Obama Family Secret Service Code Names

The new First Family has been issued code names by the Secret Service. Barack Obama's is "Renegade," Michelle Obama's is "Renaissance," Malia Obama's is "Radiance," and Sasha Obama's is "Rosebud." Joe and Jill Biden also received code names, though it's tough to top "Renegade" and "Renaissance." Joe Biden's is "Celtic," and Jill Biden's is "Capri." Check out the screenshots from MSNBC below.

Comments

[ErikW65]

I'm gonna agree I like the coolness of Renegade, but the dictionary definition is an "ouch." Disloyal, outlaw? I don't think so... But I'll give the SS the benefit of the doubt that there was no ill intent.

Btw, Cheney's name? Bergen. As in Edgar, the ventriloquist! So they do have a sense of humor. Seems like this time they're being more poetic.

[brummie]

From the BBC News website.

"There's nothing top secret about them," Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren told Associated Press.

"It has no operational security significance any more because of encrypted communication capabilities."

The code names have "nothing to do with security" and more to do with ease in radio communication for those agents whispering into microphones up their sleeves.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7726453.stm

[pillgirl]

i kinna like renegade. it's so, i dunno...mavericky.

[DevilsLawyer]

The names "Renaissance," "Radiance," and "Rosebud" are so pretty, and "Renegade" is badass-cool. So's "Celtic."

[naeldwyck]

Renegade is very blaxploitation movie like.

[polaris12]

What's the point of publicizing those code names? The whole idea is that they are supposed to be secret - known only to the Secret Service. The code name for Obama is insulting. Everyone should protest to the SS. I wonder what Bush's Code name was?
Beavis or Butt Head?

[primordialsoup]

The names aren't secret. The Secret Service actually released the names to the media for broadcast.

[wellinformed08]

Bush's code name was Tumbler. How appropriate. I almost feel sorry for the guy.

Sarah Palin's name was Denali and her husband TOOOOOOOOOOOOOD's name was Driller. That is just funny. Sarah was dodging the press like they were speed bumps do that was appropriate.

I don't remember what John and Cindy mcCain's names were but may I suggest Paper and Plastic in that order?

Cool.

[GeeWhillikers]

John and Cindy were Phoenix and Parasol.

[CindyKay]

I think sarahs was purposely altered and was really meant to be Denial

[LintLass]

The point of the code names is no longer for them to be secret, if it ever was, the media would get hold of them and distribute them too easily in this day and age, anyway, so it's just for clarity and brevity of communication, now. I'm sure if they have secret ones, that's on a different level.

I dunno, 'Renegade' sounds pretty cool to me, though maybe the original meaning of the word doesn't seem very applicable.

[NotMcCain]

"Renegade" is a weird choice. American Heritage dictionary says as an adjective it means "traitorous" and as a noun one meaning is, One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter. n outlaw; a rebel."

I don't like it.

Plus, I don't care that they say they have a "new system". Every bit of security they can provide is important. If code names are obsolete, then they can just say, "The President".

[RAFord24]

I don't like "Renegade" one of the meanings mean, traitor. The rest fit perfectly!

[grata2ude]

Why in God's good name is this being put out there so people know what their "code" names are. Is this not a breach of security? What is wrong with this picture?

[robllawrence]

Out of curiosity I checked:

Sarah Palin -- Denali
Todd Palin -- Driller
John McCain -- Phoenix
Cindy McCain -- Parasol

[trish74]

Driller for Todd LOL

[DereksDontRun]

Rosebud is pretty, but it reminds me of Citizen Kane which was about William Randolph Hearst. Rosebud in the movie was Cain's childhood sled and a symbol of his lost innocence. Yet in reality I remember that Orson Welles used that name as a covert attack on Hearst who in real life called his mistress Rosebud in reference to her labia.

[naeldwyck]

It's actually quite well phrased in Wikipedia:
"In 1989, essayist Gore Vidal cited contemporary rumors that "Rosebud" was a nickname Hearst used for his mistress Marion Davies; a reference to her clitoris ... A resultant joke noted, with heavy innuendo, that Hearst and/or Kane died "with 'Rosebud' on his lips.""

[RobHughey]

Okay! But given that in THIS case, "Rosebud" is for young Sasha Obama... I'm pretty sure that the only symbolism is to be a FLOWER.

I gotta say it. You peeps took this one to a very strange place, and I'm more than a little ooked out.

lol

[CrimeaRiver]

Way to ruin the ending, dude!^)

[naeldwyck]

Renegade is a pretty weird one. Check the Oxford English Dictionary, Renegade, n.: "1. An apostate from any form of religious faith, esp. a Christian who becomes a Muslim."

[kylennblack]

Imagine hoping for something like Marauder or Sorcerer and getting stuck with...Clam Chowder. I don't know what I'd do if I were codenamed Whale Boat.

Bush = Tumbler. Hee!

[invisible]

I certainly hope these are the OLD names and they've already been changed.

[ProudAgain]

It doesn't matter who knows what the code names are, o.k. Just consider them to be nicknames. There is no breach of security because these names are public.

[wakka]

According to wikipedia Sarah Palins code name was Denali. I think they got the "I" and the "L' backwards.

Anyway I was watching something on MSNBC yesterday, where they were interviewing people who live on the same street as Obama. They had to nearly go through a cavity search to prove they live on the block. Their in good hands guys don't worry.

[BidensBabes]

Scarah Palin's code name: Huh?