Posted on 02/22/2008 10:55:06 AM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
DALLAS -- Security details at Barack Obama's rally Wednesday stopped screening people for weapons at the front gates more than an hour before the Democratic presidential candidate took the stage at Reunion Arena.
The order to put down the metal detectors and stop checking purses and laptop bags came as a surprise to several Dallas police officers who said they believed it was a lapse in security.
Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence, head of the Police Department's homeland security and special operations divisions, said the order -- apparently made by the U.S. Secret Service -- was meant to speed up the long lines outside and fill the arena's vacant seats before Obama came on.
"Sure," said Lawrence, when asked if he was concerned by the great number of people who had gotten into the building without being checked. But, he added, the turnout of more than 17,000 people seemed to be a "friendly crowd."
The Secret Service did not return a call from the Star-Telegram seeking comment.
Doors opened to the public at 10 a.m., and for the first hour security officers scanned each person who came in and checked their belongings in a process that kept movement of the long lines at a crawl. Then, about 11 a.m., an order came down to allow the people in without being checked.
Several Dallas police officers said it worried them that the arena was packed with people who got in without even a cursory inspection.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because, they said, the order was made by federal officials who were in charge of security at the event.
"How can you not be concerned in this day and age," said one policeman.
Especially when the Beast is your opponent.
Interesting. Perhaps the Secret Service hates Obama even more than they hate Hillary.
Toon holdovers?
Very similar to an earlier thread.
hmmm...interesting that no liberal was concerned for BUSH at all, especially after 911. In fact, I believe HOllywood was glorifying about BUSH in one of their movies a couple years back.
This is weird. Why would the Secret Service issue an order breaching security so that the auditorium could fill up faster? This is the stuff that conspiracy theorists thrive on.
Odds are it was ordered by some high up in the Klinton Kamp.
Doesn’t compute. Why would the Secret Service choose to move the line along when it may allow guns to be brought into such an event.
Would like to hear more about this, as at first glance it makes no sense at all.
Perhaps the order was relayed by a Hillary spokesman on “behalf” of the secret service?
This is TRULY strange.
For the same reason JFK insisted on an open car in Dallas with no SS riding on the back. He wanted to be seen by the people.
Political expediency often trumps security, and the president/candidate is the one who gives the orders.
Many Blacks Worry About Obama's Safety
That said, the USSS has some 'splainin' to do...
because obama’s ego would not permit talking to less than a packed house.
Maybe the Obama campaign wants to make the Secret Service look racist so they can be replaced like Bill Clinton wanted to do at the beginning of his Presidency.
Obama could use the Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam guards.
Maybe he ordered it to allow everyone to get in the building faster so they could hear the false prophet speak.
>>. . .apparently made by the U.S. Secret Service. . .
I’d guess that came from Obama but went through the SS and they had to approve it or they would not have passed it along.
I can see where the Dallas police might be a little extra zealous in their searches - nobody wants to see a candidate get killed but to have “The Black Kennedy” get killed in Dallas would be particularly horrific.
And after the incident with the military police unit told to stand down in 1963, they’d have to be foolish not to document this with the press.
Is Sirhan Sirhan coming up for parole?
>>Is Sirhan Sirhan coming up for parole?<<
I’ll take “who besides Charles Mason is least likely to ever get out of prison” for $100, Alex.
Beyond creepy.
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