A recently retired Secret Service agent 
who is running as the Republican opponent of Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) thinks Republicans should rein in the attacks on President Barack Obama’s use of a taxpayer funded $1.1 million campaign bus.
Likewise, Democrats shouldn’t give Herman Cain a tough time for requesting Secret Service protection because of chaotic situations involving members of the media, Daniel Bongino told TPM.
“There’s politics involved on both sides,” Bongino told TPM. “This would have happened to President Bush or Obama. He can’t travel without protection.”
TPM broke the news in April that the Secret Service purchased two buses — one for Obama, one that can be used by the eventual Republican presidential nominee — because they were never “fully comfortable” with protectees traveling in retrofitted rented vehicles. One of the identical all-black armored buses made its debut during Obama’s August bus tour through the midwest.
Bongino said the Secret Service made a “very cost-efficient decision” by purchasing the two armored buses because they’ve previously rented and renovated buses every four years to meet their specifications.
But Republicans have been bashing Obama’s use of the taxpayer-funded vehicle: Karl Rove’s American Crossroads said they’ll “make a star out of” the $1.1 million bus, while Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) hit Obama over the Canadian origin of the bus frame (even though McCain’s “Straight Talk Express” was from Canada too). Rick Perry also took a shot at Obama over his “big old $1.2 million bus — made in Canada.”
Bongino says the Secret Service made the right call.
“In my opinion, having worked there for five years, it was a wise move to buy the bus,” he said.
Bongino also defended the Secret Service’s decision to protect Herman Cain, even given the Cain team’s strange justification that members of the media were “physically putting themselves and others in danger by trying to follow him with a lot of heavy equipment and cameras in close quarters.”
The former agent said the Secret Service would have undertaken a careful review of various factors — from funds raised, to media attention to the “threat atmosphere” — using a “very specific formula.” From a historical perspective, Bongino said the decision made sense.
“There’s always going to be a trade-off,” Bongino said. “Some campaigns, historically they just say ‘we’re going to wait to hold off on this to maximize our exposure.’ From what I read it was initiated by the campaign. I’m sure they did a good review. This isn’t a decision you take lightly.”
