A pool report noted that as a dozen reporters and photographers following Obama stood on the sidewalk in front of Farrakhans home, someones foot touched the city-owned curbside grass.
Immediately, a polite man in jeans and T-Shirt emerged to ask the press to stay off the grass, the report stated. Soon he was pacing and talking on a cell phone. He went inside the mansions black wrought iron fence, crossed the well-landscaped yard, lifted a water bucket behind rose bushes and retrieved a walkie-talkie. He was heard to refer to the CIA.
[The Secret Service is a separate agency from the CIA]
Soon he approached the secret service agent minding the press and asked him to move the van and its occupants.
How is this a security breach? the agent asked. He asked if the house was government property. Neighbors all over Hyde Park and Kenwood have learned to deal with streets being blocked off and having to show ID to approach their own homes since Obama ascended to the presidency.
The man said something else and at that point the agent stuck out his hand to shake hands and introduced himself as a Secret Service agent. He added, Sir, I can assure you that we will do nothing to interfere with whatever is going on in there.
The man paced and talked on his cell phone, walkie-talkie in hand. Three more men in T-Shirts reading Wide or Die! joined the man from the Nation of Islam. A reporter asked one of the men if this was Farrakhans house. The man just stared back. Asked again, he said, I don't have no comment.
Eventually a dozen Fruit of Islam agents arrived. As each casually dressed man arrived, he exchanged elaborate handshake/hug/double air-kisses with others. Two walked by a reporter, chanting Islam.
Farrakhan followers, press have minor 'stand-off' in Obama's neighborhood :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Politics
Immediately, a polite man in jeans and T-Shirt emerged to ask the press to stay off the grass, the report stated. Soon he was pacing and talking on a cell phone. He went inside the mansions black wrought iron fence, crossed the well-landscaped yard, lifted a water bucket behind rose bushes and retrieved a walkie-talkie. He was heard to refer to the CIA.
[The Secret Service is a separate agency from the CIA]
Soon he approached the secret service agent minding the press and asked him to move the van and its occupants.
How is this a security breach? the agent asked. He asked if the house was government property. Neighbors all over Hyde Park and Kenwood have learned to deal with streets being blocked off and having to show ID to approach their own homes since Obama ascended to the presidency.
The man said something else and at that point the agent stuck out his hand to shake hands and introduced himself as a Secret Service agent. He added, Sir, I can assure you that we will do nothing to interfere with whatever is going on in there.
The man paced and talked on his cell phone, walkie-talkie in hand. Three more men in T-Shirts reading Wide or Die! joined the man from the Nation of Islam. A reporter asked one of the men if this was Farrakhans house. The man just stared back. Asked again, he said, I don't have no comment.
Eventually a dozen Fruit of Islam agents arrived. As each casually dressed man arrived, he exchanged elaborate handshake/hug/double air-kisses with others. Two walked by a reporter, chanting Islam.
Farrakhan followers, press have minor 'stand-off' in Obama's neighborhood :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Politics