May 18, 2011 5:03pm

Secret Service Employee Accidentally Tweets About ‘Blathering’ While ‘Monitoring’ Fox News

An employee of the U.S. Secret Service accidentally sent out a tweet on the official Secret Service twitter account this week saying that he or she “had to monitor Fox for a story. Can’t. Deal. With. The. Blathering.”

The tweet was almost immediately taken down, but not before some quick-acting bloggers copied it.

“An employee with access to the Secret Service’s Twitter account, who mistakenly believed they were on their personal account, posted an unapproved and inappropriate tweet,” Special Agent in Charge Edwin M. Donovan said in a statement to ABC News. “The tweet did not reflect the views of the U.S. Secret Service and it was immediately removed. We apologize for this mistake, and the user no longer has access to our official account. “

The Secret Service began tweeting just last week. Donovan said that “policies and practices which would have prevented this were not followed and will be reinforced for all account users.  We will ensure existing policies are strictly adhered to in order to prevent this mistake from being repeated, and we are conducting appropriate internal follow-up.”

Asked why the employee was monitoring Fox News Channel, Donovan said, “Our public affairs employees monitor all the news channels throughout the day for stories that effect the Secret Service.”

Asked which story this employee was focused on, Donovan said “I don’t know.”

– Jake Tapper

 

User Comments

No one is surprised that Obama has the SS monitoring the speech of those on his Enemies List. The real surprise is that the SS guy was dumb enough to admit it.

Posted by: Rockinrobinhood | May 18, 2011, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm

Please tell me Donovan didn’t really say “stories that effect . . .” Please tell me that ABC transcribed that wrong.

Posted by: Tammy | May 18, 2011, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm

a public affairs guy was monitoring stories… well, looks like there’ll be a lot more stories to monitor now. hazards of the job, i guess

Posted by: edna | May 18, 2011, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm

FACT: Obama said he and his staff monitor comments on mainstream media sites
With that in mind let me say this:
Hi guys!! Now back to work on destroying the economy!

Posted by: Dianne93101 | May 18, 2011, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm

I don`t think the person intended to “Blurt out the truth” about instructions to monitor Fox news for items about the secret service? Stop and think of the times when any news org. mentions the SS.They were simply following the W/H instructions to monitor Fox news for anything negative.

Posted by: John Patterson | May 18, 2011, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm

The only surprise is that anyone of intelligence ever sees Fox News considering the nonexistent IQ of their usual viewers.

Posted by: JR | May 18, 2011, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm

By the way Dianne, the recession started the year before Obama took office, I know how you cons dislike the truth, but at least try once in a while to blame the right people.

Posted by: JR | May 18, 2011, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm

That the AFFECT the annointed one has on people. lol (Yeah I know)

Posted by: Maria | May 18, 2011, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm

Well I can’t blame him I watch Fox instead of listening to the blathering when You Know Who is making a speech too.

Posted by: Maria | May 18, 2011, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm

“The only surprise is that anyone of intelligence ever sees Fox News considering the nonexistent IQ of their usual viewers.”
Posted by: JR | May 18, 2011 5:38:39 PM
One does not “see” a television show, one watches, or views, them. What did is your IQ again?

Posted by: Rockinrobinhood | May 18, 2011, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm

Ahhh…Obama and his again, cozying up to terrorists and treating American citizens as the enemy. Their crime? Simply watching a news channel that doesn’t carry the annoited one’s water. Obama continues to remind of an out of control dictator stuck on himself.

Posted by: Football | May 18, 2011, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm

Why are we paying the Secret Service to watch Fox News?
Am I allowed to ask this question without being interrogated?

Posted by: Denbo | May 18, 2011, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm

“By the way Dianne, the recession started the year before Obama took office, I know how you cons dislike the truth, but at least try once in a while to blame the right people.”
But luckily all those shovel ready projects kept unemployment down.

Posted by: Christine | May 18, 2011, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm

They figured they would let Obama monitor the other stations since he is already on them all the time anyways, they will monitor Fox News.

Posted by: Dan | May 18, 2011, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm

Can someone tell my why the SECRET Service is tweeting in the first place? Wouldn’t that just make them The Service? The Public Service? Jeez.

Posted by: Spike | May 18, 2011, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm

I like how the two liberals that post after me resort to name calling, liberals are so predictable

Posted by: Dan | May 18, 2011, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm

The use of the word blather is a tell. He was watching Barry.

Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | May 18, 2011, 6:01 pm 6:01 pm

affect, not effect!

Posted by: DRyan | May 18, 2011, 6:01 pm 6:01 pm

It’s really psychotic to have the Secret Service monitor Fox News. This says more about obama’s psychological state than about the secret service guy.

Posted by: Football | May 18, 2011, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm

why must everyone “tweet”? It is a stupid thing because it dumbs down the debate even worse than sound bites due to the limited amount of characters. But aside from that, why is the SS tweeting? Or watching television when they should be working?

Posted by: Ed | May 18, 2011, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm

A person’s job requires them to watch Fox News, for an period of hours or more? Man, that’s got to be even lower on the list than sewer inspectors and those folks who sniff armpits for deodorant companies!

Posted by: sinclair | May 18, 2011, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm

-I love reading con comments that act like Obama is somehow the first Prez to monitor the media. Just because Dubya was an ignorant moron who purposely hid from any media outlets doesn’t mean that’s a wise policy.-
So stupidity continues with Barry. Hope and Change!

Posted by: Samey Same | May 18, 2011, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm

Wow. I really hope that when aliens finally tap into our internet, they dont randomly pick this comment stream to read first.

Posted by: Tom | May 18, 2011, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm

I believe this is unconstitutional. Making someone watch Fox counts as cruel and unusual punishment.

Posted by: Rocky | May 18, 2011, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm

Enemies List??! Obama was on FOX’ list before he was elected! What a bunch of tools!

Posted by: concreteblue | May 18, 2011, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm

ABC — here, where it is used as a verb, it should be spelled “affect” (i.e., “affect the Secret Service”).

Posted by: Ted Pavlic | May 18, 2011, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm

What do these morons not understand about the name Secret Service??

Posted by: Pablo | May 18, 2011, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm

I swear on my new campaign t shirt, that the way he worded it, he/she had to monitor Fox for a story. He couldn’t stand the blathering anymore. Had to have been listening to a speech.

Posted by: Maria | May 18, 2011, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm

So Obama Administration officials are badmouthing Fox News… what else is new?

Posted by: malclave | May 18, 2011, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm

> “An employee …who mistakenly believed they were on their personal account”
I thought there were rules against government employees conducting personal business on tax payer funded equipment? Why is no one pressing this as well?

Posted by: John | May 18, 2011, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm

I can’t believe that wingnuts would slander the Secret Service. They are an incredibly disciplined group, capable of having personal opinions AND doing their jobs impartially.
But, FOX News viewers will not tolerate any criticism of their little Alternate Reality for fear of losing the illusions that sustain them.
The rage over this kind of proves: If there is a threat to the President, it’s likely to come from one of these birther nutsjobs.

Posted by: Blip | May 18, 2011, 8:12 pm 8:12 pm

“It’s really psychotic to have the Secret Service monitor Fox News. ”
It’s not like Fox News hosts routinely talk of insurrection or anything.

Posted by: Blip | May 18, 2011, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm

I agree it would be stupid to monitor FOX – after all, they will never mention real terror threats, since the vast majority come from white, male, Christian, right wingers.

Posted by: Flash Override | May 18, 2011, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm

JR: “By the way Dianne, the recession started the year before Obama took office, I know how you cons dislike the truth, but at least try once in a while to blame the right people.”
You probably didn’t notice, between his campaigning and blaming Bush for everything, but Obama actually was in office when the recession started. In fact, he and his Democrat party had firm grasp of the government purse strings while in Congress begining January 2007. I guess you forgot about that. LOL!

Posted by: Anonymous | May 18, 2011, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm

blip, and exactly when has Fox talk of insurrection? geez, do you guys just make up anything?

Posted by: Football | May 18, 2011, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm

“You probably didn’t notice, between his campaigning and blaming Bush for everything, but Obama actually was in office when the recession started. In fact, he and his Democrat party had firm grasp of the government purse strings while in Congress begining January 2007. I guess you forgot about that.”
Yes! YEs! And Obama caused the Tsunami! He is also the reason why The Adventures of Pluto Nash failed at the Box Office! He is also the one who planted fake News Stories back in time to document his birth! LOL! LOL on all of you! Obama also faked the moon landing! He is also the reason that you sometimes make mistakes when you type on the internet. And he is the reason that you could stand to lose a few pounds, and the reason that you feel like you should lose a few pounds.
Yes! Yes! Obama is the cause of all your problems.
If you have any sense, Vote for Michelle Bachmann in 2012. She will make all these problems disappear. She will also give you a Corvette and bring gas down to 1$ a gallon.

Posted by: Blip | May 18, 2011, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm

Flash wrote: I agree it would be stupid to monitor FOX – after all, they will never mention real terror threats, since the vast majority come from white, male, Christian, right wingers.
Yeah Flash? And exactly when was the last terror attack by a white male christian right winger….(and before you embarrass yourself—McVeigh was only known to vote for one candidate–a libertarian.)

Posted by: Football | May 18, 2011, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm

Obamas obsession with any dissenters of him—is showing severe mental problems. SEVERE ones.

Posted by: Football | May 18, 2011, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm

The Tea Party is all about a new “revolution.” Glenn Beck even did an analysis on how a second civil war would play out, led by his viewers. And, let’s not forget that Fox News Analyst Sarah Palin accidentally goofed and put surveyor’s marks on Gabby Giffords, and told her followers to “reload!”
Of course, these things are easy to overlook, when you are distracted by hatred of Obama. They probably even seem like really normal to you. Like “civic duties” rather than appalling calls for domestic terror. Ted Nugent was on the other day…. he made a gun threat against the President.

Posted by: Blip | May 18, 2011, 8:47 pm 8:47 pm

My question is: Which bloggers are assigned by Fox News to monitor the Secret Service?
I mean, sure, you can talk all the trash you want about Obama…. but if someone accuses a Fox News host of blathering… you treat it like an act of treason.
Talk about a warped perspective.

Posted by: Blip | May 18, 2011, 8:49 pm 8:49 pm

My question is: Which bloggers are assigned by Fox News to monitor the Secret Service?
I mean, sure, you can talk all the trash you want about Obama…. but if someone accuses a Fox News host of blathering… you treat it like an act of treason.
Talk about a warped perspective.

Posted by: Blip | May 18, 2011, 8:49 pm 8:49 pm

That’s all copied and pasted from a list of documented right wing attacks in this country… and that’s just 2010.

Posted by: Blip | May 18, 2011, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm

Blip, I don’t know about Beck considering all I have read about his book that isn’t released yet is coming from kooks from the left, who never get anything right…but I know it complete nonsense about palin and gifford.

Posted by: Football | May 18, 2011, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm

So Blip I take it you little cut and paste thing is nothing more than pasting some more of the obama puppet master, George Soros, lies and propaganda?

Posted by: Football | May 18, 2011, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm

Football, I’m not sure which was latest, the Spokane MLK bomber or the Alaska trooper/judge shooters, but those are probably the most famous this year. You wouldn’t have heard about them of course, if you watch FOX./

Posted by: Flash Override | May 18, 2011, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm

Since 9.11 right-wing extremists have been involved in more than 63 domestic terror plots.

Posted by: Flash Override | May 18, 2011, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm

BLIP: “Yes! Yes! Obama is the cause of all your problems.”
Birthers, blah, blah moon landing, blah, blah, blah Michelle Bachmann, blah, blah gas prices, blah, blah, blah . . . Really witty comeback!
Like the rest of the left, you simply can’t reconcile blaming Bush for the economic crisis with the fact that Obama and Demcorats in Congress could have proposed a solution almost a full year before the recession started, but never lifted a finger. Even after 4 years of Democrat rule in Congress, including 2 years with the White House, they’ve done nothing but take advantage of the situation and have made things worse. The fact is, if one can blame Bush simply for being in office and not stopping the recession, the same can be said of your dear Democrats, including and especially Obama himself.

Posted by: Anonymous | May 18, 2011, 9:52 pm 9:52 pm

You think he was watching for the story of how the Secret Service questioned a 7th grader about his Facebook comment?

Posted by: Maria | May 18, 2011, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm

Rockinrobinhood wrote:”One does not “see” a television show, one watches, or views, them. What did is your IQ again?”
.
Remember… you’re dealing with LIBERALS here…. but then, they could be like Joe Biden and just dial the number for their web site.

Posted by: gk | May 18, 2011, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm

Fox news, Boston Herald, SF Chronicle all being on the Obama naughty list is really ironic.One day history will show that this administration was every bit as paranoid and crooked as Nixon ever thought of being. The only difference is that Nixon got no passes from the press.
Thank goodness for overseas and alternative news sources.

Posted by: david | May 18, 2011, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm

What a horrible job. Hope he gets hazard pay…I wouldn’t last five minutes watching their fake, contrived outrage and nothing-ness. And their made up stories and lies. Blathering is too kind….

Posted by: catsrboss | May 18, 2011, 11:01 pm 11:01 pm

Probably an office staffer of little import.The SS agents that I have known have been beyond reproach and would never use Twitter.And let me tell you that many have stories that could get them a 6 figure advance if they wanted to spill the beans-on ALL recent Presidents.Aside from Michelle’s mother’s wanderings there have been slim pickings from this White House.

Posted by: Nephron | May 19, 2011, 8:57 am 8:57 am

“George Soros, lies and propaganda?”
Yes, George Soros! YEsssss! He is the one! That crafty banker! He is the puppet master of the illuminati! He controls the Jesuits and the Pope! He controls your grammar and makes you do things. Have you ever wondered why you get headaches? Can you remember what you did while you were sleeping? Doesn’t that seem suspicious to you? It’s because you have an implant in your head.
But if you call Goldline and send them your money, you will be able to stop the Soros in his tracks!

Posted by: blip | May 19, 2011, 10:15 am 10:15 am

My question is not what they were saying about Fox, but WHY ARE THEY USING TWITTER WHILE ON THE JOB??!!??

Posted by: DJ | May 19, 2011, 10:38 am 10:38 am

Nothing like letting the lunatics know they’re under surveillance! And as everyone knows, Fox is the Lunatic Lair.

Posted by: kravitz | May 19, 2011, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm

“In fact, he and his Democrat party had firm grasp of the government purse strings while in Congress begining January 2007. I guess you forgot about that. LOL!”
Please to cite the legislation or activity passed by the Democratic Congress in January 2007 or later — and, of course, signed into law by then-President Bush — that brought on the recession.
LOL, indeed.

Posted by: DZ | May 19, 2011, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm

“affect”, not effect.

Posted by: kevin | May 19, 2011, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm

What in the Wide World of Sports is this?
Since when does the government “monitor” the newsmedia? Who, what, where? I wonder what the government agency that “monitors” ABC tweets about.
And since when does the Secret Service have an “official Twitter account?” Is this what I pay taxes for?
There’s a whole lot of “wait, what?” in this story.

Posted by: me | May 23, 2011, 1:18 am 1:18 am

“Monitor” being another word for “Watch”. The government watches the news for the same reason anybody else does: To follow current events.

Posted by: AFP | August 2, 2011, 7:25 pm 7:25 pm

Considering how twitter is free, the whole “is this what I paid taxes for” argument is invalid.

Posted by: Well Duh | August 23, 2011, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm

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