service agent. I am way too honest and truthful. Trust me, if Maddoff and I both interview for a position, he'll get it.

If all they wanted to do is meet Obama, all the Salahi's had to do is publicly denounce capitalism, support the government takeover of all private business, and offer Rahm Emanuel about $50,000 to build the Barack Obama Inernational Library in Chicago. That would've easily done the trick without embarrasing the Secret Service.

Is there nothing the Obama haters won't criticize him for, however absurd the stretch? For heaven's sake, he' not in charge of providing security, that's the job of the Secret Service! By that logic, Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and JFK were all responsible for their own deaths!Boy, the pettiness of these wicked little Republican minds, shrunk in bitterness, hatred and jaw-dropping stupidity to the diameter of a constipated ant's arse.

another glaring example of this Obongo show and it's ineptness.

yeah, i want these clowns to run our lives and the gubment.
NO THANKS!

Calm down, Folks. This is a serious issue that has absolutely NOTHING to do with politics. It has to do with the safety and security of our leader. I have full confidence that the secret service is already taking appropriate steps to prevent a recurrence.

I think they should thank these people. It seems to me they should get a reward for showing the Secret Services weakness. The SS should be glad it was just them and not Bin Laden. Now the SS wants to punish them because they have EGG ON Their FACE. I wonder what Obama would do if they were another color? Have a another beer summit?

Let them go!!!!

Granted, these two are about as dum as a flock of pallins for entering a White House function uninvited. Their self-esteem issues for feeling the need to rub elbows with some of the lowest life forms on the planet, i.e. politicians, is another matter that would take years of theraphy and shock-treatment to understand and/or cure. However, they obviously meant no malice and did not harm any of the "distinguished" guests. Embarrassment to the government seems to the limit of their inflictions. With the number of thieves, liars, and outright treasonous people who destroyed our economy just for starters and walked without repercussions, comparatively speaking, the government is already a bit overzealous in wanting to go after this couple.

Anyone who wants face time with Obama just needs to make a $$$ donation to the Dems. This is the biggest selling of the WH since Clinton sold the Lincoln bedroom. So much for transparency and honesty. He wil smile and make nice at anyone that will either grease his palm or stroke that huge ego.

The gown was perfect for the theme. this president is in such a hurry to get things done that is wrong with American going down every line in the book to straighten America out. the most important things are out the kitchen window. "grass is always greener over the septic tank" I'm looking for employment seems there will be some coming up in Washington, D.C. I hope the crashers get the job they are looking for. how can they be punished they only said they were invited they were when they were let walk through the door!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH AREN'T PEOPLE ASKED TO PRESENT THEIR INVITATION?

There is absolutely no excuse for something like this happening. Barak Obama is the President of the United States and since two people just waltzed in to the State dinner, there should be a major shake up in the Secret Service. It makes me sick to think of what might have happened. I think we were very lucky this time. Let's not let this happen again. Mext time we might not be so lucky.

Erik in PA is right on...the Secret Service has a long history of being above politics, as they should be. Their job is to protect the President and other officials, regardless of their protectees political affiliation.

Many of the comments thus far seem to want to either imply that the Secret Service is part of a conspiracy to reduce the safety of the President, or that this is better than when Bush was President because the error was acknowledged.

Folks, wake up to reality! This error shouldn't have happened, and would have been acknowledged by the Secret Service regardless of what President it involved.

This was completely human error, and I'm guessing there will be employment termination over this in the near future.

Learn from the error, stick with the processes you have, and keep the President safe...and this from someone who didn't vote for him.

I never thought I would agree with a Liberterian, but Erik in PA has hit the nail on the head. Both sides have their share of great leaders and morons. Can we all get over that and move on?

"The Secret Service is deeply concerned and embarrassed..." As they should be! Joe Biden looked like he was having the time of his life posing with Michaele, but his salacious thoughts aside, this was a major security breach.

The Salahi's have absolutely no concern for protocol or the safety of a sitting president. Did they give any thought to how this stunt would cause international embarrassment to the White House, the Secret Service and by extension, the American people? They didn’t crash an Easter Egg Hunt on the West Lawn; they crashed a State Dinner. The Salahi’s are sociopaths, they committed a federal crime and should be tried and convicted.

Bad as a breach of security is, it can be rectified and those errors can be eliminated in the future.

The genie we can't seem to put back in the bottle is the almost pathological needs of people like this to get noticed... to find personal fame... no matter what cost to those around them. We've seen it over and over again for the past several years, and most recently with the "balloon boy" and his family, and now this set of status seeking cretins.

In a way, it's their fault and the full force of the law should indeed be applied to make them see that responsibility for irresponsible acts can carry a heavy price tag. But until we get over our need to be voyeurs into the televised lives of people we wouldn't allow around us in real life, expect more such outrageous behaviors.

Film at eleven.

Hi Tom,
let me be clear!
I am white, 48y old, and I believe in this President!
If something happened to him, people like you would be gone. Civil war would be like children game. Don't try, or if you do, be prepared to take full responsibilities! I know that FBI can find my address, and I am ready to talk to them. Are you, idiot?

I hope justice is served for these two that want to be in the spotlight at any cost.

Right Tom, the Bush administration was a well oiled machine.

Tom,

What constitutes "amateur hour" is someone who thinks that the secret service is managed and run by each presidential administration.....why does everything get manipulated to be presented as a partisan issue?

Good one, Tom........blame the administration - this "blame game" is getting just a bit ridiculous, don't you think? Is President Obama himself now overseeing the Secret Service, too?

Okay! Let's please figure out what happened! This is truly a blessing! Now they(secret service) can figure out what went wrong- so the real bad people can not CRASH through!!! Better Yet! The secret service should employ the Salahis!!!

This is a very serious breach of security. I can not understand how the Secret Service allowed this to happen, especially at such a major event at the White House. As we have all witnessed to often, too many wicked acts are being done by individuals in society today. Something like this absolutely must never happen again!

@ Tom

The administration does not control how the Secret Service does its job. This is not a partisan issue, why make it one?

This wouldn't be the first time the Secret Service fumbled! I remember when Reagan flew into my Guard base there were Secret Service people all over the place. I was chatting with an agent who realized that he had misplaced his car keys. Well, he later found them under the front seat of his vehicle. It wouldn't have taken much for someone to jump in the car and drive away. This, of course, is not on the grand scale of what happened at the state dinner, but it shows you that they are not perfect.

Embarrassed? They are embarrassed? I think they should be feeling a bit more heat than that. If I were in charge, heads would be rolling. Embarrassed??? Ye gads boys!!

Tom – you're the amateur. The administration doesn't run the secret service.

Tom: we get it. You are one of those who will NEVER forgive President Obama for winning this election. Get over it already. It was not the error of THIS ADMINISTRATION. The error is the Secret Service's and they will be held accountable.

Yeah, this is a pretty serious mistake. I mean, it blows my mind to think that a couple of (relatively) average people even made it into the White House, let alone meet the President.

BUT, I think the agents of the Secret Service deserve our thanks. The organization made a serious blunder, but the individual agents are great men and women who put their own safety second to protect our President among others.

Tareq and Michaele Salahi, so precious. They are the poster people for low class behavior. Watching their grinning faces as they prance in where they weren't invited. The Secret Service agents at the gate cannot justify their failure to do the most simple task – match the guests with the guest list. They should be 'outted' by name and face and fired.

I would like to know how many many of these secret service clowns/robots are going to get fired for this mishap. I find it unbelievable that I had to relinquish a brand new jar of "Lancome" face cream at LGA because I 'could make a bomb in flight', yet these two nobodies got to shake hands WITH THE PRESIDENT, AT THE WHITE HOUSE no less!!! What's wrong with THIS picture?

It wasn't securities fault, they looked just like the rest of the flakes in the white house

I guess Tom thinks President should have been checking the guests on the list himself. The beauty about free speach in America is that the many no-minds like Tom get to show the world how truly uneducated, hateful, divisive, narrowminded, unamerican and just plain stupid they really are. God help America.

Someone need to be FIRED. Seems to me the secret service has been slipping. They let a man throw a shoe at Bush and a couple get into a state dinner at the white house with Obama. Shameful. STEP UP YOUR GAMES. especially with a ll the wing nuts out there!

I was shocked to read that the elite secret service allowed 2 uninvited guests into the white house but appalled that this woman and her husband were allowed direct access to the president. I hope to goodness that these agents are disciplined and replaced or reassigned if necessary to prevent this from happening again. How can such a highly trained and organized group allow this to happen?

This was selfish and embarassed our country. These people deserve an arrest soon and a jail term. Oh they will know change all right in prison. All those who ignorned national security should be dealt with fairly and justly. It was so simple to follow directions that people in charge couldn't do it properly. KISS in this case.
When will this couple be arrested? Hurry, please?

This incident gives me a goose bump.

I feel that my president's security could have been easily compromised by what this couple proved.

Kennedy was far from the assasin. This party female invader shook my president's hand ! Good looking women were / are good spies weren't /aren't they? Remember Wilson?

We are lucky our president is still with us.

The Secret Service needs to tighten it up. This makes me worry more for the safety of our president when morons like the Sahali's can ease through security.

@ TOM... The Administration does not run the Secret Service and the Service is not run by "The Department of Law" as Sarah Palin would have you beleive.

I doubt that any Secret Service Agents will lose their jobs over this mess, however, you may find them chasing "Funny Money" for a long time. They may stay with the Service but will never again work a Presidential or White House Detail.

An inexcusable error by our secret service.

Hopefully, it never happens again!

TWO REASONS THIS IS VERY BAD

1) – This incident may inspire a lot of "wing-nut birthers", who strongly feel Obama is not a legitimate President to take their chances and take it to the next level. (GOD Forbid!)

2) – This incident could significantly tarnish the trust any foreign dignitaries may have in U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security, and unfortunately President Obama and White House staff to protect foreign diplomats and high profile visitors to the White House.
.

Are you kidding me They ALL NEED TO BE FIRED it is very important to keep our President safe...

More than embarrassing! It's a potential threat to national security. I don't care which party is in office. Slipping in to great the President should not be the stepping stone for some fame seeking low lifes. They could have had anthrax or something on their hands. The Secret Service should fire all that were involved in letting these weirdos through. Hopefully there will be something beyond simple trespassing to put the couple on trial for. But on second thought, not trying them and letting them slip into obscurity might be even better.

Why are they making a big deal over this? Heck they are letting terrorists into New York, well, actually bringing there intentionally.

Did these people get seated for the dining session? With "tables for ten" presumably assigned according to protocol - did they? IF not, when were they "discovered" and ejected?

Come on, CNN - let us know - THAT would be REAL journalism.

Well a few Secret Service Agents will be without a job. Effective as of NOW all the Policies and Procedures of protecting the President and his Family will be CHANGED. Maybe they need to modify the procedures every few months – that way no one will be able to crash any event at the White House.

Tom, I can only echo what Erik said, "Until you all stop treating the government of our nation like a small-town football rivalry, things won't get any better."

So true.

Meanwhile the editors of the NY Times seem to think that mispellings on the menu are the real story.

@bob November 27th, 2009 5:38 pm ET
There needs to be a major shakeup at the Secret Service Department. Since President Obama has taken office there has been a four hundred percent increase in threats to the President.
***************************************************************************
They shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

Someone needs to do a closer look at the Secret Service....First whether you like Bush are not a person shouldn't been able to throw TWO shoes at him and now this issue with Obama.... What the H!#!@#!@LL are the Secret Service doing???

400,000 THREATS AGAINST PRESIDENT OBAMA SETS NEW RECORD. Jillian Rayfield writes in TPM's 19-OCT-2009 edition of "Live Wire" that "The Boston Globe" and "Congressional Research Service" reported threats against President Obama is at a record high and is 400% higher than the previous president.

With this knowledge in the Secret Service's hip pocket, their is NO EXCUSE for this type of slip up.

Great job SS...they should FIRE the SAIC..not Admin Leave with pay..but FIRE..there is no excuse why this happened. Isnt this their job..their so called bread and butter to protecting the President? How can the Department of Homeland Security protect us (law abiding, tax paying patriotic Americans) when they cant protect someone who is in the White House???

The person or persons who job it is to protect the First Family should be fired IMMEDIATELY.

They shouldn't be embarrassed – they should be fired.

It's hard to believe the President, First Lady, First Children and all the visiting invited dignitaries were exposed to imposters. If these socialities were employeed by Macy's Dept. store they would be in jail right now. Because you're having a party is no reason to forget to check your lists of guests. Embarassing?

Probably most of the SS agents protecting the president and his family, would be happier doing real Secret Service work, like finding the guy printing those bogus $20 bills.

Since this agency went HLS, it's professionalism has plummeted, along with the Homeland Security Agency; the agency that also took over immigration security and has totally botched that.

These "reality star wannabe's" should be prosecuted!

Maybe the Feds should go easy on these two and keep their focus on Bin Laden or else it will look like when George W. Bush baged Martha Stewart and forgot about the real problem

Seems the "service" has egg on its face. Even the Secret Service can't get things right. Sign of the times I guess.

since when is the secret service a part of the administration? At least this administration is doing something about the lobbyests who really try to run the country. If the right wing doesn't stop this foolishness, they will be laughed out of Washington.

UTTERLY EMBARRASSING
Yes, the party-crashing incident is embarrassing to the Obama's and the White House staff – - – But unlike some idiot postings so far, this was not caused by Obama or his staff.

The blame lies flat on the shoulders of the U.S. Secret Service. The Secret-Service at one time was controlled by the U.S. Treasury, but now they fall under U.S. Homeland Security. SO PUT THE BLAME WHERE IT BELONGS WHICH IS THE "DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY".

What makes you people think Tom is talking about the SS?

Where is the respect for the Office of the President? The audacity to think that is OK to "punk" the Secret Service for the purpose of obtaining a part in a reality show.

And how is this a reflection upon the Obama administration? This is not D vs. R! This about protecting a father of 2 young children. This about our President being unprotected you selfish jerks.

Since Bush was about "secret" of the secret service work, I guess now with the non-Bush attitude, it is just about "service" and it was not a security breach but a man-induced service breach!
The politization of everything around the president is not by Tom's comment below and the mistake has nothing to do with political parties– the safety of the president is important to all Americans (indeed, nothing partisan about this mistake, hopefully they just learn). But, this over-politization of everything is unfortunately the president's own policy and a residual attitude from "riding Bush's unpopularity," so the first paragraph above just meant to raise the concern that over-politization over-politically-correct presidency is a dangerous one, even to the president himself.

Head ought to roll–Secret Service and the Salahi's. Fire the officers whose responsibility it was to vet the guests, and charge the crashers to the full extent of the law.

This big doesn't exist just in the white house secret service. It clearly exists at the airport. They detain foreigners who are famous (like Indian singer and Prime Ministers of some Islamic countries. And I often saw old ladies being checked so thoroughly. They must focus and know who the real terrorists are! They can't be the Prime Ministers, Singers, and Old ladies... can they?

This is the same Secret Service that was under Bush, you clueless clowns (tom).

Did we replace the entire Army when Obama was elected too?

This gets better and better now they are shaking Obama's hand. hahaha Talk about a Turkey moment by the Secret Service.

Certainly makes one very concerned, if one wasn't already, about the ability of the Secret Service to protect this President.

Looks like the Secret Service has gotten a bit lax. With the personal threats again our President up they should be being more careful not less. I still remember that day in November 1963. Heaven forbid it ever happens again.

Why is it that so many people ramble on about things they know nothing about, pointing fingers and generally blaming things on people who have no involvement with the matter at hand.The current administration has nothing to do with the functioning of the Secret Service. Their sole responsibilty on the night of the dinner was the security of the White House and it's occupants {no matter what political party they are part of} and they really blew it this time. Heads will no doubt role.If you must make a snide remark , be sure you know what you're talking about.,or do you like looking like hand puppet.

Tom, I am with you 110%, what a bunch of MOOOORRRRROOOOONNNNNS we have running our Government. If peoples lives weren't ultimately at risk there would be much humor in watching this debacle unravel. I bet if this Administration had to actually be accountable for their spending we would see a much different story. Just remember America, keep everything in chaos and it is much easier to achieve or impose your will upon others.

The Bush Administration checked people at the gate. The didn't wait until they got in the White House. Criticize Bush all you want, but at least he could keep people from sneaking in. Obummie's security detail is just like the rest of his administration. The blind leading the blind from Obummie on down.

TV statistics stating in realtime with what positions are prerecorded before time that is allowed after participants before ...
Déjà vu "already seen" when all participants are used people who do not pay attention to list of invitees to advance in chess ("The Blind Side") ...

Those two morons who were trying to pump up their reality show ratings and personal popularity by crashing the party should get about five years of community service every Saturday and Sunday until 2015.

Stuff happen... deal with it. Main thing it wasn't something dangerous.

The thing that gets me is that we reward people like this couple. They'll get on a reality show for sure now. Like Octomom. And Jon and Kate. There's too many ways for people like this to be rewarded these days.

Let's hope they can kinda go the way of the Balloon Boy parents instead.

Great... you found it. Now don't do it again.

And they let in Barry too...

Are they still around or did they get fired.

They should get fired their job is to make sure only the people that are invited are there. If I was the President I don't think it would make me very happy.

It doesn't make any difference who is President even though I am not a fan of Obama it's still can't be overlookked.

Now that the error is found, PLEASE MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN!!!!!!

The accessibility to our PRESIDENT should be VERY VERY VERY LIMITED.

Funny how Tom in the previous comment makes the issue a partisan one, when the Secret Service field leadership is not connected to changes in White House occupants. As a Libertarian Party member, I am by turns amused and troubled by this constant impulse to render everything in D vs. R partisan terms. Until you all stop treating the government of our nation like a small-town football rivalry, things won't get any better.

Tom,
Does the administration run the Secret service now?
You folks will look for any little tidbit to try and drag down this president. Well let me tell you that you will all fail. Who would you like to see as President? A moron like Palin? I won't be surprised.

Maybe after KSM gets acquitted for his murderous reign of terror in Federal court he can sneak in for a visit to personally thank Holder, Barry and Michele at the Whitehouse....hey, maybe Oprah will be there for an interview and MTV can crank up another socially destructive reality TV series....

i thinks there going to be a few job openings with the secret service real quick.

They made a mistake/error/whatever and acknowledged it.
What a difference from the previous presidency!
Let's move on while they do what's necessary to prevent that something like that might ever happen again.

There needs to be a major shakeup at the Secret Service Department. Since President Obama has taken office there has been a four hundred percent increase in threats to the President. Yet from what I have read there has been a reduction in the number of agents that protect the President. It's almost as if they are leaving an opening for something to happen to this President.

This administration is strictly amateur hour and has been from day one.