Secret Service Spread Thin By Increase In Threats Against U.S. Leaders

An internal Congressional Research Service report says that the Secret Service does not that have the resources to deal with the unprecedented number of death threats against President Obama, along with a rise in racist hate groups and antigovernment fervor.

The Boston Globe reports that the strain is forcing officials to rethink the agency's mission:

The new demands are leading some officials, both inside and outside the agency, to raise the possibility of the service curtailing or dropping its role in fighting financial crime to focus more on protecting leaders and their families from assassination attempts and thwarting terrorist plots aimed at high-profile events.

In a recent book on the Secret Service, journalist Ronald Kessler reported that threats against President Obama represented a 400 percent increase over those against his predecessor.

Read the whole Congressional Research Service report here:

Secret Service CRS Report -

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Comments

[DonnyLateNight]

Secret Service Director: Threats Against Obama Not Up

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/secret-service-director-threats-against-obama-not-up.php

Next thing you know we'll find out global warming is a myth.

[AttorneyAtLaw]

I saw this testimony myself and was reminded of this article. The Director says that the number of threats is about the same as was received by previous presidents Bush and Clinton.

[RayinDC]

Here's my comment (in verse):

Whenever Obama’s out of town,
I hope he comes back in a hurry,
And, I must admit, sometimes worry.

People love him everywhere
(Viz. his reception in New Orleans).
But it only takes one who doesn’t, waiting there,
Encouraged by the way the Right demeans.

Obama needs all the protection he can get
To protect him from the crazies loudmouthed Rightists abet.

(Read more at www.newsericks.com/tag/hatred.)

[duxguts]

Why not borrow some people from the Justice or the SEC. They don't seem to be doing much these days.

[outmost1]

Misleading headline. Instead of "leaders" it should say "president"

Wouldn't it make sense to increase the budget of the SS so that they could continue their dual mission of protecting our elected officials and our money supply instead of reducing their mission?

[JNagarya]

"Leaders" is correct. You just aren't aware of the "lower down" threats.

Assume that every politician is currently endangered by the America-hating far-right lunatic fringe.

[Mitzy]

The Republicanazi Party and its Fox ministry of propaganda are dangerous to the continued democracy in our great country.

[SantaFeConservative]

It seems all the racist hate is coming from the Left.

[PlinytheYounger]

Opposite day doesn't apply to posts.

[bastalready]

funny

[brummie]

Opposite Day LOL

[rich misty]

Yes, and according to you denial is a river in Egypt.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/5967942/Barack-Obama-faces-30-death-threats-a-day-stretching-US-Secret-Service.html

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/dem-congressmans-office-his-life-has-been-threatened-over-health-care-bill.php

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/anti-health-care-reform-protester-encourages-physical-violence-use-of-firearms.php

[outmost1]

Nearly true, those of us on the left do hate the radicals. Recent polls suggest some of the educated right are coming around as well.

[outmost1]

whoops meant racists, but, now that I think about it we hate radicals too.

[juanjo]

So the bozos screaming invective about Obama at Palin rallies during the election were closet leftists? Does that include the guy with the stuffed monkey?

[ScreenName05]

This would all stop if they would just round up the conservatives and put them in prison camps. But that would require a tongue in cheek and besides all the Nazis are on the conservative side.

[Dosadi]

I say we fight them over there so we won't have to fight them over here.

[LHibbard]

So is Lord Voldemort, apparently.

[jws2346]

I'm kind of sympathetic toward the secret service and wouldn't want their job. They've certainly got their hands full guarding the current POTUS. He has upset a lot of the military peeps (believe me, a lot of them know how to shoot a gun), he's got the jokers on TV and radio like Limblow', Cryin' time again Beck, O Really and Grand Ma Ma Hannity spewing hateful, racist, unpatriotic things. They've got to contend with the retards carrying loaded guns at Presidential speeches. They've also got to keep an eye on all the bigots out there chompin' at the bit because Pres Obama is mixed race. The Secret Service even has to contend with the unprofessional, grade school comments made by Federal Legislators. (like the Water Loo comment) It sounds to me like they they have their hands full, God be with them.

[Sabrina1]

I seriously think we need to have ratings for these news shows similar to what we have for movies. This way we could identify what is really news from entertainment for those who do not know the difference. I am serious, because some people believe this 'foaming at the mouth madness' (and crying) and unfounded conspiracy theories. This is a problem for all of us. If these people are pushed far enough what might they do?

[Dosadi]

The conservatives are hoping an "HG Wells" moment. Then they will say it was not their idea. What they don't realize is theat no matter what, the American people have discarded the conservative paradigm and will never adopt that way of thinking again. The rest of the world may not let us if we tried.

[omalley313]

Europe got it straight - FOX cable is listed in the entertainment section, not in the news section with BBC or CNN

[GrizzlyBowman]

Does this include the resources expended policing polls posted by kids on twitter?

[motoboy]

"The new demands are leading some officials, both inside and outside the agency, to raise the possibility of the service curtailing or dropping its role in fighting financial crime..."

Someone has been fighting financial crime?

[JNagarya]

Yep: Wall St. By stealing your money they are preventing you being mugged.

[RationalAgent]

I recently attended a colloquium the subject of which was natural law ethics and human rights ethics. One proponent of natural law attempted to draw an analogy between the Obama administration and National Socialism. My jaw dropped at the ignorance of the statement, and I'm still horrified by the recklessness of that type of Beckian, Limbaughesque slander and libel, which could, and perhaps already has (remember the census worker with "Fed" scrawled on his chest?), lead to violent death.

[JNagarya]

"Natural law" is religionut hogwash -- an effort to circumvent written law.

[legaleagle 45]

"Natural law" is religionut hogwash -- an effort to circumvent written law.

Obviously, you know nothing about the philosophy of natural law. May I suggest Hobbes and Locke as an initial introduction?

BTW, natural law philosophy is not reliant upon religion whatsoever. It works quite well within a Darwinian context. In contradistinction, the philosophy it replaced, the "divine right of kings", was based wholly upon religion.

[StevenLev]

Let's not forget the military which the President has been hanging out to dry.
I do not condone violence or threats on a President. Radio show hosts are a liberal excuse for violence and are not the cause.
Conservatives are mad because the current President has spent more money than at least the last 3 presidents combined.
Obama is a living example of "Duck for President" a children's book outlining the behavior of a president who cared more about his next political appointment than actually performing the duties of the job.

[SueInCA]

Did you just get through listening to the fatman for your daily talking points?

[rich misty]

Is that you Orly?

[Dosadi]

That is so silly. These people had nothing to say when a white president lied to them about fake evidence then caused the deaths of over 4,000 Americans in a war of choice. These people had nothing to say when their phones were wiretapped without legal cause. These people said nothing when the previous administration took a record surplus and turned it into a record deficit. These people had nothing to say when the former president tortured people for whom they had no evidence of wrong doing then lied and said they recieved good intelligence but it was a secret so they could not talk about it. These people had nothing to say when the company the vice president had just left somehow received billions of dollars of no-bid contracts for a useless, illegal war (was it a coincidence that Halliburton was the only company in the entire world that was geared up and ready for Iraq in advance?). But now that a black man is president they suddenly find their voices? Not everyone in this world is a fool.

[PlinytheYounger]

"I do not condone violence or threats on a President".

Ive heard this same verse sung at other times too, "I'm not a r@cist but..." Usually the person goes on illustrating they are exactly what they said they aren't. I'm clued in by your words "a President", which is vague and can be used exclusively.

[PlinytheYounger]

How about for sake of our boys and girls in uniform you quit making stuff up!

[Cedman]

FOX News has on air personalities selling conspiracy and fear daily.

[pottedferne]

I suggest removing the head of the snake....g­otta be careful here....

[Paramendra Bhagat]

Those gun toting protesters at health care rallies have to take responsibility.

[annie0107]

Everyone has to take responsibility.

[JNagarya]

Let's begin with those who reject the rule of law in favor of a lawless, unlimited "right" to be a bullying gunslinger.