Early Show's Smith Bizarrely Hints At Obama Assassination

Senator Ted Kennedy, having endorsed Barack Obama for President, has begun his barnstorming on behalf of the candidate in earnest. This morning found Kennedy on CBS' The Early Show, where anchor Harry Smith, apparently lacking the wit or the wherewithal to pursue a more substantive line of questioning, took the opportunity to do a little whistling past the Kennedy family graveyard:

SMITH: When you see that enthusiasm though, and when you see the generational change that seems to be taking place before our eyes, does it make you at all fearful?

Naturally, Kennedy really didn't catch on to what Smith was driving at, and responded, "I think that what people are basically saying is that they want a new day and a new generation."

Lacking a more heavy-handed way of getting his point across, like, say, whipping out the Zapruder film or something, Smith delicately waded back into the matter of political assasination:

SMITH: I just...ahhh--I think what I was trying to say is, sometimes agents of change end up being targets, as you well know, and that was why I was asking if you were at all fearful of that.

Kennedy elected not to speculate on the matter, for once demonstrating that the repetition of campaign talking points can help to paper over a host of media sins.

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Obama previously addressed the matter of personal security in an interview with Brian Williams in early January, saying, "I think that every presidential candidate, certainly every president these days-- is a potential target. And that comes with the job. And you take the precautions that are necessary and then you go about your business."

Comments

[Bluedanube]

Do corrupt, complacent and complicit MSM pundits and "journalists" fear having their mellons in someone's crosshairs.

[ResistanceisFutile]

Obama should be careful.

This country is full of nutbags who work for the FBI, CIA, NSA, Blackwater and lord knows what other clandestin Departments of the Government.

[MisoPretty]

That was just the beginning

[BrickSykes]

A message needs to be sent to any present or future enemy of Barak Obama. The message is this: The American People are aware of the "Realities" surrounding John Kennedy's Murder. The years since 1963 have allowed the citizens of the United States to solidly refute the fantasy of a single gunman, Mr. Lee Harvey Oswald, planning and carrying out the event that has crippled Democracy ever since.

Millions of Americans will consciously have Barak Obama's "Back" every second of every day from now until January 20, 2009, as well as ever after! Any individual, or group of individuals, with any such notion brewing in their heads had best let them Drop! Many Millions of Americans will be physically "Up In Arms" if Anyone, ANYONE, lays a hand on that man. Waterboarding and a death by natural causes will be far from the reality of how any would be assassin will be treated. This is NOT a Threat, but, it is at least a Warning!

America is on the verge of Real Change, and one of the Most Important changes will be the elimination of the mentality that could result in those kinds of acts. There will not be room on the Face of the Earth for anyone attempting "to manage the Future" in that way!!

Brick

[DebB]

It's to scare us away from voting for him. All these little tweaks the MSM keeps putting out there - like using his middle name on talk shows. What assholes. Oh well they must really be afraid of him.

[Ginzaman]

First of all, the obvious. Just by being a person of color, Obama is a target and will continue to be one (whether he likes it or not). What really bugs me is the MSM's spin of "The Great Race Debate." It's obvious that they'll do anything to make sure that Hillary wins so the powers that be maintain their stranglehold on the country.

Now, Bill Clinton actually called Obama "The Black Candidate." And, have any MSM CEO's stopped to think that by spinning this "debate" about race they might actually be encouraging some nutcase out there to take a shot at Obama? Then again, what the hell do they care.

[tkk]

The media needs to just back off this kind of crazy talk, they'll put ideas in some idiot's head.

The truth is that every Democratic president is at risk, but the media should not encourage this.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

I am so glad I don't watch that tripe. I might have thrown something at my TV. Smith is a douche.

[racom]

Just another dumb SOB, MSM is full of them!!!

[yappnmutt]

its a reasonable question that should have been asked but the more appropriate persons to ask would be those involved in the civil rights movement who witnessed the assassinations and beatings of their brothers and sisters because of the color of their skin and their politics. the danger to obama is real but it comes from the common lunatics encouraged by the repugnant party to exert their "white" rights in their red state of mind.
obama has shown nothing of the status quo fighting battles of the kennedy brothers that ultimately earned them both a bullet to the brain.

[1dogs2]

I happened to see this appalling episode live as I was flipping channels. Before Smith even asked his ill-considered question, I was struck by his body language -- arms crossed, closed, school-masterish. Then came the question, and when Kennedy blew by it, Smith repeated it. I'm still shaking my head over how irresponsible the MSM has become. It's not as though Smith is so young that he might not recogonize the implications of what he said for anyone old enough to remember 1963 and 1968. He is simply devoid of even a modicum of decency and judgment. Shame on him and shame on CBS.

[Leonard]

Make sure you let your feelings be known to Harry at The Early Show...I did. Really pathetic..really

And I also think it is awful that all the media covered the picture of Obama and Hillary saying he snubbed Hillary..not so..again unprofessional and trying to get people to fight. He was turning to answer a question of Claire's.

[boomer1949]

Mr. Smith may have been insensitive -- to a point. I've been around long enough to remember those who, in the past, sought change and a new beginning for this country. Each paid a high price for those visions and ideals.

As I read or listened to each of the Kennedy endorsements (beginning with Caroline), the issues Mr. Smith raised, crossed my mind as well. To ignore the past, or that the possibility exists, is complete and utter ignorance.

[hockeynut]

I agree i think smith is an idiot to but i do worry about Barack ,there alotta people who don't wanna see him be President such as the

KKK
NEOCONS

and thats worries me,Barack will bring those to justice for 9/11 and that worries the Neocons for sure

[SaintDharma32]

*facepalm* You know, this season is the hardest for me because for the first time I am without any major cable access during the political season. (Yes, there was that time in 92 when I didn't even have a TV, but I was still listening to NPR and what-not.)

Point is, I stopped watching Network News a while ago mainly because of the rampant stupidity that seems to be apparent, and Mr. Smith's words just adds more to the argument.

Saint Dharma