Pat-down controversy takes flight

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The pat-down controversy is taking flight.

"What you are seeing now with the pat-downs and implementation of this new technology is just symptomatic, a slight, tip of the iceberg of the problems of T.S.A.," said Representative John Mica.

A vocal critic of the techniques, Florida Representative John Mica said Sunday he does not support Wednesday's planned "opt-out" but stressed T.S.A. needs to rethink its approach.

"I think the public needs to work with us and we will get it right, I won't support that but we need to get it right and we will," said Mica.
Sunday, on NBC's Meet the Press, Rep.-elect Allen West joined a panel of journalists, weighing in on the issue.

"I think that we need to focus our national security procedures and not come up with these seemingly knee jerk reactions, that we are seeing with this pat-down procedures," said Representative Elect Allen West.

Backlash against the Transportation Security Administration is building, leading up to this week's Thanksgiving Holiday, when thousands of Americans will have to choose: Stepping inside a full-body scanner or undergoing an invasive pat-down.

"It comes back to marketing, we should have put out some type of feelers to the American people before we go and implement this type of plan," said West.

West suggested other ways of keeping travelers safe.

"Having been a commander in the field, what you look for are trends, and you focus your resources on those trends, you know profiling has become this negative phrase," said West.

Mica recently wrote a letter to the nation's busiest airports, urging them to replace the T.S.A. with private security.