Party Crashers: Pay us $500K, then we'll talk

[Louisiana1976]

(CBS/AP) An American TV executive says the couple that crashed President Obama's first state dinner is now offering to talk to broadcast networks about it - providing they're well paid.

The executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the network doesn't publicly discuss bookings, says representatives for Michaele and Tareq Salahi contacted networks to urge them to "get their bids in" for an interview.

The executive says the Virginia couple was looking for a payment in the mid-six figures range - about half a million dollars.

The couple's success in getting into the state dinner Tuesday without an invitation embarrassed the White House and Secret Service.

The woman, who was pictured at the dinner greeting both the president and Vice President Joe Biden, is a reality TV hopeful trying to get on Bravo's "The Real Housewives of D.C."

snip

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/29/politics/main5823087.shtml?tag=stack

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Someone needs to kick these people's behinds

I heard even God is suing them.

[AllentownJake]

2. I'm sure they are talking to the FBI and Secret Service

and I'm sure the talk isn't pleasant.

They better hope they don't face any charges. It is illegal to profit from a crime.

[dysfunctional press]

4. "It is illegal to profit from a crime."

that kind of depends on the laws of the particular state, doesn't it?

i don't know what the law regarding it is in washington d.c., nor virginia(they live there, don't they?)

[HipChick]

5. They live in VA, she used to be a make-up counter girl at Nordstroms in Tysons Corner..

She worked there quite a while until 2002, until she figured that her gold-digging paid off when she met her present husband.

[AllentownJake]

12. Doesn't matter where they live

The crime was committed at the White House so it happened on Federal Property.

[dysfunctional press]

25. and it's not always illegal to profit from a crime committed on federal property.

they certainly can't be prohibited from selling their story, for instance.

[AllentownJake]

13. It would be a Federal Issue

The White House is Federal Property and their actions involve violating federal security not D.C or Virginia law.

[dysfunctional press]

24. and there were no 'victims' to compensate.

i don't think that there are any federal 'son of sam' type laws covering any crimes that might stem from their actions.
the supreme court has already struck down state laws preventing people from writing books about their crimes- on 1st amendment grounds.

[AllentownJake]

26. I'm sure the federal government can arrange it so that any income they get from interviews

Is offset by the fines for their publicity stunt.

[dysfunctional press]

27. doubtful.

from what i've read, their asking price is $500K.

i don't see them being fined too much for the secret service's incompetence.

[piratefish08]

3. fuck them both. right into obscurity.

[phasma ex machina]

14. +1 Nevertheless, bank on them getting the money. After all money is M$M's middle name. nt

[MUAD_DIB]

18. No kidding! What is wrong with people??!!

Tan their hides for their little stunt.


Is it just me or do people think that they can just do whatever they want with impunity lately?

[spanone]

6. i hope they get nothing

[icymist]

7. Reward these peole and you'll have a thousand trying it tomorrow.

These people need jailtime.

[Sebastian Doyle]

8. Pay me 250K and I'll kick these wannabe "celebrities" asses.

Damn I'm sick of idiots who think they deserve to be famous for doing absolutely nothing.

[mamaleah]

9. Awww, I wonder if they tried that demand with the Secret Service?

Really, charge them with trespass and making false statements and be done with them.

[Avalux]

10. Bad move. The WH/SS will not take this lightly.

Trying to sell their story about lying to get into a state dinner will guarantee felony charges.

[FarCenter]

11. Waterboard them and they'll talk for nothing

[rockymountaindem]

15. So now reality TV is having a spillover effect and messing up the real world

I give you "balloon boy" as exhibit A, and these fools as exhibit B.

[MissB]

16. If no one pays them, will they go away?

[aikoaiko]

17. I don't understand all the hate for the party crashers. I love "professional" crashers

because I'm impressed with their guts and talent for "getting in". Of course, these crashers likely broke Federal law by crashing that particular party and its appropriate that they pay the price.

If they can make money off of their "fame" then so be it. No one was harmed and there appears to be no malice in their motivation.

[MUAD_DIB]

19. Well, for starters this isn't a movie. There were probably federal laws violated.

No. They should not be allowed to cash in for being arrogant assholes.

Seriously, just what the fuck is wrong with this country and wannabe celebrity assholes?


We have a thing called the rule of law. They just stepped in it.

[aikoaiko]

22. I agree this isn't a movie -- was that really an issue?

Arrogant assholes most certainly can cash in. How could Anne Coulter pay the bills otherwise?

I also agree that if they broke the law they should be punished.

But still I don't begrudge them trying to cash in.

[MUAD_DIB]

23. These guys just don't seem to be living in the reality that I have to wake up to

every day.

If Anne Coulter broke the law then she should be subject to it as well.

I do egrudge them for cashing in if they are dong it illegally.

[The Straight Story]

20. If this had went down under bush, I wonder what we would be saying about it?

:shrug:

[BluDemocratGirl]

21. I would love to pay them 5 G's

...in FOOD STAMPS!!!!

[Skittles]

28. whores

[astral]

29. According to this article, they were acquainted with the Prez:

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17310


BELOW IS CAPTION BELOW THE PICTURE
Hey Secret Agent Man, here’s Obama, the senator flashing his pearly whites with Randy Jackson, better known as a judge on American Idol. “Others pictured are Black Eyed Peas Rock Band; Tareq Salahi the President of the America’s Polo Cup; President Elect Obama, Fergie from Black eyed Peas and Michaele Salahi, posing this time as a former Miss USA and SuperModel.”

Interesting little detail for White House gumshoes: As the above photo was published in June 2005, Barack Obama was still Senator Obama and not the President Elect.
__________________________________________________________

“Party Crashers” had five-year relationship with Obama before state dinner----
--snip---
Obama knew the Salahis when he was still an Illinois senator.
----------------------------------------------------


I don't know what I think of this but maybe, just maybe, the 'party crashers' did not believe they were doing anything wrong by showing up at the party. I say if they White House is freaked out by uninvited guests they need to rev up their security system, but don't crucify the party-goers simply because they embarrassed the White House.

I suspect there are many, many prior cases of uninvited guests crashing White House parties without ever getting caught, the way these two got in in the first place.

[Blue_Tires]

30. ugh...when have we ever had to endure such shameless attention whores?