News – There is a hushed worry on the minds of many supporters of Senator Barack Obama , echoing in conversations from state to state, rally to rally: Will he be safe?
Well, this article is right on the edge of being a bit dodgy. By questioning his "safety" in a news article, his safety actually becomes a "real" news item, whether it is or isn't.
Almost seems like people are pushing comparisons to "position" Obama as some kind of "heir" to what certain folks view as the "political martyrs" of the 1960s.
I'd rather hear about policy positions and solutions...not read the beginnings of a hagiography.
Exactly! He is the one constantly bringing race to the debate, not anyone else. He does it in such a clever way too.
All this is is a clever way to say, "Hey, the eevvilll white people are going to kill me....so all you people of my color should vote for me, we are all in the same boat after all!!"
Please, he has run a VERY CLEVER racist campaign. Of course the media is too busy kissing his arse to call it like it is.
It would be another sad chapter in America if someone should kill him. It would of course start a race riot in most large cities (unless it is cold and snowing). The crazies would love it and it is a real concern.
With a little satire, his biggest worries about being killed may come from the Clinton camp. Remember the Clinton's have a bad record of having those that could possibly threaten them politically ending up dead under suspicious circumstances.
Without a little satire I would be more concerned about an attempt on his life coming from either BushCo or his corporate cronies. I would not put anything past this collection of contemptible clowns in their continuing quest to stay in power and loot what's left of the US treasury. All they'd have to do is buy out one of his secret service "protectors". And...make it look like Al Qaeda, of course.
Oh stop it. Surely you are smarter than this.
Perhaps...but my cynicism is based on observing for 7 years the most dishonest, deceitful, opaque, conniving, evil bunch of undemocratic idiots to ever "run" a country. I think they are capable of anything, including murder, if it suits their twisted agenda. They are absolutely consumed with power.
BTW, after reading your profile I'm curious how "smart" you feel the male praying mantis might be. Just wondering...
tanglang
(LoL on the profile thing.)
What would the President gain from doing that? He is not running for re-election. Why would he start a civil war here in the states? He has nothing to gain from any of this.
May be he and his cronies worry that they will be out of business, if somebody else from the different party comes to power determined to dismantle everything he put in place to plunder the tax payers' money in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.
This is true and remember also that both Bill and Hillary have met with the Bilderbergs who have an agenda of their own
"NEW WORLD ORDER"
Obama represents hope/change and his security should be a priority. All it takes is one lunatic or a group who see his Presidency as a threat. Too many people still think Robert Kennedy was killed by one person!!!!!!!
It should come as no surprise that 'He' is in danger. It is also of no surprise that this story became a 'headliner' for Propeller. Thing is, this story should focus on all of the candidates as potential targets and not just 'Him'. For that reason you will find my 'neg' vote.
Neg away--your privilege. But Obama is more of a potential target than the other candidates, for obvious reasons, so I see nothing wrong with posting a story on the subject.
I'm not sure I concur on the "obviousness" of the situation, James.
If by "obvious", you mean because of his ancestry, that seems to be playing the dreaded "race card". He gets to don the mantle of "martyr to the cause"? I don't think so.
To me, it is as likely that Hillary might be targeted for "being a woman" as it is for Barack as a "person of color" (I hate that term).
Moreover, it is just as likely for McCain to have a misguided anti-war protestor take a crack at him due to a misguided mission to prevent "10,000 years of Iraqi occupation".
Crazies exist across the landscape. I'm not buying that Barack is especially at risk. This isn't the 60's anymore, people.
I'm not accusing Obama of playing the race card, and I'm certainly not playing it myself--just speculating that a black man with a Islamic-sounding name might be a more tempting target for some nutcase. That doesn't mean he should be treated like a Ming vase. Nor should we live in fear. I'm simply noting what seems like a fact to me.
Obama is a black man? Since when?
And, just to rib you a bit more, which is it exactly? Obvious or speculation? Fact or "might be"?
My problem with the article is that it implies that Obama is "more" of a target because his opposition is more likely to include evil people ready to do him in. A clever passive-aggressive way to smear the Republican Party. Especially when you drape it in a historical context to include JFK, RFK, and even MLK (and also invoking the spectre of the KKK too...)
The article explicitly states that people fear for Obama's safety because he's black. From the second paragraph:
"And at a rally here, a woman expressed worries that a message of hope and change, in addition to his race, made him more vulnerable to violence."
It goes on to reinforce the comparison of the passion of Obama's followers to that of supporters of the Kennedys and King. The article really makes no mention of Obama's opponents at all, except for the fact that as an ex-First Lady, Hillary Clinton's had Secret Service protection since her husband left office.
"The article really makes no mention of Obama's opponents..."
Come on, Beau, you're intelligent...connect the dots. Who are these people afraid will do violence to Barack? His friends? His supporters? Or, maybe...his opponents? And do you think they believe it will be his opponents from this primary process?
Finally, I'll ask again, since when is Mr. Obama a black man? Are we talking about the same fellow?
No disingenuousness intended. The chances of a random wacko taking a shot at him are greater than that of an evil plan conceived by an opponent, contrary to the opinion of many conspiracy-minded bloggers.
Think how many more incidents there have been where wackos have gone to public places to kill people since the time JFK became president, compared to assassinations or even attempted ones.
Who blew up the Murrah building? Who was responsible for the bombing at the Atlanta Olympics?
And I'm sure you realize Obama's black enough to get the attention of the wackos. Just as he's black enough to have his religious beliefs continually questioned, either sincerely by the uninformed or disparagingly by the disingenuous.
Son, I too hate that term. On a related note, one of my clients whohappens to be a very old black man has a funny thing to say about that. He says that white people are actually the colored ones. He said "When a black baby is born, it's black. When a black man is angry, he is black. When a black man is sick, he is black. Whe he dies, he is black. However, when a white baby is born, they're purple. When they are sick, they're green. When they're angry, they're red. When they're embarassed, they turn pink. When they die, they turn blue." He then says, "So which one of us is truly colored?"
Son, I figured you might find this as funny as he and I do.
tanglang
He said "When a black baby is born, it's black. When a black man is angry, he is black. When a black man is sick, he is black. Whe he dies, he is black. However, when a white baby is born, they're purple. When they are sick, they're green. When they're angry, they're red. When they're embarassed, they turn pink. When they die, they turn blue." He then says, "So which one of us is truly colored?"
Hey tanglang, he has been observing about the white people very carefully.
Son, I thought of you today when I read this:
"Now, I have a question. Who do you think, folks, is behind this story? (interruption) No, Mr. Snerdley. Hillary is not behind this story. Is that what you said? Obama people are behind this story. (laughing) There is no question. You could almost say that this is brilliant, to get this out there.
Oh, no, no, no. Somebody inside that camp is thinking real hard. There is this quote, this passage from the story. "That afternoon, Mr. Obama's motorcade passed Dealey Plaza and the Texas Book Depository building, where the fatal shot was fired at President Kennedy in 1963. Several campaign aides looked out their windows [of their cars], silently absorbing the scene." Now, I wish I could remember the circumstances.
contd.
Oh! It was just last week I had an iChat going, an instant message chat going with a person who shall remain nameless. The subject of going to Texas and Obama and the campaign came up; and this person, who is very cynical, said, "I wonder how long it will take Obama to do the exact JFK route through Dealey Plaza and the Texas School Book Depository," and damned if he wasn't right. You gotta give 'em credit here for putting this stuff out there. They're doing everything they can here to shut down any kind of criticism of the guy. That's what this is about."
Son (I hope you don't mind the parsing of your handle):
I am usually a bit intimidated by the eloquence of your words.
I find myself in strong disagreement with the underlying concept you are projecting.
The strategic benefit of taking out such a charismatic person, in order to cause disruption of our society, should not be ignored.
Like him or not, He has increased the participation in this republican democratic system.
And it could well be that more folks from the right are taking the time to vote as a result.
This is a good thing.
Although I do believe it is better to be color blind, I think it is naive not to consider the consequences.
(I hope this is not a double post, the first one got lost)
Fly, clarify what you think is my "underlying concept". It isn't clear based on your post.
You can call me Son, or SOTM, or Mask...those usually get my attention. You can call me other things, but I'd prefer you didn't (lol).
My intent was not to suggest that Mr. Obama is risk-free as a candidate. Rather, my point is that I don't think he is especially at risk, simply due to his multi-ethnic ancestry.
I've seen enough politics to be a cynic. This "story" may be true...but true or not it will certainly push a self-fulfilling prophecy after some people read it. "Hey did you see that story that Obama's safety is a concern?" "Oh yeah, that's for sure, especially being black and all."
Like I said before, it seems a great way to subliminally smear the Republican opposition.
I lack the clarity of words
Please take me at my word that my intent is not to smear the republican opposition.
I believe in balance and I choose to pull on the rope from the left.
I absolutely believe that the folks pulling from the right are not racist. (I know it deep down).
None the less there is an undercurrent (riptide) of felt economic oppression that I also know to be true.
I think that the reaction to the action would be more than equal based on stored energy.
Not a simple red and blue thing.
I have read enough about the beginning of the Republican Party and have lived in a variety of places.
I do not think all things are equal in this case.
JamesMarcus
Neg away--your privilege. But Obama is more of a potential target than the other candidates, for obvious reasons, so I see nothing wrong with posting a story on the subject.
Well said, Martin Luther King and MelcomX were killed because they were very popular and they were black. And Obama is a popular and a charismatic leader. He can be a target of the Right Wings or racists. It is important that people should demand that he be given a maximum security and protection.
For what it's worth, I was covering an Obama rally in Columbus earlier this week and the security detail was the highest I've ever seen before for someone who wasn't the president. I've covered several rallies for people who've already got the nomination before, and the security at the Obama event was about at the level I saw at a 2004 rally for President Bush in rural Ohio.
All politicians, heads of state, CEOs and celebrities are in danger when out in public among the masses, why do you think they have body guards? Obama is no different, I think some want to stir the race pot by making the notion that he is in MORE danger than the others because of the color of his skin.
In truth, anyone running for president (or just having a certain view) will say something that will get a nut thinking they should put a bullet in them, ask Reagan, JFK, RFK, Lennon, John Paul, MLK and others.
you're kidding right? he's the first black man to run for president in a country built on slavery where presidents have always been very very very white.... hello?
No I'm not Kidding I'm from the South and we seem to be way over the slavery thing,,,, too bad you people aren't.
Why is it you people can't see this as a possible positive sign for the country and enjoy it? Why does the Liberal mind insist on finding a way to make a negative out of everything so they can fortify their twisted ideas that America is a hateful WHITE Bread place that hates the idea of a woman or minority to make good?
Your world is a place I'm so glad that I don't live in.
ALl I can say is this, Hillary or Obama, whichever one of you wins, to get my vote, don't play into the vitriol of the scared brats in your party,,,, stand strong, tell me what you are going to do... Remember Hillary it's quite obvious what your gender is and Obama the same holds true about your skin color,,,, try your best to act like that matters so little over what you plan to do,,,,, believe me the America I Live in is soooo over the I'm Black or I'm a woman thing,,,,, get over it
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Recently when he was in Dallas I heard that they stopped checking for weapons at the door and just let people in. There definitely needs to be a more watchful eye on the candidates, especially in this day and age.
Dont you believe for a second that everyone is not checked for weapons.There are some very hi tec ways to scan people for weapons that dont involve passing through metal detectors or being wanded.
Barack Hussien Obama is fine, makes for a cute little MSM line.
the big picture, is when the high wears off, what does the empty suit that he is get some substance?
This comment has something to do with the story?
Or your frilly knickers?
Or your innability to spell?
MICHAELR:
"the big picture, is when the high wears off, what does the empty suit that he is get some substance?"
These are strong words coming from someone who NEVER supports his unsubstantiated arguments with reliable documentation, including this one.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi...
"For a speaker who is best known for his lofty and airy rhetoric, it's an ironic reality that Obama's public appearances very often turn into drawn-out dissertations. In fact, read side-by-side with the other candidates' current stump speeches, the Obama script makes at least as many references to policy proposals as do theirs. Obama's stump speeches have been heavy with specifics."
" Dont you believe for a second that everyone is not checked for weapons.There are some very hi tec ways to scan people for weapons that dont involve passing through metal detectors or being wanded."
Umm. There aren't that many 'high-tech' ways and the ones that exist are very unlikely to be used in these situations.
People should be worried, especially at any outdoor event as spring comes into being. Let's just hope it doesn't happen to him as it has to people like JFK/MLK.