Breaking: Barack Obama under Secret Service protection after a threat

[deadmessengers]

cnn.com front page

Added link: http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/05/barack-obama-placed-under-secret.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. Oh No! Glad he's getting protection.

[BOSSHOG]

2. Who says right wing hate radio isn't effective?

[MidwestTransplant]

7. You mean Barac Hussein Obama the Halfrican schooled at a madrassa faced threats?

[BOSSHOG]

17. Yeah, Barack the Magic Negro!

[TwilightGardener]

21. Nothing like stirring up the hate, Rush!

[BOSSHOG]

27. Oh he doesn't do that, he's a comedian

He had absolutely no effect on timothy mcveigh either, just ask him. In fact rush hasn't been responsible for anything his whole life. He's a life long conservative.

[TwilightGardener]

36. You're right, of course--there's absolutely no accountablility when

you spout utter garbage designed to inflame the weak-minded sheeple, every single day for years and years--my bad!

[BOSSHOG]

40. You have to take his comments in context as he would say

and liberals just don't know how to do that. Death threats to a democrat, no big deal. Torture in Gtmo what a hoot. I must be a really bad person cause I do not have "conservative" values.

[kskiska]

44. Some guy called Rush just yesterday about that song

and said it was dangerous. Rush brushed him off with the excuse that it didn't originate with him.

[BOSSHOG]

47. He is right about that

Magic Negro originally was printed in a LA Times article, however limbaugh didn't invent hate either or lies but he sure as hell makes a living tossing them about. He's wise in the sense that he knows that's the only way he can make a living.

The guy who shot up the VT campus didn't invent the 9MM either. I'm daily fucking dazzled by conservative logic.

[lpbk2713]

3. BushCo can monitor his activities better now with a SS detail.

I tend to doubt the accuracy of this alleged threat.

[deadmessengers]

5. I don't, not for a minute.

I mean, the first black candidate with a realistic shot at getting the nomination? You just know there's a whole bunch of folks in the Duke/Thurmond/Lott crowd who would LOVE to give him lead poisoning.

[spanone]

6. If I were Mr. Obama I'd take it very seriously. History repeats itself.

[Virginia Dare]

26. They must be taking it very seriously for the s.s. to step in...

this just makes me want to :argh: :cry:

[RL3AO]

39. You really think Bush is behind this? The USSS does a lot more than protect the President.

[AlCzervik]

4. A Savage Nation listener i bet.

[Fuzz]

8. Obama placed under Secret Service protection after a threat

Just on CNN.

[bdamomma]

9. Isn't he supposed to be under Secret Service protection anyway?

[deadmessengers]

11. No.

Only nominees from the major parties get protection. During the primary season, they're on their own with regard to security.

[Virginia Dare]

28. That needs to change, and I think they're talking about changing it..

there are too many wack-jobs out there ready to make more martyrs.

[Recursion]

51. Yes and no

Nominees as a rule get SS protection; post-RFK "major" candidates get protection after a few primaries (Clinton got his after NH, IIRC). As a Senator, Obama can get SS protection in some circumstances too -- I'm not sure if the money for this is from the Senate or the candidate side.

[bdamomma]

10. delete

[originalpckelly]

12. Well, that's pretty fucking scary.

Goodness, I just realized Obama will be running for President 40 years to the day after Dr. King was assassinated!

[deadmessengers]

14. And Bobby Kennedy, for that matter. n/t

[Adelante]

13. Shit

Just shit.

[Norquist Nemesis]

16. That was exactly what Michelle's biggest worry was with him running

and also why Colin Powell's wife didn't want him running.

[TahitiNut]

31. Actually, Michelle denied that.

As she said, a black man faces such greater dangers just going to a gas station or convenience store so running for President isn't that much of a difference.

Personally, I applauded her clear-eyed sense of proportionality.

[Norquist Nemesis]

35. IMNSHO, that's how she came to terms with it

and what she said after he declared.

[deadparrot]

15. Charming.

I have a nagging feeling that if Obama gets the nomination, we're going to see just how ugly our fellow countrymen can be.

[tridim]

18. I hate to say it, but it was only a matter of time.

There are going to be some pissed off racists coming out of the woodwork as Obama gains ground. That's the reality in Amerikkka.

[goclark]

30. Yes, racists are running scared now that the

"Decider" is taking them to the pits.

[TwilightGardener]

19. I'm sure Obama and Michelle were prepared for this--they know

there are crazies out there.

[MadBadger]

22. She mentioned as much on their 60 minutes interview

[Virginia Dare]

20. The haters in this country really make me profoundly sad and angry..

I really can't say any more without unleashing a profanity laced tirade.

[Nimrod2005]

23. FUCK ALL HATERS...Rightwing bastards!!!

[firefox_fan]

32. I hate haters, damnit!

[IndyOp]

33. Fascinating way to express your HATRED of all HATERS...

FUCK ALL HATERS...Rightwing bastards!!!

:eyes:

[saracat]

24. Actually, I think that all the Dem candidates should have SS protection!

I am sure that Edwards and Hillary will be the next targets. Hillary may already have protection but Edwards could use some.

[ronnykmarshall]

34. Hillary currently has SS protection.

As the wife of a former president she still has it.

[saracat]

37. I said that.I worry about Edwards who has already had threads.Remember the anthrax?

[deadmessengers]

45. Nice thought, but impractical

Once you start giving every declared candidate SS protection, you're kinda opening Pandora's box. Let's put it this way - do you think Duncan Hunter or Tom Tancredo need SS protection? How about Lyndon LaRouche? I heard he threw his hat in the ring again. Or how about the candidate of the Prohibition Party, or the American Nazi Party?

How and where do you draw the line?

[saracat]

50. Why draw the line? We have lots of money to spend on everything else!

I suppose it could be handles like the Debates and be extended only to "credible " candidates.

[deadmessengers]

57. Actually, no, we don't.

We're broke, and getting further in debt every year. We don't have money to spend, and that's why Republicans keep borrowing from our kids.

[saracat]

58. I agree but I would rather spend the money on protection than WAR!

And it is supposed to be avilable anyway as per this post

"Federal law allows candidates to seek protection if they meet a series of standards, including public prominence as measured by polls and fundraising. The members of the congressional advisory committee are the Speaker, the House and Senate majority and minority leaders as well as one additional member."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070503/ap_on_el_pr/obama_s...

[mark414]

52. this is how and where:

"Federal law allows candidates to seek protection if they meet a series of standards, including public prominence as measured by polls and fundraising. The members of the congressional advisory committee are the Speaker, the House and Senate majority and minority leaders as well as one additional member."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070503/ap_on_el_pr/obama_secret_service

[EnviroBat]

25. Wasn't it Wycliffe who sang that tune on the Chappelle show...

If I was President
I'd be elected on Friday
Assasinated on Saturday
Buried on Sunday...

[ronnykmarshall]

29. Oh shit!

I thought that he had it already.

[RL3AO]

38. Normally major candidates dont get it until 3-6 months before the general election.

[Horse with no Name]

41. I am not sure what is sadder.

1. The fact that it happened.
2. The fact that it doesn't surprise me.

[in_cog_ni_to]

42. They KNEW this would happen. Is this freakin' sad or what??!!

Hey racist assholes!!!!! It's 2007!!!! BLACK PEOPLE CAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT WHETHER YOU FREAKIN' LIKE IT OR NOT!! DEAL WITH IT!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. That didn't take long

and I am not surprised one bit

[NewJeffCT]

46. Hopefully, Bush hasn't outsourced the Secret Service to Blackwater

or similar.

Stay safe Senator.

[Grandrose]

48. Secret Service Please keep him safe....

Knew this time would come, but it still hurts! :cry:

[Catherine Vincent]

49. It must be a very bad threat to put him under SS protection.

I remember the joke that Richard Pryor did on the stage. He was running back and forth giving a speech, then he told the audience something like "I'm the first black president, I'm dodging bullets."

There's some truth to that.

[BlooInBloo]

53. There's only one possible conclusion: Eddie Murphy is not a comedian...

... he's a prophet.

[mvd]

54. Oh my.. I was hoping we were beyond this, but..

I'm not surprised. Best wishes for Obama's safety.

[conspirator]

55. The white supremacy fucks were too quiet, maybe they were still in shock, finally they made a move

[City Lights]

56. More info on this from the Chi-Trib:

Originally posted: May 3, 2007
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 lead Thursday 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.”

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