Walter Bagdasarian Convicted Of Making Racially-Charged Threats Against Then-Candidate Obama

(Associated Press) SAN DIEGO - A man has been convicted in San Diego of making racially charged comments on the Internet during the U.S. presidential campaign about killing Barack Obama.

Walter Bagdasarian of La Mesa posted the messages in October. Prosecutors say one on a Yahoo Finance board read, "He will have a 50 cal in the head soon." Authorities say they found a .50-caliber rifle in his home.

U.S. District Judge Marilyn Huff reached the verdict only an hour after the trial started Tuesday. No witnesses were presented.

An attorney for the 47-year-old defendant said his client was drunk when he posted the comments. Bagdasarian faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 26.

He is free on $100,000 bail.

Comments

[lovingbynature]

this is a big waste of time and taxpayer money and you all know that

[Liberalforsure]

President Obama happened for many reasons, one being to uncover and then ultimately reform the deep seated racism in this country which does exist. As a white person, I can even see how racists we are against minorities. It is disgusting but real.

[AbyssinianLion]

I am glad the Tea-Baggers and Birthers have exposed this -Kenyan born, un-American,un-Patriotic, Socialist,Marxist,Elitist,Inexperienced, Chicago thug,R@cist,Muslim, liar that wants to ruin our Country.

[Dhammi]

Sounds like you could be Sarah's, Rush's, Beck's etc. identical twin. With an attitude like yours I can't think of anything that could ruin '(y)our country' more. Time for you to take a long nap and get over yourself. .

[gtalkspolitics]

What soberness conceals drunkness reveals!!!!

[cruzking2000]

Well said, my friend! I need to remember this one.......

[Dhammi]

Drunkenness is never a viable excuse for anything!

[hopeychange]

A few Kennedy's would beg to differ.

[vippy]

As a foreigner coming to this country I was appalled at the racism practiced here. I also noticed that
the peole, who are uneducated, a failure, or just dissatisfied with their life will blame it on the other race. It won't get any better anytime soon either I am afraid.

[RJPasadena]

That's why Bill Maher said this country is STUPID!

[1dogs2]

He is FREE??????

[Cil]

HE IS FREE????????????????????

My reaction EXACTLY!

This man, who made the threats, specifically stated
REFERRING TO THE PRESIDENT.....

"he will have a 50 cal in his head soon"

This Judge had better hope that this madman
does not use the 50 caliber gun, (or any other gun for
that matter) which was found in his home.......................

FOR THE PURPOSE HE DESCRIBED!

I think that this decision to release this individual
on any kind of bail, is simply IRRESPONSIBLE!

His lawyer claimed that the guy was DRUNK when
he made the THREATS........Who cares if he was drunk?
The FACT that he made the THREATS........shows that
this is his underlying views...........anyway........................

WHO IS GOING TO STOP HIM FROM GETTING DRUNK
AGAIN?

[1dogs2]

Exactly.

[Dhammi]

Drunkenness is NEVER a viable excuse for anything!

[MESGAIN26]

? why did they release this lunatic

[workingliberal]

Good. Maybe there's hope that all of the people who post threats will actually be investigated. I've read some pretty scary stuff on wingnut boards.

[SimianNation]

It's all about race with your stinking ilk. I really am sick and tired with your dead and withered ideology. The only thing you and your 20th century mentality have offered up since the majority of Americans elected a bi-racial president, are issues about race, socialism, etc. The true Obstructionist Party of No! GnOP

[PWM]

Racism alive and well in neocon America.

Maybe one day this country will finish growing up.

[SoCalNick]

He was not drunk

He made MULTIPLE threats

He made his threats in MULTIPLE places and times... they just used these to convict him. It is all over the news here in San Diego and there are TONS of hicks out here ( especially in our east county )

I personally have been shocked by many of the laid back beachy types that suddenly turned into foaming at the mouth raciissts after Obama came on the scene.

Example:

Hired a guy who we have known for YEARS to put on a screen door. When he showed up with his guy I was wearing my Obama 08 shirt.... HE says OH my god..that guy is taking everything away from us... I ask him politely really ...tell me one thing you have lost..of course he couldn't... the did half of the job and I have never seen him again.

Raccismm is a very sick thing.

[dwright]

it is truly sad - who would have thought that pigment could be such a h@teful thing

[AbyssinianLion]

It is surprising how many roaches came out of hiding during the elections and now during this Presidency. I am afraid that this is just the tip of the iceberg. I believe that the better Obama does;the more we will see the h8.

[hopeychange]

Regarding the "what has he taken from you" just wait. It will start happening very soon. Of course the irony in this situation is that a laborer like this guy will likely not be impacted and would probably benefit from a socialist in office.

[lovingbynature]

well of course your from southern california

[harriscrl3]

R a cism against AA? You mean they still EXIST. I'm SHOCKED I actually thought that these days r a cism was actually against whites.

[SimianNation]

People who believe that are usually the same ones who worship the intellectual depthness of Sarah Palin. Sounds like ya been livin' and hangin' in the zombie zone!

[Rubyslippers]

How's it going Pat?

[harriscrl3]

Its amazing to me that huffpost wont allow innocous post with a different perspective to get through but they allow ra cist post to get through.

[SimianNation]

I have always found their censorship flaky.

[Cil]

More so than CNN???????????????

[CaveatMagnusFrater]

It seems that some editors randomly reject just to show their boss that they're doing something. Not necessarily something useful, but something.

[sababa]

The internet certainly has become a place where people think they can just say anything without being caught. But just look what happens....
Here's another local instance from the Chicago area: http://www.thelmagazine.com/TheMeasure/archives/2009/07/28/nyc-journalist-pwns-white-supremacist-on-the-internets

[kathy001]

Cool article. Thanks for the link.