Obama has more threats than other presidents-elect

[Pirate Smile]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Threats against a new president historically spike right after an election, but from Maine to Idaho law enforcement officials are seeing more against Barack Obama than ever before. The Secret Service would not comment or provide the number of cases they are investigating. But since the Nov. 4 election, law enforcement officials have seen more potentially threatening writings, Internet postings and other activity directed at Obama than has been seen with any past president-elect, said officials aware of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue of a president's security is so sensitive.

Earlier this week, the Secret Service looked into the case of a sign posted on a tree in Vay, Idaho, with Obama's name and the offer of a "free public hanging." In North Carolina, civil rights officials complained of threatening racist graffiti targeting Obama found in a tunnel near the North Carolina State University campus.

And in a Maine convenience store, an Associated Press reporter saw a sign inviting customers to join a betting pool on when Obama might fall victim to an assassin. The sign solicited $1 entries into "The Osama Obama Shotgun Pool," saying the money would go to the person picking the date closest to when Obama was attacked. "Let's hope we have a winner," said the sign, since taken down.

In the security world, anything "new" can trigger hostility, said Joseph Funk, a former Secret Service agent-turned security consultant who oversaw a private protection detail for Obama before the Secret Service began guarding the candidate in early 2007.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081114/ap_on_el_pr/obama_t... ;_ylt=AkLU6Qv5QjivfF6OQ05JDYKs0NUE

[truthisfreedom]

1. So what? It's a dangerous world. Obama knew it when he got into this thing. We knew it when we

elected him. He's going to be a target. He's also going to elicit more love and adoration and positive vibes for our country than any President in recent history, and he's going to be the most effective President we've seen in a long time.

Besides, with the whackjobs coming out of the woodwork, it's easier to incarcerate them.

[Faygo Kid]

3. What do you mean, "So what?" Some of us have long memories.

"So what" is NEVER an adequate response. Damn. Is that like, "Bring 'em on?"

Screw that.

[JuniperLea]

10. I always feel so badly for Caroline...

She and I are the same age... and when her daddy died, I was beside myself... my whole family was. She was such a doll.

And whenever I saw her and John for years and years after, I thought how lucky I am... and I want to hug my dad.

I'm growing weary of all the talk like this about Obama. I feel like it's inviting something. I guess I need to start hiding these threads.

[antimatter98]

7. Observation: hate radio aided the Rwanda massacres in 1994

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_T%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision...

And this from BBC News:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/374375.stm


I point this out to outline the seriousness of the hate radio
that we've observed here in the States
of hate radio programs, such as Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, Savage, and others,
not to mention the incitement we observed by Senator John McCain and Governor
Sarah Palin during the recent campaign.

There is no doubt that hate speech does affect how people behave, and we
need to deal with this now, and not let hate speech radio, or in other contexts
continue to grow without being addressed legally and morally.

imho.

[uppityperson]

12. Interesting to see someone else coming up with Hate Radio and Rwanda comparison also.

I agree with you and think those inciting violence on the radio should be prosecuted.

[AlinPA]

2. This is due to the hatred fueled by Fox "News" and McCain-Palin campaign.

[tinrobot]

6. They fueled hatred, but they also tapped into a lot of existing hatred.

[superconnected]

11. The RW has been encouraging that hatred for decades.

[jeanmarc]

24. yes, Faux News will have blood on its hands again

IF Obama is assasinated.

I don't see Barack being assassinated as I respect the secret service to handle such things. I want to believe they love their country even more than I do.

But what McCain/Palin did towards the end of the election is hideous, and they should be recanting the symbolism that stoked such hatred, rather than just putting bandaids on a weak and pathetic campaign.

[humbled_opinion]

31. Look I am a strong advocate for

Free Speech ...but Faux, Limbaugh and Hannity have crossed the line.... We need to ask our Leadership for strict hate crime laws..... Shut down hate filled websites like freerepubllic and sue the radio stations that allow bigotry and racism and threats to be common place...

This is the product of that hate...

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2008/11/14...

[Doctor Cynic]

4. Secret Service Threat Investigator sounds like one job that's hiring.

[zelta gaisma]

5. is ANYONE surprised by this!?

[byronius]

8. One third of this nation (at least) is insane.

This, I never forget. And it's hard to tell the difference -- I've met a lot of Bubba Joe surivalist-looking liberals, and a few long-haired guitar-picking neonazis.

So as soon as someone gives out a solid clue -- I generally just stay out of range after that.

They won't get him. They're not going to get him. And he's going to make a Big Difference.

2012 -- we're going to be a different America, if we survive.

[Historic NY]

I'm scared someone will try something just to be a hero in others eyes...

The Republicans & McCain/Palin bear the responsibility of whipping people into a frenzy. They made an already hard task even harder for the SS. Its bound to curtail some of O's actions and activities, common sense tells me that.

[bluestateguy]

9. This cannot be tolerated

These terrorists should be warehoused off to Gitmo or some secret foreign prison where torture is routine.

See how they like it.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

25. Joe the Plumber...meet Barack the President

Joe the Plumber. will never get that close to Barack again.

[villager]

13. Obama has more threats than other presidents-elect

Source: AP

Obama has more threats than other presidents-elect


By EILEEN SULLIVAN, Associated Press Writer

President-elect Obama talks on his cell phone after boarding his plane at AP – President-elect Obama talks on his cell phone after boarding his plane at Washington's Reagan National …

WASHINGTON – Threats against a new president historically spike right after an election, but from Maine to Idaho law enforcement officials are seeing more against Barack Obama than ever before. The Secret Service would not comment or provide the number of cases they are investigating. But since the Nov. 4 election, law enforcement officials have seen more potentially threatening writings, Internet postings and other activity directed at Obama than has been seen with any past president-elect, said officials aware of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue of a president's security is so sensitive.

Earlier this week, the Secret Service looked into the case of a sign posted on a tree in Vay, Idaho, with Obama's name and the offer of a "free public hanging." In North Carolina, civil rights officials complained of threatening racist graffiti targeting Obama found in a tunnel near the North Carolina State University campus.

And in a Maine convenience store, an Associated Press reporter saw a sign inviting customers to join a betting pool on when Obama might fall victim to an assassin. The sign solicited $1 entries into "The Osama Obama Shotgun Pool," saying the money would go to the person picking the date closest to when Obama was attacked. "Let's hope we have a winner," said the sign, since taken down.

<snip>



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081115/ap_on_el_pr/obama_t...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. You know, the AP is exactly like The Enquirer. But why go after the AP? ALL media is bullshit

If I ever see REAL media, I swear I will just pass out cold.

[villager]

15. the threats aren't real?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

16. I'm sure all presidents have threats but the AP is doing a nice job of selling this story

around the globe because it's sensationalistic given that he's black, and since all that the media care about nowadays is sensationalism, they're just happy as pie pumping this story every day.

[Libertas1776]

17. They are messin' w/ the wrong black man

Let these frickin' psychos keep making their hateful threats
like that hick from idaho or wherever.

Just wait and see. Make you b.s. threats but come January they better watch their backs because they will be making threats not against some ordinary black man but the commander in chief of the world's most powerful country, backed by the us federal government, and the world's most powerful armed forces.

Pres Obama, I will gladly look the other way if men in dark sunglasses and suits pulled up to these douche bags' properties and made them disappear Jimmy Hoffa style.

[Seldona]

19. Haven't we had enough disappearing in the last eight years?

I am 100% for holding these people accountable. Throw the book at them. But liquidating American citizens? No thanks.

[whistle]

18. Thanks to Lieberman, McCain and Palin...these Rat Bastards!

[iamincali83]

20. Thanks to all the right-wing wackos!

This doesn't surprise me at all, after watching all those disgusting inbred hicks at the McSame/Palin rallies! Many people in this country just can't accept the fact that a black man is president. I worry for Obama's safety.

[VPStoltz]

21. All this started to spike during Palin's rallies.

She knew what she was doing - and the "base" loves it. But what it showed was that the country has moved away (or really never was part of) the "base."
When that "kill him" "bomb him" crap started, I think the majority started to understand what we have been saying all along.
They're nuts! And that frozen numskull Palin actually thinks God is going to put her in higher office.

[Maine-ah]

22. I'd like to fucking know where in Maine this store is.

[verdalaven]

23. It is everywhere - but the SS really is on top of things

A friend I work with related this story - He has an acquaintance through his wife that was visited by the Secret Service for an interview last Thursday after he was heard shooting off his mouth in a restaurant. He said he was just "joking" - the SS was not amused.

[SlowDownFast]

27. I reported an online threat to the SS last week.

I posted about it on DU.

It was a direct/unambiguous assassination threat posted on another internet forum I frequent. I captured a screenshot as I was on the phone with the SS and the mods were deleting the poster's threat.

The SS asked me to fax a copy of the screenshot to them, which I did.

The poster, (as evidenced by his searchable profile/last visit) who made the threat and usually visits/posts on said forum several times a week, has not been back to that forum, yet.

[ohio2007]

26. He has more enemies world wide

An african american with a muslim middle name,in the words of a pakistani taliban leader; "He will turn on one of the two groups";
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/11/14/s...

[Cha]

28. Rec'd~ Fuckers responsible for

that sign in the Maine store should be prosecuted.

They will not take our President from us.

[humbled_opinion]

32. You hope they won't...

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2008/11/14...

[No Elephants]

29. If the subject of the President Elect's security is so senstive--and it is--why are these fuckers

leaking info? Does concealing their identity to protect themselves make leaking the info any less dangerous to the President Elect? And why are the media outlets publishing it? I cannot recall ever hearing so much about this subject in the past. The fact that he has been getting more threats than others (duh) should mean more secrecy, not less.

This makes me so mad.

[humbled_opinion]

30. Exactly..the hate swells in the Ignorant.... Take a look at this...

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2008/11/14...

[fascisthunter]

33. Shows How Mentally Unstable the RIght Wing Is

they can't handle reality and are the first to flip out, and do stupid extremist shit.

AM Right Wing Hate Radio and Fox News

Until the Republican Party does something to chill out their own political mob, I will blame them as well, for I don't see them publicly condemning this shit.

[Strathos]

34. If that idiot Bush can survive two terms

I don't think Obama has much to worry about.

However, (and I don't pray very often) I pray that he has more secret service and protection around him than any President in history.

Leave it to some asshole with a gun to take hope from us.