Jackson's Threat to Obama Must be Investigated by Secret Service

An open letter to the U.S. Secret Service

July 10, 2008

Mark Sullivan,
Director, U.S. Secret Service
Washington, DC

Dear Director Sullivan:

I am writing to you today as a law-abiding, taxpaying, red-blooded, American citizen with a serious concern. Oh I should also mention, I'm a Republican.

While preparing breakfast for my kids this morning, I was watching ABC's Good Morning America when a report came on about comments made by "Reverend" Jesse Jackson (I'm not sure where he preaches, but he's usually running his mouth wherever there are cameras around). "Reverend" Jackson made a comment about wanting to "cut the nuts off" of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

My first thought was, "What kind of 'man of the cloth' would make such a statement wanting to bring bodily harm to a fellow man?" I never paid a whole lot of attention in church as a kid, but I certainly know that is not a Christian-like thing to say.

My next thought (as a man), was "Wow, if he did that, I bet it would hurt!" as I figured that if Jesse Jackson were a medical doctor he would have the appellation "M.D." after his name. Since he doesn't, I believe the castration he crudely wants to perform on Sen. Obama would be performed without anesthesia and it would be painful for the senator.

My third thought, and the one for which I write to you today is, "He just threatened bodily harm toward one of the two men who will be the next President of the United States!"

While I am not a prosecutor or law enforcement officer, I believe the threat "Reverend" Jackson made was a violation of the law and should be investigated by the Secret Service. I've read reports of other "crazies" making threats against presidential candidates and they are always taken seriously. And while I am also not a psychologist or expert in body language or tone of voice, "Reverend" Jackson's statement did not appear to be made in jest. In fact, it appeared to me to be made so casually and calmly, I can only assume they are Mr. Jackson's sincere thoughts.

When something like this occurs, I know one thing you law enforcement types look for is motive. In this case there is clear motive. No one could argue that "Reverend" Jackson does not have "motive" to want to cause harm to Mr. Obama. As the former self-appointed national spokesperson for all African Americans, "Reverend" Jackson must not be pleased to see all his calls for bigger government, increased social spending, and class and economic warfare being co-opted by Senator Obama.

Given the above facts, I call on the United States Secret Service to conduct a full and complete investigation of this matter and release your report to the public and the media upon its conclusion.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and the service you and your agency employees provide to the American people.

Sincerely,

Chris Ingram

p.s. If you happen to know the name of that correspondence school (you know, like the one Sally Struthers used to pitch) Jesse got his religious ordination from, please let me know. I think it would be pretty cool to get one of those degrees so I can call myself "reverend" -- I guess the fact that I don't have a church really doesn't matter.

Chris Ingram is the president and founder of 411 Communications a corporate and political communications firm, and publisher of Irreverent View. Ingram is a frequent pundit on Fox News and CNN, and has written opinion columns for the Washington Times, UPI, Frontpage Florida, and National Review online. E-mail him at: [e-mail].

Comments

[dadumdee]

Why have we spoken more about comments by two reverends with nothing to do with government, than we have about our President calling someone in the press a major league asshole, or our Vice President telling someone to go fuck themselves on the Senate floor? Oh yeah, and the WAR THAT IS KILLING OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS FOR OIL. Heaven help us all.

[Jamchinadian]

Mr. Ingram,

Judging from the deadly earnest responses to your post, may I suggest that the next time you choose to write a satirical piece you include prominent warnings front and back, for example:


WARNING - Satirical Piece Follows.
....

WARNING - That Was Pure Satire

[IrreverentView]

If people are so dimwitted they can't recognize satire, that is there own problem. Warning labels are for big-government loving liberals.

[johnie2xs]

Easy boy! Can't you recognize facetiousness?

[itmaybetoolate]

Sure, as soon as hucklebee and that fox "pundit" are prosecuted for their "jokes" about shooting Obama.

[IrreverentView]

Why don't you file a complaint?

[itmaybetoolate]

Great idea! This administration is so responsive, and so ready to respond to citizens. Filing a complaint will get me the same response as complaining to my scummy republican senators has gotten me - a form letter followed by nothing.

[karela]

I hope that America never reaches the place where we can't say disgusting things about politicians we don't agree with. I'm fired up and ready to go for Obama. But I would probably explode if I couldn't express myself on the subject of George Bush!

[IrreverentView]

Couldn't agree with you more about free speech.

[GayGrandpa]

Well I hope this is a joke...it must be because I would have little respect for anyone bother the U.S. Secret Service with nonsense like this. It is bad enough you bothered me with it.

As far as being Republican­...is that a joke too? The Republican jokes have been rather unhelpful and unkind over the last seven years, I am speaking about those two jokes in the Executive Branch, Cheney and W.

Oh and now you got lobbyist rich Gramm telling the American public working family that the recession is all in their heads and that we are a bunch of whiners! Is that suppose to be funny? You people have a cruel sense of humor!

[IrreverentView]

It's a joke -- it's SATIRE already. Get over yourselves people!

[scouserinlondon]

With all due respect, but a lot of Americans(not all) simply do not get irony.....­. that is why a lot of Brit. humour does not travel well and meets with a blank response.

[rzan]

I am motre disappointed than anything. I have always admired Rev. Jackson, and now I am having second thoughts. Did he apologize to Sen. Obama yet? Not a public apology but a personal one.

[jeanrenoir]

I'm a white man raised in Atlanta during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. I was always strongly in favor of everything King was trying to achieve, and Andy Young told Tom Brokaw in Boom that Atlanta HAS now achieved everything he and King hoped it would forty years ago. That said, Jesse Jackson has always been a con-man of the first degree who has simply parlayed his hanger-on status with King into a huge fortune by becoming our national Al Sharpton for the past forty years. He and all like him are now being put out of business by Obama, thank God, who is obviously the perfect heir to all that King stood for. Jackson more or less had to publically back Obama because of Chicago. But privately he, like black ministers who'd been on the Democratic payroll for decades, strongly disliked Obama because it was obvious that if he were elected, the game would be over. With any luck, it soon will be, for good. And we can cut the "victimization" crap and get with the M.L. King-Bill Cosby program of improving the content of the character of inner-city blacks who are murdering each other faster than ever.

[qwr]

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are scapegoated by people who know nothing about them. If you ask most whites, they will give a negative view of both without any justification.

[IrreverentView]

I agree with all you said here with one exception: Obama will not end the game Jackson and other big government liberals want. Obama is playing a big charade on the American public. All he stands for is "change we can believe in." If Obama is elected all you'll have is change in your pocket when he's done expanding social programs and raising taxes on working people to pay for it.

[Gatormouth]

I am a 70+ white male navy vet who was in a Young Democrat club in Junior College during the 60s. Yes, MLK came from the black community, but he most definitely is not owned by them. The wrongs in our society were being shown to all of us by his actions, and we admired his courage and leadership. He became during his short life a true National leader who tried to speak the truth to all the people, not just a faction.

I began this election cycle favoring Edwards, for a variety of reasons. When he fell out, I picked Obama over Hilliary because I saw her as not being sufficiently pro labor and in favor of fair, as opposed to free, trade. But if she had won the nomination, I would have supported her. My point is, that race and sex were not determining factors.

I am sorry, but however many good qualities Rev. Jackson has, he is perceived as being .factional leader, not a National one. This may hurt his pride, but I am astounded that he choses not to support Obama. His attack diminishes my respect for him.

[strifeknot]

This only makes me like Jackson more and have no doubt he was speaking words of wisdom.

[harriscrl3]

So you favor physical attacks on your opponents as oppose to discussion with words.

Interesting.

Carol

[strifeknot]

Seems to me what Jackson used were words, hyperbolic words to make a point. O didn't have his nuts cut off, but then he doesn't have any nuts to begin with. Or a spine.

[IrreverentView]

Jesse Jackson was speaking from the heart, but he's not wise. He's just threatened because he will be on the outs as self-appointed spokesman for blacks if Obama is elected.

[QueenTiye]

IrreverentView: I'm not a republican, and I'm not a democrat. Liberating to be not beholden to one side or another. I'm backing Barack Obama. I hope that you, despite your republicanness, will as well.

And, I'm thoroughly disgusted with Jesse Jackson.

Thanks for the satire - it at least got me to lighten up from the rather unkind thoughts I was otherwise having about Rev. Jackson.

(OTOH, I think you're taking cheap shots by questioning his ordination. Cheapshots aren't funny.)

QT

[IrreverentView]

Actually if you research the so-called "reverrend's" past, you will discover he never completed/graduated from Chicago Theological Seminary where he had attended Theological school. He dropped out and was later awared "honorary" degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in the 1990s. The guy is nothing but a phoney and anyone who follows him is a fool.

That said, I'm glad you liked the commentary. And while I am a Republican who is disgusted with George W. Bush, I will be supporting John McCain. Obama is too untested and too liberal for me.

[johnie2xs]

Chris; So let me see if I understand your reasoning. In spite of the fact that GWB disgusts you, you are four square behind the candidacy of a man whose platform, in great respects, mimics that of GWB. His stance on our illegal incursion into the Middle-East; his view of unending tax cuts while our country hemorrhages money in Iraq and Afghanistan; his obvious disdain for the financial plight of the American people (see Gramm); his unending ass-kissing of the Evangelical Right Wing Wacko types; his crocodile tearing in regards to the fate of our service personnel; his obvious lack of command of all facts relating to the foreign relations stage; Are these the points that differentiate him from GWB?
Come on Chris. I know you to be smarter than that. Drop this Repuglican foolishness and look at the needs of your country. This man is not it. He is "Embarrassment II".

[dct1999]

I'm no Jackson fan, but he was ordained although he left school before completing his undergrad studies.

He has also earned a masters of divinity within the last 10 years.

I'd put John McCain at the top of the list for phoniness, and I believe anyone who thinks he's capable of leadership is a damned fool.

[mike53]

Mr. Ingram. You say your a republican. Be a democrat, they like this kind of nonsense.

[IrreverentView]

Mike, That is the most sensical post to date!

[SignedSealedDelivered]

ditto!

[harriscrl3]

I think those comments were seriously disturbing and it boggles my mind how people can defend Jesse Jackson. I dont care what the context were I dont even care if he said the sky was blue afterwards it does NOT justify that kind of vulgar threat and the fact that he said it off mike is suppose to make it OK. I'm just befuddled by this that makes it WORSE. Thats being two faced. Then you have CNN talking about did he point to growing anger in the AA community for what Obama is saying. I'm scratching my head you're joking right. Unbelieveable.

You know what worries me is that there is an environment being created where its OK to threaten Obama as long you were doing it jest. Is that the kind of thing we have to look forward to while he is in Office.

Its definitely a WORSE PERSON IN WORLD moment. Where is Keith when I need him.

I hope he is FINISHED in the AA communty I personally think he is after that vicious comment.

Carol

[IrreverentView]

There is certainly a double standard in the media and among Democrats. Can you imagine if Pat Robertson or some other right wing blowhard had made those comments? "Where's the outrage!"

The African American community will not turn on Jackson so long as he continues to advocate a big-govern­ment/depen­dent welfare state solution to every problem. Seriously, when was the last time (no, first time) Jesse Jackson proposed a workable solution to a single problem in the AA community?

[Jamchinadian]

The likes of Pat Robertson, Jerry Fowler, Hagee, etc. have made far worse statements. Unlike Rev. Wright, they have been given free passes by the so-called MSM.

[QueenTiye]

I'm an African American, and you should speak what you know. The African American community has already turned on Rev. Jackson and his ilk. That's why Obama is succeeding today. Jesse was a Hillary supporter. The black community ignored him and all the rest who wanted us to go along with Hillary in favor of Barack. That we aren't going to completely kick him to the curb because of his (past) record of service is only respectful.

QT

[IrreverentView]

While he probably was not literal, I don't think the "Reverrend" Jackson's feelings about Obama were "in jest."

[wbramh]

It's Okay Chris,
I think you can call off the Secret Service.
I'd prefer they spent more time following up on threats from the NRA crowd and the Clintons.
You can read my take on the situation on Daily Kos - You stole some of my better lines, but that's okay.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/11/20848/5938/1019/550205
Nice writing,
Wally

[IrreverentView]

I'll check it out. Thanks Wally!

[gregjones]

From Blacks4Bar­ack...

Rev. Jesse Jackson Makes
B4B Official 'Obama Hater List'

Thanks to the now infamous 'Nut-Gate' comment made by Rev. Jesse Jackson, Blacks4Barack has received numerous requests to have Jackson placed on the Obama Hater Watch List. In order to comply with the overwhelming requests we have chosen to add the Rev. on a temporary basis (still being respectful).

Visit www.Blacks4Barack.org to see the complete Official Obama Hater List.

Blacks4Barack.org: Obama news updates, photos, Celebs 4 Obama, volunteer info, videos, voter registration, Create-Your-Own Obama Logo (FREE), SpeakOut4Obama, Join B4B, Media Lies of the Week and Much More !

Blacks4Barack !
A Multi-Racial, Net/Grassroots Org...
Dedicated To Truth !

[bigdaddyvike]

If the Secret Service won't investigate, perhaps Planter's will.

[zippywpinhead]

or General Anthony McAuliffe.­...

[SanityClaus]

Time for a HuffPo moratorium on additional posts re: Jackson's comments. This makes at least 517 by my count.

[IrreverentView]

You must be a Jesse loving Democrat!

[SanityClaus]

Irrelevant View,

When HuffPosters have nothing else of value to add to an issue, they should search for fresher ore to mine.