BREAK THE BUBBLE:

Secret Service Says McCain Has No Protection (Christopher Lee and Michael D. Shear, 4/03/08, Washington Post: The Trail)

Arizona Sen. John McCain is not currently protected by the Secret Service, despite having locked up the GOP nomination for president and spending most of his time campaigning before large crowds, the director of the agency testified today.

Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan told a House appropriations subcommittee today that the two-time presidential contender has not yet requested the agency's services.

"Statutorily, he is not required to take protection," Sullivan said in response to a question during a hearing on the agency's budget. "As far as an actual request, we have not gotten one. We have no involvement at this point."

McCain has repeatedly said he does not want Secret Service protection, expressing the belief that it will restrict his ability to connect with voters at his trademark town hall meetings. Last November, he told reporters that he planned to resist it as long as he could.

The protection afforded political figures is absurd at any rate. A little risk is a small price to pay for a more accessible leadership, more consistent with a republic.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 3, 2008 7:40 PM