Saxby Chambliss jumps into airport pat-down debate
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss says he’s written a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, demanding some reassurance that her Transportation Security Administration is striking a balance in its new pat-down procedures — especially when it comes to kids.
From his letter:
[C]onstituents question the increasingly invasive nature of these procedures given the heavy burden the traveling public is already facing. What are the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and TSA doing to address these concerns? Has TSA undertaken any efforts to improve communication with the public on these more aggressive screening procedures? In addition, in light of recent news reports alleging inappropriate conduct by certain TSA employees when conducting pat-downs, what measures have TSA and DHS taken or plan to take to ensure the professionalism of its employees?
Furthermore, I seek clarification of TSA’s screening policy with respect to children. I understand from Administrator Pistole’s recent testimony that children under the age of 12 are exempt from many screening procedures. However, I have had numerous reports from families with children that have undergone very rigorous and potentially invasive screening in recent weeks. Can you please clarify the standard practice for screening young children?
Lastly, pilots and flight attendants have expressed concerns over the effects of these new procedures on members of their profession. Atlanta, GA, home to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, is also the home base of many flightcrew members who are directly impacted by TSA policies and procedures every single day. Therefore, I ask you to detail the measures TSA is pursuing to expedite and improve the efficiency of the screening process for flightcrew members.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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82 comments Add your comment
GaBlue
November 22nd, 2010
4:30 pm
After full cavity searches will come pre-flight enemas. One whacktoid muz on a quest for heavenly virgins will swallow a device (wrapped up in a jimmy like the drug mules), and then the ruling corporations will make a FORTUNE selling the pre-flight enema equipment to all the airports, at great cost to us, while our infrastructure and educational systems continue to circle the drain, making us even weaker as a nation, which is what they want. Of course the temporary weight loss can only benefit most Americans, so there is a silver lining!
ed
November 22nd, 2010
4:31 pm
Been so long since hearing anything from the senator I thought he retired.
ON AN ON
November 22nd, 2010
4:38 pm
I dont know why they allow abuse of American citizens trying to fly home or to a business trip when they allow anyone and everyone to just walk over the boarder. They are free to enter though Mexico, Texas, Arizona. And here they are picking on cancer patients and children let alone adults and military veterans. This is what your America and freedoms come to. You only free if your not a citizen of the United States. Thats where its heading anyway.
Rafe Hollister
November 22nd, 2010
4:45 pm
The sad thing is if these back scatter machines are allowed to remain operational at airports, we will soon have to go through one to get in the county courthouse, the State Capitol, Federal Bldgs, etc. Once Goveernment gets a little more control of its citizens, it rarely returns our freedom.
Courtney
November 22nd, 2010
4:49 pm
Strip search all the Arabs and we will all be safe.
Christopher
November 22nd, 2010
5:10 pm
How’s his knee??? You know, the one so seriously injured playing high school football that he received a medical deferment from his local draft board . . .
The Centrist
November 22nd, 2010
5:34 pm
Just think. Obama could not get Saxby and McConnell to give consent to his first two highly qualified nominees for the TSA Director position, and the one they wanted and got actually came up with this crap.
Penny Lane
November 22nd, 2010
5:35 pm
An excellent letter to the TSA from Rush Holt, who is a Member of Congress and a physicist:
http://holt.house.gov/images/stories/TSA_letter_11.19.2010.pdf
Among other things, Holt points out that these machines deliver approximately 20 times more radiation to the scalp than the TSA claims, and that the scalp is a main area for the development of basal cell carcinoma. Still want to go through one of these things?
He also wants an outside audit done to back up TSA’s story that the ability to store or transmit the images from these machines has been disabled.
PP
November 22nd, 2010
6:29 pm
Interestingly, each and every instance in which a terrorist has made it past all of our safe guards and actually gotten to the plane, it was the PASSENGERS — not the TSA, the FBI, the CIA or any other security organization — who have averted the attacks. And now the very people who have prevented attacks in the past are being subjected to humiliating and violating searches. I recognize the need for airport security, but if we are really relying on security checkpoints to stop terrorists then we have already failed.
The Goldenrule Name
November 22nd, 2010
7:08 pm
Everyone at airports should just repeat to themselves: “It is very important that the Jews control the Holy Land cop-out instead of the Muslims.” Possibly have a sign at airports stating such, as Israel is the root of the entire problem — and that’s according to bin Laden
The Goldenrule Name (the-goldenrule.name)
Diogenes
November 22nd, 2010
7:11 pm
Don’t fly. It is not a constitutional right.
steve
November 22nd, 2010
7:14 pm
I got absolutely furious seeing that young boy molested like that. I dont see why that lousy excuse of a father allowed it just to get through security quicker. This has got to stop!!
steve
November 22nd, 2010
7:16 pm
Wake up you idiot americans. Dont go through these machines and dont allow yourself to be molested.
John Radney
November 22nd, 2010
8:09 pm
I would rather get feel down or scaned thatn my plane blown up. Americans always want too much. I am a wounded vet and American.
MA
November 22nd, 2010
9:01 pm
Thank you Senator Chambliss!
Diana E
November 22nd, 2010
9:32 pm
Why is Saxby worrying about the pat downs…he just voted for that horrible food “safety” bill!!!
say what?
November 22nd, 2010
10:20 pm
The 8 y/o kid was asked to remove his shirt as he kept sounding the alarm. He was not molested and his father consented to him pulling off his shirt. People the terrorist have won, we have become so dumb,we can be incited to riot and fear mongering from something as simple as a video out of context. Whatever backbone and sense the terrorist left us, the media has a payment plan on that as well. think for yourselves.
Saxby is not concerned for the masses, he sent that letter on behalf of his real constituents- the airline industry.
Chris
November 22nd, 2010
11:16 pm
Oh yeah, Chambliss is on it. Well I can sleep now. What a joke this old useless joker is.
PaulieOldschool
November 23rd, 2010
1:39 am
Saxby Chambliss is a lying, slanderous POS. He defamed a true American hero to “win” his Senate seat and now only appears when, as an earlier poster stated, there’s a parade that he can jump out in front of. I agree with the earlier poster who said whatever ol’Saxby is for, I agin’.
WTF
November 23rd, 2010
6:22 am
If Suxby and the other crybabies don’t like the process, then try to chage it through legislation and quit grandstanding. If they don’t like the process, then stay the hell of the airplane. Oh, sorry, I’m sure he would rather see a plane taken down so he could blame Obama of being soft on security.
3Dawgz
November 23rd, 2010
6:31 am
Another Republican office holder who got elected because he has a pulse.
Travis McGee
November 23rd, 2010
6:34 am
I’m in favor of instituting the security methods used in Israel. They’re effective! But don’t for one moment think they’re not intrusive.
The threat is real. The consequences are horrendous.
Get over your petty whinning.
If you’re concerned about the usurptation of civil liberties there are better places to look than the security line at the airport.
Mitch
November 23rd, 2010
6:40 am
The true issue is not security, but Political Correctness gone nuts. Profile now!
Boo Hoo Hoo
November 23rd, 2010
7:00 am
Oh get over it. If the TSA did not do anything to improve security and a blame blew up, then all of these alarmest would be crying why didn’t they do pat downs and use the body scanner. You do not have to fly. ….. take a bus, take a train, drive your car …… or get a pat down or body scan and go. I think they shold offer another alternative ….. if none of the above suits you. ….. do a strip search …..Oh and for Wee Willie who didn’t want his “junk” touched …… If you had something other that “junk” you might not mind it being touched …..
Alex
November 23rd, 2010
7:08 am
Just more anti-Obama drivel. I have been through the new search procedure, and didn’t find it to be a big deal.
Tom
November 23rd, 2010
8:28 am
Is it Alex or Alexis??? My badd!!!!!
You Asked
November 23rd, 2010
8:29 am
Alex – Did you get the happy ending?
An American Patriot
November 23rd, 2010
8:36 am
If he did nothing, you would say he is out of touch…….Saxby Chambliss has always been out of touch. He’s the most worthless senator our state has had in forever…..As far as the pat-downs and scanners go, I decided a long time ago that I would no longer fly…..why? Because the Atlanta Airport is the most racist public place I’ve ever been to. I’d rather drive five days and three thousand miles than to have to be subject to the TSA’s stupid policies……Profile Now!!!!!!!!!!
Road Scholar
November 23rd, 2010
8:49 am
“I would personally buy the TSA agent that gives Boortz a full on rectal exam a Christmas present.”
But…which orifice would you explore?
Mr. D
November 23rd, 2010
12:25 pm
Road Scholar, since the daily Boortz show is pulled from his butt it is very fitting for the TSA to search such a large orifice. Who knows what he hiding in there?
elizabeth roper
November 23rd, 2010
12:40 pm
why do we Americans whine about security procedures designed to protect us? TSA could design rooms to send travs. thru that have automatic detonators, there go terrorists. nothing to whine about anymore. when you carry explosives, expect to have them detonated. be real America. TSA is keeping your backsides protected.
TSA on the way to second base
November 23rd, 2010
2:01 pm
LOL, what the TSA is doing is totally use-less. The terrorist have already moved beyond what TSA are searching for. Bombs inside printers. Have we already forgotten that?
If terrorist wanted to; they would simply cross our southern border and start an Indian (the country) style attack. Terrorist are well funded, they could just BUY an old cargo plane load it with material that could explode and fly it into any unsecured location in the nation. Steal or secure a school bus load it up ram it into a school and BOOM.
What does everyone think our soldiers are fighting every day? Sorry, but TSA is looking in the wrong places for the terrorist. I mean what are these ppl thinking: hey see that 10 year old kid with his family search him.