. >> thomas sawyer, a bladder cancer survivor, says that he was humiliated after a pat down search broke his urination back. >> i was so embarrassed and petrified of going out into the airport. people could see me, smell me, i am standing in front of people in my underwear. >> a long time flight attendant and breast cancer survivors said the tsa made her take off her prospect -- prosthetic breast. >> i told her about my breast cancer, and she said that i had to show her. >> this and video of a father taking off the shirt of his son is becoming popular on the internet. >> the tsa is promising to make screening as "minimally invasive as possible" after a weekend of pressure. >> you have to constantly refined and measure whether what we are doing is the only way to assure the american people safety. >> managing metro crowd over the holidays can be a task, so today the transit system is taking steps to make thanksgiving travel a bit easier for you. they will have metro buses on standby at bwi and dulles airport this weekend. they will also run on their weekend schedule. metro will also put a

joining me now are thomas sawyer, a retired teacher and bladder cancer survivor who has become the face of the anti-patdown movement after he was humiliated during a tsa screening a couple of weeks ago. also rob mcneill, a transportation security officer and local president of government employees covering airports in rhode island and connecticut. gentlemen, thank you both for joining me. thomas, let's begin with you. you experienced a patdown at the hands of a tsa officer while traveling through detroit earlier this month. walk us through, if you don't mind, exactly what happened that day. >> i'll give you the short version. i was traveling from detroit, michigan, to orlando florida. i hadn't flown in a year. detroit has the new x-ray machine. that's what i went through. evidently at that time they saw my urastomy bag. i had cancer and had removed. i have a bag similar to this down by my belt line. i was immediately informed by tsa that i would be patted down. and i asked for a private room, please. we went to a private room. and when we got in the private room, the first thing they as

thomas sawyer got both. >> i was just mortified. >> reporter: he says his pat down earlier this month was so aggressive it spilled his urine bag, a result of cancer surgery. he had to travel in urine soaked shirt and pants. >> i was so embarrassed at going into the airport and thinking people would see me and "smell" me. >> reporter: the tsa plans to keep the measures in place. there could be some changes. in a statement sunday, the head of the tsa said the agency would work to make screening methods as least invasive as possible. earlier he maintained a policy was here to stay. >> we're not changing the policies. >> reporter: some travelers say the inconvenience is a small price for safety. >> i would rather give up a little privacy than worry about something going wrong on a plane. >> reporter: airports could see problems on wednesday. a loosely organized protest called national opt out day is urging passengers to boycott scanners and opt for pat downs. that could mean even bigger delays on the busiest travel day of the year. a body scan can take as little as ten seconds but a pat d

sawyer get both. he says his pat down at detroit's airport earlier this month was so aggressive it spilled his urine bag, which he got after cancer surgery. he had to travel in a are you awarein soaked shirt and pants. the s.s.a. says it's looking into it. the t.s.a. is working overtime to reassure passengers, promising that images aren't sure and the scans have safe levels of radiation. a cbs news poll finds 81% of americans are okay with that. >> i'd rather have a body scan than being pat down. >> this weekend president obama seemed to indicate the furor over privacy would lead to changes down the road. >> what i've said to the t.s.a. is you have to constantly refine and measure whether what we're doing is the only way to assure the american people's safety. >> reporter: yet t.s.a.'s administrator appeared dug in, in this interview today. >> we're not going to change anything. >> no, not going to change. >> reporter: but within hours, t.s.a. issued statement clarifying the door is open to changes. i

thomas sawyer got both. >> i was just mortified. >> reporter: he says his pat down earlier this month was so aggressive it spilled his urine back, a result of cancer surgery. he had travel in urine soaked pants and shirt. >> i thought people would see me and "smell" me. >> reporter: the tsa plans to keep the measures in place. the agency would work to make screening methods as least invasive as possible. earlier he maintained a policy was here to stay. >> we're not changing the policies. >> reporter: some travelers say the inconvenience is a small price for safety. >> i would rather give up a little privacy than worry about something going wrong on a plane. >> reporter: airports could see problems on wednesday. a loosely organized protest called national opt out day is urging passengers to boycott scanners and opt for pat downs. that could mean even bigger delays on the busiest travel day of the year. a body scan can take as little as ten seconds but a pat down can take up to four minutes so if people choose to participate on wednesday you can see why it could cause delays. airlines a

and then there's the story of thomas sawyer, a bladder cancer survivor who says a patdown broke his bag, leaving the 61-year-old covered in his new urine. >> i was so embarrassed and so petrified, going out into the airport, thinking people would see me and, quote/unquote, smell me. >> reporter: the tsa today said they have spoken with mr. sawyer and are working to deal with special situations better. tsa agents receive just eight hours of training on how to perform those new patdowns. but the tsa say of the more than 30 million passengers who have flown since the new procedures kicked in, only 700 have filed complaints with them. still, real concerns remain, especially about the safety of those scanners. the tsa maintains they are safe and only emit a minuscule amount of radiation. still, some in the scientific community aren't convinced. >> there's a fair amount of evidence out there right now that the doses are still low but they're rather high than the tsa is saying. >> reporter: he says 10 to 15 times higher. they say independent scientists and experts have not been allowed to test

thomas sawyer got an apology. does fee hell comfortable? we'll ask him when he joins us live next. >>> the early bird gets the worm. these guys settle for a flat screen tv. their story still to come. >> already camping out for black friday, wow. >>> oprah's final favorite things giveaway. paramedics reportedly on stand by. wait until you see the looks on the faces of very special audience, hand picked for their good deeds, as well. 14 minutes past the hour. nah. we have something else. but if you're hurt and miss work does it pay cash like aflac does? nah. or let you spend it in any way you want like for gas and groceries? nah. or help with everyday bills like aflac does? nah nah nah. [ male announcer ] there's aflac and there's everything else. visit aflac.com for an agent or quote. aflac! >>> 16 minutes now after the hour. yesterday we told you a terrible story about a man who was brought to tears during one of those so-called enhanced security pat downs at detroit's metro airport. the screener didn't know, didn't really care that he was

and then there's the story of thomas sawyer, a bladder cancer survivor who says a pat-down broke his ureaostomy bag, leaving the 61-year-old covered in his own urine. >> i was so embarrassed and so petrified, going out into the airport, thinking people would see me and, quote/unquote, smell me. >> reporter: the tsa today said they have spoken with mr. sawyer and are working to deal with special situations better. tsa agents receive just eight hours of training on how to perform those new pat-downs. but the tsa says, of the more than 30 million passengers who have flown since the new procedures kicked in, only 700 have filed complaints with them. still, real concerns remain, especially about the safety of those scanners. the tsa maintains they are safe and only emit a minuscule amount of radiation. still, some in the scientific community aren't convinced. >> there's a fair amount of evidence out there right now that the doses are still low but they're rather high than the tsa is saying. >> reporter: he says 10 to 15 times higher. they say independent scientists and experts have not be

. >> and bladder cancer survivor thomas sawyer says his patdown at detroit's airport was so aggressive it spilled his urine bag, he had to travel in urine soaked clothing. >> i was just mortified, my underwear dropped on the floor and i had to ask her to pull it up. >> reporter: the t.s.a. is investigating all complaints, still the all body parts patdown used for passengers who set off alarms or refuse to go through body scanners, continues to raise questions about the line between safety and privacy. even secretary of state hillary clinton said sunday she would avoid the probing hands of the t.s.a.. >> would you submit to one of these patdowns? >> not if i could avoid it, no. i mean, who would? >> reporter: but homeland security secretary napolitano today said safety comes first and there are no immediate plans to modify the patdown. >> we hope people will appreciate and understand the goal, the purpose and the need for what is being done. >> reporter: some passenger groups are calling for a protest wednesday, telling fliers to opt out of body scans, forcing extra patdowns, and slowin

thomas sawyer is a bladder cancer survivor. he warned the screener to be very careful. >> i said at that point you need to go slower and softer or you are going to pull my bag off and he said what's that? i said it doesn't matter, go softer and low and behold he got down to the bag and pulled the seal half off it. and once that happened, it was kind of like pulling the seal half of a bottle of orange juice and tipping it upside down. the urine started coming out of the bag and on my shirt and down my pants. i am used to it now but it is not something i like to show the world. one of the biggest fears for all ostomy patients is that we will have a leak in public, let alone an airport. >> tsa officials say they are trying to balance security and privacy concerns and make the process minimally invasive. we have a reality check on what you can expect. >> kyle whitney could hop on a plane and be home for the holidays in just one hour but this season he is opting for what he considers the hassel free option. a seven-hour train raid.

thomas sawyer, a bladder cancer survivor and claims he was ignored when he tried to explain his medical condition. as a result, his uriie spilled all over himm >> he did not apologize, offer help. i don't think he was rained for -- he didn't know what he was. these people have to be trained on medical conditions. and emotional conditions of some patients. >> sawyer plans to file a complaint with the tsa. >> u.s. senator cauues a backlash for suggesting some cable news outlets should be shut down. the tarrets of senator rockefeller's criticism wasted no time in offering criticism of their own. >> there is a bug inside of me that waats to get the fcc to say to fox and to msnbc. out. off, end, goodbye. >> you cannot make comments like that and expect the media to take it lying down. on fox news. >> the first amendment, under siege. >> and even the normally safe confinessof msnbc. >> unnortunate that we have to throw a lefty in the psycho talk tonight. but senator rockefeller this is your day. >> i hunger for quality news. >> senator jjy rockefeller of west virginia scolding the media for t

but passenger thomas sawyer says there was nothing funny about his pat down at detroit's metro airport. he said it was so aggressive it spilled his urine bag, a result of cancer surgery. he had to travel in a urine soaked shirt and pants. >> i was just mortified. my underwear had been dropped to the floor. i'm standing in front of them with underwear had to ask for them to pull it up. >> reporter: president obama said he asked tsa officials to examine new security measures. >> what i said to tsa is you have to constantly refine and measure whether what we're doing is the only way to ensure the american people's safety. >> reporter: many americans support full body scanners to protect them from terrorist. >> i rather have a body scan than a pat down. >> reporter: many are demanding the tsa change its ways and provide a dignified way to fly safely. officials are feeling the heat from all levels from travelers. the question is if they'll change these security procedures or modify them any time soon. maggie? >> don teague in dallas. joining us from washington is tsa administrator john pist

across the country, the stories are rolling in, thomas sawyer, a bladder cancer survivor said he was humiliated after a patdown broke his colonoscopy bag. >> i was so embarrassed. my underwear had been dropped to the floor. >> reporter: kathy, a longtime flight attendant and breast cancer survivor said the tsa made her take out her prosthetic breast. >> she put her full hand on my breast and said "what is this?" i said it's a prosthesis because i've had breast cancer. she goes, you'll need to show me that. >> reporter: and carolyn said she's never experienced screening this intrusive. >> the woman who checked me reached her hands inside my underwear and felt her way around. it was basically worse than going to the gynecologist. it was demeaning and inappropriate. >> reporter: and now this video of this father taking off his young son's shirt for a patdown. >> and travelers willing to discuss risks. they're willing to discuss tradeoffs. that's a discussion we need to have. >> reporter: this morning, the tsa is promising to make the patdowns minimally invasive as possible. >> what i've

thomas sawyer, a bladder cancer survivor, said he was humiliated after a patdown broke his urostomy bag leaving the 61-year-old covered in urine. >> i was so embarrassed. my underwear had been dropped to the floor. i'm standing in front of them in my underwear and had to ask to pull it up. >> reporter: kathy, a longtime flight attendant and breast cancer survivor, said the tsa made her take out her prosthetic breast. >> she put her full hand on my breast and said, "what is this?" i said, "it's a prosthesis because i've had breast cancer." she goes, "you'll need to show me that." >> reporter: and carolyn, an abc employee said she's never experienced screening this intrusive. >> the woman who checked me reached her hands inside my underwear and felt her way around. it was basically worse than going to the gynecologist. it was demeaning and inappropriate. >> reporter: and now this video of this father taking off his young son's shirt for a patdown. has become a youtube sensation. >> for the first time if the post 9/11 environment, valvers are saying they're willing to discuss risks. they'r

thomas sawyer is a bladder cancer survivor and wears equipment to recover. we thank mr. sawyer for joining us. thanks for your time. i wanted to ask you because i think this story more than a lot of others captures the controversy surrounding these enhanced pat-downs. i'm wondering if you could walk us through what happened. >> sure. i was at the detroit airport going to orlando, florida, and i went through the new x-ray machine and it must have picked up on my bag. i'm a bladder cancer survivor, had to have a procedure called a radical cystectomy. had to have my bladder removed. it's a bag with a symptoma on the side of my symptom ac. it must have picked up on the bag. an agent said we'll need to do a pat-down. i did ask to go private. and they kind of -- he kind of said we don't really have any place. i said again i want to go private. he took me privately. when we got in this office, he started to talk about the pat-down. i said excuse me but i need to tell you about my medical condition. he said you don't need to tell me. i said i need to. he said you don't have to t

. >> last night, a guy named thomas sawyer, a gentleman, bladder survive, had a bag. >> sounded like it was completely- >> patted down, they broke the bag -- he was drenched in -- it was an ugh gri situation. it is worth pointing out antidotal stories like this don't necessarily make a case. >> the head of the tsa called him. >> they called him and most of these people are very professional. less than 2% of travelers actually go through this process. for all the noise, it's important to keep it in perspective. >> go ahead. >> i think there is this odd psychological factor not only to what barnicle is saying, when you're traveling, at least you're like me, you're intrinsically harried. it's hard and you -- it's a pain in the neck. >> children -- >> trying to get somewhere. >> trying to get somewhere and the lines -- so your tolerance and your capacity to remember why we're doing it- >> yeah. >> diminishes in direct proportion- >> you know what? it's kind of in line with some complaints about this administration from the get-go. i completely agree with you the issue about being worried

thomas sawyer got pulled aside and despite warning about his medical condition, they forcefully searched him, breaking his bag. good morning to you, sir. >> good morning. >> gretchen: so tell me when this happened to you. >> my wife and i went to orlando, florida on november 7, it happened there at detroit metropolitan airport. >> gretchen: you are a survivor of bladder cancer. and that is why you had -- >> i had bladder cancer for 15 years, right. >> gretchen: that's why you had this bag. and so you went through the body scanner and then you believe that they saw the bag on you and that's when you we want for the pat-down in a private room. >> right. >> gretchen: what happened? >> we got into the room and i first said i have a medical condition i want to tell you about. and the tsa agent said, we don't need to hear that. and i said, no, really, you do need to hear it. he said no, we really don't. and i said, but i really need to tell you. and he had already told me the procedures for the pat-down, so he just started the pat-down. and i just felt, well, maybe it will go okay and i'm not

rachel thomas tells more about the story. >> tom sawyer said he was humiliated, earlier this month he was going to security at metropolitan airport. gsa officials to come to a private room to cut him down. >> as afraid if i said anything they would arrest me. when the mayfly, speaking was then the 61 year-old said he tried to fl officials he has a medical condition as a bladder cancer survivor. he's been using a eros me beg to go to the bathroom since his surgery three years ago. >> they ignored my times to tell him my medical condition. >> despite his warnings that gsa officials proceeded as if they did not hear him. i had around spot appear the size of a pancake. i had your in dribbling down into my underwear down my leg, the majority. speaker tom says he was mortified. >> it was so embarrassing, i wasn't prepared i don't think anyone is prepared have that. i did not have time to do what i needed to do. the plan is in ago. >> he was forced to wait till after takeoff. he has filed a formal complaint but has not heard back. >> we're unable to >> with them at the trade airport but he i

let's listen to an interview yesterday speaker nancy pelosi interviewed by diane sawyer talking about the midterm election results. >> [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] we are having a technical problem with that nancy pelosi entity. his what "the associated press" is reporting in colorado. michael bennet has declared victory, was declared the winner in u.s. senate race over tea party republican candidate ken buck. washington state and alaska needs more time of according to the ap counting all the write-in ballots that could give alaska senator lisa murkowski another term. that count will begin until november 10. in washington state, two-thirds of the vote have been counted. the remaining third consist of mail in ballots, will be tabulated over the next couple of weeks. also latest number that we saw this morning, a handful of house members, tent races, will have updates throughout the day here on c-span2, also on her website, c-span.org. again, waiting for the cq roll call forum to get started. should be underway shortly. as we wait we will