Raw Story- Security video shows police lied about Rand Paul’s behavior

[MerryBlooms]

After being briefly detained by police officers on Monday, Paul appears to be getting some vindication in the form of a security camera’s video. Although police described him as “being irate” in an incident report, footage published Thursday shows Paul sitting calmly inside an airport checkpoint, and occasionally picking up his phone.

Paul reportedly set off an alarm on an x-ray machine designed to peer under fliers’ clothing, then refused the more aggressive search. He was briefly detained by local police before being released and re-booking his flight.

Paul has been a longtime critic of the TSA’s invasive search procedures. He told a Senate committee in June, 2011 that the TSA has “gone overboard” with “invasive searches on 6-year-old girls.”

At the time, a TSA spokesman told Raw Story that Paul was not detained, but merely “denied access to the secure gate area.” Paul returned a short time later and flew back to Washington, D.C. without incident. He’s since called for an investigation.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/01/26/security-video-shows-police-lied-about-rand-pauls-behavior/

[chrisa]

1. Obviously we can trust the TSA. They would never lie.

[MerryBlooms]

3. Of course not. ;-)

[Proud Public Servant]

2. At TSA. disagreeing or questioning = "being irate"

I've seen this myself in security lines. The first thing a TSA flunkie will say in a confrontation is "Sir/ma'am, I need you to calm down," regardless of how calm and self-possessed the questioner actually is.

[MerryBlooms]

4. Yes, I've also seen that sort of exchange and it made me very nervous. n/t

[xchrom]

5. +2 nt

[DCKit]

7. A psychological trick intended to provoke people. nt

[Proud Public Servant]

10. Exactly n/t

[DCKit]

6. Randy Paul is a six year old girl? That explains a LOT. nt

[Lawlbringer]

8. Don't like Paul...Don't like TSA...

My brain is starting to put out apathy to balance out the hatred I feel against both sides.

[MerryBlooms]

9. DUrec.

[Aerows]

11. I'm not wild about Rand Paul

But I like even less that the TSA has as much authority as they have. As others have mentioned, the first thing stated is "You need to calm down", regardless of how calm you are, and that is just a statement designed to justify whatever intrusive, authoritarian actions they decide to take.

You can't give people that much authority without them abusing it, much like people are starting to realize with police officers. Nine out of ten might be upstanding individuals, but if one out of the ten isn't, they still have enough authority to become a danger to the public.

[bongbong]

12. Response for "You Need To Calm Down"

"What in the world gives you an indication of ANY kind that I'm not 100% calm as a little kitten right now and for the entire day up to now?"

(you need overkill for the TSA goons)

Obligatory Warning: Don't ever check ANYTHING other than clothing. I had a $10 mini-fan stolen out of my checked bag. Now everything goes in the carry on.

[Aerows]

13. I'm VERY careful about what I check

It's annoying because I have to travel with computer hardware every now and then, but I'd prefer to go through the song and dance or have it shipped simultaneously while I'm on the way than risk getting there and finding out a $3000 RAID controller got taken out of my bags because someone thought it looked expensive.