The Bangor Daily News reports that Ms. Oden probably was not allowed on the plane because she was uncooperative during the search done on her.
“She was uncooperative during the screening process,” said American Eagle spokesman Kurt Iverson, who added that Oden reportedly would not stand still when security staff tried to wave a metal-detecting wand over her. “Obviously if they can’t submit to screening, [Federal Aviation Administration] regulations require that they not be allowed to board the plane.”
Based on her rendition of the episode, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if she was uncooperative.
[…] While an FBI spokeswoman would neither confirm nor deny the presence of any name on the terrorist watch list — another trigger for added security response — one law enforcement source said it was “extremely unlikely” Oden was on the list of potential terrorists because her name is unknown to the FBI.
Which may be the unkindest cut of all.
After the incident, Oden was told she could not take her scheduled flight to Chicago, and that she could not travel on any other airline at the airport that day.
“If I had done something wrong, they should have arrested me instead of denying me my right to travel,” an upset Oden said Friday. “We’re losing more of our rights and people don’t realize it.”
Sorry, but while there is a generally recognized right to travel freely, there is no specific right to be allowed on an airplane, especially if you don’t cooperate with a screening search.
When I traveled on business between London (Gatwick) and Dublin, I was patted down, asked to open my denim jacket, and frisked. I did not assume it was because I was American, or because I was of Irish descent, or because I was a Capricorn. I didn’t even assume that I was being singled out for any particularly offensive reason — I’m not that important.
I’m not sure why Oden came to a contrary conclusion.
On the other hand, the Green Party is certainly echoing her claim of political persecution.
(Via InstaPundit)
(Matt Welch weighs in on this story, too.)