The "Dirty Little" Secret Service

By now you have read the accounts of the scandal involving Secret Service Agents and prostitutes in Columbia.  The Agency embarrassed by the incident has released new sets of rules and guidelines for its agents.  Included in these rules are strict prohibitions against excessive drinking, entertaining foreigners in their hotel rooms and cavorting in disreputable establishments.  This type of behavior will no longer be tolerated by the agency so much so that they are going to send chaperons on some of the trips to make sure each agent follows the rules.

Wait a minute.  Are you telling me that the men who are charged with protecting the President of the United States, the leader of the free world, need chaperons?   I was in High School when an attempt was made to assassinate  President Ronald Reagan.  I remember watching seeing the news reports of Agent Tim McCarthy who did his duty by taking a bullet meant for the president.  I remember seeing another agent Jerry Parr push President Reagan into a car and then hearing that he was alert enough to see the President coughing up blood that was a little too dark and then telling the driver to change direction and get to the hospital, not the White House, saving Reagan’s life.  These men did not need chaperons, they were honorable men who did their duty.

Chaperons are for children who do not know any better.  Chaperons are for immature young men, who need eyes peering over them to keep then from doing something dumb, immoral and wrong.  Chaperons are an external guide for those who lack a well developed internal conscience.  In short, we stop needing chaperons when we are mature.

That Secret Service Agents, men who supposed to be loyal, honorable, committed to duty need a chaperons and need to be told not to participate in unwise and immoral behavior while on duty speaks volumes about the character of our nation.  If men, who while on duty are charged with protecting the life of the President cannot be trusted, who can we trust.   Don't get me wrong, there are many honorable hard working men in America, but this has to be a wake up call as to where we are headed as a nation.  Think about it.