White House gate crashers must not get a tap on wrist

A month after The Boston Globe reported that President Obama has been the target of more threats since his inauguration than his predecessors, a Virginia couple attended a state dinner at the White House — without being invited.

The Secret Service, which is charged with protecting the president and his family, has taken responsibility for the breakdown in security.

There is an investigation into possible criminal behavior on the part of Michaele and Tareq Salahi, who were permitted to enter the White House on Nov. 28 for the first state dinner hosted by president and Mrs. Obama for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife. The Salahis were not on the guest list.

They arrived in formal attire accompanied by a camera crew. They are auditioning for a Bravo reality show.

Not only did they get past experienced, executive-branch security, but they shook hands with Obama in the Blue Room of the White House. The White House released a photograph of Michaele Salahi’s audience with the president.

On Sunday, two U.S. senators, Democrat Evan Bayh of Indiana and Republican Jon Kyl of Arizona, said authorities ought to pursue criminal charges against the couple.

And given that mindless reality television is once again the backdrop for this couple’s irresponsible behavior, the investigation should also determine if anyone connected with the Bravo show was involved.

A month and a half ago, a global television audience was captivated by a 50-mile rescue effort of a homemade balloon that authorities were led to believe contained a child.

The parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene of Fort Collins, Colo., have now admitted that they fabricated the story of their son being in the balloon to gain publicity for a possible reality TV show.

Richard Heene has pleaded guilty to a felony count of falsely influencing the sheriff who led the rescue; Mayumi Heene has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of knowingly filing a false report with emergency services. The couple has three children.

Warning

In an editorial lambasting the Heenes and a television station that had been alerted to the balloon launch, we warned that in this age of instant fame provided by the myriad stupid television shows and Internet sites there would be copycats.

We said the Heenes and anyone else who conspired with them must suffer the full brunt of the law. We also argued that any money earned as a result of the fake balloon voyage should be confiscated by the authorities and used to cover the costs incurred by the various federal and state agencies that responded.

The judge who accepted the guilty pleas has agreed to let the couple travel to New York and California to explore “employment opportunities,” as their lawyer put it.

We urge a similar hard line be taken against Michaele and Tareq Salahi. Their actions aren’t just embarrassing for the Secret Service; they could well inspire individuals who want to do physical harm to the president and the first family to try.

Indeed, in reporting on the spike in the number of threats against Obama and other high-ranking administration officials, the Boston Globe contended that the unprecedented number of death threats against the president, a rise in racist hate groups, and a new wave of antigovernment fervor threaten to overwhelm the U.S. Secret Service. The newspaper story was based on information from government officials and government reports.

We have no doubt that given all the publicity surrounding the gate crashers — late night talk show jokes will undoubtedly have a field day — the Secret Service’s procedures will be reviewed and changed.

But, there much to be said for punishing those who have no respect for the law — or the presidency.