Obama and the Secret Service story

[illinoisprogressive]

the chicago Tribune has the scoop on why Sen. Barack Obama is to receive Secret Service protection. Figures that it was his 'big brother', Sen. Dick durbin behind it. Sen. Durbin is very close to Obama and was one of the first to start the draft Obama movement to get him to run for president.

Durbin concerns lead to Obama's Secret Service detail

Posted by Christi Parsons at 4:55 p.m. CDT

Concerned about the safety of Sen. Barack Obama on the presidential campaign trail, Sen. Dick Durbin two weeks ago went to the Senate’s top Democrat to point out the danger he thought his fellow Illinois Democrat might be in.

Durbin said he told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid about the size of the crowds he’d seen on the campaign trail with Obama, and also that he showed Reid some unspecified material that added to his concern.

That conversation led today to the assignment of a Secret Service detail to Obama, the earliest in a presidential campaign the service has ever made the decision to cover a candidate not already under their protection as an office holder.

“I wasn’t forcing this on Harry Reid,” Durbin said in an interview with the Tribune on Thursday afternoon. “I gave him what I thought to be the facts of the matter. I asked him, based on his experience, to make a judgment if it should be brought up for consideration.”

Reid brought the concerns to the attention of the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Secret Service and a special congressional committee that reviews the need for special protection.

A congressional aide said the presentation to the congressional advisory group included information on threats to Obama on web sites and in letters. But the aide declined to provide further details.

Several congressional sources familiar with the situation say there wasn’t a particular threat to Obama that caused specific concern, but that Obama has received several threats over time.

In addition, Obama routinely is drawing crowds that number in the thousands, which poses special difficulty in providing security and responding to threats.

Durbin declined to characterize the material he showed Reid or to say where he got it.

But he said he thought it made sense to consider protection by the Secret Service, which has more power than private security services – including the ability to reroute traffic, use lights and sirens and to detain people.

“I love this guy, and I never want to see anything happen to him,” Durbin said of Obama. “He’s making a great sacrifice for his country. Doing our best to guarantee his safety is the least we can do.”

A congressional aide said that the request for Obama's Secret Service protection was unanimously backed by Republican and Democratic congressional leaders. The aide said Reid made a vigorous argument for the detail when the advisory group met.

"Reid was very adamant," said the aide.

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/05/durbin_concerns.html

[DawnIsis]

1. I am so worried for Obama and Hillary I think they are in serious danger from the right wing wackos

[Bucky]

12. Doesn't Sen. Clinton already have secret service protection?

She is, by statute, the last First Lady to get this protection for life--the law was passed in the 90s but the wording in the law excluded the current first family from this eventual exclusion. I think Congress was reacting to Mamie Doud Eisenhower living so long--she'll turn a spry 111 this November and is reputedly the first woman to ever ride in a tank (her husband was the base commander when the first tank training occurred in WWI and he decided to take her for a spin).

Covering "Target: Valentine" is considered the softest duty for today's secret service agents, usually the assignment pulled by greenhorns and agents who are about to retire. And yet Mrs Eisenhower is said to regularly elude her protectors by slipping out the back door of her Gettysburgh ranch house and go on extensive shopping sprees in town.

[lynne]

16. Mamie Eisenhower died 28 years ago on Nov 1, 1979 -

[Bucky]

18. Are you calling The Onion a liar?

[lynne]

19. Ahhh . . The Onion -

- thought you were 28 years behind the times for a second! ;)

[Bucky]

20. Actually I really am 28 years behind the time

Stupid me, I still want a president who says championing human rights is a cornerstone of our foreign policy.

[MH1]

2. Thank you, it's important people know the facts before the b.s. starts. n/t

[rhombus]

3. There's more to this: White supremacists want to take out Obama

Very scary-

The Secret Service said Obama, who once said, "I'm not an entourage guy," asked for protection but there was no specific threat.

But white supremacists, appalled that a black candidate may have a viable shot at the presidency, have been spewing venom across the Internet for months.

" Our world will become unbearable with him as President," wrote a typical poster on a white power Web site. "Maybe there will be someone who would take chance and do a Lincoln on him? Is that our only hope?"

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/2007/05/04/2007-05-04_raising_his_guard.html


I'm really praying for Obama's safety. Too many crazies in this country.:scared:

[Rude Horner]

6. What a sick, disgusting, horrible thing...

that person (and I use the term loosely) posted on that "white power" web site. That makes me completely sick. I think they should be able to track that person down and arrest him/her.

[Pirate Smile]

10. MSNBC also reported that part of the concern was caused by

the racist chatter on white supremacists websites.

[Big Pappa]

41. Sometimes

I forget they are such ignorant shits in this world, then you have to bring me back to reality, damn.

[Cameron27]

4. Very good.

Thanks for the update.

[illinoisprogressive]

5. Obama is lucky to have Durbin watching over him - Durbin thinks the world of him

Ever since they campaigned together in 04, with Durbin helping Obama in the Senate race. it's good Obama has a big brother type.
My son said he heard there was chatter on supremist sites about taking Obama down.

Both Clinton and Obama have more danger but, clinton did have secret service detail at least. Both of them, however, are more of a target than the others. That is so sad.

[TwilightGardener]

15. I agree--gold star for Durbin and Reid.

[Eurobabe]

7. So many nut jobs out there, maybe they all should get protection n/t

[Bitwit1234]

8. The way the right wing hate speakers

call for murder, killing and sending anthrax to the top democrats, I think all the top runners should be given protection. Just look at the guy in LA arrested for threatening to kill Hillary.

No wonder the group that did that ten year study of the republicans found they were pyschotic....they really truly are.

[illinoisprogressive]

9. The large crowds Obama gets was also a concern. He gets thousands so early.

that was a major concern as well.

[jcrew2001]

11. All he needs now is an Endorsement by Gore

to officially jump the shark

[tammywammy]

13. What does that mean?

How would that be jumping the shark?

[Ethelk2044]

14. What does that mean?

[jcrew2001]

24. It signifies when someone's popularity has peaked

such as when a television show "jumps the shark" like in Happy Days and the Fonz.

Dean was anti-establishment and had soaring popularity, but the moment Al Gore publicly endorsed Dean, he was seen as part of the establishment and Dean's popularity went down.

[Ethelk2044]

40. Your Dreaming

His popularity has only begun. People are not paying attention to politics right now. It can only grow even larger.

[jcrew2001]

55. Yeah, but just wait until Gore endorses him

nt

[TwilightGardener]

17. Could you explain that? Sounded kind of like a slam on both of them...

[in_cog_ni_to]

21. I read another article earlier today and Durbin said the info he had had a "racist bend" to it.

That's all he would say. I'm so glad Durbin is helping to protect his protege. I should have known who was behind this.:)

[illinoisprogressive]

34. Durbin has such a big heart and he really cares about his 'adopted brother' lol.

I have to kind of laugh because about a year ago I heard Durbin was urging Obama to run and at that time Obama had no intention of doing so. Durbin kept bugging him and he went on talk shows and gushed. Then, in the fall he started up a draft Obama site and sent out email to all his supporters to sign it.
I also heard before Obama got a bigger office, Durbin make a little space in his to share with him in his office.
So, I started to joke to my husband that Durbin seems to have taken up the big brother role.
He was with Obama on his announcement weekend.

[Cameron27]

50. I didn't know that,

but it says a lot about Obama if Durbin's taken an interest in him. I happen to love Senator Durbin.:)

[knitter4democracy]

22. It was a smart decision.

The last thing we need is an attempt on his life, let alone something worse. *shudder* With all the crazies out there having right wing radio egging them on . . . I think all of the Dem candidates should have security.

[jcrew2001]

23. Does his campaign re-imburse the Taxpayers

if we have to pay for secret service protection? It just seems odd that his own security detail can't do the job, but I hope this isn't more govt spending, when we really need is to change over-spending and reduce the deficit.

[Ethelk2044]

26. Have You

Lost your mind. Are you that crazy the man's life is at stake. If you are not joking you really need some help.

[jcrew2001]

27. He has his own security detail and every Black politician

has faced threats. I'm sure the secret service costs are a drop in the bucket to Obama, but it would be interesting to know the costs that taxpayers will have to pay that could go into paying for veteran care, better schools, etc.

[Ethelk2044]

29. That means

We need to get rid of the secret service for the Clintons, Bush 1 and 2 and Carter. If you want to do it lets do it for all of them.

[jcrew2001]

32. We'll have to look at the costs of the Secret service

Because although they deserve the protection as being past presidents - they no longer have any power in that capacity, besides perhaps being used in kidnapping attempts as blackmail.

We could give Secret Service protection to Edwards, Rudy, Mcain, Romney, etc. and etc. and how much would that cost???

Obama already has his own security detail that HE is paying for.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kool Kitty]

45. Tell you what-find out how much it costs,

figure out what would be your cut, and try to get them to reimburse you for it. How's that sound?

[jcrew2001]

54. Okay, I'll spend the money on carbon offsets

and plant a tree. Or maybe I'll just donate the money to the DNC.

[grace0418]

25. This is something that has worried me since Barack beat that lunatic Alan Keyes.

The white supremacist motherfuckers must've been really up in arms that there *were* no white choices on the ballot. They've probably been up in arms ever since. Why are there so many fucking assholes in this country?

[jcrew2001]

28. Are you saying the people of Illinois are white supremecists?

because they are a very blue state.

[Ethelk2044]

30. There are racist

people everywhere. Just look at the people who do not want Obama to have protection because his life is at stake. They are so afraid he will win the election. They would rather for him to get shot. Which will only hurt America in the end.

[jcrew2001]

53. I thought he does have a security detail?

It just seems quite early, considering the primaries are 6 months away, but hey its not my money.

[grace0418]

31. No. I'm not referring specifically to Illinoisans, although outside of Chicago

the state as a whole is quite conservative. I should know. I've lived here all my life. Grew up in a very red suburb. Now I live in the thankfully blue city.

But my point was that white supremacists from all over had to be mad about that race in particular. Certainly we here on DU discussed the ultra-right wing candidates from all the states, and lamented the races that had a weak Dem and a asshole (but inexplicably popular) Republican candidate. Even in states outside our own. You don't think white supremacists all over the country were discussing that particular race and lamenting the fact that both candidates were black?

[illinoisprogressive]

36. I live in Rockford and we are more purple.

Lots of business gop types but, lots of dems as well. We also have a large African American community and voted in our first black mayor almost 20 years ago. it is not all farmers and conservatives. Even in the high end suburbs of Roscoe and Rockton, last election there were alot of Kerry signs.
The state is a mish mash and very independent if anything.

[grace0418]

38. Yeah, I would categorize Rockford as purple. My sister lived there for years.

I grew up in Crystal Lake (definitely red).

[Forkboy]

51. I hate Illinois Nazis!

[illinoisprogressive]

35. Well, actually, alot republicans crossed over to vote for Obama to get the Senate seat

Obama carried alot of the repulican gop strongholds in the suburbs and won over alot of the white good ol boys in the southern part of the state. The people here of all stripes really support and love our senator. Both of them.

[grace0418]

37. Oh, I know. Considering that Obama had something like 83% of the vote he definitely

garnered support from people of all political stripes. My point was that white supremacists from all over the country were probably upset that the ticket had nothing but black candidates. I wasn't making any specific comments about folks from Illinois. The first person who responded to me made that assumption.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Taco Meat]

42. Thank you for posting eom.

[TwilightGardener]

43. Welcome to DU!

[illinoisprogressive]

44. Taco, just noticed you are new. Hi!

[ripple]

47. Welcome, Taco Meat! n/t

[BenDavid]

46. Well, well, now if Durbin

turns his back on HRC then he will have turned his back on WJ.Clinton. And with the support of Clinton when Durbin decided to run for the Senate and leave the House WJC helped Durbin in that campaign that gave him the added support he needed.... But I reckon this would be some kind of a thank you....More like a kiss my ass......
BD

[Cameron27]

48. Hillary Clinton already has secret service protection

as an ex-first lady.

[thoughtcrime1984]

49. good grief

Durbin is looking out for a friend and the fellow Senator from Illinois. This was not meant as a stab at the Clintons, I'm sure, so you can probably get over that.

[jcrew2001]

52. What's wrong with the word miscegenation?

I think that its important for the racial barriers to be broken, imo.