Mayor Daley Defends Desiree Rogers: "Stop Blaming Her For Whitehouse Incident"

Daley Defends Ex-White House Social Secretary


Mayor Daley on Saturday stood up for resigning White House social secretary Desiree Rogers, who is stepping down next month.

Daley called Rogers a “great friend of mine,” who did a “tremendous job” in a position she didn’t have to take.

And he asserted she bore no blame for the Nov. 24 White House security breach that had many calling for her resignation since.

“There’s only one group responsible for the security for the White House and the Presidency... the Secret Service,” Daley said, speaking at the opening of a new health center on the West Side.

“Let’s stop blaming her for anybody walking in there because no one can stop anyone with the exception of the Secret Service.”

Rogers, a friend of President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, became a focus of controversy after the Obamas’ first state dinner was crashed by a publicity-seeking couple, Tareq and Michaele Salahi. Though the Secret Service claimed blame in the incident, Rogers was criticized for not posting staffers at the East Wing entry.

On another topic, Daley said he supports the state legislature’s efforts to limit free public transit rides to low-income seniors, as opposed to all seniors. Though it overwhelmingly passed the state house, Gov. Pat Quinn said he doesn’t think it will pass the senate, and Quinn hasn’t said whether he would sign it if it did.

The program started in 2008 by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is “nice,” but expensive, said Daley.

“It’s nice to do but how do people pay for it?” Daley asked. “In the long run, you just can’t do things like that. It’s really irresponsible.”

The RTA has said limiting free rides to low-income seniors, while having other seniors pay half fare, would bring an additional $37 million a year to CTA, Metra and Pace.

Daley and other officials were celebrating opening of the new Austin Family Health Center, a $5.4 million facility providing primary health care and dental services.

Developed by Oak Park-based PCC Community Wellness Center, land for the clinic was provided by the city for $1, and the building was partially funded by a federal capital grant. PCC has nine centers citywide offering services to anyone in a community regardless of ability to pay.


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Sources: Chicago Suntimes, Google Maps