Paper Apologizes For Publishing 'Assassinate Obama' Ad

WARREN, Pa. — A northwestern Pennsylvania newspaper is apologizing for running a classified advertisement calling for the assassination of President Barack Obama.

Warren Times Observer Publisher John Elchert says the ad appeared Thursday. It read, "May Obama follow in the steps of Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy!" The four presidents were all assassinated.

Elchert tells The Associated Press that the newspaper's advertising staff didn't make the historical connection.

He says the newspaper turned information over to police and that the Secret Service is investigating the person who placed the ad.

A note in Friday's paper says the newspaper "apologizes for the oversight."

Comments

[atcrossroads]

We are talking about the guys who do the classified adds! I can fully believe that they did not make the historical connection. These are probably the same people who think the USA is an entire continent, and Africa is a country.

[morefromLA]

I didn't think George W. Bush needed the extra money.

[jsingleton361]

yeah this crap seriously needs to stop. i thought the same thing when that garbage "death of a president" came out.

[Ellyllon]

Is this REALLY the kind of thing you can say, "Oops, sorry!" about?

[Jarrod Bruner]

Says a lot about the integrity and education of people running the media.

[greenwren]

The classified ad staff does not "run the media."

[Killjoy]

No matter how this went off or why..someone is in a heep of trouble with the Secret Service.

[rejoiceinit]

In their wickedness, they cannot see how truly wretched it would become for them if Pres. Obama was harmed...they better be VERY happy Obama won---if you know what I mean.

[RTIII]

We didn't get to read the original ad (at least, when I followed the links, it wasn't there), but from teh wording of the apology, it was as bad as the ad sounds - maybe worse due to the greater exposure!

It SHOULD have read in such a way as to avoid using the A word, at the very least...
.

[bluto392]

This isn't surprising, conservatives from Alan Keyes to Hannity and Glenn Beck have been dancing up to the line of outright incitement.

Hannity screams daily that 'America is headed for disaster- if we don't do something soon!' (I'm waiting for SOMEBODY to interview Hannity and ask what he would suggest real 'patriots' DO, exactly?)

Beck reminds his fellow little-brains 'They don't surround us, we surround them!'

It's really shameful, and they will be the first to deny any involvement if something happens to the President.

[Khirad]

These seditious lunatics should be careful what they wish for. Do they think he would be forgotten like another Garfield or McKinley? The martyrdom and riots that would ensue would be on Hannity's, Limbaugh's and Beck's hands. Shame on all of them.

I always made sure to berate anyone wishing the same for Bush II, not only because it was treasonous. The last thing I wanted was a conservative martyr made out of him.

[Trittydi]

Your apology is NOT good enough. Fire the incompetent idiots involved.
*

[mark 0]

As egregious as the newspaper's oversight and/or ignorance of history might be, let's not forget that the real fault lies with the awful individual who chose to place the ad in the first place.

Here's hoping s/he has had a long, uncomfortable meeting with the Secret Service, or will soon.

[chedet]

Aaah can he/she be considered as a threat/terrorist? Maybe he/she would like to experience gitmo...

[duze]

Mistake be damned, where was the editor? Doesn't everything have to come across the editor's desk before being printed. I personally think this is an inciteful message, printed for one reason only.
However, I'm sure the Secret Service will handle the problem.

[BossBabe]

It was a classified ad. Those most certainly don't go across the editor's desk.

[AuntiepoppyCock]

The American Way. K ill k ill k ill How disgraceful... I don't read that paper, but it looks like the secret service does.

[jabreal00]

Is anyone honestly surprised that some ri.ght-wi.ng is th.reat.ening harm on somebody? They are in the last throes of relevance. Their ideology has been wholly rejected by moderate and progressive Americans. The only means to retain "power" is through in.timida.tion and vio.lence.

[Lorianne]

How do you know who placed the ad?
If you know something you should contact the F.B.I.

[kellygrrrl]

iz r newspaper staff lurning?

[toypiano]

LOL. Yeah, interesting how the republicans like to cut funding to education. A less educated populace benefits their agenda in more ways than one.