Last weekend, Barack was holding a "Brother's Keeper youth initiative ... to keep men of color out of trouble" at the White House when the ankle bracelet of one of the rappers in attendance went off.

Rick Ross, the "artist" in question, was recently arrested for the second time in a month, this time for kidnapping, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery after pistol-whipping a man working at one of his houses and refusing to let him leave the house.

How does a thug like Ross get invited to the White House?  Could there be danger in letting a felon close to the president?

When I took one of the public tours, nowhere near the president, I had to present government-issued photo ID – but don't make that a requirement to vote in this country.  I'm just guessing here, but getting into the White House as a guest of the president surely requires a bit more stringent background check than touring the public spaces, right?  Maybe not – if you're the right color, if you're from one of the caring public-service callings like rapping.

The White House website lists prohibited items, but apparently ankle bracelets are fine.  It's all good.  Hey, maybe Ross can use the incident for one of his hits.

Henry Percy is the nom de guerre of a writer in Arizona.  He may be reached at saler.50d[at]gmail.com.