The topic that we should be discussing is Harry Smith and the role he plays in scripting A&E's Biography, the show that exposes Smith's far right wing leanings.

The night before the November 2004 Presidential Election, Biography aired profiles of George Bush and Al Gore.

The Bush profile was kind, sweet, and very forgiving of any perceived short comings. It ended with Smith asking Bush Sr. & Barbara why people should voted for George W. instead of Al Gore. The profile didn't go into Bush's failures as an oil industry exec, or how his father pulled strings to get him into the Harvard business school with substandard grades. It didn't question how he was able to serve is required time in military service working on his dad's friend's political campaign.

The Gore profile was brutal. With regard to character references, A&E asked right wing political commentators like John McLaughlin to describe Al Gore. It included untrue information, like claiming that Gore said he invented the Internet. The profile concluded that Gore's tireless lifelong obsession with wanting to be President had turned him into a pathological liar who couldn't make decisions.

I didn't watch it, but I gather that the Biography profile of Condelezza Rice also sidestepped any possible negatives and portrayed a 100% rosey portrait of the Secretary.

When Smith does something bizarre, like suggesting that seeing parallels between Obama and RFK and JFK means that the assasination of Obama must be pending, he's really digging for fodder to use to attack Obama at a later date.

The real question is why Smith is on CBS instead of FOX?

I'm also troubled by the implicitly racist undercurrent of the MSM's "concern" for Barack's safety. Women are not immune to assassination attempts, as proven by the recent passing of Benazir Bhutto. Why is no one in the media expressing concern for Hilary's safety?

It is yet another attempt to make America fearful of electing a Black President. I think Barack's answer to this question is right on the money.

I have to say I am about fed up with the these supposed newscasters, reporters, journalist. Everything in the MSM has become like reading The Globe or The Star (are they still being published?)
It's the new porno---broadcast and cable news. . .
---And by the way, were Ford and Reagan agents of change? (People popped off at them.)
Stupid, heartless and lazy question.
Shame on Smith--I used to respect him.

It may be gauche to broach this subject...but I cannot believe that it is not on many people's minds. Come on...this is the U S of A...and there are plenty of racists afoot who might be capable of something. I'd like to think it was otherwise, but I can't be that idealistic.

I'm not going to deny that there are real threats to Obama, but the question is distasteful and pointless. All you do by asking the question is allow the thought to enter the minds of those who may be willing to commit the act and make others more afraid it may occur. Whether or not an extremist with a gun will make an attempt on Obama or not should not effect your vote. By allowing that fear to impact your vote you allow the extremist to succeed at exactly what he was attempting to do in the first place. JFK, RFK, and MLK paid a heavy price for their causes, but had they sat back and gave into the fear and threats made against them they wouldn't have been able to impact the world the way they did. Let's not forget all it takes for evil to succeed is for good men (and women) to do nothing.

Whether you vote for Clinton or Obama it should be based on your own beliefs and principles. Don't allow other people to influence your decision whether it be peer pressure or fear of extremist action.

What a tacky question! It's one thing to wonder and worry a bit about the crazies that are out there, but it's quite another to ask Teddy Kennedy this question! Here is a man whose two brothers were killed, and HE STILL RAN AND SERVED HIMSELF! Who BETTER to speak to the issue of NOT LETTING FEAR dictate your actions???

Some subjects are better left alone. Prolonging this discussion only opens the idea to more and more people. Sooner or later some nutcake will begin to think it is a legitimete concern and will try to act on it.

Harry Smith has always struck me as a solid journalist with a remarkably (relatively) modest ego. I'm afraid it was a legitimate question, and the prospect frightens me to--forgive the word choice--death. I was 16 when Robert Kennedy was shot and that generated a sense of despair that still hasn't left. (Add to that JFK, Martin Luther King, John Lennon, and so on...) My wife can hear me exclaim SHIT! every time another one of our servicemen is killed in Iraq. I guess I take this Death business a little personally.

Tasteless line of questioning from Harry Smith. Tasteless and insensitive. I hope Senator Kennedy ripped him a new one off air for that b.s.

Why would an anchor for a popular show think he could ask a question like that without repercussions?By that I mean getting time off without pay,at a minimum.As others have posted, all politicians could be the target of some disillusioned or crazy person.Sometimes the same could be said of journalists and TV personalities that make strange and baiting observations.Again,why no repercussions from the network honchos?This is the state of the MSM now,idiocy is rewarded and promoted.Bottom line above all else.This moron should at the very least have to make a private and public apology.And not one of those half assed Republican,Rush Limbaugh type non-apology apologies.This is something that all MSM personalities would take to heart and realize their ignorance could become their undoing.All this talk about taking responsibilty is just that,talk.

Good grief, what an asshole Smith is to ask such questions. How does anybody that witless and tasteless get to be a network news anchor?

Political assasinations destroy not only an individual they destroy democracy, they destroy the right of the people to choose their own political destiny for bad or good. The absolute least that any individual elevated to the presidency should have a right to expect is loyalty from his electorate and his government. If other presidents were cut down in the prime of their lives and careers by person or persons unknown then it should be without question the evil actions of a mentally unfit person or a foreign enemy. There should never be even the slightest thought that it could have been the actions of a government agent or agency. NEVER!

I am worried too that it could be a possibility.
He needs a running mate who is just as ideological as he is.
There is plenty of bad powerful people who wouldnt like him to be winning.
I hope he keeps his protection up to speed

I've never heard of Harry Smith but he sounds more incompetent than actually evil.

Mebbe he could get a job at Fox Clueless News.

I think we are all aware that there are threats against all candidates and I'm sure that Obama knows that in this country we have some real red necks out there that might try something, but the biggest threats will come from the opposition of change, let's be real about that we have been living under a corrupt government for years now, I wouldn't put it passed them to if they can't steal the election to cause harm.
I think it was a terrible question to put to T. Kennedy and I hope that this guy pays for his stupidity.