Barack Obama flanked by SS Men


I watched today as President-Elect Barack Obama made his way through the crowds in Delaware and Baltimore -  two stops on his way to the White House in Washington D.C.  Even though he was in a mostly black crowd, and, of course, he and his wife are black, the Secret Service men that were assigned  to protect him stuck out like  sore thumbs.  

The whole purpose of the "secret" service men is for them to blend into the crowd and be inconspicuous as the President makes his way through crowds or attends  his engagements.  Well,  as the President-Elect and his wife made their way through the crowds, there were three to five  pink heads surrounding his back.  I have to say it was a little amusing.  Now, I don't mean to be disrespectful to the Secret Service men when I say pink heads, but I am trying to paint a graphic picture. 

I am not sure what branch the Secret Service men emerge from - the CIA or the FBI, but I am sure both organizations have black men .  I am sure the men assigned to the soon to be President are the very best as I observed them being extremely intense as they watched the crowd for anything suspicious;  But a note to whomever is in charge of assigning protection for the President, please get some African-American Secret Service men, who can blend in and not be so conspicuous.  Better yet, get a diverse number of men and/or women.


(Written on  01/17/08)