Sec.Service Warns Public That They'd Confiscate Any Cameras Used to Take Pictures of First Family

JonathonTurley.org ^ | 03/22/10 | Jonathon Turley

[OldDeckHand]

This story on the First Lady taking the kids to a Broadway show in New York has an interesting element: a warning by the Secret Service that anyone taking their picture would have their cameras confiscated. Perhaps the Secret Service General Counsel could point us to where in the Constitution and federal law the Secret Service has the authority to ban photographs by the public and the confiscation of cellphones and pictures to enforce the ban.

Michelle Obama – with Sasha, 8, and Malia, 11, and about a dozen other people in tow – attended the matinee performance of “Memphis” Sunday. After the block was cordoned off, the large group entered the theater. Secret Service members did not like all of the pictures being taken that issued the warning. If the First Family wishes to avoid pictures, they may want to watch the play on video rather than confiscating cellphones and cameras of citizens. I find it outrageous that the Secret Service would consider it within its authority to confiscate phones to avoid annoyance to the First Family. The Secret Service at times seems to view itself as a Praetorian Guard rather than a public law enforcement agency.

[basil]

Since I soooooooooo want a photo of this bunch, I guess I’ll have to use my special camera hidden in my ball point pen./sarc

[TigersEye]

Your right to be ugly ends where my corneas begin. LOL

I love it! Now that anything can be a right the sky is no longer the limit.

[Mark was here]

So what? Congress is supposed to defend the Constitution. Their laws are not supposed to subvert it. The SS is not above the Constitution.

[TigersEye]

GMTA. BTW, your right to think the same thoughts as me ends ... somewhere. I’ll get back to you when I think of something.

[jonrick46]

This appears like something you would see in a movie about some totalitarian country. So, someone wants to confiscate my $2400 Hasselblad? I don't think so.

[livius]

These people are public figures and hence are fair game for photographers. Why do you think paparazzi can do what they do?

But maybe Michelle doesn’t want a picture of her mug or those of her kids without their burkas. After all, Muslims do have a phobia about photographing women’s faces.

[rollo tomasi]

“Apparently everyone in the audience was reaching for their cell phones to take a picture of the first lady and her kids.”

So what. Are taking pictures of people illegal in a public forum/square? What justification gives the SS the right to seize private property that causes no harm to those they are protecting? The first family encroached on the public square, so now the public must be subservient to a public servant's family?

How monarchical in nature, and I don't care how hard the SS job is, they chose it, people were awarded freedom instead of submission back in the day, so be it. If they are too paranoid just stay home instead of crapping on the IV Amendment, which you support so the SS can play "power trippers" and "relax".

[Anima Mundi]

Conversely, the public can be photographed by the government at their pleasure, at traffic lights, etc. Are we citizens, or are we subjects? Or, as I hope, are we about to become verbs?

[Political Junkie Too]

How long will it be before the Secret Service demands that all people within eyesight range of the First Family become prostrate as they walk by, in the name of "safety" for the First Family, just like with the King of Siam in the movie?

-PJ

[OldDeckHand]

"become prostrate as they walk by"

The only way I'm doing that is with my ass bared, 'tis easier to kiss that way.

[MestaMachine]

Why risk breaking a perfectly good camera taking fUgly pitchers.

[Political Junkie Too]

The only way I'm doing that is with my ass bared...

Okay, so maybe there is one reason to ban cameras... ;-)

-PJ

[YoungBlackRepublican]

little by little this country is taking our personal freedoms away. If we don’t wake up soon when we finally do wake up we will be paying for air.

[mvpel]

We must be allowed to photograph caskets, but we must not be allowed to photograph the First Family. Gotcha.

[AuntB]

Oh, brother! As in BIG brother.

wow

[Lmo56]

Secret Service sez:

We can handle Lions, and Tigers, and Bears [Oh My!] - but the American Public snapping pix of the First Family ???

Da Nerve ...

[YoungBlackRepublican]

I wonder if cell phones existed when George Bush was president? Oh that’s right they did exist. Yet the Secret Service was somehow able to protect him without our Constitutional rights being infringed upon

[Brugmansian]

Didn’t this happen before? On the Vineyard perhaps? Sure I recall it.

[OldDeckHand]

"Didn’t this happen before? On the Vineyard perhaps? Sure I recall it."

Yes, I'm sure of it too. I do remember it being in some other vacation setting, so the Vineyard could be correct. I can't remember, for sure.

[BuffaloJack]

The living god of cesspools shall have no images take of him or his godlings.