Secret Service Funding Cutbacks Put Obama’s Life in Danger
This is serious, folks. I cannot repeat or stress this enough. This is serious:
The right-wing hate speech polluting the debate over health care is generating more and more threats against President Obama, some truly frightening.
CNN anchor Rick Sanchez reports that when President Obama visited Phoenix, Ariz. on August 17, local minister Steven Anderson of the Faithful World Baptist Church, who strongly expresses hatred for Obama in many of his sermons, told his congregation that he wished him dead. In a disturbing twist, it was discovered that Chris Broughton, the man who brought an AR 15 assault rifle to the Phoenix rally where Obama spoke, had attended Anderson’s sermon. In a later interview, Broughton said he concurred with his pastor’s wish to see Obama “die and go to hell.” As many as twelve men were seen walking around the Phoenix Convention Center with guns on that day.
President Obama faces 30 death threats a day, a 400 percent increase from former President Bush, according to Ronald Kessler, a veteran investigative journalist and conservative who recently authored a book about the Secret Service.
Kessler notes that funding cutbacks have already left the first African-American president in U.S. history particularly vulnerable. The book, which alleges that the cash-strapped Secret Service is endangering the president by cutting corners, has sent shockwaves through Washington. “There’s no question his life is in danger.” “Tomorrow, Obama could be assassinated … simply because the Secret Service was not doing what it used to do, ” said Kessler.“We have half the number of agents we need, but requests for more agents have fallen on deaf ears at headquarters,” a Secret Service agent told Kessler. “There’s a tremendous feeling within the Secret Service that they are risking an assassination,” Kessler told Canadian TV.
There is a petition at the Credo site that I am going to fill out and send as soon as I publish this post. Here is the text:
“As racist attacks increase and protestors continue to bring guns to presidential events, it is strikingly clear that President Obama is vulnerable to harm. Threats against the president have grown 400 percent, while funding for the agents that must confront and investigate threats against him has significantly decreased. I urge you to do everything in your power to ensure that the FBI and Secret Service expand and fully fund efforts to protect the President of the United States.”
This should not be a Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal issue. The only relevant issue is that this is our president and threats against his life have skyrocketed from previous presidencies while at the same time there is less money to hire the Secret Service agents he needs to protect him. I wish I could do more. At least I can do this much.
18 Responses to “Secret Service Funding Cutbacks Put Obama’s Life in Danger”
His security staff should be double of any other President.
Kathy – This is something that has been out there quietly for several weeks now and it is very, very disturbing. I have also heard reports of the absence of necessary metal detectors because of the lack of personnel to operate them.
This is a high risk presidency in terms of his personal safety and needs to be treated accordingly.
Agree with you; agree with Shannonlee. Thanks for bringing this issue to TMV.
“This should not be a Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal issue.”
At first, I was going to say “you're right, Kathy,” but on second thought I have to say, what a national disgrace and shame that this has become such an alarming issue
One more point I hadn't made before, in response to this paragraph from the article at Credo (I didn't quote this part):
Sanchez is correct, of course, but I would take out all those qualifiers he put in when comparing to the JFK assassination (which I am old enough to remember, vividly). I would say that of course we are beyond where this nation was on 11/22/63, not just because the environment of hate is worse, but because of the very fact of 11/22/63. We can see this coming now in a way we could not back then.
What with the more extreme fundamental influences, hate-talk-radio, and racism (yes folks, it IS real) added to the expanding “dumb quotient” of our population, it should be no surprise that so many violent leaning nutcases are coming out of the woodword these days. I agree, there needs to be MUCH more vigilant security for this particular president. If something “bad” happens to him, then what will come next will make our present sorry state of the union seem like a pleasant dream. Sad to say, I believe there are many folks out there who wouldn't mind seeing that happen, since in their bizarre, twisted mindsets it would somehow be perceived as a good thing. Yes, there are some truly crazy and dangerous people out there. This prez needs to be protected more than any other in modern history. I'm glad to see that some people understand this.
It's ridiculous to hear that his level of protection may be described as or actually become inadequate. I signed the petition out of respect for the man and the office. Viva Baracka! I don't like everything he stands for or everything he's doing but I'll support ANYTHING that keeps him alive.
(Are we sure this isn't just more hysteria though – this time from the left? It really doesn't matter but I'm getting oh so tired of feeling manipulated by both 'sides' of the political spectrum.)
“This should not be a Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal issue.”
That's right and the leaders from all political parties need to stand up and say violence or threats against the president are irresponsible and illegal.
It seems that a good many threats are coming from conservatives and implicitly supported by some political leaders, beginning with the tolerance for death threats and hate spouted during last year's campaigns.
Our elected officials are suppose to be men and women of good character and morals. Not hooligans who stand by and do nothing while violence and threats escalate against someone.
A leader is someone who stands up and says, “Enough is enough, the threats and violence are getting out of hand and are illegal. Stop it now.” Where are the leaders from all political parties and why aren't more saying this?
When someone is hurt or killed our “leaders” can claim they never called for violence. But it's also true that they did not do anything to stop it when it is clearly an issue. What are they waiting for? The moment when it becomes too late?
It's absolutely crazy that cuts would be made in Secret Service at this time. He is the first black President! I will definitely sign the petition.
dunno_moire, “(Are we sure this isn't just more hysteria though – this time from the left? It really doesn't matter but I'm getting oh so tired of feeling manipulated by both 'sides' of the political spectrum.)”
Good question. I do not know the answer, but here's my take. I believe the threats are real. How many news stories did you hear about armed citizens showing up at Bush's rallies? Palin is using the image of death panels in Obama's healthcare reform, which makes people feel that Obama (and Democrats) are attacking Republicans. People of course will feel the need to protect themselves and some will do so more proactively than others. The anti-abortion protestors already kill doctors because they feel they are protecting babies. The hatred that is being stirred up against Obama is even more personal to people. It only takes one nut with a gun and a reason (no matter how illogical or emotional) to hurt or kill someone.
Oh, and many of these people who hate Obama don't even view him as the legitimate president or believe he's even a citizen of the US. At least everyone thought Bush was a citizen of the US and anyone who killed him was a national security threat. Some of these wacko conservatives view Obama as a threat to national security.
So yeah, I think the escalating threats against Obama are real. But that's more from a feeling than objective facts.
Well the Democrats control the budget. They shouldn't have a problem getting funding to protect the President if they feel it necessary to add to his security.
Like NCLB or a Medicare Drug Plan…
What are the cuts, who decided to make them, what will the effects be? Otherwise this is blind speculation and most likely hysteria. What the Republicans are trying to get Obama killed? To bad the Dems control everything.
“Of course the best way to protect the President and save money is to have the President stop pushing through radical legislation with pricetags in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Just food for thought”
I am sorry, but this is one of the most assenine, insensitive and arrogant comments I have seen.
In effect, the writer is saying: “Mr. Obama, you stop pushing your policies (call it ideology, if you wish), start going along with Republican wishes and policies, and perhaps there won't be so many threats on your life.”
Wow!!
“Of course the best way to protect the President and save money is to have the President stop pushing through radical legislation with pricetags in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Just food for thought”
I am sorry, but this is one of the most assenine, insensitive and arrogant comments I have seen.
In effect, the writer is saying: “Mr. Obama, you stop pushing your policies (call it ideology, if you wish), start going along with Republican wishes and policies, and perhaps there won't be so many threats on your life.”
Wow!!
“Of course the best way to protect the President and save money is to have the President stop pushing through radical legislation with pricetags in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Just food for thought.”
The Herd prefers hysteria to thought. I thought of my own amusing reply: Let them hire Blackwater.
Nope. What the writer is saying is that if you promote a radical agenda you will ruffle a lot more feathers of the crazies than you would with a moderate, well thought out and incrimental approach. The writer is also saying that democrats control the purse strings so if they feel the President is more threatened it is in their power to increase his security detail.
“Nope. What the writer is saying is that if you promote a radical agenda you will ruffle a lot more feathers of the crazies than you would with a moderate, well thought out and incrimental approach”
And I firmly stick with my comment:
In effect, the writer is saying: “Mr. Obama, you stop pushing your policies (call it ideology, if you wish), start going along with Republican wishes and policies, and perhaps there won't be so many threats on your life,. because you have just reconfirmed my comments:
Once again, you are saying, in effect: that if the President promotes a radical agenda he will ruffle a lot more feathers of the crazies than you would with a moderate agenda. In the context of the post, that means that you understand why there will be many more threats on the life of the President of the United States.
NOTHING, no perceived “radical” agenda justifies an increased level of threats against the life of the President of the United States. If you can't get that through your head, than I have nothing elese to say.
The petition seems to have expired…is there another one?
http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/1…