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Article by Patrick Howley at the Daily Caller
Customs Agents To James O’Keefe: You’re Being Detained For Investigating The Federal Government
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents who detained conservative filmmaker James O’Keefe at the airport specifically asked him about the work he’s done investigating the “federal government.”
O’Keefe was detained by U.S. customs agents Monday after arriving at the airport in Nassau, Bahamas en route to Miami. Agents told O’Keefe that he was being detained for crossing back and forth across the U.S.-Mexico border while dressed as Osama bin Laden in a video that was published by The Daily Caller. Agents marked his passport with an “X” and explained that he would be detained every time he enters U.S. territory henceforth.
O’Keefe was not allowed to videotape the encounter as he wished. The below transcript, provided to TheDC, was written by O’Keefe as closely as possible to the actual conversation that he had with the customs agents during the standoff at the airport. Here is the dialogue that went down:
James: Well, each and every time I go back into the country you guys do this, and its because I’m a journalist and you don’t like my journalism, so let’s just get this over with, here’s my ticket with the X, just tell what room you want me in.
Customs: (Looking at computer for 15 seconds). It’s not because you’re a journalist. (Turns towards me). What type of journalism do you do?
James: I do like 60 minutes, hidden camera work, investigative, sort of like the guy who catches the predators on NBC Dateline you know?
1Customs: But what specific type of journalism have you done investigating the federal government?
James: Well, first ACORN was shut down because I posed as a pimp.
Customs: Not the prostitution, the other one involving the federal government.
James: You mean the Obamacare navigators, where many were fired counseling to commit fraud?
Customs: No not that one, what did you do involving the federal govenrnment at the borders?
James: Well clearly you know which video that was. Why don’t you tell me?
Customs: No, I need you to tell me.
James: That was the one where I legally waded into the Rio Grande dressed like Osama bin Laden and embarrassed the federal government. DHS secretary was grilled under oath. Are you telling me this is retaliation for that?
Customs: I’m telling you that each time you go through here you will need to give an extra hour because we will do this each time. You have a prior criminal record and broke the law crossing into the United States unlawfully.
James: It wasn’t unlawful, I did nothing but wade back and forth. Millions of Mexicans cross and you don’t detain them for unlawful entry
Customs: You broke the law!
James: I broke the law? I’m a journalist who is trying to expose something important. Deep down in your heart when you set the burocreacy aside you have admit it needed to be exposed.
Customs: Come with me.
DLH comments:
It never starts with a mass roundup of political dissidents. When an oppressive, dictatorship takes control of a country, it will first go after mildly unpopular figures. James O’Keefe is one. He has enraged Barack Obama, he embarrassed the federal government, he has done some damage to highly favored liberal causes and organizations.
In addition to the radicals and hardcore liberals, O’Keefe is not admired by a significant number of Americans who have been misled by administration operatives and mainstream media into believing somehow his methods are somewhat “unfair”.
Some obviously low intelligence functionary of a liberal organization or a low level government bureaucrat is unwittingly exposed carrying out his/her “duties ” in a clearly illegal or unethical manner. The “outed” individual is the portrayed as “violating” the rules of the exposed agency, either out of ignorance or willful failure to properly carry out their responsibilities.
In those cases, the individual is usually sanctioned publicly (but often privately unpunished or even rewarded) O’Keefe winds up as the villain for causing the organization or agency to be blamed for the transgressions of just one misguided individual.
So O’Keefe represents a threat to any oppressive or lawless regime. Because he may not have a large or powerful following, he becomes a prime target, both to begin the inevitable crackdown and to serve as an example to others who may emerge as critics of the “new order”.
In Obama’s America, this action by Customs, will be repeated in the future. The targets will be increasing in number and will eventually extend to dissidents of all kinds. It will eventually move on to more ominous actions.
Wait and see America! DLH
