Would Clinton submit to a pat-down? 'Not if I could avoid it'

Count Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as another traveler who is not a fan of the new security procedures at airports.

CBS' Bob Schieffer asked Clinton Sunday if she would submit to a pat-down by a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent.

"Not if I could avoid it," she replied. "No. I mean who would?"

President Barack Obama defended the TSA body scans and pat-downs as necessary at a NATO press conference Saturday. Obama sympathized with the passengers who complain about the security procedures but said balancing privacy and security is a "tough situation."

"One of the most frustrating aspects of this fight against terrorism is that it has created a whole security apparatus around us that causes a huge inconvenience for all of us," Obama said.

As president, Obama is not personally subjected to security checks.

Clinton agreed with Obama that the TSA should work to make checks less invasive.

"I think everyone, including our security experts, are looking for ways to diminish the impact on the traveling public," Clinton told NBC's David Gregory.

"I mean obviously the vast, vast majority of people getting on these planes are law abiding citizens who are just trying to get from one place to another. But let's not kid ourselves. The terrorists are adaptable," she continued.

"Striking the right balance is what this is about. And I am absolutely confident that our security experts are gonna keep trying to get it better and less intrusive and more precise," Clinton said.

"Everybody is trying to do the right thing and I understand how difficult it is, and how offensive it must be for the people who are going through it."

This video is from CBS' Face the Nation, broadcast Nov. 21, 2010.

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