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'They Need a Spanking'
The embarrassed mom of the White House gate crashers talks to The Daily Beast about her son's reckless behavior. Plus, former White House staffers weigh in on the breach—and dish about Desiree Rogers' surprising behavior that night.
Consider it a Thanksgiving miracle that Tareq and Michaele Salahi were just fame-whores.
The couple—she a pin-thin Ann Coulter type; he a grinning polo nut—crashed the Obamas’ first state dinner at the White House Tuesday night, with apparently no greater desire than to cozy up to Joe Biden for a really killer Facebook pic.
But it could have been much worse, especially for a president whose security needs have far outstripped those of any other chief executive in history, and who has been the object of intense vitriol and regular assassination talk since the earliest days of his campaign. The White House acknowledged Friday that the gutsy duo finagled actual contact with the first couple by hopping on the official receiving line—a virtually unfathomable security breach. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan confessed “deep concern and embarrassment” over the event and launched an investigation into how the couple snuck in, even after their car was turned away at the first checkpoint and they hoofed it to the entrance gate.
Click Image to View Our Gallery of the Gate Crashers.
Even Tareq Salahi's mom disapproved of her son's audacious behavior. Visited at their vineyard Friday, Corinne Salahi, a white-haired Belgian woman in sweatshirt and jeans, expressed exhaustion with the whole affair, which she described as “all too Hollywood.”
“Certainly there are more important stories out there,” she said. “I think it makes America look not too serious in the world.”
And what of her son and daughter-in-law?
“I think they need a spanking,” she said. “They probably deserve more than that.”
How on earth did it happen? Since when can someone throw on a red sari, knot a bowtie around her husband’s meaty neck and traipse into the White House, makeup artist and camera crew in tow? And—in a question asked over turkey and stuffing at the homes of several former White House social and press secretaries yesterday—where, oh where, was Desiree Rogers?
Breaking with tradition, Rogers was a guest to the state dinner, which honored Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife. She arrived solo, in a cream-colored Comme de Garcons dress, a curious choice that has since been the subject of considerable sniping online.
In the past, White House social secretaries have worked, not partied, on the nights of major events, racing around to make sure everything is going according to plan. But Rogers has occupied a bigger spotlight than her predecessors, doing more interviews, making more public appearances, and generally cutting a more glamorous figure. Just a few weeks after President Obama swore the oath of office, Rogers turned up at New York Fashion Week, sitting in the front row of three shows and taking photographs with Anna Wintour. According to three former White House officials, Rogers made it clear from the beginning that her approach to running presidential social functions would be a sharp break from past custom.
• The Daily Beast’s Tunku Varadarajan: Punking the White House
• Sandra McElwaine: What the Usher Knows In February, 2009, in a longstanding tradition, all of the former White House social secretaries gathered for a private luncheon at the Four Seasons to welcome Rogers to the post and pass on their collective wisdom. Said one person in attendance: “She was very friendly, but her position was clear: They’re different. They got here differently. These are different times. The old rules are going out and the new rules are being made up.” Rogers told the Associated Press Thursday that no one from her office had been at the security checkpoints to assist Secret Service members in managing the flow of guests and verifying their place on the list. The former White House officials, all from previous administrations, said they considered this a jaw-dropping oversight.
Likewise, some of New York’s top party planners were aghast, saying they take far more precautions to block gatecrashers for movie premieres and benefit galas—events with considerably smaller security risks.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
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Rebecca Dana is a senior correspondent for The Daily Beast. A former editor and reporter for the Wall Street Journal, she has also written for the New York Times, the New York Observer, Rolling Stone and Slate, among other publications.
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Rebecca Dana is a senior correspondent for The Daily Beast. A former editor and reporter for the Wall Street Journal, she has also written for the New York Times, the New York Observer, Rolling Stone and Slate, among other publications.
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Rebecca Dana is a senior correspondent for The Daily Beast. A former editor and reporter for the Wall Street Journal, she has also written for the New York Times, the New York Observer, Rolling Stone and Slate, among other publications.
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Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
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Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
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Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
TomInPhilly
DB...you needed TWO people to write a story this dull?
sophia5
Like Woodward and Bernstein . . . " Dinner-GATE "
case1234
The media is more than happy to give these two exactly what they are looking for, wall to wall coverage. Also, the Secret Service doesn't rely on anyone else to do their job. Note the first point of entry, the Front Gate, did turn them away it was the walk up who let them in. So they can't get off the hook by blaming the people responsible for setting the tables. Now if they didn't have a proper list that would be different but so far, they did.
Danbury
They need more than a spanking.
Narcissism has really run amok in America. Americans need to humble themselves, and if we don't do it, someone else will, and it won't be pretty or fun if left to someone else.
suzannewynn
Danbury, I have to agree narcissism has run amok, I wonder do these idiots have any idea what they have done? I am amazed that they were not concerned with staying out of jail! This is a felony charge kind of hard to get around that charge.
JohnConnughton
A good thing came out of this, I'll bet the mice don't get in any more without a pass. But these childish people do indeed deserve a decidely un-partylike vacation at Club Fed for a bit.
Another good thing, everyone now knows Ms.Rogers is derelict in her duty in having not only failing to arrange any coordination between her people and the Secret Service, but in showing up as if she was an attendee instead of the help.
ChanRobt
Suzanne, these idiots may be idiots. But, they deserve a citation for exposing how porous and incompetent is this White House and its security.
hithere3
Chan, I do believe you are exaggerating the importance of this incident!
jburrey2
Evently Rebecca DanA and Lloyd, were evidently not aware that Tareq and Michaele Salahi were major sponsors of The Presidential Inauguration VIP Ball and Conference in January (www.inauguration2009.tv) The Democratic leadership at the State Dinner must have recognized them...It seems that the Obamas, Bidens, and Emanuel don't have much to say....Maybe it was a mistake by Obama's social secretary (Valerie) to have not included them in the event???? They are evently "good democrats" with lots of $$$.
seakiev
The Salahi's should be charged with trespassing and perhaps an overnight in jail, if for no other reason than to let future gate crashers know that there will be a price to pay (and not a ransom to gain for the interview afterward).
Desiree Rogers shirked the responsibilities of her office by not being at the security posts checking in guests or having several members of her staff doing the job in coordination with the Secret Service. Desiree should be replaced as social secretary with someone who is more concerned with security than making the office her own personal spotlight (though this is doubtful since she is personal friends with the First Couple).
Whoever in the Secret Service made the actual gaffe of letting this couple through the gate should be transferred overseas, perhaps to a nice warm country like Kyrghistan.
baptox
Well, yes. These people sound like complete idiots. Unfortunately, they make our Secret Service look like bigger complete idiots.
Let's face facts, however. President Obama is much more at risk when he's off the white house grounds and out "on the road" and when he speaks to large audiences. That's when he's really vulnerable. That a security breach of such magnitude could occur at such a minor event is really alarming and appalling. Makes you wonder if the Marx brothers are in charge of his safety.
The only good to come out of this will be that security for the president, his family and staff will be beefed-up and I hope, impenetrable in the future.
spudsmcgee
There's no such thing as 100% full-proof security. Guys employed to test security measures at airports have gotten box cutters and worse through the TSA security checkpoints. Unfortunately if somebody wanted to get to Obama they could.
gracie99
How about the narcissism of the social secretary, Desiree Rogers, who not only doesn't want to be confused with 'the help' but doesn't make her staff work either on the night of such an big event?
jbo206
You have hit the actual story of this event. Security is there to prevent weapons, do searches. The social secretary staff is there to maintain the list. The under-text of this story is that Desiree was going to be a "different" social secretary, a cool social secretary (not like those other ones).
She should be fired. Period.
dcnoble
I was a protocol officer for many years--I was never a guest at an official function. My staff and I worked the function.
Sounds like Desiree Rogers' idea of "doing things differently" means not doing her job.
Sounds like she needs to find a new one.
amapola101
dcnoble,you are right. There has to have been someone from,the WH that knew the guest list, inside and out,that has to be the final checkpoint or beginning. And someone, slowly walking up to them and escorting them out.They tried to get in with cameras. What a smart pair. They are brilliant, and the Whitehouse Security, staff, anyone else looks incompetent,and everywhere, this is the laughing joke. Not about the first lady, who were the guests of honor, no one cares.Everywhere,everywhere,thats what becomes the conversation.Did they brake any laws,lying to the govt, saying they are invited,the media, Can you imagine pictures with KC,RE,JB,the President of the UNStates of America, with the heads of state of India, a pair of cons&liers
ChanRobt
For god sakes, you couldn't get into a David Geffen or Steven Spielberg party this easy. Anybody here defending this incredible screwup is in denial.
Don't let your obsessive regard for this particular president blind you to incompetence.
shewolf884
Desiree Rogers should be fired TODAY. She is nothing special and it appears that she fell down on her job.
ritamary
But Desiree is one of Michelle's best gal pals from Chicago... Has any previous First Lady brought in one of her best friends as social secretary? Just asking...
Bongenre
Is this any surprise, though? The woman had her picture taken in the first ladies' garden in a ball gown. She clearly had a skewed agenda or just isn't very adept for such a position.
gracie99
There does seem to be a don't confuse me (or my staff) with 'the help' attitude. I was amazed to read that even her staff didn't work at an event that big.
Recall that she's an old friend of the Obama's. The moral of the story may be hire professionals, not friends.
BillCooper
The White House staff is turning into a collection of retards and f*ckups. If this is what Amercian society has descended to, it's no wonder we're circling the drain. We're turning into a joke. As a disclaimer so no one thinks I'm Plant, I voted for him.
nortonclybourn
Some idiot sneaks into a state dinner? Clearly it means the president is incompetent and the whole country is going to Hell in a handbasket, if not the end of Western Civilization as we know it. . What a penetrating analysis, BillCooper.
ChanRobt
Oh, yeah, Norton? What the hell would you be saying if something had happened to the president because of this?
Not the end of Western Civ that a pair assassins walked right into the White House because they knew how to dress for a party?
gracie99
It does look embarrassing for the presidency. Nobody can do it alone, and if they cannot hire and utilize staff of all sorts appropriately, that's worrisome, a bad indication.
The best thing might be if some private sector friend of the administration offered Ms. Rogers a really plum job to give everybody a graceful way of backing out of the problem.
I've been noticing that Ms. Rogers has been looking really exhausted in pictures lately. Perhaps the job is just too much for her.
Lotto1
They need to be jailed and Bravo TV needs to fined
amapola101
well,they did it.!!!Brilliant on their,part. Looks talk.,If she would have been an ugly,etc she would have been questioned. He is irrelevant, he is the Prototype that should have been asked for identification, and was he on the guest list.? They have pictures, that people would kill for. They are" nobodies" and now invited to Larry King,and on and on. But I do not find it funny. This was the most important event here.,and the security of the first family important people,AND IT Tells alot about the incompetence,,lack of security,lack of qualifications.of everyone in charge.Staff the security,a joke.!!!it makes the White House secret service, and the staff look totally incompetent,and again it teaches the country and the youth,cheat lie,be a con couple if you have looks get away with it and you will make money and be rewarded.Total incompetence,lousy security,and people should be out of jobs.Deep inside everyone is saying I wish it would been us.Lack of Respect for the White House our president and all.They have made them the laughing joke everywhere.
PaulJG
I agree with Corinne Salahi -- they need a spanking, or more.
I think they should be ashamed of themselves (though that's likely not going to happen) and so should Bravo for embarrassing the White House and allowing their self-promotion to overshadow a diplomatic affair.
Now, the Secret Service and the protocol office are also bearing the brunt of the disaster, as they should, for allowing this to have happened by dropping the ball. But ultimately, I hope nothing but post-Balloon Boy press follows the Salahis.
Johnnyappleseed
Pauly, what would you suggest for this obvious mistake, flogging, tar and feathering, what should we do?
PaulJG
Let's not get all radical here, Johnny. On the other hand, just think of the ratings!
Chuckv
There is something about this that really troubles me, besides the dangers of the security breach.
I worked at the Dept. of Agriculture during the Carter administration. He brought in a bunch of idealistic young people who thought they had nothing to learn from the long serving career employees. One appointee said of the career people: "There are the intelligent; there are the dedicated; and then there are all the rest." Needless to say, this impacted their effectiveness.
It seems that Ms. Rogers is cut from the same cloth. But more important, there seems to be a problem at State. There should be someone who can tell Obama whether he should bow to the Japanese Emperor, and, if so, how far. Obama did not seem to know how to choose an appropriate gift to a British Prime minister or that it was an insult not to have a joint press conference with him. And why can't the Secretary of State get the right words on a joke gift of a "restart" button to the President of Russia?
I hope these are just flukes, but it worries me.
verycold
The bunch in the WH are arrogant, sloppy, naive, and amateur. They give the finger to any sort of tradition believing their new path is the ONLY path. So it isn't just a stab at the Bush administration, which they delight doing, but a radical agenda intent on changing every aspect of how America is governed. I get the distinct impression that no president before Obama is revered by this celeb like administration.
If Obama is really receiving death threats, he sure isn't helping himself with his decisions regarding his family and himself. It is much harder for a security team to guard him when he is changing the environment. Now we have found out that his security team can't even protect him at home and his staff considers their job with a much more casual deference. Imagine the help believing they deserved to be guests at the first state dinner.
I can't wait to see what Camille Paglia has to say about this one. It should be a scathing article. She has called for heads to roll for a very long time.
sandyej
The security breach at the State Dinner in the White House was simply not acceptable. The Social Secretary, instead of swanning around in that (hideous) dress, should have been doing her job and overseeing her staff to make sure that all who were there were meant to be there. If, as happened, she instead decided to attend the dinner as a guest, then she should have better trained her staff.
President and Mrs. Obama, it is a wonderful thing to be able to surround yourselves with friends who also serve as staff BUT you should never mix business and pleasure. Trust me, it is much harder to fire a friend than a mere employee.
As social secretary, the buck stops with Ms. Rogers.
shewolf884
Yep, and the firing should BEGIN with Ms. Rogers. Then some people who did a crappy security job (which ever gate they got in) and then the people checking inside, and lastly, this is not funny, it is not cute, so prosecute this couple. If that is not done, then all the other nut cases (some who are dangerous) will try this same thing. This could have ended horribly and if not fixed will not come to a good end.
apositt
Obama needs to do two things: prosecute the couple for their actions and fire some people in the Secret Service. To do otherwise would make him look lame and superficial, taking lightly a serious breach of White House security solely because these two reckless individuals were auditioning for a reality TV show. In a broader sense, this incident and how it is handled by Obama will decide whether or not we are a serious nation or a population seriously under the influence of cheesy celebrity entertainment.
Johnnyappleseed
Prosecute them for what ???? Just cause, all they did was trespass.
carouzer
Johnny--let's try to keep up. They lied to get in. Lying to Federal agents--including the Secret Service--is a federal crime. They should be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.
Media-whores is a gross understatement of what these people did. And if Bravo decides to buy into this farce by picking Ms. Whateverhernameis for a coveted spot on their "Housewives of D.C." so-called reality program, the network should lose its FCC license. I am so sick of this reality garbage, I could scream. Don't people have anything better to do than to watch this trumped-up tripe? Read a book, people!
hammer
They are pursuing the new American Dream of getting rich, famous or powerful quickly without hard work, intelligence and perseverance. These people like the balloon boy family value style and substance. This is new American Dream is all perpetuated by the likes of People, US, the NY Post, Bravo TV and Twitter. Fifteen minutes of fame are more important that building a solid values, strong family morals, a work ethic and respect for honest and decency.
Apositt is right. Prosecute them and demote the head of the White House Secret Service detail. The Virginia AG should vigorously pursue all fraudulent charity cases these hucksters. The Federal government must send a message that this will not be tolerated.
varmint
If you had the Secret Service as the muscle at the door of your party would you still feel you needed "the staff" to check and see if the guests inside were legit? This is an SS problem. A big one. And Obama's didn't hire his friends as SS for those of you trying to work that angle. Prosecute the couple and Bravo if the station knew what they were up to.
briansays
"Said one person in attendance: "She was very friendly, but her position was clear: They're different. They got here differently. These are different times. The old rules are going out and the new rules are being made up." "
So hows that working out?
Seems to be the mindset of many in the administration
Arrogance with a sense of and privilage entitlment but no real knowledge and even disdainfull of history
Never tested by advesity who thing they got to where they are by competance and hard work rather than connections
I would say the crashers are just like her they think the old rules dont apply either
ndspinelli
This story might @ the surface seem a tempest in a teapot. That was my first reaction. However, a good % of the line of succession attended this party. That should mean NO MISTAKES...PERIOD. Do you realize that if these people meant harm, the person highest on the line of succession that was not present was ROBERT BYRD. OH MY GOD!!
As I read all the coverage, this piece is the first to hold Desiree Rogers accountable. It certainly appears both she and the Secret Service are culpable. However, to date, only this piece points out Ms. Rogers. My prediction is this will become the story. The right will overreact and demonize Ms. Rogers. The defenders of Obama will spin to protect her. I don't know what should happen. But, I do know Ms. Rogers screwed up, and kudos to these authors for @ least having the integrity to point it out.
ChanRobt
Nancy Pelosi is a more frightening spectre than Robert Byrd. At least he knows and respects American history and traditions.
ndspinelli
ChanRobt, Have you seen Byrd lately??? I don't believe he even knows his own name.
crymeariver
Actually if you watch the coverage of the story from both the networks and CNN, the social secretary has been blamed as being responsible from the very beginning. They have interviewed former White house secretaries and they have ALL said that it's THEIR responsibility at these functions to be the gates and screen the guests. The Daily Beast has been behind the story because they didn't have access to interviews with former White House SS until now.
nick1936
For starters Fire the head of security for the event not some underling.
Thank you.
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