Bernie's newly formed U.S. Secret Service

[snowmountains]

Couldn't the secret service be either a plant or bribed?

[Wayland Woman]

Originally Posted by Nor Cal Wahine

I can't believe some of the conspiracy crap I'm reading here. Have you people never experienced a presidential campaign? It's quite common for the Secret Service to extend their protection to candidates. It's not the sign of double secret doom.

Good grief.

I was thinking the same thing!

[ATX Wahine]

Originally Posted by snowmountains

Couldn't the secret service be either a plant or bribed?

You are being ridiculous. Honestly.

[snowmountains]

Originally Posted by Nor Cal Wahine

You are being ridiculous. Honestly.

I certainly hope you are right.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by Rescue3

WOW. Is that ever a change. In my day there was only one way to get a Service detail - the President had to order it. Period - no exceptions.

Not doubting you, Robr2, but if what you posted is true, it explains why details are a dime a dozen these days...

Since the assassination of Robert Kennedy, Presidential candidates have been afforded Secret Service protection once they were nominated. At some point, the current rules were put into place. See here for the specifics:

FAQs

Now they don't have to take the protection. Trump was the first to ask for it followed by Carson. Clinton already had it as a former First Lady. When McCain ran in 2000 he didn't ask for it as he felt it would separate him from the voters. Dukakis finally accepted it begrudgingly when he was the leading candidate but they had to respect his home life and he still wanted to ride the subway to the state house when he was in Massachusetts.