Obama's Motorcade Interrupted By Passing Car

Barack Obama's motorcade had an unexpected occurrence while ferrying the president-elect to a security briefing at Chicago FBI headquarters Thursday morning.

As the motorcade pulled onto Van Buren, towards the Loop, a couple in a tan sedan tried to drive around the heavily-armed line of vehicles, wrote pool reporter P.J. Hufstutter of the Los Angeles Times:

The SUV cut the car off immediately, and the security team aimed their weapons at the car. The driver and passenger in the sedan stopped, and looked stunned -- until the male driver appeared to understand what was happening (your pool reporter could see him mouth "Obama"). The motorcade continued on. The sedan remained stopped, near the side of the road. [...] Some of the drivers here in Chicago do not seem to understand that a) the Chicago police car at the end of the president-elect's motorcade is serious about having traffic pull over when the officers flash their lights and hit their sirens, and b) it's not a great idea to jump ahead of traffic by trying to cut around the black SUV filled with five heavily-armed secret service CAT members.

Comments

[watermelon]

Rush Limpbaugh is telling people to buy guns. Where in the hell are they getting this information? When or where did Obama say he'd take away people's guns? That's bullshit. This is another fear-mongering BS story concockted by the republicans. And you wonder why they are no longer in power :/

[dartagnan]

My local TV news had a spot the other day featuring a local gun dealer saying people should buy guns now because Obama "is gonna be the biggest gun-grabber in history." Don't know whether he was just trying to boost sales or actually believed it himself. Of course Obama has said nothing about confiscating guns or even regulating them. These right-wing loonies exist in a reality-free zone.

[Emlyn]

Although I don't think Obama is going to "take the guns" away from these idiots (I wish he would), I do believe that AK40's should not be sold to private interests in this country. Personally, I'm for gun control.

[StandUpAmerica08]

Carry on!

[placeyourvote]

Reminds me of when my sons played college football, and they had police excorts to all the games. I followed the buses one time from the hotel and one Highway partol forgot to tell a patrolman up ahead who was already on the freeway, once it was told, the officer gave us a thumbs up and let us follow the buses. but I'm glad you can't be to careful with the president and these nuts, most of them are not screwed tight

[oneblackvote]

Thank You Secret Service, keep our President safe.

[juniper76]

Are they supposed to be mouthing the name of the person that is being protected? I think not, but I know nothing about this business. All I know is that I will probably have to be stopped riding up 16th all the time now! At least until Jan 20.

[livingston1]

The drive of the car realized the SUV was carrying Obama and mouthed his name.

[runnerin1]

What was this driver thinking??????

[noir]

Wonder if the sedan needs fumigating cause I certain the seats were soiled!!!LOL!!!

[UShudKnow]

C-

[AZ85283]

The President (and President-elect) of the US are the most important people in the world and somebody whose self importance is known only them is going to cut them off in traffic and think they will survive? They're lucky they didn't get shot. You can't miss a presidential motorcade either --it takes up the whole block. How stupid, but that's big city drivers.

[Swirl123]

UGH!! I've been a democrat since 1987 when I turned 18. I voted democrat every presidential election...HOWEVER....I lost a couple of times, but, I respect!!! the President whomever they are! To be honest, I wouldn't walk across the street to see, speak to, or shake President Bush's hand, however, if Mr. Bush walked past me, and I saw a gun pointed at him, I would throw myself to take the bullet!! It is not the individual, it is the office of the Presidency I ALWAYS respect!!! Unfortunately in our GREAT country, we have nuts here! The media, the internet, the newspapers, etc. will tell you when a President (or President-elect) will be in town....sorry for YOUR inconvience!!! The Secret Service is doing their JOB!!! which you and I pay for, regardless who wins!

[RatgurlSD]

How very kind of you to takethebullet for someone like Bush - after all, it was his activities over the past 8 years that led the way for civil discourse amongst Americans. Attitude reflects leadership.

[smoovejef]

We share that view. I too would take a bullet for the president, whomever it may be. I must note, however, that I would take it for President Obama with a smile.

[JimboSlice]

I would never take a bullet for Bush. I would never put myself on the line for that man.

That said, I would never even think of physical harm on anyone, it is demeaning to the whole human race, and it is why I hate Bush for all the violence he has inflicted around the world.

[oommoore]

Although I respect you for being willing to take one for Bush, I can't say that I would. If the b_ullet ain't meant for me, I sure as heck don't want it. Although I highly respect the office, Bush took the job knowing the risk.

[mpgarr]

This incident simply illustrates one thing--the Secret Service is doing what they were established to do--protect our top leaders---until John McCain lost his bid for president Tuesday night----he had the same sort of protective detail surrounding him and had some dumbo done the same thing to his motorcade-----the same thing would have happened.

I have seen presidential candidates for years and they have all had such protection---I recall seeing Ronald Reagan speaking before a crowd on the grounds of the State Capital Building in Columbia, SC back in 1980--before Reagan had become the Repulbican nominee----he was still one of a few at that point-- but he had a full detail protecting him.

There were sharpshooters up on the roofs of the buildings surrounding the square dressed either in civilian police tactical gear or in military combat gear.

I cannot believe the ignorance of so many people---of course Barack Obama is going to have a strong protective cordon around him---I bet his is going to be one of the most robust such protective details in the history of the Secret Service!!

The freakin' stupidity and ignorance of far too many people just gets me!!! Absolutely astounding!!!!

[Warthog]

People, please get real. The law enforcement entities have a protocol that they rigidly follow. Anyone is free to query the protocols, and even request that they be changed, but the protocols were established for hundreds of solid reasons.

[STG 44]

We all know that Obama is an anti-gun politician, so why does he choose to be protected by MEN WITH GUNS? Is his life worth more than ours is? We believe in equality in this country don't we, so don't we all have the SAME right to self defense? Any government that will not trust it's citizens with arms will never earn the trust of it's citizens.

[Jules1]

First off, he is not anti-gun, second, he is almost President, many threats come his way, do you want them to fight off a would be attacker with guns or their wits??????? Where did you get the idea he was against guns, might polish up and read his website. He is not against guns, he protects the 2nd amendment

[STG 44]

I kinda thought none of us should have to fight off a would be attacker with our wits. My Florida CCW is recognized by 30+ states but not in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois. What will Pres. Obama do to insure national ccw reciprocity, like we do with driver's licenses?

[Trill]

STG_44 put a sock in it....Or, better yet...shut the h*** up!

[Nikola Tesla]

crybaby.

[mpgarr]

In re: The comments of STG_44
WTF???

Another dumb ass conservative tyring to be funny----

[IMMA WAKE]

Oh...he needs protection all right. There are too many loons running wild. I know that some people are going to find any reason to critize Obama. Some people don't need to have guns. They are not using them for protection. They are using them to harm others. Welcome to the planet. This must be your first day.

[rdiaz921]

completely irrational reasoning...republican?

[filo]

This is a brand new troll who is making stupid comments to get people riled up.

[lj9283]

Probably a continuation of right wing 527 org staffers posting lies, lies, and more lies. These organizations are currently working at tweaking the fear of the pro gun folks. I wish they'd fire the punks.

[BillMelater]

Obama is not anti-gun. Who told you that? Limpbutt and Shamitty?

[just4shiggles]

What a ridiculous post.

[DosaHut]

What? Obama is not anti gun. In fact, I wish he WAS! Just because some other Dems try to take guns off the streets, does not mean they all do.

You sound like a Limbaugh follower. They think things that have absolutely no basis or fact. Just think something because, well, who needs a reason, right?

[UShudKnow]

OBAMA murdered my puppy, with a GUN! What a hypocrite....

[dac253]

We should take your gun and hit you in the head with it, dumb@ss.

[michaelsmolder]

You are an IDIOT. Have you ever heard of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Jerry Ford, and Ronald Regan?
And Obama is not against guns, just IDIOT's having them !

[shukurac]

I don't recall Obama running for president on anything concerning anti-guns. Even those agains personal use of guns are not against the use of guns be police and other security officers. Furthermore, you must come from a place where no one's safety is ever in jeopardy. As president-elect and president, Mr. Obama's life will be threatened more than once every day. He has already received over 500 death threats and that is only what the USSS is willing to admit. As the first Afri-Anglo president, he will need more protection than any other president in history because racists and others so strongly against him will want to assassinate him. He will always, probably for the rest of his life and possible his children's lives need massive protection from the Secret Service. The USSS has to do it's job and that is of protecting the president first.

Pay attention when you are driving. Those same people trying to bypass his security detail are the same kind of people who will try to outrun an ambulance or fire truck and cause further injuries or threats to people's lives. Security is there for a reason...You may not like Obama, but do you really want to see him assassinated. I certainly hope not.

[oommoore]

Where did you read that in his platform? Nowhere I'm guessing.

[dartagnan]

He needs to protected by men with guns because there are too many right-wing loonies with guns out there.

And he's not "anti-gun." Where did you get that crap? Don't believe every e-mail and Web site you see.

[mukTech]

i love it... mr president-elect deserves some respect

[ejazzed1059]

The Secret Service is on top of their game.....

[Jared137]

So glad they are taking special precaution with this president. We all know the mob was hired by our own government to take down JFK. He needs loyal people by his side. Let's hope he stays safe.

[Emlyn]

Where in the hell did you hear that from? The mob????

[tehsuq]

Once you sign the NDA they'll give you whitepapers laying the whole thing out. They even list this under "relevant experience" on their resumes for crying out loud.

[Jared137]

Where have you been?

[psbintl]

You are absolutely correct on this.

[mukTech]

Way to go Mr. President

[truesteam]

As a resident of Chicagoland, having had to try and get around with a car in the city, where red lights are all relative; pedestrians knowing take their lives into their own hands, people drive like they are the only person with somewhere to go, I have a vision of this in my head and there is a little bit of humor here. I can just imagine 'Joey Chicago' overestimating his importance in the scheme of traffic being faced with Secret Service guys.
I am shaking my head....only in Chicago.

[SafetyMike]

My big question is WHAT LAW allows big shots to co-opt the darn roads?

I mean, can I hire some cops to give me a private road?

WTF?

[psbintl]

Are you for real?!

[pegbo]

Umm, President-elect.

[DiBaskin]

I must congratulate you on writing one of the most idiotic posts I have ever had the displeasure of reading. Move the back of the class and pick up your dunce cap on the way.

No further explanation needed.

[neuron]

Fall off your skateboard much, Sparky?

[tehsuq]

Depending on where in the world you live the answer to your question varies. In most of the world the answer is in fact yes, you can hire some cops to give you a private road, amongst other things. However you're unlikely to be able to afford it in those places since the cops there are already busy running cover for people who are stealing everything you own.

[lykitis]

I'd hate to read what you would consider a "small" question...you give new meaning to "slower traffic keep to the right".

[Nikola Tesla]

crybabyloserbitch.

[IMMA WAKE]

Maybe when you become President you can

[michaelsmolder]

Just be glad it was the Secrete Service ! Had it been BLACKWATER ...they'd still be hosing off the streets!