Obama Has More Threats Than Other

[Lt_Ripley]

Obama Has More Threats Than Other Presidents-Elect

Friday 14 November 2008

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by: The Associated Press

Washington - Threats against a new president historically spike right after an election, but from Maine to Idaho law enforcement officials are seeing more against Barack Obama than ever before.

The Secret Service would not comment or provide the number of cases they are investigating. But since the Nov. 4 election, law enforcement officials have seen more potentially threatening writings, Internet postings and other activity directed at Obama than has been seen with any past president-elect, said officials aware of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue of a president's security is so sensitive.

Earlier this week, the Secret Service looked into the case of a sign posted on a tree in Vay, Idaho, with Obama's name and the offer of a "free public hanging." In North Carolina, civil rights officials complained of threatening racist graffiti targeting Obama found in a tunnel near the North Carolina State University campus.

And in a Maine convenience store, an Associated Press reporter saw a sign inviting customers to join a betting pool on when Obama might fall victim to an assassin. The sign solicited $1 entries into "The Osama Obama Shotgun Pool," saying the money would go to the person picking the date closest to when Obama was attacked. "Let's hope we have a winner," said the sign, since taken down.

In the security world, anything "new" can trigger hostility, said Joseph Funk, a former Secret Service agent-turned security consultant who oversaw a private protection detail for Obama before the Secret Service began guarding the candidate in early 2007.

Obama, of course, will be the country's first black president, and Funk said that new element, not just race itself, is probably responsible for a spike in anti-Obama postings and activity. "Anytime you're going to have something that's new, you're going to have increased chatter," he said.

The Secret Service also has cautioned the public not to assume that any threats against Obama are due to racism. ( *IMO you'd have to be a moron to think most aren't due to it )

The service investigates threats in a wide range. There are "stated threats" and equally dangerous or lesser incidents considered of "unusual interest" - such as people motivated by obsessions or infatuations or lower-level gestures such as effigies of a candidate or an elected president. The service has said it does not have the luxury of discounting anything until agents have investigated the potential danger.

Racially tinged graffiti - not necessarily directed at Obama - also has emerged in numerous reports across the nation since Election Day, prompting at least one news conference by a local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Georgia.

A law enforcement official who also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly said that during the campaign there was a spike in anti-Obama rhetoric on the Internet - "a lot of ranting and raving with no capability, credibility or specificity to it."

There were two threatening cases with racial overtones:

In Denver, a group of men with guns and bulletproof vests made racist threats against Obama and sparked fears of an assassination plot during the Democratic National Convention in August.

Just before the election, two skinheads in Tennessee were charged with plotting to behead blacks across the country and assassinate Obama while wearing white top hats and tuxedos.

In both cases, authorities determined the men were not capable of carrying out their plots.

In Milwaukee, police officials found a poster of Obama with a bullet going toward his head - discovered on a table in a police station.

Chatter among white supremacists on the Internet has increased throughout the campaign and since Election Day.

One of the most popular white supremacist Web sites got more than 2,000 new members the day after the election, compared with 91 new members on Election Day, according to an AP count. The site, stormfront.org, was temporarily off-line Nov. 5 because of the overwhelming amount of activity it received after Election Day. On Saturday, one Stormfront poster, identified as Dalderian Germanicus, of North Las Vegas, said, "I want the SOB laid out in a box to see how 'messiahs' come to rest. God has abandoned us, this country is doomed."

It is not surprising that a black president would galvanize the white supremacist movement, said Mark Potok, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, who studies the white supremacy movement.

"The overwhelming flavor of the white supremacist world is a mix of desperation, confusion and hoping that this will somehow turn into a good thing for them," Potok said. He said hate groups have been on the rise in the past seven years because of a common concern about immigration.

--------

Associated Press writers Lara Jakes Jordan in Washington and Jerry Harkavy in Standish, Maine, contributed to this report.

http://www.truthout.org/111508B

just shows you the amount of stupidity out there.

[Lord Umbarger]

I wouldn't doubt it for a minute. I have heard a lot of people saying way back before he was even close to getting the White House that they thought that he'd get shot if he won. Not only that but, just a few weeks ago they arrested those two Klan members who were planning to do a murder suicide thing on him.

I would venture to say that Obama is probably the most disliked president to date and he hasn't done anything yet! Just imagine what it will be like if he impliments a few programs that aren't popular like the one where he was wanting to all but force college kids to do "public service". If he pushes stuff like that, I'm pretty sure that someone will take a crack at him.

I don't like him, I didn't vote for him and I don't think that he will lead the nation down the right path but, I really wish that people would wait and see what kind of leader he is going to be before they start all that mess. It's sort of like when the left jumped all over Bush, calling him an "idiot" and saying that he looked like a monkey before he was even in office. People really ought to give him a chance to screw up before they start slamming him. Otherwise, all the legitamate dislike for him will have no weight, just like with Bush.

[MasterPo]

This is truly puzzling.

I though he was the one to bring unity to the country?

He's the one who can bridge the gap and heal old wounds.

This must be a mis-report.

[HKCavalier]

I would venture to say that Obama is probably the most disliked president to date and he hasn't done anything yet! Just imagine what it will be like if he impliments a few programs that aren't popular like the one where he was wanting to all but force college kids to do "public service". If he pushes stuff like that, I'm pretty sure that someone will take a crack at him.

Jeez, man, where the heck do you get the idea that Obama is "probably the most disliked president?" He won the election by the largest margin since Bush Sr.--largest Democratic victory since LBJ. Something like 70% of people in this country think the guy can fix our problems--and that's including a lot of folks who didn't even vote for him. You want a disliked President? Look no further than W.--approval rating lower than Nixon when he resigned!

And jeez, you got a twisted-up world view if you believe that Obama would get assassinated over policy issues! You really think those skinheads were concerned about Obama expanding the Peace Corps? Hello? You think that's where the murderous hate is coming from? I will grant you that we are seeing a level of raw hatred toward the President-elect that we haven't seen--as the OP suggests--but that hatred is anything but rational and principled or based on anything Obama would actually do in office other than govern while black.

[HKCavalier]

This is truly puzzling.

I though he was the one to bring unity to the country?

He's the one who can bridge the gap and heal old wounds.

This must be a mis-report.

Pure malice, Po. Is that all you have to offer now?

[MasterPo]

Jeez, man, where the heck do you get the idea that Obama is "probably the most disliked president?" He won the election by the largest margin since Bush Sr.--largest Democratic victory since LBJ. Something like 70% of people in this country think the guy can fix our problems--and that's including a lot of folks who didn't even vote for him. You want a disliked President? Look no further than W.--approval rating lower than Nixon when he resigned

Forunately we still choose leaders by election and not opinion polls.

He got 52% of the popular vote - hardly a resounding landslide.

[MasterPo]

Pure malice, Po. Is that all you have to offer now?

What malice?!

The Messiah, his majesty B. Hussein Obama, campaigned as the only candidate who could heal the wounds of divide in our country.

Doesn't look like much healing to me if he's getting all these threats.

Doctor heal thy self.

[stevewinn]

I hope for Americas sake Obama doesn't get assassinated or come to any harm, to say it would be devastating would be a understatement, could you imagine what would happen if the worst was to happen. I can envisage civil unrest throughout the country, I hope he gets to serve his 4 years, and let the people decide in a election if he's been good or not.

[MasterPo]

I hope for Americas sake Obama doesn't get assassinated or come to any harm, to say it would be devastating would be a understatement, could you imagine what would happen if the worst was to happen. I can envisage civil unrest throughout the country, I hope he gets to serve his 4 years, and let the people decide in a election if he's been good or not.

Agreed.

[Fluffybunny]

What malice?!

The Messiah, his majesty B. Hussein Obama, campaigned as the only candidate who could heal the wounds of divide in our country.

Doesn't look like much healing to me if he's getting all these threats.

Doctor heal thy self.

Do you read your own posts?

[MasterPo]

Do you read your own posts?

Do you deny he said he could heal the wounds that divide the country?

Do you deny he said he would change the image of the U.S. in the world's eyes?

Just holding the man - I mean the Messiah - accountable to his word.

[Splodgenessabounds]

Do you deny he said he could heal the wounds that divide the country?

Do you deny he said he would change the image of the U.S. in the world's eyes?

Just holding the man - I mean the Messiah - accountable to his word.

You do realise that you're the only person around here calling him the messiah. Everyone else calls him President-elect.

At first it was funny. Now it's just making you look sad and bitter.

Don't worry, you'll have your chance to vote him out in 4 years time.

Edited November 16, 2008 by Splodgenessabounds

[acidhead]

You do realise that you're the only person around here calling him the messiah. Everyone else calls him President-elect.

.. more people refer to him as the Messiah, the one, your holiness

only O-baa ma sheeples call him the president-elect

[Splodgenessabounds]

.. more people refer to him as the Messiah, the one, your holiness

only O-baa ma sheeples call him the president-elect

What do you call him then, because you obviously don't consider him to be a saviour and you not a Sheeple either. Oh wait I know, a puppet.

Oh and O-Baa ma, must have really hurt your brain to come with that. Maybe you should lay down and recover for your next deranged rant.

Edited November 16, 2008 by Splodgenessabounds

[ninjadude]

Forunately we still choose leaders by election and not opinion polls.

No we choose a president by electoral college. And in that, he got a LANDSLIDE. You can deny reality all you want.

[acidhead]

Do you deny he said he could heal the wounds that divide the country?

Do you deny he said he would change the image of the U.S. in the world's eyes?

Just holding the man - I mean the Messiah - accountable to his word.

-he also promised to get the Troops outta dodge(Iraq) as soon as he took to the throne

although THAT Promise is definitely on the back burner now and all the Sheeple will

blame it on Bushco now that a Deal has been reached with the Iraqi government to allow

Troop presence on Iraqi soil until 2011.(Troops will ONLY be removed from Iraqi Cities

in mid-2009) This Policy cannot be amended-- that is a condition set into it.

O-baa ma will be lead into office basically wearing HANDCUFFS when Jan.21st rolls around

and the sheeple will point fingers and act as though its not his fault by proclaiming its

the old Bush policies that O-baa ma cannot reverse..

This is CHANGE that you can believe in!

[acidhead]

What do you call him then, because you obviously don't consider him to be a saviour and you not a Sheeple either. Oh wait I know, a puppet.

Oh and O-Baa ma, must have really hurt your brain to come with that. Maybe you should lay down and recover for your next deranged rant.

OOOOOOO Baaaa aaaa maaaaaa

lol lighten man.. the saviour has come to save you

[Splodgenessabounds]

OOOOOOO Baaaa aaaa maaaaaa

lol lighten man.. the saviour has come to save you

Sorry mate my bad, I've been a grumpy git today.

I'm getting the urge to paste Obama's head onto a sheep .

[acidhead]

Sorry mate my bad, I've been a grumpy git today.

I'm getting the urge to paste Obama's head onto a sheep .

lol

we're all in this together

[The Silver Thong]

lol

we're all in this together

Ok so we have no say, we are sheepel and the world is run by a secret group and we don't know who, ok we know of some in the players in the game. My question is what can the people do so we are no longer onder there thumb. It's cool and all to point out the BS in the world goverments and all but really what can be done about it? Even a full out revolt wouldn't change much so what do we do? I see where your comming from but I don't know what your trying to truely tell us.

[Fluffybunny]

Do you deny he said he could heal the wounds that divide the country?

Do you deny he said he would change the image of the U.S. in the world's eyes?

Just holding the man - I mean the Messiah - accountable to his word.

Its funny, you are the one calling him the messiah...the irony is thick on that one. You seem to be so focused on that you cant see level headed.

As for having more threats than other presidents. of course he does...it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that we are a country that has a portion of people who would love nothing more than to go back to 1950's segregation and "separate and unequal" and the very thought of a black president sends them into a rage that is unlike hatred for other presidents we have seen for the past.

I have already seen you take your passive aggressive joy out of the reports of attacks planned on obama. You have said such things in other similar threads. Your comments are rather disturbing, but not surprising.

As for changing the image in the worlds eyes, he is already on his way to doing that, like it or not. He was other world leaders offering things to him, that bush never received before Inauguration.

I didnt vote for the guy. I dont like most of his politics,(Some I do, and some I think he has potential) but I think that he is the president elect and will be leading the country in a few weeks and deserves the benefit of the doubt until he proves otherwise.

The constant "messiah" thing is another example of your style...B. Hussein Obama...no balance...it is so hard to take you seriously when you always go off on such extremes on everything having to do with obama. Obama thinks about an executive order and you think he is trying to be king, even though bush has sign hundreds...I dont get you...

So yeah, he has more threats...there are more idiots in this country than I would like to admit that would like to see harm come to him. There are a lot of people that would love to see disaster come to him, even if it means that the country would pay. And I bet that there are a lot of people that would enjoy seeing physical harm befall him so that they can say that they were right and they obama didnt have what he needed to be the president.

[Vampwitchenstein]

No we choose a president by electoral college. And in that, he got a LANDSLIDE. You can deny reality all you want.

BOO YA!

That was immature of me. I will ponder not doing it again.

*goes*

*returns*

Please M Po, wouldn't all your energy be better channeled into something more positive?

*Edit:

I had considered posting this exact same article/topic, but having been accused of 'bringing up race in EVERY topic' I decided to wait. I also pretty much knew there would be those who jumped right in with their pathetic, bitter and mean spirited comments (and, yes, right on que ) thus turning a potentially meaningful, needed discussion into a repetitive back and forth with one or two individuals that gets absolutely nowhere.

Edited November 16, 2008 by BlondiGeist

[acidhead]

Ok so we have no say, we are sheepel and the world is run by a secret group and we don't know who, ok we know of some in the players in the game. My question is what can the people do so we are no longer onder there thumb. It's cool and all to point out the BS in the world goverments and all but really what can be done about it? Even a full out revolt wouldn't change much so what do we do? I see where your comming from but I don't know what your trying to truely tell us.

Im telling you to go out side and change the world while I sit at home and drink beer and JD and puff on fat philly blunts

got it!?

lol

[The Silver Thong]

Im telling you to go out side and change the world while I sit at home and drink beer and JD and puff on fat philly blunts

got it!?

lol

Damn dude I have been doing that and nothing changes. I'm gona to do the same ahhhhh............thats better LOL

[MasterPo]

No we choose a president by electoral college. And in that, he got a LANDSLIDE. You can deny reality all you want.

Funny. You didn't say that about Bush in 2000.

NTL, since the college isn't a one-for-one vote it's not indicitive of a landslide. But nice try.