CNN: Obama now under secret service protection

CNN | 05/03/07

[Pokey78]

due to a threat.

[Badeye]

Watch as CNN and MSNBC blame Rush Limbaugh for this.

Predictable as the sun rising.

That said, the possibility of Hillary’s SS team and Obama’s SS team engaging in a firefight against each other is now 100% more likely to occur....(chuckle)

[Post-Neolithic]

Someone want to explain to me how a Presidental candidate(who hasn’t even won a primary), rates SS protection?

[hardworking]

Yikes! Hill-de-pants’ thug machine must have slipped up and left a bit of evidence behind.

[AppyPappy]

He must be gaining on Hillary

[Pokey78]

CCN front page:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has been placed under the protection of the U.S. Secret Service, reportedly because of a threat against him, the Secret Service said Thursday.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Actually....

They all get USSS protection.

I’m a little surprised at this story. Normally, all the candidates get USSS protection. It’s by law.

[dinoparty]

I do not agree with Obama about much of anything, and I do not want him to be elected. That said, jerk-offs like this who make threats, and thereby interrupt our political process, need to be dealt with VERY harshly.

[wastedyears]

They have Gestapo?

[Brilliant]

Why the heck has it taken this long?

[Badeye]

You know what I mean...(chuckle)

Gestapo comes after Hillary getting elected...

[dinoparty]

I thought only party nominees got protection. No?

[machogirl]

hillary?

[AmishDude]

Are you sure that’s true for candidates in the primary, 7 months before the first primary?

And how far down does this go? Can I get USSS protection by declaring myself a presidential candidate?

[edcoil]

I thought all our senators had bodyguard protection. I just assumed as much of our money they lavish on themselves this would be one of their perks they insisted on.

Who are all those people that surround them when they are out, private security?

[RasterMaster]

He should be SOUGHT by Secret Service because he IS A THREAT to the US!

[mutley]

I’d be surprised if they all weren’t threatened regularly. There are just so many whackos of every flavor.

[SmithL]

Arkancide?

[basil]

Excuse me while I have a bit of a chuckle over this. The very anit-gun Obama gets a threat—and he wants armed guards to protect him. Do I since a bit of irony here?

[Rick.Donaldson]

http://www.secretservice.gov/protection.shtml

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt pray for their safety

[GoLightly]

After Bobby Kennedy, they may have changed the way things are handled.

[Jane Austen]

Maybe some supporter made those threats to get the sympathy vote? Or the special protection? Has happened before.

[Sleeping Beauty]

I thought all our senators had bodyguard protection. I just assumed as much of our money they lavish on themselves this would be one of their perks they insisted on.

Nope. Remember Senator Webb. He packs his own heat.

[Post-Neolithic]

"They all get USSS protection."

"I'm a little surprised at this story. Normally, all the candidates get USSS protection. It's by law."

Thanks for the info, I always assumed they did not get that until after the primary.

[Rick.Donaldson]

BUT... within 120 days of elections... Major presidential and vice presidential candidates, and their spouses within 120 days of a general presidential election

[Quilla]

There’s also the possibility of the B. Hussien Obama camp making up the threat for the publicity and prestige of having SS protection.

[Ditto]

Someone want to explain to me how a Presidental candidate(who hasn’t even won a primary), rates SS protection?

I'm not sure. I have no use for the guy, but if it's a credible threat, he should get protection. I thought the Capitol Police handle security for Senators & Congresscritters, not the USSS. Maybe it depends on the seriousness of the threat.

Could it be some Jihadies looking to punish an apostate as proscribed in the Koran?

[DaveLoneRanger]

It would have to be quite a credible threat to warrant this action; I’m sure threats like this happen daily by people who want to get noticed, or people full of hate.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Well, it’s within 120 days.

Also, something most folks do not know.... At the point there are two or three major candidates, prior to elections, all of them are given “National Security Briefings” on nearly a daily basis. They are apprised of any current world situations, and they get briefed by CIA officials etc. So, when one is elected they are generally prepared to step in immediately upon swearing in. Yep, even Clinton.

[OldFriend]

Don’t believe there was a threat. Just that hitlery has ss so he wants some too.

osamaObama set the table for this scenario months ago.

[PurpleMan]

By law, the Secret Service is authorized to protect:

Other individuals as designated per Executive Order of the President

I suspect POTUS said so.

[Sleeping Beauty]

It would have to be quite a credible threat to warrant this action; I’m sure threats like this happen daily by people who want to get noticed, or people full of hate.

From what I've read -- all candidates get threats. They are all routinely investigated by the Secret Service. In this case, the Secret Service made a decision re: Obama. Obama, by the way, does not have a choice in the matter.

[b4its2late]

That’s what I thought.

[WBL 1952]

Obama needs to talk to Senator Webb about whatever happened to the handgun of Webb’s that Webb’s aide walked into Congress with....that now Webb denies giving to him.

The dang handgun has to be laying around someplace and if nobody is going to claim it Obama could just as well pack it.

[NeoCaveman]

I hope they can protect him from Arkancide.

[WBL 1952]

I agree with you. Publicity and sympathy.

[blogblogginaway]

“As a result of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination, Congress authorized protection of major presidential and vice presidential candidates and nominees. (Public Law 90-331).”

http://www.secretservice.gov/history.shtml

[Rick.Donaldson]

Check the link I posted above please, in regards to who is and is not entitled to protection. Here's the text:

PROTECTIVE MISSION Protective Mission - Special Agent standing post. After the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, Congress directed the Secret Service to protect the President of the United States. Protection remains a key mission of the United States Secret Service.

Authorization

Today, the Secret Service is authorized by law to protect:

* The president, the vice president, (or other individuals next in order of succession to the Office of the President), the president-elect and vice president-elect

* The immediate families of the above individuals

* Former presidents and their spouses for their lifetimes, except when the spouse remarries. In 1997, Congressional legislation became effective limiting Secret Service protection to former presidents for a period of not more than 10 years from the date the former president leaves office

* Children of former presidents until age 16

* Visiting heads of foreign states or governments and their spouses traveling with them, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United States, and official representatives of the United States performing special missions abroad

* Major presidential and vice presidential candidates, and their spouses within 120 days of a general presidential election

* Other individuals as designated per Executive Order of the President

* National Special Security Events, when designated as such by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security

[gathersnomoss]

Crazy Whites.

[Osage Orange]

So, are you saying you want the Rapist’s wife dealt with harshly?

[OneRatToGo]

Unfortunately he’s also a Senator.

[rollo tomasi]

I guess Pres. Bush signed an Executive Order for this.

The DNC should take care of this, not the tax payer until 120 days before the election.

Money does not grow on trees unless your a politician I guess.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Well, it’s within 120 days."

Today is May 3, 2007. The Presidential election Election will be held November, 3, 2008....by my counts that's round about 550 days...

[Rick.Donaldson]

Yes. It is 500 + days.

But, if the USSS is doing it, it’s because it’s been ordered by the Secretary of the Treasury for a viable, credible threat.

[Badeye]

I don’t know if that is the case, but its entirely possible. The fact Obama isn’t playing the political game in the manner expected could also be a factor.

Lets be honest, the odds are wildly in favor of a black man being killed by another black man.

[gondramB]

There is a committee that has to approve them as a “major candidate.” Even Al Sharpton got protection. But that’s only closer to the election.

Its likely easier to justify for Obama as a sitting senator.

Both candidates candidates who were shot held high profile government jobs and had received threats. After Bobby Kennedy and George Wallace we started putting more money into candidate protection. I think about $90 million.

[P-40]

Guess he is getting worried about Hilary...

[kjam22]

At least this should keep him from turning up dead in a park somewhere.

[gathersnomoss]

I know that.