GOP Debate: Ron Paul Says TSA Is 'Abusive' And 'Accused Of All Kinds Of Sexual Activities' (VIDEO)

Ron Paul said the Transportation Security Administration is "abusive" toward passengers and "accused of all kind of sexual activities" during Tuesday's GOP debate, hosted by NBC News and Politico.

"Look at the monstrosity we have at the airports," Paul said. "These TSA agents are abusive. Sometimes they're accused of all kinds of sexual activities on the way they maul people at the airport."

Paul said the government agency could not protect passengers as well as private companies and said the 9/11 attacks were the result of too much government involvement in airline security.

“They told the pilots they couldn’t have guns,” Paul said. “They set up the stage for this.”

Paul has spoken out against the TSA before, saying the government agency should be "abolished" and recommending that it be replaced with "real privatization of security."

During a July 4 audio address, Paul said, "The press reports are horrifying... children molested; disabled people abused. ... If the perpetrators were a gang of criminals, their headquarters would be raided by SWAT teams and armed federal agents. Unfortunately, in this case the perpetrators are armed federal agents. This is the sorry situation ten years after the creation of the Transportation Security Administration."

LISTEN:

Below, a video of highlights from Wednesday night's debate.

 

 

Comments

[pt90su95]

02:24 AM on 09/10/2011

Although I do not relish having to go through the security checkpoint every time I fly, I understand its necessity. Privatizing airport security has flaws, most of which would be its incosistencies. As flawed as today's airport security is and saw what you want about the personal nature of hands-on body searches, private security would be worse. For the most part at least one agency with its uniform, consistent training and expectations is better, in my opinion.

[markgoode]

12:28 PM on 09/10/2011

F&F. Very intelligent post.

[Jerry Bourbon]

12:51 PM on 09/21/2011

Molesting children and terrifying 90 year old women in adult diapers is a "necessity"?

Who knew...

[AndyWright68]

10:16 AM on 09/09/2011

Ron Paul is right about sooo many things.

And if this clip had not been cut short you would of heard hin describe how the government prevented airlines from providing their own security that could have prevented 9/11 but instead "set the stage" for it.

I would still not want RP to be president as this nation of people who feel entitled would probably burn this country to the ground the second he started shutting down wasteful and useless federal departments and services.

[Constance Goforth]

10:58 PM on 09/12/2011

Almost F&F! A Ron Paul presidency would be the single greatest thing to happen for this country in over 100 years.

[AndyWright68]

11:52 PM on 09/12/2011

Trying to fix a corrupt and evil system within the same corrupt and evil system makes no sense at all and it will never work. It would be like trying to work your way up to mob boss and then trying to turn the mob into a law-abiding charity.

F&F

[JWebberPhoto]

10:10 AM on 09/09/2011

The TSA is not without its problems, but this anti-TSA movement smells like an astroturf movement to discredit TSA workers to undermine union organizing efforts. Some of the "citizens" who have made public complaints (such as the "Don't touch my junk" guy) have turned out to be libertarian activists. Ames and Levine wrote about this in April.

[Constance Goforth]

11:02 PM on 09/12/2011

I was felt up by TSA officials on two separate occasions. I'm not an activist. It's unConstitutional to subject travelers to legalized groping.

[Randy Palermo]

07:24 AM on 09/09/2011

They used to have Wackenhut Security in Newark Airport before the TSA took over -------------They hired every stumble bum, drug addict ,, gang member from downtown Newark -----------------Most had major criminal records -I will take the TSA over them

[AndyWright68]

10:20 AM on 09/09/2011

All dictated by the FAA. The airlines were not free to secure cockpits, arm pilots, provide armed security on flights or let armed passengers on board. They were forced to give ZERO resistance which paved the way for terrorists. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jLSxiZy19s Go to 1:00

The TSA should be abolished and the FAA should also.

[Mr Anonymous]

07:56 PM on 09/09/2011

The FAA are you serious?
The ignorance of Americans never fails to suprise me.

[pt90su95]

02:18 AM on 09/10/2011

Are you serious? The FAA has nothing to do with the security at airports. Cockpits doors are to be closed and locked, but that practice was not always followed. Pilots would open the cockpit door to anyone. And, you would prefer to have the pilots armed so they can loose concentration on flying and start shooting. Let me know what flight you will be on so I can avoid that one.

[Air Vice Marshal Park]

12:04 AM on 09/09/2011

We tried private security for many years, and even allowed the airlines to provide their own security, and it didn't work worth a damm.

[Jerry Bourbon]

12:52 PM on 09/21/2011

How did it "not work". Be specific, please. What prohibited items did the 9-11 hijackers smuggle through security?

[Jason Crittenten]

11:02 PM on 09/08/2011

Man, so much hate. Even if you don't agree with him it doesn't take much intelligence to see that the man speaks from the heart and is cut from a different cloth than the rest of these empty suits. He actually has principles and ideas (that have been consistent for 30+ yeras!) and he isnt telling people what they want to hear to get elected. Fine, you don't like his message. But the guy deserves some respect.

[v98max]

09:35 PM on 09/08/2011

If an IHOP full of trained Guardsmen can be ambushed by one motivated guy with a rifle, WTF makes anyone think a gun toting pilot would stand any better chance defending against a terrorist, without shooting a passenger or catastrophically depressurizing the plant at 30000 ft?

The hot headed vigilante wannabe has got to be the most powerful fantasy in circulation.

[fisher1949]

09:09 PM on 09/08/2011

Another TSA screener arrested in August for child pornography making this the 8th TSA screener arrested since December of 2010 for a sex crime. This is what you get when the Government sanctions child molestation, sexual assault and strip searches in the guise of airport security.

TSA employee faces child pornography charge
http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/former-tsa-employee-faces-child-pornography-charge-20110902

The others include:
DA charges Spring Creek TSA Screener with Lewdness & Child Molestation
http://elkodaily.com/news/local/article_5d965fce-cff9-11e0-9d15-001cc4c002e0.html
Former TSA employee faces child pornography charge
http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/former-tsa-employee-faces-child-pornography-charge-20110902
TSA Agent Rapes 14 Year Old Girl
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/boston/BO137343/
PHL TSA Screener Charged with Child Pornography
http://nation.foxnews.com/tsa/2011/04/23/tsa-screener-charged-child-pornography
TSA agent arrested for molestation (Orlando, FL)
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/orange_news/013110_TSA_agent_arrested_for_molestation-
TSO Arrested for Rape in Londonderry NH
http://www.eagletribune.com/latestnews/x300769656/Former-TSA-employee-charged-with-sex-assault
A TSO arrested for kidnapping and attempted rape in ATL.
http://lagrangenews.com/view/full_story/10413596/article-BREAKING-NEWS--TSA-employee-accused-of-kidnap--assault

This now makes 45 screeners arrested for serious crimes in the past nine months.
http://www.travelunderground.org/index.php?threads/master-lists-of-tsa-abuses-crimes.317/

[dukeuch]

06:32 AM on 09/09/2011

You know, I'm not a big fan of the TSA, but more because I think it is an extraordinally expensive response to a problem that likely yeilds minimal results. I'd wager there is a bigger problem child pornography/abuse among clerics than TSA workers.

[rockyflatsgear]

02:28 AM on 09/10/2011

Dr. Paul tells it like it is. The use of radiation to electronically strip people while putting there health at risk is irresponsible. The danger to our children is even greater...

http://www.rockyflatsgear.com/Airport-scanner-medical-experiment-without-consent.html

[pt90su95]

02:13 PM on 09/10/2011

You get more radiation from a microwave oven or walking around outside everyday than you do from a less than 8 second scan at the airport. Your dentist uses more radiation than at the airport. Moron.

[drwtsn]

08:03 PM on 09/08/2011

"real privatization of security."

Yes, Ron, that would solve the "sexual activities" problem. Turn it over to a private company who will hire the cheapest labor they can to optimize profits. I'm sure they would be able to find many "qualified" people willing to pat children down for minimum wage.

[rangersusa]

08:24 PM on 09/08/2011

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, wrong. Look at what you have now!

[dukeuch]

06:28 AM on 09/09/2011

C'mon; Ron Paul is officially nuts and I can't believe anyone would want to craft policy based on his views. He's probably the only politician who sounds BETTER when he's quoted out of context. His mantras of smaller government, market forces and personal responsibility sound pretty reasonable until you hear him apply the principles to actual policy:

- We don't need the FAA, states can regulate the flights. Yeah, and the resulting chaos of planes crashing as they pass through multiple regulatory regions with different rules and operating procedures will be sorted out as people let the free market sort out the most dangerous airlines.

- He's agains the border fence (wow, so am I!). But it's becuase it might be used to keep Americans frorm fleeing to Mexico with all their gold bullion if the economy tanks (Mexican gangs must love this guy).

- Don't need worker safety regs because employers who don't provide adequate worker safety willl ultimately fail as people refuse to work for them. Yep, worked for the coal miners before they unionized, didn't it?

This TSA thing of his is just the tip of the iceberg. Seriously, you support this guy?

[drwtsn]

07:38 PM on 09/08/2011

Believe me Ron, once you've felt 3726 wangs, they're all the same. It just isn't that much of a thrill anymore.

[wcoffey20]

06:25 PM on 09/08/2011

The TSA is George W Bush's "Gestapo".

[markgoode]

07:28 PM on 09/08/2011

George W. Bush is no longer president, and the TSA has no similarity to the Gestapo whatsoever.

[Mr Anonymous]

07:58 PM on 09/09/2011

I didn't realize that the TSA went and rounded up Jewish people in the middle of the night from their homes.

[Zutroy]

06:14 PM on 09/08/2011

More troglodytism with the Candidate From Before Time. An ordinary pat-down probably WAS sexual activity back in his day.

[drwtsn]

08:05 PM on 09/08/2011

Back in his day, the major sexual activity was a club to the head.

[rangersusa]

08:15 PM on 09/08/2011

"troglodytism" - $50,000 word usage. Impressive. However, you borrowed the cash to use the word from our friends in China. More Democrat borrowing money only to waste the money money. China only gave you $25,000, so then you took the rest from taxpayers. Damn. How is that gonna work?

[Zutroy]

12:31 AM on 09/09/2011

That has to be the stupidest, most nonsensical comeback I've ever read.

I didn't come by that word by "borrowing $50,000 from China." I came by it through intellectual curiosity. Since most of the debt was accumulated by the GOP, I wouldn't be talking if I were you.

[BlackJAC]

05:32 PM on 09/08/2011

Uh, Ronny, it was private security that let the 9/11 hijackers get on board, not Massport, not Mass. State Police Troop F, and not Boston Police District A-7.  Oops.

Further, the best argument against giving airline pilots guns I heard came from a gun owner.  It was completely apolitical and focused upon the mechanics and logistics of shooting, and how to get to the level of proficiency needed to do it right under those circumstances the pilots would have to make target practice their day job rather than study the emergency procedures manual like pilots have to do already.

[authorized-user]

04:50 PM on 09/08/2011

TSA is a mess because it was created and funded by Congress. It is another idiotic federal response to a manageable problem. Tell me again about the benefits of small government. How much information did you authorize them to collect on citizens? I feel much safer flying now when I see a granny getting her Depends x-rayed.
At least it was a good job and infrastructure program. Hundreds of small airports are now fenced in to protect a handful of Cessnas. Ron Paul should take a bus if he doesn't like the monster he created.

[Sad But True]

05:06 PM on 09/08/2011

I fly frequently and have never had a single problem with TSA. Not one issue whatsoever. I've had far worse experiences outside of this country. I had more issues BEFORE the TSA take-over. I'll never forget the time I was abruptly searched for drugs for no reason, having never in my life taken an illegal drug.

[markgoode]

05:22 PM on 09/08/2011

I also fly, for work reasons. Never had a complaint. Never saw anything unusual happen. Frankly, glad the TSA is there keeping us safe.

[Charles Queen]

06:38 PM on 09/08/2011

I fly from time to time usually to the west coast to visit my sister in nother CA.I myself have neve really had any problems insofar as security and being checked.The story's i'v read about involving a very old woman or a very young teen and the so called reasoning behind what the TSA people did seemed to me to be a whole lot extreme in those cases not to mention how demeaning and embarassing it was for those individuals.I know this doesn't happen every day in every airport and is more an exception to the case or policy.Supposedly the TSA has missed something over 2000 Possible weapons and or people carrying certain items tht could have been used to pose a major threat but thats since it forst started.A lot fo peole are not happy with this either but i think considering the amount of people that fly and are examined or checked daily that this is not that bad of a record per say but that's me.No matter what they do there's always going to be the rare or unprofessional security person from time to time

[Brooklyn Red Leg]

07:34 PM on 09/09/2011

Exactly how did Ron Paul create the monster that is TSA? Care to provide some, I dunno, proof?

[authorized-user]

09:06 AM on 09/11/2011

Lets see Ron and the rest of congress cut TSA's funding.

[pt90su95]

04:41 PM on 09/08/2011

Safety when flying is a necessary evil since Sept 11, 2001. We have to learn to live with it. I think everyone has forgotten the reason for having to remove shoes when passing through TSA security - Richard Reid, Dec 22, 2001; boarded a plane from Paris, France bound for Miami. What some may not know is that it is ONLY necessary to remove shoes when departing airports in the USA. It is not necessary to remove your shoes outside of the USA.

Additionally, the 'frisking' the TSA agents perform, while it may be inconvienent, embarrassing and uncomfortable, it is still necessary, although not always fool-proof. I am someone who has the misfortune of being subjected to the hands-on screening due to my underwire bra every time I fly. While I find it irritating, the female agents that perform the search are nothing but respectful and as quick as they can be. Very few TSA agents relish in performing the hands-on search. I disagree with Mr. Paul in his statement that the agents are abusive and performing 'all kinds of sexual activities.' Do I think the agency should be more realistic in on whom they perform the searches, definitely! Do I understand their approach to not singling any one out, yes. That doesn't mean I agree with it.

Has anyone ever thought that Paul may have a personal interest in privatizing airport security for the greater good of his wallet??

[BlackJAC]

05:34 PM on 09/08/2011

I took the TSA test.  The X-ray scanner portion was really hard, because you had ten seconds to say whether or not a given scanner display screen contained the item you were told to look for and the false-color overlay didn't show plastic very well.

[Charles Queen]

06:42 PM on 09/08/2011

Well me being a non fan of Paul hase nothing to do with the subject at hand.as far as hi possibly having a financial interest in all of this i would not be surprised at all.I would think if he is that there are porbobly others in the political world that also may have ineterests as well.It certainly wouldn't be the first time thats for sure