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Police concerned about order to stop weapons screening at Obama rally
Star-Telegram ^ | Feb. 21, 2008 | JACK DOUGLAS Jr.

Posted on 02/22/2008 7:38:23 AM PST by COUNTrecount

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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: banglist; dallas; leo; obama; tx2008; usss
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To: TommyDale
This appears to be an act of desperation by someone. Who could that be?

Better yet, which one would he choose?

21 posted on 02/22/2008 7:46:54 AM PST by COUNTrecount
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To: F15Eagle
"How can you not be concerned in this day and age," said one policeman.

Obama must think he's the chosen one - that a light shines on the room when he speaks - that he's different than mere mortal men...

22 posted on 02/22/2008 7:48:07 AM PST by GOPJ (When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing-they believe in anything.Chesterton)
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To: Churchillspirit
Why is it that the first thought to enter my mind on reading this was “Clintons set the stage for another Arkancide”

Yep. Another "grassy knoll" in the making.

23 posted on 02/22/2008 7:48:34 AM PST by Arrowhead1952 ("It may take another Jimmy Carter to get another Ronald Reagan". Rush Limbaugh Jan. 14, 2008)
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To: IMissPresidentReagan

"Uhhh, hello... uhhh, Chief Lawrence.... this is uhhh, special agent Jefferson with the Secret Service... and ah want you to pull the metal detectors and security detail from the Obama rally. That's right. Ah think everbody will be OK with that."
24 posted on 02/22/2008 7:48:36 AM PST by tgslTakoma
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To: COUNTrecount

Was this Hillary’s Secret Service detail giving this strange order?


25 posted on 02/22/2008 7:50:19 AM PST by kittymyrib
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To: TommyDale

I think its as simple as they didn’t want any empty seats. It would look like Osama was losing his appeal.


26 posted on 02/22/2008 7:50:19 AM PST by beckysueb (Pray for our troops , America, and President Bush)
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To: GOPJ

Two things come to mind: Arkancide, and martyr.


27 posted on 02/22/2008 7:50:42 AM PST by TommyDale (Never forget the Republicans who voted for illegal immigrant amnesty in 2007!)
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To: PennsylvaniaMom

Here’s MY question: WHO would have the authority to issue such an order? Surely not just some office worker or someone? Wouldn’t it have to come from someone pretty high-up, like perhaps the candidate himself?


28 posted on 02/22/2008 7:50:50 AM PST by MizSterious (The Republican Party is infected with the RINO-virus)
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To: COUNTrecount

Now there has been an accident in the Clinton motorcade in Dallas. A motorcycle policeman has been seriously injured. It was just on the news here.

http://cbs11tv.com/


29 posted on 02/22/2008 7:51:32 AM PST by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: COUNTrecount
Arlen Spector will claim the bullet just happened to jump off Kennedy's geurney and fly at 1200 fps.
30 posted on 02/22/2008 7:52:41 AM PST by karatemom (Jesus saves.)
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To: beckysueb
"I think its as simple as they didn’t want any empty seats. It would look like Osama was losing his appeal."

Except that it is Hillary that is losing appeal, and sinking faster than Ted Kennedy's Oldsmobile. I go back to my original statement, that this was one of the most stupid things to do in recent times.

31 posted on 02/22/2008 7:53:04 AM PST by TommyDale (Never forget the Republicans who voted for illegal immigrant amnesty in 2007!)
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To: penelopesire

Maybe its just me, but, if I were in politics the words Dallas and motorcade would never be uttered in the same sentence. And, anyone who suggested it would be fired.


32 posted on 02/22/2008 7:53:29 AM PST by John W
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To: John W

Here is some more info on the accident:

http://cbs11tv.com/local/clinton.motorcade.crash.2.660392.html

Prayers up for this policeman!!


33 posted on 02/22/2008 7:54:45 AM PST by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: John W

Okay, this motorcade accident is just too coincidental. Is Hillary this desperate to gain a sympathy vote?


34 posted on 02/22/2008 7:55:03 AM PST by TommyDale (Never forget the Republicans who voted for illegal immigrant amnesty in 2007!)
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To: Churchillspirit

Clintons set the stage for another Arkancide...and blame the vast right wing conspiracy? No way !


35 posted on 02/22/2008 7:58:27 AM PST by UltraKonservativen (( YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID!!!))
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Comment #36 Removed by Moderator

To: TommyDale

THE POLICEMAN HAS BEEN KILLED!! REPORT ON DALLAS TV!!

HE WAS THROWN 30 FEET!!

Prayers for his family!


37 posted on 02/22/2008 8:00:14 AM PST by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: COUNTrecount

o.k. the image has been doctored a tad. :)
38 posted on 02/22/2008 8:05:55 AM PST by robomatik ((wine plug: renascentvineyards.com cabernet sauvignon, riesling, and merlot))
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To: penelopesire

What happened?????


39 posted on 02/22/2008 8:08:08 AM PST by PennsylvaniaMom (Michelle Obama: this seasons Teresa Heinz.)
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To: penelopesire

NewsMax.com
Monday Oct. 15, 2001; 6:04 p.m. EDT

Sen. Hillary Clinton was a passenger inside the car that injured a police officer at New York’s Westchester County Airport on Sunday as it attempted to drive past a mandatory security check point, NewsMax.com has learned.

In a story that was broadcast only in Westchester County Monday night, Cablevision News12 reported that a county police officer injured his arm pounding on the window of Clinton’s limousine while trying to get it to stop.
Clinton’s motorcade was heading for an airport hangar where a private jet waited to take her to an undisclosed location.

News12 reported Sunday night that “a vehicle in Senator Clinton’s security team tried to bypass a mandatory check point” - but it was unclear whether Mrs. Clinton was inside that car or a different vehicle.


40 posted on 02/22/2008 8:08:45 AM PST by COUNTrecount
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