Possible Obama Assassination Plot in Denver -- Here is the Latest
Mainstream media are now confirming, and going beyond, the initial reports of a possible assassination plot against Barack Obama and the arrest of two men.
Following up an earlier TV report, NBC in Denver is now reporting, "Sources tell NBC the two men had tattoos and jewelry popular with white supremacists." It also notes that an unidentified source tells NBC, "There is no reason for someone [with a criminal record] to have rifles with scopes."
My Web research has found a home address for one of the men, Tharin Robert Gartrell, in Lakewood, Co. Local media have revealed that he is a local DJ and goes under the name Tharin Roberts. I have located his myspace page--as Tharin Roberts--which confirms and expands all this and includes his photo, which lines up with that of Gartrell.
The Denver Post has just led its Web piece with: "Federal authorities have scheduled a press conference for Tuesday afternoon amid reports that a fortunate traffic stop by Aurora Police may have disrupted an assassination attempt against Barack Obama." Another local news site reports a possible third arrest. But it could also just be a bunch of meth heads talking trash.
My Web search found that Gartrell, 28, attended Fort Morgan High School in Colorado from 1995 to 1999.
Update from ABC News at 10 p.m. ET: "A witness interviewed in the case said one of suspects allegedly said the guns were to be used to kill the Illinois senator, but authorities do not believe the alleged threat put Obama in immediate danger.....Authorities told ABC News the men had tattoos of white supremacist images."
Another update from CBS4 in Denver: "CBS4 has now learned at least four people are under arrest in connection with a possible plot to kill Barack Obama at his Thursday night acceptance speech in Denver. All are being held on either drug or weapons charges. CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass reported one of the suspects told authorities they were 'going to shoot Obama from a high vantage point using a ... rifle ... sighted at 750 yards.'
"Law enforcement sources tell Maass that one of the suspects 'was directly asked if they had come to Denver to kill Obama. He responded in the affirmative.'"
Andrew Romano of Newsweek brings this amazing tidbit: "The hotel where the pair of would-be assassins' was staying: the Cherry Creek Hotel at 600 South Colorado Boulevard in Glendale. The hotel where NEWSWEEK's entire convention team is staying: the Cherry Creek Hotel at 600 South Colorado Boulevard in Glendale.
"Apparently, crack NEWSWEEK investigative reporter Mark Hosenball actually spied a couple of FBI agents lurking around the premises late last night. He's looking into the matter now, and we'll report back as soon as he hears more."
TMZ.com now has his mug shot (also see front page of Huff Post). AP has just now covered the story. If anyone wants to pay and search for his criminal and other records, go to:
http://www.whitepages.com/search/Rep...
Firearms and methamphetamine were seized. NBC: "An official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, says there is concern about the arrest considering the Democratic National Convention kicked off in Denver on Monday. People convicted of a felony are not allowed to possess guns."
The earlier TV report from KUSA-TV in Denver kicked off with, "Federal authorities have scheduled a press conference for Tuesday afternoon amid reports that a fortunate traffic stop by Aurora Police may have disrupted an assassination attempt against Barack Obama.
The first man, identified by the station as Tharin Gartrell, 28, was charged with suspicion of being a felon in possession of a weapon after police found two rifles, a high-powered scope and methamphetamine in his car after the traffic stop.When police accompanied Gartrell to his hotel in Glendale, a second man jumped from a window and was injured in a four-story fall, according to the station. That man was then arrested, but has not been identified by police.
Federal authorities are refusing to comment about why they believe the case is possibly tied to an assassination.
And more: "Its unclear precisely why authorities suspect the men were targeting Barack Obama, but one of the officer's who was briefed says he was told at least one of the suspects made statements to that effect. The Secret Service, ATF and the FBI are all involved in the investigation. A Secret Service spokesman says the agency is concerned by the proximity to the convention and the items found in the man's car."
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Greg Mitchell's new book is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq. He is editor of Editor & Publisher.
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Any and all racist remarks made about Sen. Obama and his family during the primaries or this general election, no matter the source, heightens the possibllity of assassination attempts on him. McCain's vitriotic ads andtheir rainon th eroof persistence of them certainly contribute to an atmosphere of permission to nut cases like racists . . . closet or otherwise.
I hope this incident raises all our awareness of how evil incites more evil.
As has been said, "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
That includes"POW or not. Female presidential wannabe or not. Ex pres or not.
Let's all reject viciousness. in any form, in any time,for any reason but especially in the name of ambition.
A military vet who prays for Obama and his family's safety every day
"Any and all racist remarks made about Sen. Obama and his family during the primaries or this general election, no matter the source, heightens the possibllity of assassination attempts on him."
Give me a break . . .
You already have one, it is in your logic and understanding.
White racism has always relied on folks to incite and stir up controversies, which fosters the motivation for either the mob or an individual or two to carry out their terrorist acts. History, in this nation is littered with examples of the same sort of rhetoric that surrounds Obama being the cause of so much grief and pain for thousands of others brave black and white souls.
You simply are 'whistling Dixe', much as I would expect you to do!
The thing is, were they contracted to carry out a hit on Senator Obama?
If so, who's the man or group behind the thugs, were they members of a racist group?
Who do they associate with, the FBI need to trace this back to the source!
"The thing is, were they contracted to carry out a hit on Senator Obama?"
If you wanted to hire a contract killer, would you hire a couple of sumb meth-heads?
"If you wanted to hire a contract killer, would you hire a couple of sumb meth-heads?"
Sure, if you needed a couple of patsies to draw attention away from a potentially more credible threat.
"contracted to carry out a hit"?!? If that's the case than the contract-OR was not really all that into it or really, really cheap.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have hired a bunch of meth addicts who apparently can't even drive down the street without attracting enough attention to get them pulled over, and are stupid enough to say "yup" the minute a cop asked them if they were planning to assassinate a presidential candidate.
This all sound like much ado about not much.
"Investigator Brian Maass reported one of the suspects told authorities they were 'going to shoot Obama from a high vantage point using a ... rifle ... sighted at 750 yards.'"
That's a hell of a shot. Seven and a half football fields, factoring in wind, movement, etc. Making that shot would take a professional, and I don't think being high on Meth would help.
Take a good look people, these guys are just the outer crust of racial hatred in America. Better believe there are a lot of people rooting for them, however quietly, and they're not all Republicans, if you follow me...
In the end, us black folks must realize that this America, this year of 2008 it will get the leader it deserves; and if a balance of ignorance, hatred and fear is what will drive a plurality of some to come out and vote, then they will reap the rewards of their prejudice and racism and they will have then a government which looks back at them, and reflects them.
The republicans are really masterful at getting their base to believe things as the 'gospel' while suspending their own abilities to rationally think and examine things in a meaningfully personal way. And, if they can again find enough of these sorts of folks, we will have another 4 years of republican rule; and guys like these 4 will be typical of those who will determine our next leader.
You assume that those that disagree with your politics are not rational thinkers. That's your problem. You can't win on the merits of the conversation. You can only refer to everyone who thinks differently than yourself as irrational, dumb, uneducated and so on. Just to make it clear by "you" I am referring to your party in general and not you as an individual specifically. However, based on your comments I would tend to think that you believe the same things.
There are some sick people out there!
out there...an
Amazing story. It sounds as though the authorities nabbed them fast.
But I'm SURE these aren't the first and WON'T be the last. This story scares me beyond belief!
i wonder how much hillary and bill went further in debt to try to get there way nice try guy s but it didnt work
Why be so juvenile on such a disturbing matter? The Clintons are Democrats - Obama's a Democrat, these gunmen will be voting McCain. Go figure.
From the start of Obama's campaign, I have had to let old friends and family members go because of the ugliness they revealed about themselves at the thought of an African American winning the presidency. I divorced my second husband because I knew it was going to get so ugly--what with a woman and a black man running for the Democratic nomination--so ugly, that it would have gotten violent.
The fear of white supremacists is becoming reality: Millions and millions of Arican Americans are going to exercise their right to vote, millions of Hispanics and Asians, and many more millions of caucasians are going to elect Obama the next president of the United States.
Were it not so sad, it would actually be quite funny. And look at these two jokers. How funny is it that they considers themselves superior in any way?
This piece does not go into any more depth, nor offer any additional information beyond the local news report of this incident http://www
I would like to hear police or FBI, not the “mainstream media” confirming facts. As of this post, there are no official statements.
Tattoos and jewelry popular with white supremacists? I didn’t know white supremacists were so fashion conscious.
Rifles with scopes in Colorado suspicious? I have one word for you: hunting. Now, of course I understand that these particular guys had criminal records and meth on them, but the “unidentified source” who provided that comment seems to be reaching a bit, in my opinion.
And for those of you who aren’t on meth, consider this: the police pull you and your convicted felon buddies over. You have guns and drugs in the car, and let’s say for argument’s sake that you actually were planning on taking some pot shots at Mr. Obama...wo
Good thing a random traffic stop dashed their evil plans...th
Hey Ex,
Rifles with scopes ARE used for hunting, and snipers use them as well. Guess you didn't think of that. Your devil's advocate case is dismissed. A meth using white supremacist isn't going deer hunting during the DNC convention.
http://www
What were they looking to hunt in Denver?
Wow..When your IQ hits 20, sell.
One thing is for sure: That this kind of people excist should be seen as yet another proof that the sheer belief in "white supremacy" is lunacy. Driving into the convention area with rifles and drugs, checking into the Newsweek hotel? V. supreme indeed.
I just hope attempts like these won't scare anyone from rallying for Obama (in fear of their own lives), or from voting for him (in fear of his life).
Violence, or the threath of violence, should not be what decides this election.
It worked for Bush twice. If FDR were alive he'd have to amend his statement" "The only thing we have to fear is the manipulation of fear itself."
Ha! I love that. It's ironic that most white supremacists appear to be trying to prove the very opposite with the way they live. They'd be one of life's little comedic gifts if they didn't pose a real danger. Don't let the domestic terrorists win, let the political process march on!
This is terrible news.
Professionals would have been in Denver for over a year going over their plan. Those will be the dangerous ones. Hope the FBI and CIA checked all the rental house for the occupants background too.
Amazing how the real criminal mass murderers who have been running the country for near 8 years haven't had any death threats against them, but along comes a potentially great leader with all the right stuff and his life's in danger from the get-go. I'm doin' a Lewis Black at this very moment.
Agreed.
What's scarier is that million are, right now, silently cursing the authorities for catching them. We can know this is the case, since millions voted for Bush/Chene
Welcome to Amerikkka.
You are so right.
He then jumped again onto the ground around the hotel, where police caught him a short time later. Johnson was hospitalized with unspecified injuries from his fall. He is being held on 7 outstanding warrants with bonds totaling $1 million.
This is Shawn Adolf.....
Nothing wrong with that surname, it means Noble Wolf.
We should obviously wait to hear more from the investigation. However, I will just say that Senator O should continue to fight for his campaign and not allow some nut jobs to deter him. Nothing worth fighting for EVER comes easy.
Have no fear.
Obama-Biden '08 -- Change We Can Believe In!
Liberals and Progressives are very easy pawns to Republican gamesmanship. Even if what is reported were to be true, why would liberals or progressives be the vehicle for disseminating the news that has the potential to undermine Obama’s candidacy they are supporting. Every presidential candidate, white or black or brown is constantly exposed to threats of assassination. People who support and care for Obama should play down this type of negative news that has no benefit to Obama’s candidacy.
You mean like McCain too?
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