Ticketgate: Inauguration Security Fiasco: Iowa Blue and Purple Ticket Holders Among Disenfranchised

Posted on January 25, 2009 by Trish Nelson

Ticketgate:  Inauguration Security Fiasco – Iowa Blue and Purple Ticket Holders Among Disenfranchised

I do not know how many Iowans were holders of blue and purple tickets to the inauguration that were denied admission, but I have personally spoken with several, so there must be quite a few.  The Sunday Wapo will run an article, Inaugural Missteps and Miscalculations, a rather disturbing account of what was a rather disturbing day for thousands.

“We were fortunate that something worse didn't happen, that there weren't injuries,” he [Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance W. Gainer] said after meeting with the creators of the Facebook site “Survivors of the Purple Tunnel of Doom” – referring to the many holders of purple tickets for a designated viewing area who were stuck in the tunnel. The Facebook site has more than 5,000 members. [I could not embed the link but it's easy to find on Facebook].

HuffPo is accepting accounts from ticket holders. 

If you do not happen to be a disenfranchised Inauguration ticket holder, it is still worthwhile to read the accounts on the Congress.Org survey page.   What happened was an outrage, not only because of my or anyone else's personal disappointment, but because it would seem that the safety of the President was compromised.

Here is one account that caught my eye, posted on Congress.Org on Saturday–
@page { margin: 0.79in }
TD P { margin-bottom: 0in }
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in }
—
Sat, 1/24/09 4:56 PM at, 1/24/09 4:56 PM

“WHY WAS PRESIDENT OBAMA LEFT UNPROTECTED? I sprained my ankle two days before the inauguration, so I was limping along with the aid of a walker. The crowd was exceptionally good-natured, and the whole chaotic and frightening scenario we endured has been well described by many others here. My main complaint is that President Obama was not given the protection he deserves. Just before noon security broke down completely at the Silver Gate near Fed Ctr and a large crowd of thousands of silver ticket holders peacefully moved into the restricted silver area. No one frisked us, checked us for explosives or weapons, checked for IDs or tickets – nothing. I was appalled. As I walked through, I looked all around and saw NO security presence in the crowd. I personally was wearing three pairs of wool pants, 4 sweaters, and an ankle-length heavy coat. I could have hidden almost anything under all that bulk. As I stood so close to the presidential dais, I asked WHO IS PROTECTING OUR PRESIDENT!?!”


This was just one of over 250 anecdotes now on the Congress.Org survey page.  If you know anyone who was a ticket holder and did not get in, please pass this information on.  The more people tell their stories, the greater the likelihood that a real investigation into what happened can occur.

Call to action from the Blue Ticket Facebook page:

Go to:  Congress.Org.   Please go to this page RIGHT NOW and use the email address provided, editor@Congress.org AND fill out the survey. Congress wants to hear from us!!!

WE NEED TO TELL CONGRESS WHAT HAPPENED!

Appparently what we fill out there is accessible to every member of Congress, as well as every Administration person – FILL OUT THE SURVEY AND COMMENT NOW!

Fill out the response section on the survey as much as you can – But be careful not to include your private info. because the responses and results of the survey are open to public review.

Give Congress your private information and your story through the email to the editor@Congress.org – I sent them exactly what I sent to the committee.

Go to this link: congress.org and click on “Read More” (Did you try to attend the inauguration … Read More)


This entry was posted in Main Page. Bookmark the permalink.