Security clearance for our upcoming President

[InletBchDweller]

Thoughts to ponder.....

While unpacking/repacking some boxes we stumbled upon some of Mr. IBD'd military intelligence papers. He was telling the stories of how much they dug into his life in order for him to receive the high security clearance level that he did. :shock: We then started discussing how the President of the United States is given clearance to a certain degree -automatically.

If any of the 3 candidates running at this time were to join the military and wanted to get security clearance, which of the three do you think would receive it??

I think that McCain would be the only one that could pass muster for a top-level security clearance. His background as a fighter pilot has already given him a security clearance to a certain level.

Not that this is the most important subject on which to elect a President, but it does worry me that Hilary and Obama would most likely not pass but could possibly be running the largest super power in the world....

[seagrovegirl]

Hillary wouldn't pass???

[30A Skunkape]

Hillary and Obama could easily score an Alpha level clearance. That is plenty good enough to nuke an annoying nation. However, I share your skepticism that they may not pass muster to earn Beta clearance-you know, being so trustworthy and patriotic that they get to learn the truth about the aliens recovered after the Roswell UFO crash:ninja:

[scooterbug44]

Exactly what do you think would preclude any of the candidates from getting security clearance? :idontno:

My familiarity w/ the criteria for security clearance is rather limited as it only pertains to joining the FBI, but I would certainly hope that they could all pass a drug test, have been vetted enough by the media that they don't have any blackmailable secrets (well, Hillary might), and don't have a history of anti-american statements or activities.

[goodwitch58]

Well, somebody gave George Bush a clearance...so, I don't think anyone else has to worry!:eek:

[Smiling JOe]

Bill Clinton already sold all of the top secret stuff to the Chinese, and Sen Obama says that he would announce pull out dates, so what is left that is so top secret?

[goodwitch58]

Dick Cheney's undisclosed location......:idontno:

[Smiling JOe]

^5

[InletBchDweller]

Well, somebody gave George Bush a clearance...so, I don't think anyone else has to worry!:eek:

well wasn't his dad the top dog of the CIA????

[sowalgayboi]

I would assume Hillary would pass pretty easily since she most likely has security clearance being on the Armed Services Committee.

[scooterbug44]

Per my internet search, elected/appointed officials do not have to meet the same criteria or go through the same vetting process others do, so it's a moot point.

[InletBchDweller]

Per my internet search, elected/appointed officials do not have to meet the same criteria or go through the same vetting process others do, so it's a moot point.

That is my point. Say if McCain, Obama and/or Hillary wanted to join the military and wanted to get placed in an intelligence division.
[[They are not politicians in this scenerio.]] I was wondering if they would make it through with all the baggage, past business deals and certain people that they have "hung out" with. It is :shock: to see how they are just pushed through the process of clearance just b/c they are politicians whereas otherwise they may not have ever made it...:idontno:

[rapunzel]

McCain is also on the Armed Services Committee, and Obama is on the Foreign Relations committee, so they all have a high level clearance. The Secret Service vets members of Congress before they are assigned to committees, so they do not assign politicians with questionable backgrounds to these highly sought after committees.

I think we all need to put some perspective on this...we may prefer a certain candidate, and think others are ideologically undesirable, but Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain are all great Americans, patriots, and loyal to their country. To imply otherwise is just offensive. All three have dedicated their lives to public service.

Dissent is not anti-American, unquestioning loyalty to authority is.

Besides, I know people who've been arrested on drug charges that got top clearance, so I don't think it's that tough.

[Bob]

http://www.dickipedia.org/dick.php?title=John_McCain John McCain, angry, yet great American, who will run the other way if you yell out the word "Keating".

[sowalgayboi]

That is my point. Say if McCain, Obama and/or Hillary wanted to join the military and wanted to get placed in an intelligence division.
[[They are not politicians in this scenerio.]] I was wondering if they would make it through with all the baggage, past business deals and certain people that they have "hung out" with. It is :shock: to see how they are just pushed through the process of clearance just b/c they are politicians whereas otherwise they may not have ever made it...:idontno:

Actually it's a moot point since they are all way too old to enlist. ;-)