Secret Service explains response to teen's art

[icymist]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001914403_artwork28m.html


Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - Page updated at 12:42 A.M.

Secret Service explains response to teen's art

By Maureen O'Hagan
Seattle Times staff reporter

Last week, Secret Service agents paid a visit to Prosser to try to answer an unusual question: Was the high-school freshman who turned in a drawing of President Bush with his head on a stake a threat?

The district office of the Secret Service in Washington state declined to comment except to say its actions weren't out of the ordinary.

"This is not something unique to Washington, and this is not something unique to the times that we live in," said Wallace Shields, special agent in charge of the district. "If we get what someone reports to be a threat against any person or place we protect, we investigate it."

Shields said it is unlawful to threaten the president's life. The job of the Secret Service is to determine whether there is an actual threat or danger; if so, the information is turned over to proper authorities, which could include local police or the U.S. Attorney's Office.

(more)

[yella_dawg]

1. Do these people really think

we take this bullshit explanation seriously?

Fucking Gestapo.

[Just Me]

3. For real,...this is Gestapo-like,...

,...I just don't know what else to say. I sure hope they don't come looking for the doodles I have done over the last year and a half. I've put horns on pretty much every single member of PNAC. I think they are evil. Does that represent a threat against their lives?

PUH-LEASE!!!

If anything it represents my perception that the PNACers are a threat to our lives.

[trumad]

2. Then how come they're not visiting Google?

Just type in Bush Devil in Google images and you'll see more Bush art than this kid could could ever produce...

[the Kelly Gang]

4. now that's a sensible use of resourses

[Only Me]

5. This is so stupid..

Like a teenagers art, their form of expression, could seriously be seen as a 'threat'is outrageous. I tell you if this is all it takes to constitute a government investigation. This Administration would be out the door along time ago. Selective aren't they? :grr:

[BiggJawn]

6. "Not charged with a Crime"....

OK, since I have a hard time believing a crime was comitted, but the school "disciplined" him? WTF for?

What does this do to all our discussion about Impeachment, trials, and such? Are WE liable for investigation?

If drawing a picture of this FRAUD with horns on his head, and the like (including said head on a stick) is a "Threat", they could stretch that to cover almost anything.

The Schutzstaffel is gonna need a good enema when we get rid of the chimp!

[Ediacara]

7. This is absurd

If this kid really was hatching a plan to kill Bush and put his head on a stake, do they really think he would turn in a schamtic of his plan as an art project for school!?

If this had been drawn in his diary, or journal or something, I could see calling the Secret Service, but an art project!?

[progressivebydesign]

8. Does anyone remember the drawings from European children about Bush?

It was last year.. when we were marching into Iraq and demonizing France. There were drawings, done by small children in Europe, that depicted Bush in even harsher terms. It's one thing to have a teen write that he plans to do harm to Bush, or have detailed deptictions of doing so himself, but I think his drawings were just angst driven self expression. I do remember the boys in my high school.. there were the ones that always had the violent drawings all over their notebooks, etc. Prosser is in Eastern Washington... it's the wild west over there. I still cannot fathom what the school district could have punished him for...

[Trillo]

9. cannot fathom?

I still cannot fathom what the school district could have punished him for...

You must have gone to different schools than I did. Schools punish for the sake of punishing someone for something. It makes a good example.

I loved (or is that hated?) the part in the article about, "disruption of classes," teachers favorite catchall legalese. Even when there is no possibility of classroom disruption, it looks good to paperpushers who were not actually at the scene. The term makes it sound like it happened in class so yes-people can nod their heads in affirmation of meted judgement.

[Cronus Protagonist]

10. Let's point the finger in the correct direction - the teacher's a twat

She should have said, "That's not very nice," and left it at that. She's no doubt freeper spawn as no one in their right mind would report a kid for drawing that.

http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[cureautismnow]

11. They should be protecting Gore...

Not "His Fraudulency."

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

12. Now now

That's what happens when you criticize God's chosen

[0rganism]

13. Wow! Did they EVER take a threat against Clinton this seriously?

If anyone has a link to someone getting arrested for drawing violent or disparaging cartoons about President Clinton, I'd like to see it.

[SoCalDem]

14. I used this as a sig pic, until admin asked me not to

I knew it was "on the edge".. maybe saved me from a "visit"..:evilgrin:




?clickie to see