Sources have told us this evening that within minutes of announcing his National Security Team President-elect Barack Obama's transition squad began a scheduled vetting of food tasters who will be employed in the administration.
"This has been in the cards for quite some time," indicated the source, an Obama insider. "Once they won the primary, and began thinking about the "Team of Rivals" thing, this was put in motion."
It is not known who these potential "Food Tasters" are, how they will work, and if they will actually taste the food for the president or merely test it.
The Obama Team has no concerns as to the integrity of the White House chef or any member of the staff.
However, guidelines are continuing to be worked out.
During Cabinet meetings, which the President will attend, Cabinet members and any staff will have their own separate table of food and beverages, while the president will have his own, guarded by Secret Service agents.
The president will drink from a covered, travel-type mug, and any food brought into the meetings must be sealed and have a Secret Service escort.
For other meetings (outside of the White House) and formal events at which Cabinet members are in attendance, a similar protocol will be implemented.
Should a Cabinet member visit the president in the Oval Office, that Cabinet member may have a full search conducted, before entering, and he or she will be instructed to sit, at minimum, ten feet away from any food items the president may have in his office.
A recommendation that our source indicates the president-elect is balking at is that he must wear surgical latex gloves when shaking hands with any Cabinet member.
More as this story develops ...
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Bonus Links
CNN: Obama rolls out national security team
Robert Stein: Clintons Front and Center Again
Mary Ann Akers: It Hurts To Be John Kerry Today
Katharine Q. Seelye: Live Blog: Presenting the National Security Team
Frank James: Obama rebukes Bush years with Clinton
Kevin Drum: Press Conference Follies
(Cross-posted at The Garlic.)
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