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Is Obama safe?
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Likened to Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy for his message of hope, many Barack Obama supporters can’t help but worry about him meeting a similar demise. The fear had gone so far as to prompt concerns among advisers that voters might not support Obama’s candidacy “out of a fierce desire to protect him.” With a security force that is close in size to that of a sitting president, however, Obama seems confident and urges concerned followers to “stop worrying”:
“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.”
But Gerald Posner, who authored books on the assassinations of Kennedy and King, says Obama’s safety still scares many “who think of the possibility of an assassination in a different way. He represents so much hope and change. That is exactly what was taken away from us in the 1960s.”
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A matter of life
This assertion is patently absurd. Obama would be no more at risk than any other President of the United States.
Even now, McCain is just as likely to be assassinated by an extreme leftist whacko as Obama is likely to be assassinated by an extreme rightist whacko.
Once or twice a week I stop by the home of Jesse and Pam to spend about 20 minutes with them watching Lifetime Television on their big screen. They are an African American couple in their 50’s who take loving care of a first-grade grandson. Jesse works as a mover for a furniture company and Pam is a drive-in order taker at the 4 a.m. shift at MacDonalds.
Jesse is angry at Obama’s candidacy and wants him to lose because he thinks we’re seeing the beginnings of an assassination story in slow motion. If you’re familiar with the pace of Lifetime Television, you know what he means. These are people with the memory of elephants.
Hundreds of thousads of our service men put thier lives on the line in service to our country every single day in the face of true unpredictable danger in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
In 1981, a great politician who carried tremendous hope and effected real change for the good was the target of an assassin. He faced it with good humor and thank God he survived the attempt.
I have heard people discussing this and that if he is elected he will be assassinated. I don’t think that should keep him from running for president. None of us knows our time. I could be hit by a bus crossing a street.
He has the makings of a reformer, and reformers tend to make fringe elements very angry, so I’d say he’s maybe a bit more likely to be a target than some presidents.
But I also think he’s got the right attitude about it, expressed in the quote, and he’ll be as well protected as possible, just as all presidents are.
JOEL MARK: In 1981, a great politician who carried tremendous hope and effected real change for the good . . .
The 2008 candidate who will fit that bill is clearly McCain! He’s the real “renegade” so what’s up with the Secret Service — they better redo their priorities ASAP. Right, Joel?
Drudge ran a story last week where the Secret Service told the local police department to stop screeing an Obama rally for weapons. The reason: they looked friendly.
“. . .the makings of a reformer. . .”
What? Because his slogan is “Change”? Anyone can say that word.
Bobby Kennedy was assasinated by a Palestinian, Sirhan Sirhan, his brother by Lee Harvey Oswald, a communist who had spent time in Castro’s Cuba. Each assasin had his own (more compatible with left wing ideology) agenda. Neither Kennedy was assasinated for representing “hope.”
There is no violent repressive anti-change pattern into which Obama as potential victim would fit. I don’t believe Obama as president would be safe for America, but he need not fear any mythical anti-change bogeymen.
The presidency is a high-risk job. More men die in office than in any typical four-year period of a man’s life (10% have died by assassination alone, with additional assassination attempts).
I do think his risks of assassination are greater than another president or candidate, but all face risk. Anyone who doesn’t accept the risk isn’t right for the job. If he is elected and then assassinated, we’d see racial riots like we’ve never seen them–which is one reason I think he might face a higher risk of assassination, as some people so like to “stir the embers” of racial unrest.
But I do think the bigger danger is to the country, not to the man, if he is elected.
The best you can do in an open society is be aware and be prepared. Obama has had Secret Service protection for awhile now. While there is an increase danger for him (for several reasons), I trust that our Secret Service is up to the task at hand. I understand people’s fears, especially among African-Americans. But we shouldn’t let fear stop him or us. Obama represents an opportunity for America to take a step forward.
One more point.
The use of intemperate language such as “traitor” and “Hitler like” that’s coming from the conservatives in this country increases the possibility that some nut will do something stupid. When you have people like Glen Beck saying that a vote for the Democrats is a vote for the terrorists, you radicalize people to the point where they think they have to take action. It could also send a mentally unstable person over the edge.
In light of these very real dangers, one wishes that our conservative friends would return to a more civil level of discourse.
Sorry, I just couldn’t help hetting this picture in my mind of Laurence Olivier poking around in Dustin Hoffman’s mouth, asking him:
“Is Obama … safe?”
Obama ought to be in no more danger than any other President or Presidential candidate) … at least as long as he doesn’t have Hilary as his VP.
Anlir - It is the Left that has been throwing “Hitler” and “fascist” around for a decade or so. “Traitor” does tend to come from the Right (although the hatred of America common with many on the Left might makes the use of “traitor” an honorific with them).
Anlir, did you overplay your hand? I’m pretty sure that Hitler is much more popular with leftists than rightists. That makes McCain just as susceptible to violence as Barack Obama.
Sorry Kyle, but there have already been several references from conservatives on WorldMag to Obama being “Hilter like”.
*****
KRM,
We liberals love this country just as much as conservatives do. To accuse us of hating America simply because we disagree with the war in Iraq (or any other policy of the government) is another example of the low-down, dirty, despicable tactics that conservatives have become infamous for. Conservatives are the ones who are being un-American because they won’t tolerate any dissent. Calling people “traitors”, questioning people’s loyalty, and trying to stamp out dissent are all hallmarks of fascism. It’s too bad our conservative friends have resorted to those tactics.
Does anyone remember the brouhaha over the name the Secret Service gave Jesse Jackson in his 1988 run for prez? They called him Pontiac. When that came to light, black activists claimed it was a reference to an old racist joke: What does Pontiac stand for? Poor Old N***er Thinks It’s A Cadillace.
I’d never heard the joke, and hardly anyone I know had either. I imagine it was mainly an inside joke amongst black people. But giving him that name was rather suspicious.
Anlir plays the “Hitler” card! He must be out of arguments.
Is Anlir a liberal?
Ha ha… Yeah.
I do think that Obama is at a greater risk than Hillary or McCain. A black man trying to become president could certainly anger racist groups in society. His message of hope is also a target for the fringe element.
Plus Obama tends to go places in huge crowds. McCain’s small gatherings are not as difficult to protect.
“Is Obama Safe” is a very nice sequel to “Angry White Men”. I always enjoy double feature day at the WMB bijou.
Anlir writes: “In light of these very real dangers, one wishes that our conservative friends would return to a more civil level of discourse.”
Anlir, I almost find this funny. I’ve been visiting/participating on a liberal blog for the past 3 years and I’ve read my fair share of less than civil discourse. Many times, every day.
I’ve noticed you’ve gotten away from your “Why can’t we all just get along” speech? What happened?
VS,
You’re right - liberal blogs can be just as bad, if not worse. When I read some of the stuff on dailykos I get weary of it because it’s just as mindless and ignorant as some of the stuff I read on conservative blogs.
I have little tolerance for extremists at either end of the spectrum. Sure I cut my liberal brethren a little more slack. But if you read my comments for any length of time you will see that I’ve been quite willing to admit that my side has it’s shortcomings and hypocrisies. What I can’t stand is people who act like their side is as pure as the driven snow and the other side is always wrong. Absolutists, no matter what their politics are, drive me nuts.
So yeah, I’m a little more onry these days, but that’s because the ideologues are becoming more vocal on here again. Alas, I suppose the closer we get to the election, the worse it’s gonna get. I have my ups and downs. Sometimes I feel like taking on the ideologues and sometimes I think it’s hopeless to even try. Right now I feel like taking them on. In a few days I’ll probably go back to ignoring them again.
It was surreal that Jodie Foster’s admirer, John Hinckley, shot Reagan to impress Miss Foster without a clue that she’s a lesbian.
Good news for Obama fans. Larry Sinclair, the homosexual who claimed that he did cocaine and had gay sex with Obama in 1999, has failed two polygraph tests on the matter.
Anlir - I did not say “all” leftists for a very good reason, because “all” leftists do not hate America.
The hate America crowd does exist on the left though. They are “one world” and anti-nationalist in focus - and America is the most evil place in the world. If you don’t acknowledge their at all, then you are (a) ignorant (b) in denial or (c) willfully covering up for them.
Ideologues = those who disagree with Anlir
Non-ideologues = Anlir and those who agree with him
KRM,
The “hate America” crowd exists on the right too. They hold in great contempt our Constitutional rights and freedoms and work to undermine them. If you don’t acknowledge them at all, then you are (a) ignorant (b) in denial or (c) willfully covering up for them.
It’s a two-way street.
*****
Kyle A,
Your attempts to paint me into an extremist, absolutist corner are belied by my long record on here. While you can do a “drive by” on me in a blog or two, I have confidence that over the long haul my record will hold up to your ridiculous charges.
Anlir writes: “Alas, I suppose the closer we get to the election, the worse it’s gonna get.”
I hear you and I agree. It’s very disheartening.
But I still must maintain that you are treated with much more respect and courtesty here than I am when I go to the other side. They only have to see my name and they’re attacking me, telling me I’ve said this or that and it’s so obvious they haven’t even read what I’ve posted or they don’t listen. (With the exception of the blog host/moderator and I will give him credit for being fair - although still very liberal.)
I just realized how late it is (for me!). I’m off to bed!
The only threat that Obama has is from Hillary.
I wouldn’t put anything past her desire to get power- even if it meant getting rid of him.
I have often thought of this, considering how many people died mysteriously while the Clintons were in power.
Anlir - Fine and dandy. So will you now get to acknowledging you wrong wrong on the original point that you were obfuscating to avoid addressing head on.
Night Train at #26: Good news for Obama fans. Larry Sinclair, the homosexual who claimed that he did cocaine and had gay sex with Obama in 1999, has failed two polygraph tests on the matter.
Well duh. The accusation was too ridiculous to believe in the first place.
Annelise French at #31: I have often thought of this, considering how many people died mysteriously while the Clintons were in power.
Was it Hillary on the grassy knoll?
As a former muslim, Barack Hussein O will most likely be targetted by a jihadi fanatic long before a Redneck Bubba bigot takes a shot at him.