"I'm afraid he'll be assassinated" -- Is this a "code" phrase for something else?

[CTyankee]

I'm hearing this phrase from people whose political affiliation I am not sure of. I may be way off base here, but I'm beginning to think it is a deliberate meme, but I can't understand what it is.

Is it a stand-in for "I'm afraid to vote for a black man"? Or is it something else?

I have never in my life heard this kind of "concern" about a person running for president (I've been politically active starting with JFK in 1960).

[Midlodemocrat]

1. I hear it, too.

Most often couched in 'he'll never be elected, he'll be assassinated before that happens'.

Racist bigots the lot of them. Just offering up an excuse why they won't vote for him.

[Whisp]

34. i'm hearing it too, but not from bigots - from people that genuinely support Obama.

the take is Obama will not be allowed to be President because the pwoers that be will stop him at any cost.
another lone gunman story to come.

creeps me out, yes. but america has a history of gunning down people for change and social justice.

[Mass]

I've heard it from some Democrats who were trying to find any excuse not to vote for a black man,

but would never admit it (including in my family). So, I think that for some people, it is part of that.

Others may be sincere though.

[undeterred]

2. Code for "I'm afraid he won't be assasinated and we'll have a black president"

:shrug:

[quantass]

25. +1

[Labors of Hercules]

38. make that 2.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Could be, but back in 2000...

I heard a lot of Blacks saying Powell shouldn't run because he'd be assassinated.

Don't think it's bigots so much as good ol' American history sinking in.

[helderheid]

4. I'm an Obama supporter and I'M afraid for his life too - because of his populist message.

[Cha]

36. It's not like it hasn't been

done before to our leaders.

There was a coup on Gore and Kerry so they're still around.

My thought is like Michelle Obama said .."just pray for us" or for others, "think good positive thoughts with an energy force of white light surrounding them.":)

[goldcanyonaz]

5. I have yet to hear it from anyone that I know or come into contact with

[mopinko]

6. i think it is the same things as- don't get excited about this guy.

all politicians are alike. he won't really accomplish these things. why get your hopes up? something like that.
i agree that for some it is an honest concern. part and parcel of the comparisons to jfk and mlk. but i agree with you that it is creepy, and means something sort of sinister.

[bunkerbuster1]

7. Code talk? no, it's overtly threatening.

like the movie mobster saying "nice place you got here. Nice family. Shame if something wuz to happen to it."

[Mike Nelson]

8. If Obama looks like he will win, YES, this is very possible

He needs to be careful. Let's deal in reality. People don't give up power easily.

[terip64]

9. Flame me if you must, but I am concerned about this and I have said it.

I also deeply appreciate his willingness to run. Michelle has spoken about it and said that she is tired of being afraid. I appreciate them both because if it were my husband I don't know if I would be so generous. I live in rural MI and the confederate flag still flies around here. Some people are racist assholes. That's reality.

[yellowdogintexas]

10. to put another spin on it: when Big Dawg was elected in '92 I had that same concern

here he was young, handsome, energetic, representing what we all hoped was a sea change from the prior 12 years, with a certain amount of charisma shall we say


not unlike another young vigorous president who was taken down in his prime


I recall having one of those conversations you have with a total stranger you will never see again, in a store with lots of TV's on around inauguration time.

Total stranger was a black man, maybe 10 years younger than me; I am a white woman BTW ...


ME: this is really exciting isn't it

STRANGER: It sure is, it sure is. He is just great, isn't he?

ME: yes!

so we are both watching what ever is going on on the TV and Total Stranger turns to me and says:

" I am so afraid someone's going to shoot him; I just hope he lives out his term "

so I turned to him and said " Me too . I lived through one of those, don't want another one"

TOTAL STRANGER: "so I'm going to pray every day it doesn't happen"

so while it is easy to see those comments as code for whatever racist things may be in a person's mind, it also can be genuine fear because here we have a young, charismatic, smart, energetic man who has been compared to JFK, endorsed wholeheartedly by his brother, his daughter and many of his nieces and nephews ...... don't you think his wife thinks about this? I would be willing to be Hillary did when Bill was prez.

It's just out there. And with Obama we have the double whammy of the assasinations of MLK and Medgar Evers and RFK ....

I was never afraid someone might kill Reagan, because at least Poppy didn't scare the bejeebus out of me.
I WAS afraid Poppy might die in office and we would get Dan Quayle....

I didn't want anything to happen to Big Dawg and if it had would have been certain it was a right wing nutjob, but at least we would have had Al Gore

[nancyr]

11. It depends on a person's age.

I think it means just what it says. Some of us are very concerned with his safety. This does mean that we are racist, it merely means we are realistic enough to recognize the dangers.

[skooooo]

20. Yep..

My dad (who's ~75) said the exact same thing several times to me earlier in the year. He's very liberal and always votes democratic, but has just seen to much shit.

Obama will be fine, though. :)

[Fleshdancer]

12. I don't think it's code....

Obama reminds many people of both JFK and MLK and some can't help but take the comparisons to its most morbid conclusion. My guess is that if someone is concerned about this, it's because they've already decided to vote for him and the thought of him getting assassinated makes them feel a little guilty for it.

[NorthCarolina]

13. I thought this a possibility in the Primary season, but now that his

positions have become clearer I think he is fairly safe from those interests that would seek to do harm.

[Alter Ego]

14. It's a genuine fear of mine--but I'm still voting for him.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

15. Sadly, this was one of the reasons why many blacks didn't support him in the beginning

Fearful that he'd be assasinated. I remember having this conversation with my family in the South. And most of us felt (and still feel) that Obama could be assasinated. (We're all black.) My father talks about it often. He voted for Hillary partly because he loves her and Bill and partly because he believes that Obama will be killed. It's sad and gloomy but there are many who feel this way.

[Fleshdancer]

16. Is your father planning to vote in the General?

If this is still a big concern of his, just remind him that all eyes will be on the Secret Service during Obama's presidency and while they are not perfect (who is?) they do take their job very seriously. Heads would roll if anything bad happened to him.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

18. I honestly don't know. My father is weird. He's a progressive but doesn't seem

excited about Obama. The same was true of Gore and Kerry. He is one of the most brilliant men I've ever known, but unfortunately he is a news geek. Reads all the papers and watches the M$M constantly. I'm afraid that he buys into some of the narratives about Democrats in general, and Obama in particular. I should say that he is extremely cyncial about politics and politicians and feels that there is no difference between the two parties. Since the Democrats continue to cave in, giving Bush exactly what he wants and allowing him to get away with commiting crimes, he is highly skeptical about the Dems' chances and doesn't feel that Obama will be up to the challenge.

I think he will ultimately vote for the Dems no matter what, but he'll do so holding his nose.

[sourmilk]

17. It's actually code for "I hope he will be assassinated."

Racists aren't "afraid to vote for a black man," they will NEVER vote for a black man, and may not countenance one in the nation's highest office, period.

This is why Obama's VP selection is so important. If he chose Kooch as VP, Obama may not get elected, but sure as shit, no right-wing freeptard is EVER going to shoot him!

[newmajority]

19. I like that solution.

Not only would it benefit the President's health, but all of ours as well, when Vice President Kooch pushes HR 676 through Congress.

[seaglass]

21. The only place I've heard it is on DU from Obama supporters

so I doubt it's intended as racist - I think it comes from equating Obama's importance to JFK's RFK's and MLK's.

[DevonRex]

22. My in-laws have said it repeatedly. They also say they're not

"comfortable" with a black man in the White House. They also say that the blacks will get "militant" if we have a black president. And they say that if he gets elected, they hope he puts some white people in his cabinet.

And they're dems. Retired New Yorkers living in Florida.

[PatGund]

23. I've seen a version of it on the various PUMA sites......

There it's not as much "I'm afraid" as a strong hope the unspeakable happens.

Asshats.

[raebrek]

24. When I heard this.

Obama Moves Nomination Acceptance Speech to Football Stadium (Official) My first thought was that it would be harder so secure a football stadium then the convention center.

Raebrek!!!

[progdog]

26. I thought the same thing.

I don't like the idea. Not necessary.

[Eyes_wide_ open]

27. Are you for real?

"Code" for something else? Sorry but I really have to wonder if some of the folks here on DU ever come up for air from the news shows and their computers and experience life on the streets, rather than just reading about it.

Some may believe the people of our country are beyond radical racism, and I sincerely hope they are correct. Things are much better than they once were assuredly, but we've a long ways to go down that road yet. That he has gotten this far is a great sign that a good many people have gotten past MOST of the stupidity of bigotry but the fact remains that race is still an issue to some.

Most of the people in my world are not interested in politics, yes, even the ones that vote. Most of them are not racist and yet when the conversation turns to "What about Obama?" he is discounted because they don't believe a black man can get elected and even if he CAN, they think he will be shot. I counter that with if we haven't even got past that, as a people, there is no hope for America, and of course, I point out why McBush is not acceptable.

My point is even those who are NOT politically aware are saying it. If you care at all about our candidate how can it NOT worry you? We don't talk about it for the most part because nobody wants to believe it could happen, but that doesn't mean we don't think about, and WORRY, and hope and pray that it does not.

Those of you who still have your have your head up your arse from primary season really need to forget who supported who in the primaries and just start addressing what others are saying, rather than what you think they MEANT by it. Yes there's a few "trolls" left but you know what? "They" are much smaller in number than "You" and your constant badgering of anything that sounds like it MIGHT have been said by a "former Hillary supporter" is just as divisive as anything "they" are doing.

Makes it damned hard for any of us with questions or that might be new to this process to find any kind of help here ... just my little opinion.

[BklynChick]

28. depends on the person. Many people I know are truly worried for his life. I think others may say

that as an excuse as to why they won't vote for him. As in most things, context is everything.

[jillan]

29. ALL Presidents run that risk.

This is a bs argument from people that are looking for an excuse not to vote for him.

I hear it too :(

[crispini]

30. I've heard it in real life from fellow Obama supporters,

mostly African American, but one white person.

I think this comes from people expressing their deep seated fear stemming from the JFK, RFK, and MLK assassinations. I think it's a genuine concern about the whackos in this country and what might happen. At least, in the conversations I've had, it has been.

[Withywindle]

31. For me it sure isn't!

I know damn well that he got SS protection earlier in the race than anyone else ever, because of threats received. I remember that CBS News for a while disabled comments on Obama stories because of racist hate speech. I remember rumors back in the 90s that Colin Powell's wife wouldn't let him run for that very reason.

You think there aren't violent racist freaks in this country? You think the danger isn't real? You think everyone expressing these worries is some kind of concern troll?

No. I'm worried for real. It's sure as hell not a reason to not support him - I've done so enthusiastically since his '04 Senate race (I'm in IL). But it's a totally legitimate thing to have panic attacks about in the middle of the night and to pray about if you're the praying type.

[appleannie1]

32. The first time I heard it, it came from my black son-in-law.

He said Obama is the first candidate we have had that is like the Kennedys in many ways. Because of that and because there is still racism in this country, he was afraid that Obama would be assasinated.

[Drunken Irishman]

33. What I hear is much worse.

It's "Why vote for him, he's going to be shot anyway..."

Which makes me sick.

I've heard that a dozen times at least.

[Eyes_wide_ open]

46. Me too

And it make me just sick. Sad world we live in, that's one of the reasons we so desperately NEED a change we can believe in.

[Barack_America]

35. I think it means different things to different people.

I was surprised by how many African Americans said this to me when I was out canvassing during the primaries. These voters tended to be pretty disenchanted with politics in general (i.e. the non-voters I came across). I took it to mean either, "I don't dare to hope" or "what's the use?".

When I heard it from some white voters, on the other hand, I certainly took it to have racial implications. Some whites were undoubtedly fearful of the possibility, but for others it definitely seemed as a "I'm not racist, but I know people who are" cop-out.

[Cal Carpenter]

37. My next-door neighbor said the same thing

and I reminded her that Bush is one of the most hated men in the world and he hasn't been assassinated.

I don't think it's code for anything. I think it's mostly an honest expression of fear for him given the political climate and the barriers he is breaking. At least in my neighbor's case - she's definitely an Obama supporter.

[Alexander]

39. Not necessarily, no.

A good friend of mine who is a liberal Democrat and an Obama supporter expressed this sentiment. He is also unusually well-informed about politics, and went to college in Memphis for a time.

[RichardRay]

40. Generally, not code talk for a threat, just for...

"I'm looking for a reason not to vote for him and that's one that sounds OK."

Maybe from folks who are not overtly racist but are uncomfortable with his race, but more often than not just people who don't want to vote for him and just need something to hang it on.

[old mark]

41. I did post something about this once -

I read something about this - thinly veiled threats - on a RW gun forum about 8 months ago. Was not a direct threat, more like racist muttering.

FWIW, I did vote for Obama in the primary and will certainly vote for him in the GE. He was always the best choice, an my opinion.

I think this is just far-right racist fear mongering BS, and I would not be surprised to hear Rush or Pat Buchanan talking about it shortly.

mark

[MasonJar]

42. I am also personally worried about the possibility; I would feel the same concern regarding

Hillary, if she were the nominee.

[uppityperson]

43. I've only heard it from Obama supporters who are afraid of that.

Haven't heard it from others. "McCain has Experience and we need Experience now", that I take a code for "I won't vote for a black man" from people who were anti-McCain during primary season, or so they said.

[FraDon]

44. Assassinations are Standard Operating Procedure

It has proven over the millennia to be a tactic that works. In my lifetime have seen WAY too many. I was 15 when they wacked JFK; my cynicism began then. Here's a book that summarizes 1,200: Assassinations and Executions: An Encyclopedia of Political Violence, 1900 Through 2000, by Harris M. Lentz, III.

IMHO the older we are, the more we suffer from PASD: "post assassination stress disorder". 1968 was a particularly traumatizing year; by the early 1970s, it became clear that their enemies now included us - their children. The salt in the wound is that they almost always get away with it.

My cynical, nagging question: Can he BE protected?

Fidel Castro is still alive, and they sure went after him. Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie is still alive and out and about, in public. Maybe there's reason for

Hope. Justice & Peace.

[CTyankee]

45. I have the feeling that the Sec Serv.is taking all kinds of extraordniary measures

to protect him. Last week in Montana he declined to ride in the 4th of July parade because he said the SS would require people on the sidelines to keeptheir arms raised the entire time of the parade and he wouldn't want them to endure that. So he had people come back him and his family and greet them.

A nice touch, no?