To me, the problem with "pranks" like this is that somebody got close enough to the event equipment to substitute the projection of the seal with a prank seal.
It makes me wonder if this suggests that somebody could get close to other equipment, say lighting for instance, and substitute an IED that looks like a light bulb into a fixture on the stage.
It's not the prank, it's the ability of someone to get close enough to the event to tamper with the equipment that should be concerning.
-PJ
When I was in an Electronics Security unit, we got to play ‘Red Team’ a few times. Usually right after we worked overseeing a security upgrade of a service center (large insurer). A real eye opener. There are few places that can’t be infiltrated if someone has the time and knowledge, maybe none.
I agree. It was a hostile prank and whoever hired this guy should also be on the way out.
It’s not the prank, it’s the ability of someone to get close enough to the event to tamper with the equipment that should be concerning.
~~~
That’s an inevitable truth of life in public service I expect.
If you’re going to worry about such things you’re going to be crippled with anxiety.
That may actually be much less true for the President with how good the secret service is, but anybody can be got to at any time, and thankfully it’s very rare.
Heck, look how bat crazy some small town city council meetings get some times. Lots of nutjobs out there. If you’re going to serve, I’m not saying you don’t have situational awareness and take all prudent cautions, but you have got to be in the thick of it.
It's not the prank, it's the ability of someone to get close enough to the event to tamper with the equipment that should be concerning."
Exactly.
This may appear to be a harmless prank but it raises issues of oversight and security.
How many conservative organizations have been infiltrated? What are they doing behind the scenes?
How many times have we seen provocateurs show up at conservative events with misspelled signs who give racist comments to the media?
How do we laugh these off when the photos and quotes are attributed to us and make the front pages of major news outlets?
Nobody get in there and sabotaged anything Mission Impossible style. It was simply inserted into the digital “slide show” for the event. Honestly, it was most likely done by whomever originally created the slide show for the event weeks in advance.
“It’s not the prank, it’s the ability of someone to get close enough to the event to tamper with the equipment that should be concerning.”
Excellent point, PJ!