Protecting Obama

The extraordinary surge of confidence and goodwill generated by the Obama victory in Iowa has brought hope to many American hearts that our sorely divided country may at last have a chance to be united again.

That same condition is also increasing fears that, with all this expectation embodied in a single man, he might fall victim to an assassin's bullet. America does not have a very distinguished record regarding the protection of its more inspirational public figures, beginning with the death of Abraham Lincoln at the hands of an an actor in Ford's Theatre. In the course of a single decade in the twentieth century, Jack Kennedy was shot in a Dallas motorcade; Martin Luther King was killed on a Memphis hotel balcony; and Bobby Kennedy was gunned down in the ballroom of the Ambassador Hotel. No wonder Colin Powell decided not to run for president in the 2000 election. Some estimates gave him a 20 percent probability of being picked off at the podium.

After the recent murder of Benazir Bhutto, we realize once again that nothing excites the forces of hate and fear more than the prospect of decency and reconciliation. And if Obama wins the New Hampshire primary, as now looks likely, the incidence of violence on the campaign trial will increase exponentially. The recent chilling encounter in New Hampshire between Bill O'Reilly and an Obama aide was a forecast of how easily mad dog media men can stimulate mad dog hit men. In this case, O'Reilly played both roles. Because he believed Obama's aide to be standing in front of his camera, the O'Reilly Factor Factotum, his face distorted with rage, showered abuse on the 6'8" aide and physically shoved him out of his way.

On that occasion, the Secret Service moved in quickly to cart the offensive O'Reilly away from the scene of confrontation. But what safeguards do the government have in place to prevent some ravenous red state acolyte from deciding there is no place in American politics for a man with African blood? Is our Secret Service any better equipped for such contingencies than Musharriff's secret police? And what will be the official government position should such an attempt succeed? The Musharraf rationale? That the victim assassinated himself by appearing in public?

Security details around Obama must be greatly increased in the coming weeks and months, and he must be very careful about where he chooses to speak, and under what circumstances. The assassination of a man who is finally beginning to suggest a way out of the American brutalism of the last seven years would cause uproars and riots in this country greater than any ever known. And which of us would not be ready to join them?

Comments

[WIDESTANCE]

JFK and RFK were both under Secret Service "protection" when they were taken out -

Obama might as well have Blackwater "protecting" him -

if he is smart and has smart people in charge of his security, maybe he should look into getting one of those bulletproof buggies like the Pope had ...

[StephenDedalus82]

Okay the Obama messiah thing has officially jumped the shark. He's OBVIOUSLY the heir to Lincoln/Ke­nnedy/King­...Ghandi/­Jesus... so the assassination plotline must be considered.

We need to elect a president, not a character in a heartwarming story. Where's the beef? And what's with the worship? You people do realize you're all going to look like idiots once his halo is snatched from atop his head by the media, don't you?

[magen]

Why does everybody here seem to trust the Secret Service??????????

OBAMA NEEDS HIS OWN PRIVATE SECURITY.

There's crazy wingnut racists involved in the Secret Service. If anybody thinks that the Secret Service hasn't been politicized during the Bush years (as every government function has) they're fooling themselves.

History shows us that they WILL try. So let's be prepared.

[RTIII]

Edwards is the one really at risk as he is the only one who is really a threat to "elite interests." As proof, look who corporate interests are financing...

The two Kennedy boys were clearly murdered - assassinated - by elite interests. And which side was who on? Think it was racists? It doesn't make you crazy to realize that the official story of JFK's assassination, with it's "Magic Bullet" - seven entry and exit wounds from ONE bullet? - is a load of horse manure. If more than one shooter were involved, that makes it a conspiracy, and to realize there was a conspiracy, does that make one a "conspiracy nut?" ANYONE who bandies about that label onto others, clearly trying to discredit them, should themselves be discredited for their assault on reason.

And so it goes: Today we have Obama, a change agent in name, but action? He wants to negotiate with his adversaries. They'll eat him for lunch! Or, consider Edwards - a REAL threat. Again, look at the money AND the rhetoric.

Obama may be at risk from some raciest(s) but Edwards is at risk from the likes of those who killed the Kennedys. Both are potent threats, but the "elite interests" probably have more ability to pull off an assassination.

[sazeem]

This just in...

Report: Secret Service increases security for Obama

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/01/report-secret-s.html

[lulurella]

As far as assination is concerned, I would worry more about the CIA. I do believe they are the experts at this as has been shown in the past in this country (Paul Wellstone and others) as well as the removal of heads of other countries that don't buy into the "American corporate scheme". Corporations and the CIA and the military industrial complex and AIPIC. I would be concerned for John Edwards as he is the only one who wants to take on the corporations running the country..

[BluGrrl]

This grim subject has come up many times in my close group of Democratic friends.

"Will they try to assassinate Obama?" If it looks like he'll win, or if he does win?

I think the answer is "They are probably going to try." We, but more specifically the Secret Service might want to be better prepared for that possibility.

It's not just his race, though that plays a very large part. It's also his message, the message of hope and change. Too many people in this country do not want to progress - they want to regress.

I hope but do not fully trust that the Secret Service can keep Obama safe in the event that someone should try to take his life.

I also think the assassination of someone who is such an inspiration to so many would have a devastating impact, leaving many Americans afraid to even hope in their leadership, again.

[jdm58]

Bhutto had substantive evidence that there were plots against her, and acted in defiance, risking not only her own personal safety but the safety of her followers as well. Over 150 people lost their lives at her first "rally". She lost hers at the second, at a location where a previous political assasination had also occurred.
The sad truth is, by not heeding the warnings of those responsible for her safety, and by exposing herself in an area known for danger, by leaving an emotional rally in a slow moving vehicle, and standing up through an open sunroof, she exposed herself to the consequences of her actions.
Kennedy was the last politician in this country to risk his safety in an open vehicle during a political event. I doubt very seriously that Obama would risk the safety of himself, his family, or his followers, given similar circumstances or intelligence. We can not hide from our enemies, but we don't have to provide them with the weapons necessary for our destruction. Thumbing ones nose at danger usually brings an outcome less than desireable.

[Sundialsvc4]

I am quite confident that the Secret Service knows what it is doing.

Mr. Brustein, didn't a President of memory once tell us that "we have nothing to fear but fear itself?"

Ms. Bhutto knew that she was marked. She knew who would kill her. But she did it anyway. She was brave. But also, her situation was different.

What we all need to do is to stop believing in one man or woman and start believing once again in the system of government that our forefathers created. There is no "savior" in the Presidency no matter who holds that office and no matter what regard he or she has towards its oath.

We need to "dedicate ourselves" to everything that Abraham Lincoln said that day at Gettysburg.

Our country is not failing. Our country is not Pakistan. Our country is being victimized by high criminals in high places, but we CAN fix that.

Instead of looking for salvation, let's hold all of our elected leaders .. "any civil officer" .. to the standard of legal conduct that befits the leader of a great nation. Anyone and everyone who does not uphold their oath of office SHALL, without exception, be cast down.

If we permit nothing less, starting RIGHT NOW (not next November), November will be a very different month.

[witdarealness]

This article is a sad but true look into what this country has allowed itself to become... a mockery of equality and self-determination. It must be hard for the flag waving racists to face a Black man that doesn't fit into any kind of American societal stereotype of what a minority is...therefore the thought that those stereotypes may no longer serve them is as big a fear as having him become president.

[mamacat]

A very good point. All of the candidates should get the best of protection, or we are likely to get someone for President we would not have chosen.

[Doofus]

Perhaps you have advanced the best reason of
all to NOT support Obama. To keep him out of
harm's way.

He says he wants the job. Does he really mean it?
Is it safe? Is it SAFE? Is it *SAFE*?

Perhaps we like him too much to elect him.

(Unfortunately, there's a despicable tendency in
democratic societies for political assassination.
Even Olof Palme in *Sweden*, for godsakes. It's
really too obvious a problem to bring up, I'm afraid.
You know Michelle Obama has already expressed concern
about this, I'm sure.)

[researcher]

the racist south is not about to let a black man be president.

too many loser racist nut jobs out there. ie kkk types.

I dont think he has a clue how much danger he is in.

but then he is in not as much danger as if he took on the industrial military complex.

he takes them on he is history like JFK.

please note no president candidate is taking on the industrial military complex maybe ron paul but he is not a front runner. if he was he would be put down.

americans actually believe they run this country but they only elect a figure head and no one since JFK has taken on the industrial military complex.

watch the movie why we fight and find out who really runs this country.

ike warned us what was about to happen.

[DontSpin]

And is the implied conclusion from this is that we shouldn't ever elect a black president because they will always be threatened and it would be inconvenient to protect them?

[JClausen]

Robert,

Though I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments and would hope the same, I find the way they have chosen to both acknowledge and subsequently set aside the issue in the way they go about their daily lives inspiring as well. Newsweek has a bit about it on their cover piece for next week (page 5 of the article):

http://www.newsweek.com/id/84581