As a proud Nashville resident, I love seeing my fine city in the news. I love it even more when the subject matter of the national headline involved is anything not related to country music. Music City’s not a one-trick-pony after all. We do other things around here too – like detain US Senators at the airport. Not exactly what I was getting at…
Aides to the senator said Sen. Paul set off a full body scanning machine going through airport security. Sen. Paul claimed it was a “glitch” and wanted to keep going.
An aide told NBC News that Sen. Paul told the screeners he doesn’t have any metal. Apparently it was his right leg that was setting off the scanner. He raised his pant leg and showed them his leg, according to the aide. Paul said it was “clearly a glitch.”
The aide said TSA refused to let him re-scan and demanded that he submit to a full body pat down.
The TSA said in a news release that “the passenger” was rebooked on another flight and was rescreened without incident.
“These are the indignities, and it’s not just me. It’s not because of who I am. Americans are going through the airport everyday and being subjected to these indignities. Nobody’s thinking about who can attack us, who would attack us, it’s just this mindlessness,” said Sen. Paul.
Was the “detention” unconstitutional?
“The Senators and Representatives…shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same….” according to Article I, Section 6.
The Senate is back in session today at 2 p.m., with votes scheduled at 4:30 p.m. It is not clear if Paul will make it to Washington by 4:30 p.m. on his new flight.
The White House is standing by the actions taken by the TSA…
The elder Paul called the TSA a “police state” Monday after Rand Paul was reportedly detained by TSA after he refused to take a pat-down from TSA officials at the Nashville International Airport.
White House press secretary Jay Carney said Monday that he didn’t have any reaction to Paul’s “police state” comments.
But Carney sided with the TSA saying, “I think it is absolutely essential that we take necessary actions to ensure that air travel is safe.”
A few thoughts here…
Senator Paul – like his father – has been a very outspoken critic of the TSA and other government agencies infringing on the Rights of private citizens. Because of that, I can’t say I’m all that surprised to hear he found himself in a dust-up like this. That said, there is the other side of my brain that thinks this little ordeal is more than a little bit convenient given the fact that his father is currently running for the Republican nomination and is certain to receive a question about the incident in tonight’s debate. What better way to state the case of an over-reaching government and a police state motivated by “terrorist paranoia” than to use the detention of a US senator on his way back to Washington as Exhibits A, B, and C?
–
Image credit : WSMV Nashville
Fellow Nashvillian here, disgusted at all this.
Few people realize how much money has changed hands and how Michael Chertoff profited off of the body scanners.
The whole point is not Islamic terrorism, but to set up a control grid that will do what government always does – expands.
The Islamists are probably popping dates laughing their turbans off.
Welcome Republican Mother; and very glad to find another Nashvillian here in the blogging community.