Concerns for Obama's Safety

[AnnieBW]

In Memories of a Painful Past, Hushed Worry About Obama
By Jeff Zeleny
The New York Times

Monday 25 February 2008

Dallas - There is a hushed worry on the minds of many supporters of Senator Barack Obama, echoing in conversations from state to state, rally to rally: Will he be safe?

Mr. Obama has had Secret Service agents surrounding him since May 3, the earliest a candidate has ever been provided protection. (He reluctantly gave in to the insistent urging of Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, and others in Congress.) As his rallies have swelled in size, his security has increased, coming close to rivaling that given to a sitting president.

His wife, Michelle Obama, voiced concerns about his safety before he was elected to the Senate. Three years ago, she said she dreaded the day her husband received Secret Service protection, because it would mean serious threats had been made against him.

Among friends and advisers, danger is something Mr. Obama rarely mentions.

"It's not something that I'm spending time thinking about day to day," said Mr. Obama, who has been given the Secret Service nickname Renegade, a way for agents to quickly identify him. "I made a decision to get into this race. I think anybody who decides to run for president recognizes that there are some risks involved, just like there are risks in anything."

More at Truthout: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022508R.shtml

[AZBlue]

1. k/r

[conservdem]

2. It concerns me.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

3. I have read on other boards because Obama abandoned his Muslim religion that was reason for death ..

and even a "fatwah" could be called on him.

wtf?

[backscatter712]

9. Please don't encourage right wing memes.

Obama never was a Muslim. He is currently a member of Trinity Church for Christ.

[jackson_dem]

20. He isn't. He is talking about the idiocy known as Sharia

Under that form of "law" they don't care whether Obama ever bought the self proclaimed "one true religion." I never was a Muslim either but since my father was I am considered to be an apostate.

[scheming daemons]

11. other boards = FreeRepublic

Tell the truth, EWD.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

14. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to worship me.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

22. lmao columbo

[jackson_dem]

16. It is

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostasy_in_Islam

[ElsewheresDaughter]

19. they think I made this shit up...they may call a "fatwa" on him

[jackson_dem]

21. Yup

They love to tout how Obama's roots will allegedly "heal" the rift between the US and Muslims but they cry bloody murder when the truth about it is discussed. If you are voting for someone based on an examination of their biography and then trying to determine which American president the Muslim world will magically fall in love with Obama is the last one to choose. The bottom line is it doesn't matter much who is our president as far as the Muslim world is concerned but to the extent it does you should have voted for Edwards, Hillary, Kucinich, Gravel, Richardson, Biden, or Dodd. Obama is also the only presidential candidate who has ignited riots in a Muslim country.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

24. now there is a bucket of truth....but they are ignorant to these things.. they need schooling

[Window]

29. Oh, for God's sake.

He has never been a damned Muslim

[Megahurtz]

4. I'm concerned too,

even though I don't like to say it.

[rosetta627]

5. This subject freaks me out

The powers that be do not want an outsider like him crashing their party.

[NastyRiffraff]

6. I don't support Obama but

I certainly hope he stays safe. Hillary too.

There's a lot of hate going around in this campaign. Some knuckledraggers can't stand the thought of either a Black or a woman president.

[conservdem]

12. Thanks. I hope HC stays safe too.

[WHAT]

30. I hope Chelsie stays safe...

I'm not a Hillary supporter, but I've thought that hurting Chelsie might be something that a crazy man who hates Hillary might do.

I guess I'm on the nervous side but Chelsie seems to sparkle and because she has become involved in her mother's campaign someone might target her. Does she get protection, too?

[AnnieBW]

31. I'm worried about her, too

Probably more than Obama, since there's been 15 years of venom spewed at her by the wingnuts. I wouldn't be surprised if someone on their side tried it.

[sniffa]

7. I don't appreciate this constant theme trotted out here

Most just seem like wishful thinking on the poster's part.

[Xithras]

23. Because it's a persistent worry.

FYI, the head of the KKK has already stated that Obama will be killed if he's elected. The danger is real.

[sniffa]

25. Yeah, and how many people have declared that for every President

and some that have tried? Sure it's an issue, but it's an issue for everyone, and to constantly put this theme out there only serves one purpose: voter suppression. This is not a new "fear" and has been trotted out on DU and elsewhere for months.

[Xithras]

28. Maybe, but most don't face the kind of overt threats he does.

I invite you to watch the video yourself. As an Obama supporter, this sent chills down my spine: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=665_1180669232

The leader of the most powerful racist organization in America, an organization that has killed countless of blacks throughout its history, said flat out "If that man is elected President, he'll be killed sure as hell." All presidents and presidential hopefuls face threats, including threats to their lives, but few have faced this kind of overt and open threat. This is not Joe Racist after three too many at the bar, but the "international imperial wizard" of the KKK itself.

It should not be ignored. And yet you have the secret service scaling back security at rallies!

[AnnieBW]

32. Excuse me?

How dare you assume to know what I'm thinking, let alone think something like that? If this is what DU has sunk to, I'm outta here.

[sniffa]

35. Fine

I doubt you mean it though.

I find these kinds of threads more disgusting than the usual garbage of long debunked smears against our candidates. Seriously, it's beyond the fucking pale. I can't understand how these continuous threads aren't berated for the shit they are. I used to just alert on these, but it seems I apparently have to speak up.

If you are this worried about this, then either see a therapist, or think again before posting these things. It's not helpful at all. At best, you freak a bunch of people out, and what does that serve? At worst, you either discourage some voters or volunteers to get involved, or maybe as it used to be, freak some voters into choosing another candidate.

[Georgie_92]

8. I'm worried about it too.

sigh

[democrattotheend]

10. Hate to say it, but I am worried too

The night before Super Tuesday I dreamt that he won the California primary and then got shot by white supremacists. I kind of wish the first part of the dream had come true (winning California, that is) but am very glad the second part didn't happen! But yeah, I worry about it...I'm glad he has a Secret Service detail almost as big as Bush's though.

[Iktomiwicasa]

13. It seems that every time...

a potential leader rises above the pack with a strong message, especially a person of color, the PTB take them out. That has happened with my people many many times at the hands of the Government. Here on the rez we have sent up prayers for his safety in our ceremonies.

[paperbag_ princess]

15. I think about it often

There are a lot of crazies out there.

[TheDonkey]

17. I'm afraid Hillary will try to stab him in the debate.

She seems very upset lately.

[greguganus]

27. I heard she carries a knitting needle hidden in the waistband of her pantsuit. n/t

[Raine]

I hate to even think about it

cause it scares me so much. :scared:

[Thrill]

18. DU has sunk so low these days

People post Right Wing garbage on this board with no shame. unreal. Never thought this board would get this way

[AnnieBW]

33. It was in the NYT

And cross-posted from Truthout. That's hardly right-wing. And FYI, I voted for Obama.

[northzax]

26. yes, I am sure he hates it

every political hates secret service protection. How awful to never wait at another stoplight? To never sit in traffic? To have anything, and everything, come to you?

I love the 'reluctantly gave in' meme. Bullshit. He's a politician, and security means you have arrived. If he didn't want it, he could have refused it. It is all part of the 'change' theme. He is no more at risk than any candidate, less probably than someone like Hillary, who is hated by people in her own party. Claiming there are serious threats and talking about worrying about it is playing the game well. For anyone who thinks Hillary played the first race card, here is evidence it was played by obama a year ago. And by his wife in 04. He's not the first black senator, not even from his state, did carol mosely-Braun fear for her life when elected to that seat? And talk about it publically? Come on.

Why would there be threats and danger? Because of his speeches? Because of his record? Or because he is black? What do you think the campaign wants toy to think when they talk about this? What does mrs. Obama want you to think? That she feared for his life because he voted against capping interest rates on payday loans? Or because of his race? Who's playing the card now?

[skooooo]

34. There are things like this in ebay and other places

http://cgi.ebay.com/Anti-Barack-Obama-Choice-3-Button-Political-Vote-Osama_W0QQitemZ270214554191QQihZ017QQcategoryZ50790QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem