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American Teenager, President Bush and Iraqi War
Julia Wilson, a student at C.K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento, California, is shown Friday, Oct. 13, 2006, in Sacramento. The 14-year-old high school student was pulled out of class and questioned by Secret Service agents after posting a message threatening President Bush on the social networking site MySpace.com. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
17 Responses to “American Teenager, President Bush and Iraqi War”
Why this story has gotten so much attention is beyond me. The story came up the other day at LGF. I pointed to several stories of the Secret Service visiting high school students for making threats against Clinton, including another 14-year old. One teenager was actually imprisoned during the Clinton years for emailing a direct threat to Clinton.
I have a relative who was in the Secret Service during the Bush Sr. and Clinton years (I’ve heard some interesting stories about Bill and Hillary) and that is what the Secret Service does people. They have an obligation to protect the president and they are not going to take any chances. You threaten a sitting president even jokingly, you can expect to be visited and questioned by the Secret Service. Most of the time, such as in this instance, so long as it isn’t a serious threat or a threat directly sent to the president, the Secret Service will simply interview the person in question and leave it at that.
Tommy- So should we blame Clinton for this too? I am just getting used to the fact that he is to blame for releasing the Foley e-mails, North Korea’s nuclear test, the rise of Al Queda, 9/11, the fact that bin Laden is still on the loose, refusing to fund the military, being married to Hillary, and worst of all, making that nasty stain on Monica’s blue dress- which never came out at the dry cleaners.
What are you talking about Kim?
He’s saying that it’s not a Bush related issue – it’s the Secret Service who’s done this over more than one presidency. But seemingly because it’s Bush, it’s getting air/net time.
Whether someone likes Clinton or not is a separate issue all together.
I’ve heard about this kind of thing for decades. My understanding is that the Secret Severice is under orders to investigate all threats against the President, no matter how ludicrous. 15 minutes and she’s off the list. What the problem?
It sounds like JackBoot thugs to me. Maybe they can rough up some Quakers for being anti-war. This teenager may even have more than one cell phone. She could be the next American “Blue Eyed” Taliban – LOL.
I think they pulled her from AP Biology. She must be the mastermind of the Anthrax plot, or maybe just a fan.
Yes, of course, whosoever threatens the President must be investigated. But the post has two important points.
One, shouldn’t the parents or school officials be present when this interrogation takes place? Interrogation by seceret service agents at such an age could be unnerving/traumatic…you are not dealing with a criminal but with a child.
Second, note that this teenage girl has become more adamant after the interrogation by the secret service agents. “Julia Wilson plans to post a new MySpace.com page, this one devoted to organizing other students to protest the Iraq war.
” ‘I decided today I think I will because it (the questioning) went too far,’ she said.”
Swaraaj – would it have been *nicer* to have school officials – yes, but I would be surprised if they questioned the student infront of another authority figure.
to your second point – is there a point?
United States Secret Service
Was her post turned in or did domestic datamining turn up a freckle faced Liberal appeaser? The post was from April. Her terrorist celll has since disbanded to the JR High dance.
The timing of this right before the elections, can only mean it is politically motivated … errr
You mean to say that the American secret service is now supporting the Democrats??? Because the secret service knew about this teenager’s site way back in April, but decided to act only now!
What a guess, Rubyeyes!!!
The Secret Service, like any law enforcement, is not likely to invite parents or school officials into interrogations. I’m sure law enforcement investigations from any source could be considered “traumatic.” Threatening the president is indeed a criminal act.
A kid I knew in junior high school, angry about something or other, once joked about “blowing up the school” within earshot of a teacher. You better believe the local police were talking to him before his parents ever got there. As in this case, he wasn’t arrested; he wasn’t being serious. He was certainly expelled for a few weeks, however.
Who cares? This isn’t about changing her political stance. Her views aren’t any of the Secret Service’s concern. This is simply about attempting to figure out what is exactly going on with her threatening the president.
Are you serious “Tommy”? Would you treat a statement by a child or a criminal in the same manner? I can understand the secret service has to do its job. But is no one concerned why the young girl did that?
To take a “who cares” attitude is a sad commentary of an adult’s view towards a child’s comment. We have to give a thought why children are taking such extreme view of Iraqi situation.
Of course, they get to hear from their parents at home and other children/teachers at school. Plus they watch the TV. A child can react in an erratic or extreme manner if things are not properly explained to her/him.
Or is it that a majority of parents and teachers in the United States of America are opposing the war and have little faith in the US administration? So if this feeling percolates down to children there can be extreme reactions/threats.
But it is alarming that the innocent children are being sucked into this obnoxious debate because the US administration has divided the nation by its web of lies and setting dangerous precedents/policies within the country and outside.
Ascribing political motivations to this is stupid. Yes stupid. I fully relize how many people hate bush so much that they blame him for the weather but the secret service prides itself in being apolitical. It’s well know that if you make any kind of a threat and they find out they will show up at your door. I have no doubt they don’t belive she was any threat, but the drunken letters and prank calls that they used to come out on were no different.
Swaraaj, I’ve already pointed out that similar things have happened during the Clinton administration. This isn’t political. When you threaten a president the Secret Service is going to look into it. The same Secret Service men and women are often in one administration after the other. They are not particularly politicized.
Tommy is correct. But I will go one step further. Eventually a young kid will commit some act in the name of political activism and people will point to all the warning sides including a my space page. This should be a lesson to the little brat not to mention the parents.
Swaraaj said :
But it is alarming that the innocent children are being sucked into this obnoxious debate because the US administration has divided the nation by its web of lies and setting dangerous precedents/policies within the country and outside.
HUH? I was very politically active when I was 14 as are many other young kids. No matter who is in power at a particular time there are bound to be kids who disagree with how things are run. The difference with this kid is that she made a particularly hateful comment which went beyond mere criticism.
A more relevant connection involves the debate in adult circles and what kids are hearing. The hate speech on the left is way over the top. This is especially true in the educational system and the entertainment world. Why are you surprised a kid would post somthing like this when kids are being told that George Bush and his administration orchestrated 9/11 or that George Bush hates Black people ? But this is no excuse for what the little brat did . She should be old enough to know better . My 9 year old certainly would