McCain Rejects Secret Service Protection

"Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) may be the presumptive GOP nominee for president, but, by his own wishes, he is not being protected by the Secret Service." The Hill reports.

"He has not requested protection," Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan told a congressional subcommittee this morning. "We have no involvement at this point."

In opting not to take the protection, McCain is following through on plans he outlined to reporters late last year on his Straight Talk Express campaign bus.

Members of the House Appropriations Homeland Security subcommittee were surprised by Sullivan's revelation. Sullivan said his agency had been in contact with McCain's staff. But a candidate has no legal requirement to take protection.

Last November, McCain told reporters he felt such protection was an "inconvenience" and too expensive for tax payers:

"It's my intention, if we win this nomination, to reject Secret Service," he said during one of his many conversations with reporters on his Straight Talk Express this weekend. "Why do I need it?"

He adds: "The day that the Secret Service can assure me that if we're driving in the motorcade and there's a guy in a rooftop with a rifle, that they can stop that guy, then I'll say fine. But the day they tell me, 'well, we can't guarantee it,' then fine, I'll take my chances."

McCain rejected Secret Service protection in 2000, after winning the New Hampshire primary. But he wants to go further, rejecting the massive security apparatus should he become president.

"It's the inconvenience," McCain said. "It's the inconvenience it causes people. It's a waste of the taxpayers money. It's just everything I don't like."

Comments

[jayburd]

The guy has gone from maverick to mad as a hatter. Take the spook protection and shut it, old man...

[rrafiringa]

It's for us more than for him that the secret services are hired to protect his hide. We don't need another JFK. Sure you can't prevent a guy from the roof from shooting you like a clay pigeon, but at least there's a change it will hit someone who's paid to take it instead of the potential president.

[harriscrl3]

Is that a dig at people who have secret service protection? Is not like they are doing Obama any good he needs to get private security if you ask me. He doesnt want to wast tax payers money? should have thought of that before he voted for a 12 billion dollar a month war. That money would have been more than enough to pay for secret service with plenty left over.

Carol

[ErnestineBass]

EXXXXXXXXXXXCUSE me, harriscrl3.

Obama never voted for this $12 billion a month war.

Obama wasn't a Senator in October of 2002 when that vote was taken, but Hillary WAS. And she voted "YES" for the "Iraq Resolution".

Fact check. It's a beautiful thing. Try it sometime, "Carol".

[daingel]

I think she's referring to McSame not Obama when it comes to the war vote.

[loki]

McWar knows that nothing will rally the nut job right quicker than a perceived assignation attempt. So this is a great set up if things are not looking good for him towards the run up to November. Fake an attempt, and morons will feel sorry for him and come out to vote for him without considering the real consequences of their actions.

[personalpolitical]

Because he knows the Secret Service can't say him from a stroke.

[lincat]

He's McNuts.

[vallon]

This has ominous overtones. What's next? Fox News chiding Clinton or Obama, if (s)he becomes the nominee, to do the same? Sen. Obama has already received a truly impressive number of death threats. I don't like where this could go one bit. With the number of whack-jobs in the country, this decision goes to the heart of McCain's judgment, or lack thereof.

[Kordo]

I think that is precisely the direction this is headed, at least on Faux News. I'm sure this bit of red-meat, macho BS is gonna make Hannity's little pee-pee stick out. McSame's choice of VP just got ALOT more important for repubs....

[daingel]

It is more of a sign of shear stupidity if they do this on Faux, you just don't go and publicize that a presidential Candidate has no protection. When possible quacko's hear it on the news, McSame has refused protection from the SS, and goes after him, it not only puts him in danger but everyone around him.

It's akin to giving troop locations on a map in the middle of combat zone, or outing a NOC in the CIA.

Oh. Wait.

[meltingpot101]

If Hillary gets the dem. nomination McCain will seriously need to reconsider. She is very determined to be president, who knows what she'll do??

[Tom95134]

Delusional!! Maybe McCain has been reading too much of his own propaganda.

[signifyingnothing]

He's like a dog chasing his own tail. I bet it stinks back there!

[Doofus]

Before there was the Secret Service there were 'The Pinkertons',
who stopped at least one attempt on Abe Lincoln's life as contractors.
Maybe, hopefully, McCain gets a deal on protection from his friends at
Blackwater.

[Wildcatdiva]

That decision does not make him brave he's an old fool. Now everyone will be suspicious of his reasoning. Although he probably has private body guards, and I'm inclined to think he has skeletons, he'd rather leave in the closet. Like maybe clandestine meetings...hmmm?

[signifyingnothing]

I love how Republicans run us into trillions of dollars of debt with illegal wars and then trot out these ridiculous gestures as though they care about how much of our money they spend.

[knerd]

If this fact does not prove his bravery, his patriotism and his political irrelevance I don't know what does.

[NoahVail]

It proves that he does not want anyone to know with which lobbyists he is meeting. Besides, he is already surrounded by a bunch of gun-toting kooks (his staff).

[solid]

He doesn't want any of those SS spooks watching him boink Iseman.

[slow2]

The "political irrelevance" is the bingo phrase...

[docofbb]

Please don't confuse bravery with stupidity. Too many loonies have guns.
Just because the Secret Service can't guarantee 100% safety in every scenario!....that kind of adolescent machismo has no business in any leadership position, much less Senator or, God forbid, President.
Every time I see one of our candidates wading into the crowd, even with three or four Secret Service guys around, I cringe. McCain was in Congress when Reagan was shot. He should know better or ask an adult to help him think that one out.

[nellie]

Had to read your post a few times before I got it.

[nellie]

P.S. Good one.

[Gary47]

What a fool. He'll flip on this within the month, like most every other decision he's ever made.

[nogimmicks]

He has some many circles of neocons and lobbyists crowded around him that there is no need in extra protection.