In light of the Secret Service and GSA scandals, who is minding the store?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Your government gone wild.
As details of the Secret Service and GSA scandals emerge, there's a growing sense that Washington isn't always working for the people who pay their salaries - that would be us, the taxpayers.
The Secret Service has now yanked the security clearances of 11 members accused of bringing prostitutes to a Colombian hotel.
The investigation also includes at least five - maybe even 10 - members of the U.S. military who were working there ahead of President Obama's trip. Reuters reports there were as many as 21 prostitutes.
If true, it's more than disgraceful. It's a threat to national security.
There are reports that some of the Secret Service agents who brought prostitutes to their hotel rooms had copies of the president's schedule in their rooms and they were apparently bragging that they were there to protect President Obama.
It's not the first time the Secret Service has lapsed. The most glaring example was in 2009, when an uninvited couple managed to crash a White House state dinner. They were inside the White House mingling with the president and his guests.
Meanwhile the GSA official at the center of that $800,000 lavish conference is refusing to answer questions.
Jeff Neely - who organized the 2010 conference in Las Vegas - repeatedly took the Fifth Amendment when questioned before Congress. His former boss has already resigned in disgrace. Neely might face a federal criminal investigation.
While the GSA was spending hundreds of thousands of your dollars on things like commemorative coins, a team-building exercise, and a mind reader as entertainment, the Senate yesterday voted on whether to raise taxes some more.
This is the kind of stuff that makes Americans increasingly disgusted with their government. So far President Obama hasn't said a lot about any of this. Maybe it's time he did.
Here’s my question to you: In light of the Secret Service and GSA scandals, who is minding the store?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 4pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
Mitt Romney is a Mormon. How much will it matter?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Now that Mitt Romney is the likely Republican nominee - he may need to starting talking about his Mormon faith.
Politico reports that many Republicans think Romney should embrace his Mormonism publicly so people can better understand him.
During the GOP primaries, Romney has gotten pushback from evangelicals, some of whom question whether Mormons believe in Jesus Christ. One Texas Baptist pastor and Rick Perry supporter called the Mormon church a "cult."
But these days it seems like some evangelicals are more open to the idea of voting for Romney - especially when the other option is President Barack Obama.
Mormonism is a big part of who Romney is. He traveled on a two-year mission in France as a young adult, raised his five sons as Mormons and has held several church leadership positions.
Nonetheless, Romney doesn't really like to talk about it. In the lead-up to the 2008 presidential campaign, he addressed his religion in a "60 minutes" interview and in a speech called "Faith in America."
His aides have said that he has no "immediate plans" to make another formal speech for now.
But maybe he should. It could help clear up lingering questions about Mormonism, a religion that still seems odd and insular to many. It has a tainted past that includes racism and polygamy.
A CNN/ORC International poll taken in October showed 17% of Americans say that they would be less likely to vote for a presidential candidate who is a Mormon, while 80% said it would make no difference.
Of course, religion and politics are a difficult equation. Many Americans thought John F. Kennedy would never get elected president in 1960 because he was Roman Catholic.
Here’s my question to you: Mitt Romney is a Mormon. How much will it matter?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 5pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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