Rod Grams: “No, Mr. President, it is not. The only response that the Park Service is taking is something they believe is their…”

“No, Mr. President, it is not. The only response that the Park Service is taking is something they believe is their grandstand, and that is to say, what kind of park do you want? They are not opening their web page. They are not opening their comment period to any individual to voice their opinion, only to comment on the Park Service opinion. Now, I do not think that is very democratic. I do not think that is an open process. In other words, I think the decision has been made on their part and they are going to drive it no matter what it takes. They are not asking people whether it should be opened or reopened. They are just saying, well, we are going to do this and what color do you want it. I do not think that is fair either. All we are asking is to give this some open air. Let the people decide. Have some public input. In fact, that is the way the process should have worked. And the only reason people allowed the street to be closed to begin with without raising an uproar is because it was posed to them as a temporary closure of Pennsylvania Avenue in the wake of Oklahoma City, and then they were going to determine what would be the best course of action in the future. Well, there have been no talks. There has been no discussion, no public hearings or anything. So I am not trying to say that the Secret Service is not well intended, and they are taking this job of theirs very seriously.…”