Secret Service Halts Obama security in Dallas

[FourScore]

I find this terrifying...

Evidently, the Secret Service in Dallas gave an order to stop screening for weapons, an hour before Obama took the stage. This was supposedly in order to "expedite" moving the crowd.

Stop screening for weapons? In Dallas?

Several of the police officers present were very concerned, but did not feel that they could comment because the order came from a Federal agency.

The Dallas Deputy Police Chief said, " It seemed a friendly crowd.."

From another source:

"Apparently the Secret Service was overwhelmed by the size of the crowds. They had set up screenings, but by the time our group made it to the door they were already packing their equipment. I suspect the campaign encouraged them to withdraw to allow the huge volume of humanity into the hall before the speeches started. According to news reports several thousand people who arrived late were turned away as the arena was filled to capacity."

<http://dungeondiary.blogspot.com/2008/02/17000-attend-o...

The Secret Service did not return calls from Dallas newspapers.

Sorry this is so brief...I have not yet been able to find more, but will update if I do.

Now...is my concern misplaced? Or is this as worrisome as I think it is...?

http://www.star-telegram.com/dallas_news/story/486413.h...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/21/155031/473/350/...

[babylonsister]

1. For Gods sake; they screen for weapons at rock concerts. Is he not

as worthy as a musician? No, your concern isn't misplaced.

[Omega3]

43. I guess he's not a rockstar

[ThatBozGuy]

100. Secret Service protection was increased not decreased

I was watching the debate and became very concerned several times because I saw behavior from the secret service that showed they were on a much heightened footing in dealing with Mr Obama. I said to myself at the time I wonder what triggered this, and with my concerns raised, I hope he is going to be ok.

It was after the debate that I saw this headline and discussion and I realize now I have the opposite reaction and am very comfortable with his protection.

I will not justify why there was a takedown of security but I can speculate and I guarantee you from the observation of the final minutes of the debate coverage that the Secet service was not happy with the decision and likely not the orginator.

It was likely a people moving logistics decision, to get more people into the debate quickly that caused the screening takedown.

There are many debatable points why that could be a bad idea, but the least point is if someone was going to try to get a weapon in they know there are checkpoints, they are going to bypass that route anyways.

What ever the reason or regardless of who decided for them to go down, the secret service compensated quite heavily and it was clear that they were fully aware that Mr Obama was a higher target threat level then Ms. Clinton.

This is demonstrated very clearly in the CNN footage at the close of the debate and it was these last few minute that raised my initial concern.

After the debate while the candidates were at the footlights signing autographs and handshaking Ms. Clinton had an obvious Secret Service detail at wing point dispatch and an observer scanning the crowd. These agents were loose and about 6 to 10 feet off her flanks, at each shoulder point, and the observer at the stage footline was several people away.

Mr Obama's detail was much different, and maintained a very controlled tight bubble while maintaining his ability to interact.

This bubble was in plain site but a casual observer could miss the Secret Service behavior because they are effective at what they do.

Mr Obama had two agents at wingpoint maintaining distances of 2 to 3 feet (as opposed to the more casual 6 to 10 feet of Ms Clinton) from his back shoulders. There were two line observers at the floor. These agents were were forming a cone of contact(funneling people between them to Mr Obama) that at all times maintained less than arms length distance from Mr Obama and each other in that controlled enviroment.

There was a third observer on the stage with Mr Obama looking into the crowd at all points.

It was this agent that originally raised my hackles and concern because he was obviously functioning as a body manager. This agent was within the wingpoints agent's bubble of protection looking over Mr Obamas shoulder but almost always in physical contact with him. His hands were at all times on Mr Obamas back or hip at finger touch. The line observers on the floor were very tactile and capable of hand swiping anything in front of Mr Obama's field of contact by hand.

In addition there were two agents to the left or right on the stage that were nearly holding Mr Obamas hand in direction of movement( literally reaching out to him at almost every step he took one direction or the other) on the stage and maintaining a clear path of removal at all times.

I am also sure that in addition to these observable details there were other such bubbles of control and observation containing each layer of this close quarter detail.

The compliment to the Secret Service is they did this massive choreographed dance of protection under the eyes of all those cameras and unless you looked for the specifics it was very easy to miss. Watch the hands on contact of the Body Manager agent in direct contact with Mr Obama and it all becomes clear just how safe he was.

Rest assured Mr Obama is in good hands and while the headlines of security removal scream to the fear that many are afraid to admit or are ready to take arms and claim conspiracy over, take a few minutes to watch the footage from the end of the debates to watch what real active protection is about rather than the somewhat fake comfort, passive peace of mind protection that weapons screening gives us.

[colorado_ufo]

112. You sound like you know your stuff!

Welcome to DU!

[BlueSky221]

127. Dallas rally, not the Austin debate

The rally where the SS ordered Dallas police officers to stop the security check was the Reunion Arena rally with 18,000 in attendance. I was there, in line for 2+ hours, got admitted to the arena around 12:15 with NO security check - the doors were wide open. The debate, which I believe you are referencing, was in Austin with about 2000 in attendance. I agree with you that security was tight at the debate, I still am very concerned about the lack of screening at the Dallas rally.

[JanusAscending]

2. It is MORE THAN WORRISOME !!

Someone needs to contact Keith and the rest of the media outlets!! This is totally UNFORGIVEABLE !! It's BULLSHIT !! Does Hillary still have her Secret Service detail??

[lynnertic]

90. what worries me is the signal this story sends to all the nutters out there

"Obama's event's aren't being guarded well"

I sure do hope this doesn't happen again.

[bdamomma]

104. Maybe he should have his own bodyguards.

I don't trust the Secret Service.

[LSK]

117. he did when I met him during the 2006 campaign in IL

[End Of The Road]

3. Why does this shit always happen in MY state?

They aren't driving him around in a convertible with the top down, are they?

[JanusAscending]

6. They don't need to!!

All it takes is ONE person to get in there with a weapon or a bomb!! Don't they even care about the thousands of people in there listening to him speak??

[End Of The Road]

10. Sorry, I was referring to the total lack of security

in Dallas for JFK -- including his slo-mo parade in open convertibles --

IN OTHER WORDS -- I share your major concern!

[FourScore]

42. LOL. There is an apparent pattern here with Texas, isn't there?

Don't worry. We all know there are folks like you down that way trying to fix the mess the others are making.

[rainman99]

65. Texas was a democratic state till Rove came here.

[Taverner]

120. We had a Kennedy assasinated in my state too...

RIP Bobby...

Let's hope history DOES NOT repeat itself

[rainman99]

64. Same here. How embarrassing.

[seabeyond]

85. i am in texas too.... hey.... where are ALL the newbies coming from. tons....

not just this thread. really curious. but welcome all.

[AlinPA]

4. I have been concerned about the SS being under the control of Bush** Co. when

it is assigned to Obama and Clinton.

[Laurab]

40. I wouldn't worry so much about the SS being under their control

because I don't think they are, really. Oftentimes, they don't even LIKE the pResident they protect - I was friends with a SS agent years ago. That part doesn't worry me. He couldn't stand the president at the time - it's just their job to protect him.

What DOES worry me is if they honestly stopped checking people in Dallas. I'd like to know who gave that order, and why.

[lutefisk]

82. Hasn't the SS been purged of anyone not a Bush loyalist?

This has been a priority of the Bush Regime, so I wonder if the SS is not under complete Republican control? I have always had great respect for the men and women of the SS, but since 2001, who can you trust...???

[Laurab]

111. You might be right - since 2001 it may have changed.

At the time I'm talking about, we still lived in a relatively normal world. The SS was a separate agency, completely apolitical. It's very possible that that too has changed, in fact, with this administration - probable. The more I think about it, the more it scares me, since I put NOTHING past this administration.

[Silver Gaia]

113. I've got a flow chart for Homeland Security, and

they're on there, so yeah, it's different now. Damn near EVERYTHING is under Homeland Security now. Looks like it goes President > Homeland Security > Treasury > Enforcement Undersecretary > Secret Service. Doesn't make sense to me that it's under Treasury, and my chart is not a very crisp graphic, but that's what it looks like it says.

[Laurab]

118. I guess it's not surprising.

With bush being so disliked, they probably have to be very careful about who is protecting him, for that matter. It does make me nervous though - Obama should probably get his own security team in addition to the SS.

[panader0]

5. Your concern is very valid

Assassination has been a fear of mine for a long time. The leaders who dream of a better world are the most apt to be shot. People like Obama are a huge threat to those who have profited so much from the way things have been.

[bdamomma]

105. I have been thinking the same thing.

and even George Galloway (pack of lies) supports Obama for President, he even said he worries for his life. All I know is that they better protect Obama, I always get nervous when he is surrounded by people at those rallies.

[TwilightGardener]

7. "It seemed a friendly crowd"?? WTF! Idiots!!

[jimshoes]

28. You can't say that Dallas doesn't love you

now.... Mrs. John Connally comment to JFK just before 12:30 Nov. 22, 1963.
Have the SS lost their minds?

[tblue37]

29. Do they let Bush wander around "apparently friendly" crowds without SS protection and

without screening for weapons?

[TwilightGardener]

30. It boggles the mind, this reasoning. I've never heard anything so criminally stupid.

[grace0418]

49. I'm starting to get the feeling it isn't criminally stupid. Just criminal.

There is no rationale, no logic, no reasoning to explain this. And it seems so far beyond the bounds of just plain stupidity that I can't help but think the worst of it. Even the local police saw it as a problem.

[bdamomma]

107. just like how there were friendly crowds in Dallas in 1963?????

makes you wonder, whoever gave that order should be terminated.

[Fleshdancer]

8. WTF?

It's not like this is the first time large crowds have come out to see Obama. Why get overwhelmed now? This is creepy.

[wundermaus]

9. Why does this surprise?

If you are over 50, you've seen this play before. I hope I'm wrong this time... but history has a nasty habit of biting the novice and the naive in the ass... and it happens over and over... Abraham, John, Martin, & Bobby ... When will we ever learn? Don't you see a trend...? THEY KILL OUR LEADERS.

[John Q. Citizen]

21. Yep.

[bdamomma]

106. any person that is for the people they manage to eliminate.

sickening this should be totally investigated.

[mike_c]

11. yet they manage to screen T-SHIRTS when Bush speaks in public....

Lame.

[elehhhhna]

17. DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER!

[tblue37]

31. !!!

[gkhouston]

41. yeah, but not as many people show up to hear him speak.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

48. ,...and bumper stickers and lapel buttons. I'm with you: LAME!

I hope this isn't for real but don't doubt it. After all, the SS is under Bush rule.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

88. I think the right questions.....

.....will be asked if Bill or Michelle or told about this.

[DJ13]

12. " It seemed a friendly crowd.."

Sirhan Sirhan looked friendly too.

This makes me sick.

[Richard Steele]

13. Grrrecommended.

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. Like nothing ever happened in Dallas

Good grief.....

[keep_it_real]

15. This scars me to death

Un-freaking-real.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

16. All it takes is one unfriendly scumbag from Freeper Nation

I'm scared for the safety of both Democratic candidates.

[elehhhhna]

18. I can imagine the riots now.

[no_hypocrisy]

19. "Seemed like a friendly crowd" . . .

Reminiscent of the last words that President Kennedy heard from the wife of the Governor John Connolly before they were shot in Dallas in 1963.

As the motorcade drove through Dealey Plaza, Nellie Connolly turned to Kennedy and said, "Mr. President, you can't say that Dallas doesn't love you." He replied, "No, you certainly can't."


http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BUE/is_5_136/ai...

[grace0418]

53. Oh geez...

That just gave me a cold chill.

[blklthrjkt]

20. I was there.

As the author of the quote you show from my blog dungeondiary.blogspot.com, I can assure you I was as surprised as anyone seeing the Secret Service packing up and leaving. I was unable to speak with the staff and so my comment was conjecture. I am grateful that things went smoothly, even thout thousands of people were turned away because of capacity concerns, the group seemed happy overall.

My concern is that the Secret Service is being cavalier with security and that is troubling.

[Fleshdancer]

23. Welcome to DU

If you find out any new information, please keep us updated.

[FourScore]

45. Welcome to DU!

I fixed the link in the OP. The Star Telegram has an article about the security being called off. It's quite disconcerting.

http://www.star-telegram.com/dallas_news/story/486413.h...

Thanks for your blogpost!

[Enrique]

22. this has happened before

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XY02Qkuc_f8

[trashcanistanista]

24. This is an outrage. n/t

[natrat]

25. wtf...obama should wake up and get protection for himself

how naive could he be placing any trust with these people....kind of like ted kenedy getting in small airplanes...WAKE UP

[cbayer]

26. HOLD ON THERE!

Before we get all worked up about this, let's get some facts. Please.

I can't find anything other than individual observation about this. The star-telegram link says nothing (that I can find).

There is one quote in the OP that indicates that the campaign may have called off the Secret Service.

The whole conspiracy thing seems really premature.

Just saying.

[FourScore]

33. Here's the correct link.

Thanks for pointing it out. I fixed it in the OP as well.

http://www.star-telegram.com/dallas_news/story/486413.h...

[cbayer]

35. Thank you very much.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

There was a very interesting thread here last week about the risks to Obama (triggered by a Doris Lessing article). I think people are very, very concerned for his safety. But if he called the SS off, that will be an important piece of information.

[FourScore]

39. Wait a minute.The article does not say that HE called it off.

From the article, I quote:

"Several Dallas police officers said it worried them that the arena was packed with people who got in without even a cursory inspection.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because, they said, the order was made by federal officials who were in charge of security at the event."

[jberryhill]

50. Which is what the officers would observe if the Obama campaign called it off

I'd like to know more about it, but the article says that police officers said "the order was made by federal officials who were in charge of security at the event." If the Obama campaign had requested that the "federal officials who were in charge of security at the event" to let the rest of the people in, then, yes, the Dallas police officers would observe that the "federal officials who were in charge of security at the event" would be the ones to issue the order.

The assumption that the article negates the possibility of the campaign making the request is that the Dallas police officers would have known if the campaign had made such a request.

What does the Obama campaign have to say?

[cbayer]

52. I was referring to this line in your post:

"I suspect the campaign encouraged them to withdraw to allow the huge volume of humanity into the hall before the speeches started."

[FourScore]

55. Oh. Sorry. My bad.

[catgirl]

61. Glad you approve

"Just sayin". Is that a code phrase?

We don't put anything past the extreme RW. And frankly, I'm
starting to wonder how far Bill Clinton would go. He and Poppy
are great friends and have many connections.

[cbayer]

68. Are you talking to me? nt.

[catgirl]

122. I'm not sure anymore

I've lost track of this thread. Sorry, just ignore me.

[MonkeyFunk]

93. The notion that the Clintons wold have him killed

is stupid, reprehensible, and doesn't belong on a Democratic board.

It's one thing to like a candidate. It's another to be so blinded with hatred for his opponent that you buy into the right-wing smears against Clinton.

[catgirl]

128. Please don't put words in my mouth

Calling off the Secret Service is a curious thing. Does one have to be "blinded with hatred" to
question this? Chill out. Deep breath. You guys are getting really out of hand.

[Subdivisions]

114. I walked into the arena in Dallas for the Obama rally

absolutely unimpeded. In fact, everyone was going into several open doors and I saw one that was manned only by an arena staff lady and no one was going through it. I guess everyone figured she was blocking it. So, as I approached that door, I asked her if I could proceed and she waved me on in and I went right into the arena and down to the floor and walked to within 20 feet of the stage. Took less than 3 minutes from the outside to the stage. No one even looked at me except the lady who flagged me through.

[Indy Lurker]

27. Everybody knows...

the crazies show up early.

It's just the normal people who get there late.

[RamboLiberal]

32. I saw the same thing with Kerry events in PA

The first one I attended in Greensburg as Kerry/Edwards fresh off the convention the Secret Service did a great job with a large crowd.

Then I think it was around Sept or Oct I attended one at CMU in Pittsburgh. I'm not sure if they were screening for weapons early, but as it grew apparent they were never going to get all the crowd in in time to hear John Kerry speak they just let us in w/o screening. But by that time there was no way to even get close to the Kerry.

Then back in Greensburg the weekend before the election when Edwards appeared I was just behind the stage where Edwards was speaking. I was not screened. I could've easily had brought in a weapon. And it was scary cause just across the street were the screamie meamies Bushbots.

Secret Service needs to keep their act together and up the detail for the big Obama crowds especially since it is probable he will be the nominee. I don't want to see another RFK.

[bklyncowgirl]

91. I saw the same thing happen in Philadelphia right before the DNC Convention

The crowd was lined up for blocks outside the art museum as they went through the screening one at a time. Kerry was ready to go on. I saw a couple of Kerry aides arguing with the Secret Service and Philly PD guys. After a few minutes they stopped screening and just waved everyone in. I suppose that the Kerry people were more concerned about the ramifications of him being seen on television speaking to a half empty courtyard a day before the convention than the chance that someone was going to take a potshot at him.

I don't know if this was a Pennsylvannia thing. I'd never been to a post 9/11 presidential candidate rally before and haven't had the chance to go to one since.

I would think though, given the historic nature of his campaign that security on Barack Obama would be tighter. When a candidate is compared to the likes of John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln you tend to worry about his safety.

[JDPriestly]

34. This is serious.

Remember the pictures of John F. Kennedy's security detail being pulled back right before the assassination? Remember Bhutto's security failing? Obama needs top-notch security. Maybe he should hire a back-up detail of his own to fill in if the government Secret Service fails him.

[ecstatic]

73. I am SO LIVID with ObamaCo right now. It's almost as if he WANTS to

be assassinated so he can go down in history like his favorite heroes. Sorry if my comment comes across as offensive but what else am I supposed to think??!

[beezlebum]

116. not offensive

but unnecessary. that's absolutely preposterous and completely insane. beyond groan worthy.

[grace0418]

36. Wilco. Tango. Foxtrot.

I was trying to decide if I am going to watch the debate and now I don't think I will watch anything live from now on. I do not want to witness anything like that. Geez, what were they thinking?!

[NoBushSpokenHere]

37. It is worrisome - every time we get someone who would

not be a "selection" something happens........if you pray, please do so. I have been concerned about him every since I realized he is for real...

[malaise]

38. Wow!!

Frightening.

[shraby]

44. I wonder if he knows he's not being guarded

to the maximum?

[ngGale]

46. Sorry...

but I'm having flashbacks! Do you youth ever wonder why we older ones wear these?

[grace0418]

47. This is too bizarre to be a mistake or bad judgment.

There is something fishy going on, and I don't like it. At all.

[bdamomma]

109. could be alot of fishy things going on.

we need to speak out about this, all Presidential candidates should be adequately protected. I would have my own bodyguards, geez, these candidates have the money.

[moc]

51. I think it was just a case of being unprepared for the no. of people trying to attend.

My dh tried to go. He was in a line from about 11:30 until after 1pm. They basically shut down the entrance, and about 3000 people were left outside. Dh said they were clearly overwhelmed by the response and didn't seem to have planned accordingly. I'm not sure I'd read anything sinister ala 1963 into that.

By the way, I told dh he was a fool trying to go down so late. (He left our house in the burbs at 10:45 to drive down.)

[FourScore]

54. NO excuse. They toyed with the life of Obama as well as thousands of spectators. n/t

[moc]

58. I didn't say it was an excuse. I just think any analogies to the

security "stepping down" ala the Kennedy assassination is a bit tin foil hattish.

[WinkyDink]

56. " It seemed a friendly crowd.." Just what Benazir thought.

[sarcasmo]

57. Looks like I am not the only one who drew the up the Dallas connection.

[moc]

59. Incompetence can be found anywhere. I don't think it's any more interesting than that.

[uppityperson]

60. k&r

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

62. Ah jeez.

There goes my appetite.

[dbmk]

63. Would like hear their side

Is it entirely impossible that the campaign asked for laxer security in order to get people in?

If so, I would expect Secret Service to have consulted with Obama beforehand. Still got a chill reading it though.

[Hobarticus]

87. That's my first impulse, but still...

Secret Service will physically pick up and move their charges if they see a threat. I have a hard time believing they'd let Obama tell them to let people in unscreened.

Gotta be a good explanation for this; doubt it's a conspiracy.

BTW, welcome to DU!

[backscatter712]

66. I will never fucking forgive the SS if they let something happen.

Christ, I swear they act more and more like the Praetorian Guard in the latter, spectacularly clusterfucked days of the Roman Empire - when Rome was ruled by Emperor of the Week.

[AtomicKitten]

67. Here in SF with a crowd of 5-6K people, they ended up doing the the same thing.

It had more to do with the length of time it was taking to get through security. I can only imagine the mess with 20,000 crowds. However, it does scare the bejeezus out of me, particularly happening in Texas.

[leftofthedial]

69. I seem to remember another political figure

who was left underprotected in Dallas . . .

[BlueIris]

70. Holy shit.

Hey, Treasury Department? If anything happens to Barack Obama—well, think about it. It won't be good for your image.

[spanone]

71. we know who is commander in chief of the SS

[ecstatic]

72. I do find that very disturbing, as I just was wondering about his safety

earlier today. Now I hear this sh1t. What are his handlers thinking?!? All it takes is ONE nut. That's all it takes!

[bdamomma]

123. this is something that must be pushed into the forefront.

we need answers, I have already sent an e mail and a fax asking the Obama campaign about this.

[Canuckistanian]

74. There was no screening in LA's Ambassador Hotel in 1968, either

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy_assassin...

[WilyWondr]

75. You all realize

there will be no answers to anything about this don't you?

The Secret Service does not hold press conferences to discuss security at a past event or future events.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

76. They did that for Kerry here in '04.

About 3/4 of the crowd had gone through and the speech was about 10 minutes away. They let everyone through, but made them go to the upper level, and would not let anyone down to the lower level (where the fucking bathrooms were; I was about to beat the SS officer) until Kerry had left.

[rosetta627]

77. Your concern is most definitely not misplaced

The secret service stood down prior to President Kennedy's murder as well.

[natrat]

78. ultimately it's his own responsibility to watch out for himself and take care with who he trusts

if it were me i would be damn sure to have my own security if it were feasible

[midnight]

79. How outrages. What is their reason for stopping this screening

of weapons?

[puebloknot]

80. There was a *friendly* crowd in a ballroom in Los Angles in June of 1968, too. nt

[OneBlueSky]

81. this is absolutely terrifying . . . someone's ass needs to be hauled before Congress . . .

tomorrow to explain just what in the hell the Secret Service thought they were doing . . . and who made the decision and gave the order . . . Christ, this is fucking Dallas! . . .

[orleans]

83. are they CRAZY? why would they do such a stupid thing like that?

[lonestarnot]

84. Sons of bitches! Just like Kennedy's CIA bumper rider, waived off.

[Frank Cannon]

94. You mean his Secret Service bumper rider

I've seen that short piece of film, and it's extremely disturbing.

[lonestarnot]

132. Ooops yes. That is what I meant. Secret Service.

[Greyhound]

86. It indicates that his choice of veep is paramount.

Ms. Greyhound looked at me last night and said, "They're going to kill him".

Federal authorities.

Texas.

Dallas.

Not exactly subtle.

[rambler_american]

89. Calls to mind

the video of the SS detail being taken off the JFK car and the look of frustration the agents displayed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY02Qkuc_f8

[CJCRANE]

99. Stunning nt

[michaz]

92. There is no excuse what so ever for this!!! If anything happens this

country's people will see an uprising they have not seen before! I do believe that the people of this country will not stand by and watch this happen. At least I would hope not!

[TexasObserver]

95. Maybe it's time for Obama to hire security that ISN'T the Secret Service

How can you trust them when they work for Bush?

At a minimum, they failed miserably and inexplicably in the assassinations of JFK and RFK, and that's being charitable.

I've been worried a number of times when viewing what seems to be their lax attitudes about protecting Obama, and others have, too.

[Kablooie]

96. Sounds like Bush wants Obama ASSASSINATED!

Seems crazy but it sure sounds that way.

Republicans would have a better chance of winning against Clinton so eliminate Obama?

[spiritual_gunfighter]

98. I have been getting really nervous

when I see him in large crowds signing autographs. This does nothing to comfort those fears. Leaders that shake up the establishment don't have a very good track record of living very long. He definitely needs his own security detail.

[OzarkDem]

97. Need to hear from Obama's campaign

Could be they asked that this be done so all the seats would be filled in time for his speech.

[rosetta627]

101. K&R big time.

Big big time.

[flyarm]

102. this happened at every Kerry rally in Fla where i am.. in 2004..

wow many of you must be new to presidential RACES!

EOM

[bdamomma]

103. it troubles me too,

I fired off an e mail to the Obama Campaign website to look into this. Any presidential candidate no matter who it is needs security. I don't like the sound of this at all.

http://www.star-telegram.com/dallas_news/story/486413.h...

[npincus]

108. WTF is THAT all about?????

[bdamomma]

110. I find this very troubling.

who can we get in touch with send e-mails to.

The Deputy Police Chief should also be called to answer some questions, that answer he gave, "it seemed be a friendly crowd" his a$$ needs to be thrown out. Secret Service has that much pull. Give me a break. The Police just bowed down to Secret Service what kind of BS is this???

[kentj44]

115. i spoke with the ss

and they refused to comment. like those initials.

[bdamomma]

119. welcome to DU kentj44!!

I fired off two e-mails to the Obama Website and hopefully someone will answer, and I even tried calling the Obama campaign but all there was a message and no one to answer calls. This is very disturbing.: hi:

Thom Hartman is talking about this now.

[kentj44]

121. it is very disturbing

the ss acted very arrogant,wanted to know why i wanted that info and finally said no comment.

[bdamomma]

124. I would of said because I am an American citizen!!!

[Wizard777]

125. This puts Obama on par with Hillary Clinton.

Durring an evacuation of the Senate ahead of a potential terrorist attack. Everyone was notified except Hillary's SS detail. Something is rotten at the SS. Apparently Bush has politicized their function too.

[flyarm]

126. Obama has gotten secret service way before most other candidates ever has!

Edwards did not have secret service coverage..Obama asked for it last may..most candidates have not had secret service this early..this is wayyyyyyyy early

Kerry and Edwards did not have Taxpayers Paid secret service in 2004 until right before the convention in 2004.


check this out. Obama has gotten SS when Edwards did not..and Obama has gotten it way before other candidates have.

http://bobmccarty.com/2007/04/12/is-secret-service-prot... /

“By law, the Secret Service is authorized to protect:

-The president, the vice president, (or other individuals next in order of succession to the Office of the President), the president-elect and vice president-elect;
--The immediate families of the above individuals;
-Former presidents, their spouses, except when the spouse re-marries;
-Children of former presidents until age 16;
-Visiting heads of foreign states or governments and their spouses traveling with them, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United States, and official representatives of the United States performing special missions abroad;
-Major presidential and vice presidential candidates, and their spouses within 120 days of a general presidential election;
-Other individuals as designated per Executive Order of the President;
and

-National Special Security Events, when designated as such by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.”
-Unless President George W. Bush has signed an Executive Order to authorize it, Edwards should not be receiving taxpayer-funded Secret Service protection at this time. Moreover, he should not receive it until 120 days of a general presidential election if, by some miracle, he wins the Democrat primary in 2008.

[NorthernSpy]

129. "OBAMA WILL DIE, KKK FOREVER"; "Nigger President"; "Look out nigger, the Klan is getting bigger"...

Well, Flyarm, most other candidates haven't been subjected to a barrage of venom and outright assassination threats from day one:


http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2008/02/20/racist-attacks... /

“OBAMA WILL DIE, KKK FOREVER,” concludes a Feb. 15 post by “Rodney” to a blog run by a person identified only as Strider333. Above that signoff, Rodney wrote: “The KKK or someone WILL assassinate Obama! If we get a NIGGER President all you NIGGER’s will think you’ve won and that the WHITE people will have to bow to you<.> FUCK THAT.”

“I’m hoping someone will do his public duty of putting a bullet through Obama’s head,” said a poster identified as “Kill Da Nigga.” Another poster suggests “bring back lynchings” and concludes with a warning: “LOOK OUT NIGGER. THE KLAN IS GETTING BIGGER!!!!!!” And a third, using the screen name “amerikkkan,” says only, “The deep south is making plans.”

Yeah, lucky Obama. He's been getting more security attention than the other candidates -- no fair!!!11!

[flyarm]

130. why are you so ugly and nasty? Do you hate facts so much?

and your post is disgusting..and racist and angry...i was simply posting a fact..do you have problems with facts?..oh and it is my tax dollars that is paying for his security..so cut out the damn anger, and nastiness.
fly

[B Calm]

131. I think you are the one who is ignoring the facts!

[NorthernSpy]

134. those were real quotes advocating the assassination of Barack Obama...

The Southern Poverty Law Center collected them from various places on the internet.

why are you so ugly and nasty? Do you hate facts so much?
and your post is disgusting..and racist and angry...i was simply posting a fact..do you have problems with facts?..oh and it is my tax dollars that is paying for his security..so cut out the damn anger, and nastiness.
fly

The fact -- which I illustrated for you with racist quotes collected by the SPLC -- is that it became known early on that Barack Obama faces a particularly serious risk of attempts on his life. He received Secret Service protection in response to that threat.

But evidently, you've got a problem with that, and now you're whining about your tax dollars, and about how the other candidates (including yours, presumably) weren't getting as much security that early in the race (because unlike Obama, they hadn't been the targets of such threats).



It just proves that some people will carp about anything -- literally anything.


My candidate wasn't threatened with assassination -- waaaah, I feel so left out!





Jeezus. What's the matter with you?

[beezlebum]

133. actually,

it was requested for him, and recommended by his fellow senators, including dick durbin, who "acknowledged receiving information" regarding THREATS to obama's safety.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1716483-...

hello? possible first black president? in a country where KKK, neo-nazi party, and other racist/hate organizations still do exist? and with obama's major success, those people disgusting subspecies have to be feeling pretty antagonistic.

i am afraid for obama. and i don't trust SS et al anymore than hate groups.

><///x>

[backscatter712]

135. The Secret Service had better protect Obama like their own lives depend on his survival.

Because they might...

When Change Is Not Enough: Seven Steps to Revolution

There's one thing for sure: 2008 isn't anything like politics as usual.

The corporate media (with their unerring eye for the obvious point) is fixated on the narrative that, for the first time ever, Americans will likely end this year with either a woman or a black man headed for the White House. Bloggers are telling stories from the front lines of primaries and caucuses that look like something from the early 60s -- people lining up before dawn to vote in Manoa, Hawaii yesterday; a thousand black college students in Prairie View, Texas marching 10 miles to cast their early votes in the face of a county that tried to disenfranchise them. In recent months, we've also been gobstopped by the sheer passion of the insurgent campaigns of both Barack Obama and Ron Paul, both of whom brought millions of new voters into the conversation -- and with them, a sharp critique of the status quo and a new energy that's agitating toward deep structural change.

There's something implacable, earnest, and righteously angry in the air. And it raises all kinds of questions for burned-out Boomers and jaded Gen Xers who've been ground down to the stump by the mostly losing battles of the past 30 years. Can it be -- at long last -- that Americans have, simply, had enough? Are we, finally, stepping out to take back our government -- and with it, control of our own future? Is this simply a shifting political season -- the kind we get every 20 to 30 years -- or is there something deeper going on here? Do we dare to raise our hopes that this time, we're going to finally win a few? Just how ready is this country for big, serious, forward-looking change?

Recently, I came across a pocket of sociological research that suggested a tantalizing answer to these questions -- and also that America may be far more ready for far more change than anyone really believes is possible at this moment. In fact, according to some sociologists, we've already lined up all the preconditions that have historically set the stage for full-fledged violent revolution.

...

Obama is the voice of our revolution. He's the voice of us, demanding a better America. We can follow the path of Obama, take our country back and restore what makes America great nonviolently.

But if the Secret Service chooses the path of malfeasance, if they abandon their sworn duties, and as a result, Obama is killed, this country will burn.

The revolution is building. It is completely unstoppable at this point. The revolution can happen peacefully, within the system, or if the powers that be refuse to give up the reins, and use violent force to retain power, they'll be hanging from meathooks. And their Praetorian Guard will hang with them.