On TODAY, Tareq and Michaele Salahi denied they finagled their way into a White House state dinner and insisted that they were invited to the bash by a Washington law firm with ties to a senior Pentagon official. Was their presence at the dinner a security breach? Or is the couple being unfairly harassed?
If they were NOT on the GUEST LIST, then they should not be there. The fact that they went anyway meant they were PARTY CRASHERS in intention. The fact they got through security is another matter best explained and investigated by Secret Service within the White House. Plain and simple, now let's focus on the real stories - War in Afghanistan and the ECONOMY.
#1 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 12:37 PM ESTI totally agree with you. We have more important issue's to worry about like the economy, job loss, and healthcare. If they didnt have the tickets in hand they shouldnt have showed up.
After reading the email string in regard to the event, it is clear that this couple worked every angle they could in an effort to attend. However, there is absolutely no confirmation email and the story that their cell phone's battery was dead is not acceptable, especially if they are awaiting an imminent phone call giving them event details.
Attention all consipiracy theorists: If you show up to a party and THEY LET YOU IN, then, by definition, YOU DID NOT CRASH IT. Perhaps it was still a mistake for you to be there, but if they ALLOW you in, then by definition, YOU WERE ALLOWED TO BE THERE. Perhaps they tried very hard to get advance clearance, and in the end didn't get the clearance they wanted, but whether they knew this or not when they were waiting in line in irrevalent: THEY WERE ALLOWED IN. This is a story about the Secret Service, not the White House, not these preppy media hounds, ....the Secret Service.....you know, the agency that ALREADY ADMIITTED IT WAS THEIR FAULT, and that they are embarrassed about it.
Can anyone say LOSERS. Stop giving them publicity - that's obviously what they want.
#3 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 12:44 PM ESTI saw Matt's interview of this couple this morning and I was shocked that he didn't ask the one incredibly obvious question: You say you were invited. Prove it; show us your printed invitation. The White House doesn't just call people and say, "Hey, would you like to attend a state dinner?" There has to be a formal, printed invitation that they -- or anyone attending the event -- should have been required to produce. So where is theirs?
#4 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 12:47 PM ESTBut who outed them? Someone had to have tipped off the press that a couple attended who hadn't been invited.
I'm just disappointed that you paid them to come on your show.
#5 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 12:49 PM ESTNO! They were not paid. THis was the first thing Matt clairifed at the start of the interview.
Matt Lauer did NOT disclose that NBC, the parent company of the TODAY show, also owns BRAVO, the company that is producing the "Real Housewives of Washington DC" -- the TV show on which Michaela Sahali may appear. NBC and BRAVO need to clarify if the Salahis have signed any contract for that show; have received any payments for filming; and whether they have been promised any payments for appearing on that show -- and NBC and BRAVO also need to disclose if any contractual arrangments with the Salahis for that show had anything to do with their appearance on the NBC TODAY show.
Valid question. I was appalled that the Today Show that I love gave them the publicity they most definitely do NOT deserve! I hope they go to jail...or at least get mental help because they are either total liars or self deluded.
This kind of thing has become a staple of the Today show and that's why I stopped watching years ago.
I'd take MSNBC news and talk shows over Fox's anyday. At least, for the most part, you get the truth, albeit inconvienent for some people.
Grifters for sure!!!! Boycott Bravo if they get that realtiy show!
#6 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 12:51 PM ESTTrailer parks would be ashamed to count them as inhabitants. Prosecute them quickly and as severly as possible.
#7 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 12:52 PM EST Bravo channel (owned by NBC /Universal) followed these two all day and filmed them prior to the 'unfortunate' incident. Michaele Salahi is being considered for Real Housewives DC- to be produced by Bravo. Today Show does an "interview' with the Salahis. Follow the dots and figure it out.
#8 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 12:55 PM ESTThese people should join Balloon Boy's family and go away! A bunch of publicity wh0res is what they are!! Hello! The article said her FB page talks about her wanting to join the ranks of Kelly Ripa, be on the Housewives of DC or possibly even co-host the Today show. Guess people will do anything to get a little camera time. Jeez.
#9 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 12:56 PM ESTNow that they have released the emails in full, it definitely sounds like these people crashed the party. If you read the emails, all of the ones coming from Michele Jones say, "I am TRYING to get you tickets." "I am TRYING to get you into the dinner." Etc., etc., etc. And every time, Mr. Salahi responds with, "Oh thank you, thank you so much! We can't wait to come!" It's like listen, buddy, none of her emails ever said you were coming. She said she was trying to get you in. Besides, it LOOKS like they never even provided the info the White House needed to do their background checks. Losers.
I strongly think that they are party crashers, who wants to be noticed in public. I strongly felt that they were not invited. What happened with the secret services is another issue. How they got past security should be dealt with.
I think security should be more aware of who get into the White house, They are there to protect the President. What happened if these tow people were dangerous. lot of lives would have been in great danger.
#10 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 12:57 PM ESTFor sure! Security was lax and that is the big problem, the people who did it should be prosecuted. It could have been so much worse!
Security breach? ... What security?? It sounds like a Dwight Yokum concert has better security! If no one stops them ... shame on who?
Can anybody find anyone that really cares,REALLY ?Let's make a story where nothing gets told,OH,I think we found one !As for security,I'm more concerned about our open door border policy that that of the White House .
#11 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 12:59 PM ESTThese people are all about the show - they shouldn't be given another minute of publicity but like usual, the important issues in the world will be put on hold while we have to hear about wanna-be people like this! It's a shame.
#12 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 1:00 PM ESTSTOP PUTTING THEM IN THE LIMELIGHT...that's just what they wanted in the first place!!!! They are 2 publicity seeking losers that want to be recognized. Think Nadia Suleman!
#13 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 1:01 PM ESTThe question of whether or not they were invited does not lend itself to any subjectivity whatsoever. If they weren't on the list and they still got in, of course it was a security breach... where's the debate in that?
#14 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 1:03 PM ESTExactly. I think even invited guests go through metal and bomb detectors, but something could have been slipped into someones drink or any other range of incidents could have happened.
Like the fact they are good-looking, rich, and let's admit it white, means they can get into any event in DC. The ego has truly landed.
I've lived in DC where $$$$ truly does talk and it buys you access, but there is always someone with more $$$, power and access than you. The fact that you WANT to attend and event and even go so far as to ASK one of your connections to get you in means nothing without the official invite. With out the official invite, you are a party crasher and crashing a party where the president on various heads of state are attending gets you fined and locked up.
#15 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 1:04 PM ESTNo,lets not admit that. White doesn't have anything to do with it.
Robert Gibbs and Michele Jones (the Pentagon person mentioned in the article) both claim the couple was told explicitly that they were not invited and would not be invited. If the e-mail trail that will undoubtedly surface bears that out, then they are by definition gatecrashers but, more to the point, also trespassers to the one house in the country where you REALLY don't want to get caught trespassing. If that proves to be the case, they should go to jail.
Looking at this whole thing from a human perspective, though, it bothers me that some people are so desperate to inflate what they consider to be their own importance that they have to insert themselves into situations where they clearly don't belong. Have some self-respect and be happy with what you have, Salahis!
#16 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 1:14 PM ESTFinally someone with some true insight...This couple needs to get grounded again....as if running the family business into the ground wasn't enough.
Sorry hf201, but you really need to check your dictionary first, and perhaps some law books. If you are ALLOWED IN, you are BY DEFINITINON, not trespassing. REGARDLESS of who emailed what to whom, in the end, THEY WERE ALLOWED IN. End of story.
This is a story of bad security by the Secret Service, not about someone who simply waited in line, gave their name, went through security, and got in. It's not like they weren't TRYING to get advance clearance and just showed up on a whim. The tried to get clearance. They showed up. They got cleared. End of story. Time for the Secret service to start answering questions, not these two media hogs.
Can't believe the soft ball questions by Matt Lauer. Obvious ones missed: Gee, if you were invited to the state dinner as you claim, why didn't you stay for DINNER? And... were you not as was reported, escorted by security out of the Black Caucus dinner? Tons more missed, but these were obvious.
#17 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 1:17 PM ESTthey are losers and she is a whore...... they prosituted themselves just for 15 min. of fame go back to the hole you came from....
#18 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 1:26 PM ESTPhil; that's because the Today show and Matt Lauer are a joke, they're more feel-goody Oprah than reporters. In fact, the word reporter and Matt Lauer/Today shouldn't be put in the same sentence.
#19 - Tue Dec 1, 2009 1:26 PM ESTThis He Said/She Said can be settled easily.
The Salahis were turned away initially when they arrived via car at the White House. That's the proof that they were not invited guests.
What could possibly make them think that that being told "no" didn't mean no and they had the right to hop out of the car and try another entrance?
That they got in on try 2 obviously was a mistake. But that and a bunch of e-mails from a government official not in the White House don't equal an invitation.
They have only themselves to blame if their lives are ruined.
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Grifters!