Brenda Lee, Reporter, Dragged Kicking And Screaming From Near Air Force One

LOS ANGELES — A writer for a small Georgia newspaper who wanted to give President Barack Obama a letter was forcibly removed from a press area near Air Force One on Thursday shortly before he arrived at the airport.

Airport security officers carried the woman away by the feet and arms as she protested her removal. She was then allowed to leave. She said the letter she had written was opposing gay marriage.

She later identified herself as Brenda Lee, a writer for the Georgia Informer in Macon, and said she is a "Roman Catholic priestess" who lives in Anaheim, Calif. She said she has White House press credentials.

The newspaper's Web site says it is a monthly publication; the site has writings by Lee posted. A call to the newspaper was not immediately returned.

The White House had no comment, said deputy press secretary Josh Earnest in Washington.

The incident occurred about 10 minutes before Obama arrived at Los Angeles International Airport by helicopter to board Air Force One. He had been in Los Angeles to attend a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Beverly Hills on Wednesday.

Lee said later in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that she wanted to hand Obama a letter urging him "to take a stand for traditional marriage."

She said she asked a Secret Service agent to give the president her letter, but he refused and referred her to a White House staffer. Lee said she refused to give the staffer the letter.

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"I said, 'I'll take my chances if (the president) comes by here,'" said Lee. "He became annoyed that I wouldn't give him the letter."

Lee said she protested when she was asked to leave.

"I said, 'Why are you bothering me?' They escorted me outside the gate," she said. She said security officers allowed her to return when she promised she would not yell or wave, but then other officers arrived and told her to leave.

"I said, 'I'm not leaving,'" she said. "They tried to drag me out."

Two officers then picked her up and carried her out. An Associated Press photographer photographed the incident.

"I was afraid you could see under my clothes," she said, her voice choking up.

Lee, who said this was the second presidential event she has covered, was later released.

Comments

[PresidentRobertBooth]

"Because recognizing anything but "traditional marriage" is ... crazy!"

It is when you remember that until a few decades ago, "traditional marriage" wouldn't have included her if her partner was white.

[slaxx]

and a few decades before that, she would have been the legal property of her husband.

[The Ghost]

He also would have owned any fruits of her labor.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

H*ll, a few decades more and she would have been property as would all of her children and her husband, married or not.

[Tamera]

Traditional marriage has always been between one man and one woman. The term marriage originated from the Judeo Christian Bible and has its foundings and roots in the Bible. Why distort marriage for the gay agenda? Marriage is and will always be a covenant between a man and a woman, and the Bible does NOT forbid marriage between two races, however, the Bible is clear about not being unequally yoked if you are a believer of God and Jesus Christ, you should not be married to a non believer. The Bible says nothing against interracial marriages, that is man's spin and the old institution of Jim Crow.

[paganmist]

You are just useless, Tamera. Go live your life ignorantly, please. Just because you need a fictional god so that you can feel like you're better than everyone else doesn't mean that we want to hear it.

Because that's what religion is for most people, like you. It's a way for you to say, "I'm right, and you're wrong," and if anyone challenges your opinion, you can say, "Well, god said so." You wield your religion like a hammer, hitting anyone who doesn't believe what you believe, and then crying when we strike back. Screw you, lady.

You forget-- greek and roman mythology used to be accepted religion, and now we look back on it in scorn. One day your dogma will be mythology, and future people will wonder how you could have been so stupid as to believe what you believe.

[watchingfromafar]

What exactly did she do to warrant being dragged away by the Secret Service? Did she threaten the President? Did she even threaten to approach him? Did her letter threaten him? Why are you all beating up on her and what are you afraid of? Her ideas? Why?

[demimckingwoodtx]

It's for security(st88pid) you cannot walk up to the pres. with letters and things without his SS making sure that things are okay, shes a reporter, she knows better.

[Angie Tyne 1]

Remember there was anthrax transported through envelopes just a few short years ago.

[doctorwang]

bingo. we have a winner!

[Janskats]

Maybe, when all the right wing fanatics stop overtly threatening to do harm to the president, the Secret Service can stop worrying. Meanwhile, only a fool wouldn't know that you don't try to get into the president's face without the Secret Service approving..duh! Guess she just thought she was on a mission from God and he would ease her way? Oops! God must have been on a coffee break.

[DaretoHOPE]

LOL!

[digitalprophet]

LAWL....
Indeed.. God was off the clock that day.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

God decided that she did not "do" crazy.

[WritusMaximus]

She threatened to embarrass him. By giving our Prez the letter (no doubt the contents of which the whole world would have known about), our Prez would have been asked to respond and Obama doesn't want to be pinned down to either a Yes or a No, and Maybe is not an option in these here times.

Embarrassing our Prez is an offense that, although not officially a crime in any jurisdiction, is sure to be swiftly punished on the spot. Ms. Lee is now fully aware of the "incorrectness"/"illegality" of her actions.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

She did not threaten to embarrass him. She embarrassed him by acting like a fool. H*ll she embarrassed me, falling out like that with her mouth wide open and her butt all but showing. How unseemly. And her only concern? That her undies wasn't showing.

[paganmist]

How about this-- there are crazy people who want to assassinate the president, and they can be any shape, color, or gender? How about the SS's job is to make sure that they approve anyone-- no matter what agenda they may have-- and to get rid of anyone who seems to be acting dicey?

The woman was behaving erratically. People who try to assasinate important figures ALSO act erratically.

You live in a country where at least one of our presidents has been assassinated, and several more have had attempts made by people, and some of those people were pretending to just be normal folk who wanted to get close to the president.

Sheesh. How stupid are you?

[slaxx]

she didn't comply. and if you let one person just show up to talk to the pres, you have to let everyone.

[RTSith1]

This is absolutely INCREDIBLE! Who cares what this lady believes in....the bottom line is you don't "hand" the President anything regardless if it was just a letter. Great job by the Secret Service. So it goes from a security risk, to her beliefs, to black history?? I love reading these comments cause I'm guranteed to get a laugh!

[We-Are-The-Ones]

The photo makes me laugh because she looks insane.

[sweetwhine]

I bet you $10 she'll wear pants next time.

[GhiaccioPronto]

Dynamite! I'm a fan of Brenda Lee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esm7VTTub2U

In a phone interview, Lee said that she is a Catholic priestess “with St. Juliana’s in Fullerton,” and that there are 60 other Catholic priestesses worldwide.

Father Paul Gins of St. Juliana’s said that Lee is a member of the parish and a “well-meaning person,” but that “she does not represent the church. We do not recognize women priests, and haven’t for 2,000 years.”

Lee said that her duties as a minister involve consecrating the host, and ministering to the disabled and elderly in convalescent homes.
Outside the terminal, a police officer chided Lee for making a scene, she said.

“‘This could’ve been much worse,’” she said the officer told her. “We could have cuffed you, put you in a black-and-white, and held you for 72 hours.’”

Lee — whose sister worked in a mental hospital, she said — understood the reference to the holding period for mental illness cases.

As she tearfully recounted this afternoon, she had one thing to tell the officer: “Are you trying to imply that there’s something mentally wrong with me?”

http://www.getreligion.org/?p=12858

[We-Are-The-Ones]

There IS something wrong with her. You have to be crazy to believe you can personally hand the President anything.

[Janskats]

Hmmm..so the Catholics don't want her and the newspaper doesn't want her..guess all that's left is the local mental institution..poor dear.

[AntiStrauss]

Check out the articles Miss Brenda has posted on line, http://www.gainformer.com. It is a good example of how any person or group can now start an on line publication of any quality and then leverage it's existence to demand press credentials. This is not unlike identity thieves obtaining a few key pieces of information and leveraging them into recognized identity documents.
I'm all for a free press and freedom of assembly, but it has to be balanced against public safety. It is going to be a huge challenge to decide where to draw the line on who is entitled to press credentials. To start, I would think proficiency in grammar and spelling of the publication's language would be prerequisites.

[EgyptianMysterySchool]

A correction from a Georgia resident who used to live in Macon, GA and can remember reading the GA. Informer as far as 10 years back:

It's not an "on line publication" - at least it didn't start that way, it may be now, I haven't read it in 5-6 years, since moving from Macon, GA.

It's a good paper, just low budget and mostly local.

[EgyptianMysterySchool]

In fact it's 24 years old.

[b93950]

Get over with it, the people have voted and the California Supreme Court upheld the verdict. I am sure President Obama has far more serious issues to contend with besides someone’s selfish desire to marry a same sex partner.

[blueraven]

Gosh, your'e right. It is TERRIBLY selfish to want to get married! You've clearly never done so, and look at how bright and open-minded and giving you are! How's living in your mother's basement working out for you, anyway?

[HelloooCanada]

your hat is FAAAAAAABULOUUUUUUS!

[HotheadPaisen]

Bwahhaha! Thank you!

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Equality is not a selfish desire.

The President can multitask.

While the president supports civil unions, the President has committed to repeal DADT and had stated this himself and through the Press Secretary multiple times. The President has recent ensured that gay diplomats receive benefits for their families. The President has the DOD studying the impact repealing DADT will have on the military. When the Pentagon rep said otherwise, the Pentagon rep either lied or misspoke. The Secretary of Defense had him clarify and he now admits that the President has been in ongoing discussions with the Pentagon to repeal DADT.

The people can speak again in California and they will. Further, the federal court will have the opportunity to address whether Prop. 8 violates the US Constitution.

[bobbyperu]

Your hat is sooooo g@y!

[Jtt]

sCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH !!!

Just logged on - simply MUST have that hat!

[froggyola]

Poor woman. She has way bigger issues than gay marriage. She needs prayer.

[GhiaccioPronto]

She is a little confused, Its Brenda STARR ace reporter.

[Janskats]

First thing I thought of, too! I couldn't help but remember that comic strip from my 50's childhood and figure this gal just really has her ribbon wound too tight on her Remington Rand typewriter!

[crowepps]

Sounds like she's already kind of overdosed on prayer. Medication might be more helpful.

[StonyStoner]

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

Pegged it.

[rockgolf]

"Brenda Lee coming on strong
And the newsman sings his same song.
Oh, one more radar lover gone."

[Alablanca]

WELL, THE "PRIESTESS" SHOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE SAFETY RULES AND HANDED THE LETTER TO THE STAFF MEMBER. ONE NEVER KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE AN ASSASSIN. I CAN'T GET UPSET ABOUT THIS. IT WAS A REASONABLE ACTION TO TAKE.

[Clare53]

Why are you shouting?

[spark19me]

The viliage of Sodom was destroyed by fire..any clue on Califoria earthquakes

[blueraven]

Funny thing about CA earthquakes... they keep taking out churches and leaving the dens of iniquity alone.

[Clare53]

Ahahahaha.

[papasmif]

For forsaking the poor and not helping with their needs.

[Janskats]

Now, now, now..just remembered what happened to McCain when he decided to show up on an offshore oil rig to spout off about how safe they were for the environment..God sent him a big hurricane and an huge oil spill..and he had to cancel his big photo op in the Gulf of Mexico and eat crow! Best be careful, doncha think?

[Vernon Gudger]

Prove Sodom existed!

[HotheadPaisen]

DId you have a side of bacon with your hypocrisy this morning?

[dancer1]

I'm a 64 year old black male. GAY black male. And with the Brenda Lee's of our nation, therein lives the sad truth of the level of insanity born of those of such high faith that in their religious certainly of their beliefs, they dangerously do not even see or acknowledge the evil of their monstrous deed using the Bible as justification. Iran, Egypt, Iraq, torture, mutilate and kill their gay citizens... I'd bet my medicare card that the Brenda Lee's of America would vote the same of those countries if she had her way.

[spark19me]

She is not insane, only those who think two men or two women promote the continuation of life is insane.

[Realityism]

Well if the issue is just procreation, then you'd be cool with those two men sharing the two women and vice versa, right?

[igorz]

So, fecundity is now a prerequisite for marriage? What, childless heterosexual couples should have their marriages dissolved by the courts?

As a heterosexual, I am embarrassed by the sheer stupidity of those in my group.

[MalloMel]

Well, she does seem to be at least a little mentally disturbed. No person in their right mind would do what she did and expect to get away with it. I'm sure she will lose her press pass, as she should.

Also, people who invest so much emotion in something that has nothing to do with them, are either ignorant, and mistakenly think that it does have something to do with them, or more likely, they are emotionally disturbed. Emotionally disturbed doesn't mean that they are crazy, although they can act crazy at times. It just means that they are not being rational.

Now, just who believes that, "two men or two women promote the continuation of life..."? To believe that, they would have to be truly ignorant or emotionally disturbed. That also goes for someone who accuses people of this, with no basis in fact.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

She is insane if she was trying to approach the President in this way.

If you do not think 2 men should marry and you are a man, then don't marry a man.

If you do not think 2 women should marry and you are a woman, then don't marry a woman.

[Vernon Gudger]

No, those not against same gender marriage (not same sex marriage) understand it is not the ability to procreation, but the right to love whomever, regardless of gender. Spark19me come into the twenty-first century. The world is older than six or seven thousand years.

[Christian Cullen]

There is no such thing as a "roman Catholic Priestess". The Catholic is now, has been and always will be: dominated by male homosexuals. so there.

[luvangelHussein330]

with the exception of the one realy cute one who recently switched to Episcapilian[sic]

[mudshark12]

Kudos to the Secret Service

[gallon]

Cosign. They handled this fairly tactfully and gently. It could have gotten much rougher for her.

[2008FedUP]

She shoudn't be allowed to marry ANYONE herself be it a male or a female.

[ohboy]

Another fine African American standing up for bigotry.

You've come a long way, baby.

[Logout]

thats what Christianity Not unlike lsIam does to you.

[rockyb26]

don't be tacky. don't blame all black people for one person

[Vernon Gudger]

Rockyb26, Ohboy did not blame all African Americans, he state, "Another fine African American standing up for bigotry". Denoting there are some African Americans perpetuating bigotry. Not only read a statement, but comprehend the statement.

[thelipstickfemme]

Well, she forgot about her Black History. During slavery, slaves were not allowed to marry and just jumped over the broom with the permission of their Masters (the master was probably doing the female slave also), then during the 21st Century, we would not have been allowed (depending on the state) to marry a person outside of her racial background (Loving vs Virgina) USA Miscegenation laws USA 1913 till 1948, 30 out of the then 48 states enforced such bigoted laws. Other countries had them but the USA seems to really forget it and I don't recall it being taught in my various history classes in any length if any or at all.

[spark19me]

It is not bigotry..it is standing up for beliefs.

[Irksome]

Standing up for hateful beliefs is bigotry.

[Janskats]

Standing up for bigotry and hate just makes you a believer in hate and bigotry..nothing noble there, my friend..!

[thelipstickfemme]

????beliefs can and are bigoted. Once people believed that slavery was ok, (that is not a belief it is bigotry and racist no matter how to look at it.) . Once people thought the world was flat...well that was not steeped in fact it was just a belief...so the belief does not make it right or factual.

That is just basic.

[luvangelHussein330]

It's ironic that your should say something like that. Your statment alone is bigoted. Not all blackpeople think and act the same way. there os white people and others who like this woman are rightfuly standing up for what they believe. We may not agree with what she believes but she has a right to voice them. Just like You and I have the right to voice our view. have the believe that only a man and a woman to me isn't bigotry rather her religious believe. What Is bigoted is taking away someones civil rights because of your believes