Alleged Barack Obama death threat leads to arrest in Miami

The fear that is not very far beneath the surface for some Barack Obama backers no doubt became more palpable today with word that the Secret Service has arrested a 22-year-old man in Miami on charges he threatened to kill the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

As the Associated Press relates, a Secret Service affidavit charges during a class for bail bondsmen last month, Raymond Hunter Geisel "allegedly referred to Obama with a racial epithet and continued, 'If he gets elected, I'll assassinate him myself.' "

As is often the case with those who rail about killing politicians, Geisel may have been bipartisan in his rants. According to the AP story:

"Another person in the class quoted Geisel as saying that 'he hated George W. Bush and that he wanted to put a bullet in the president's head,' according to the Secret Service.

"Geisel denied in a written statement to a Secret Service agent that he ever made those threats, and the documents don't indicate that he ever took steps to carry out any assassination. He was charged only with threatening Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, but not for any threat against President Bush."

The Secret Service recently re-upped its budget request for the costs of providing protection to both Obama, who due mainly to racially motivated threats has been assigned a security detail since May, 2007, and John McCain, who has had agents traveling with him since the early spring of this year.

Clearly, it is money well spent.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Moe]

Hopefully this means he won't get to be a bail bondsman. We don't need racist criminals like that to be charged with upholding law & order.

[Bob]

Racially-motivated? Yeah right. The man has plenty of other qualities to be hated for without even considering what color his skin might be. Give me a break.

You know what will happen if this clown gets elected? Whenever he doesn't get his way as president, it'll always be the race card. "Oh, the congress won't work with him because he's black." Who wants to look forward to four years of that? I guess the only good thing would be it might run this race card nonsense into the ground and finally make undeniable what most people have known for a long time--those who bring up race all the time are racists, whatever the color of their skin.

[sd-mouth]

It is disgusting that this starts to surface. There is very little comfort in thinking that among 300 million Americans; it only takes one deranged mind to get the imagination going. No matter how much one may detest a sitting president or the next one, killing solves nothing. All you have to do is look at the Islamic world. Killing there is an age old solution.

[Matt Bryant]

That anyone could look on Obama, a Harvard-educated law professor from the University of Chicago, and direct an epithet that presupposes he is lacking in intelligence and/or grace, is absolutely absurd.

Now, the rube he's running against ... that's pure HICKory. Hillbilly John, let's go to war! Yee haw!

[apesca]

I agree with you Bob, I doubt that Obama has received a single racially motivated death threat. Those made by the KKK clearly had other motivations. You are definitely not a cretin.

[asdf]

Too many racists in USA. What a shallow country.

[MIA in Mia]

Yeah, SD-mouth, I totally agree with you. Just look to our friend bob and his comment here, and you can see that our country still got plenty of mentally disturbed, KKK/Aryan Nation types like him. Long time that we had a election with evil and good so well defined. Everyone that is against Obama candidacy, is an Evil Minion, an enemy of the United States, a traitor and shall be treated as such...

[Jimi Mosey]

Bob, your overtness is stunning. I do so look forward to a bi-racial president who can hate each of his races on a daily basis. Every hour his white half can hate his black half and the next his black half can hate his white half.

Then he can take both sides of his hatred for the other to the Congress where the democrats will have veto proof majorities due to the corrupt right wing's inability to get re-elected.

There he can rail against both races out of each side of his mouth, equally hating blacks and whites, pulling race cards non-stop. Then when the ranting against himself calms he can present his agenda to the majority and the legislation will sail through without threat of veto, since all race cards will then be on the table.

The blogosphere is teeming with these kinds of rants about Sen. Obama pulling the race card. The problem is that so few seem to recall that he is bi-racial, not black only, so the arguments about his racism just don't fly.

Nice try, though.

[Tracker]

Don, I think you're being a little misleading. All presidential candidates are eligible for SS protection. McCain simply refused it until a few months ago. You make it sound like Obama needed the protection more than McCain, and that's why they chose to give it to him, when in fact, it is a decision that's left up to the individual candidates.

[Benjamin]

Bob, learn how to read. "allegedly referred to Obama with a *racial epithet* and continued, 'If he gets elected, I'll assassinate him myself.'"

I have to wonder what is up with these people who think that there is so much to hate Obama for... what has he done that deserves hatred and death threats? These same people who encourage hatred of him, will often turn around and denounce his 'lack of experience', despite him having supposedly done so much to deserve to be hated.

Obama didn't fill the publics heads with lies about Iraq, getting us involved in a trillion dollar quagmire while managing to tank the entire economy, including our currency, in the process. Yet people are so filled with hate for Obama? Kinda hard to see how it isn't at the very least partisan hysterics, if not racist.

[Ross]

Response to Bob: Racism is a real problem in America. Pretending that it is not is naive to the extreme. Of course there are still racially motivated threats and attacks in America. We are a long way from the utopia that you imagine, where racism is a thing of the past.

Your statement that indiduals who mention race the most often are the most racist is simplistic. It's also wrong. The people on the front lines of the civil rights movement tend to be those that mention race most often.

[Larkin Mead]

This guy in Florida is being used as a "whipping boy", pure and simple. These high level candidates receive threats all the time and the Secret Service has the huge task of tracking down those who make these threats.

It is amazing to me that there are people out there walking among us who will risk throwing away their futures by making threats against presidential candidates such as Barack Hussien Obama; undeniably an empty suit and a mental midget.

The selection of a president should never be determined at the end of the barrel of a gun; rather, in a democratic and civilized society, we will make our decision in the voting booth in November.

Vote wisely.

[Steve]

Bob,

Don't believe all you hear abouit the race card. That is only another campaign trying to get you worked up. The Obama campaign knows that every day anyone talks about race it is a bad day for the campaign. McCain's group knows that and they are playing it up. What happened to the John McCain of 2000? I liked the man and I hate that he is playing this game.

[Dean]

@Bob,

Do you know what "racial epithet" means?

Personally if I heard someone use a racial slur and then threaten someone I would reasonably assume it was racially motivated.

You also said: "...most people have known for a long time--those who bring up race all the time are racists, whatever the color of their skin."

Since YOU chose that topic as your focus, we can understand the source of your "reasoning".

Finally, the mere fact that you choose to "hate" someone because they have a different opinion than you suggests you urgently need psychiatric help.

[Ernesto]

In reference to Bob's comment...

The race card has rarely been played and the times that it was made to seem that it had, it was quickly quashed. There is no need to turn to issues of race when you have two highly qualified individuals.

And second, the type of color-blind logic that you seem to imply is nothing but a thinly veiled mask of racist rhetoric. Why would you assume that a black candidate would readily use his race to counteract the actions of some agent? That's quite a general assumption to make about a particular individual. Are you making that generalization based upon the group that Mr. Obama belongs to? And, finally, someone who employs the race card cannot be a racist. A racist is someone who actively engages in the direct defamation or subordination of a particular group or member of a group based on innate charactersitics of that group. Someone who simply uses the "race-card" willi-nilly might do so because they feel they're being singled out because of their race...thus making them misinformed...maybe even ignorant in extreme cases, but not racist.

[CAMELTOE]

Sorry, Jimi Mosey...."a rose is a rose, is a rose....."

[Casey]

What is really amazing is the fact that no one seems bothered that a man was thrown in jail for his words, not his actions. His words don't even reach the level of a disorderly conduct charge in any of the states. Yet the author and every comment so far seem to have no problem with this. I'm thinking that everyone on this page would feel quite comfortable living in China. Move fast and maybe you can catch some of the olympics while you erase any last vestage of the meaning of the 1st Amendment from your minds.

[harumph]

"What is really amazing is the fact that no one seems bothered that a man was thrown in jail for his words, not his actions. His words don't even reach the level of a disorderly conduct charge in any of the states."

Really? So if I were to claim in front of a group of people that I was going to murder you, and they corraborated it, you say there's no law against that, so the cops wouldn't charge me?

Pull yer head out, willya?

[Mike D]

Bob,
You are now one of the most ignorant people i know.

[Pam]

86% of blacks are voting for Obama according to the polls, You think they all are politically moved? NO, they want a black man. I'm tired of being called a racist because I don't want a socialist president!

[Andrew]

Hopefully this means he won't get to be a bail bondsman. We don't need racist criminals like that to be charged with upholding law & order.

Posted by: Moe | August 07, 2008 at 02:58 PM

___
You mean like Dog the Bounty Hunter?

[Aaron B Brown]

hey Bob

This is just a wild guess, but you're White right?

:-)

-------------------------------------------------------------

You just knew this was coming, I just wonder how many more of these nuts are out there.

[Alice]

I have only read one comment that makes any since to me. WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR FREEDOM OF SPEACH??? I my self have said in anger or discuss that I wanted to kill someone our hurt someone. That doesn't meen I would do it only that I want to. I can't remember the last time I said I wanted to kill a polition. Hell Nancy would be at the top followed by Obama. That doesn't meen I would do it. It is only a awy of blowing off anger and I would rather see someone say it than do it. His arrest is a clear violation of his rights to FREEDOM OF SPEACH. Does that meen I agree whit him. You be the judge. Remember no one anonoced they were going to kill JFK or shoot any of the other's it is the ones that don't blow off steam I worrie about, and a country that stands up for our rights of speech being denied

[Hillary2012]

Apparently this nutjob was after President Bush too. Does that make Obama and Bush best pals now?

[Ellen in CA]

To Larkin:
So, you think Barack Obama is a "mental midget"?
Columbia University graduate.
Harvard Law graduate and passed the bar. Top of his class and President of Harvard Law Review.
Not a rich kid who got in because of any rich daddy. Didn't put his race on his law school application because he didn't want it considered.
Taught law at the prestigious University of Chicago law school for 12 years, and was a very successful and popular professor. Was offered tenure but turned it down because he wanted to serve his country in public office.
Wrote two beautifully written books himself. No ghost writer.
If you disagree with his policy stands, fine. I can respect that. But to call Barack Obama a "mental midget" is absurd.

[Wes]

I don't get it, why is everyone so crazy about Obama?? Didn't your parents ever teach you not to trust politicians... I mean, of course racial attacks and death threats against the man are reprehensible, but so many people are just in thrall of him, hero-worshiping blindly. if it's too good to be true, it is! remember this guy comes out of chicago/illinois politics. what does that say? you don't get anywhere in that state legislature without burying some bodies.

[Anon]

This comment may seem off topic, but it's directed more by people's responses to this article...boy this united we stand divided we fall stuff just goes out the window when you start talking politics right?

It doesn't matter who you vote for in November. Dem or Rep, they are all the same, the only difference is the color tie they wear. They are all motivated by personal gain and self interest. There is no voice of the people and this country was bought and sold a long time ago. Just step back, take a look at this ridiculous politic system...its sooo funny to watch!

Either you're a crazy hippie liberal or you are a tight ass conservative...

There's no room for objective rational thought and no such thing as "in the middle." All you can do is remove yourself from the game.

[DaveT]

Give Bob a break. Or should I say Archie Bunker. Racists need love too. Bob and people like him are indeed thinly veiled racist. The hide under the cover of proclaiming some of some sort of double standard. Sure, an African American or anyone for that matter can be a racist. But take it from me Billy Bob, I know racism. I've been the target of idiots like you. I've been threatened. Beaten. And called "epithets" by guys like you. White guys. And have I played the "race card." You bet. You will never know what means to be non-white. If you are indeed one. Perhaps you are not. I'm making an assumption. And that's pretty bad of me. I apologize to all caucasions. But you can get off your high and mighty soap box of racism in America and just say that you are a tired Repulican who wants 4 more years of George Bush. A 100 year war in Iraq. Bigger deficts. Loopholes for the rich. And believe in silly tax rebates and and gimmicks. And pay more at the pump because George Bush and Phil Gram created the Enron energy loophole. So now Exxon Mobil and Shell can post a billion dollar profit. So Obama is for taxing these guys. And McCain is not. Who's looking out for us little guys. Not McCain.
So race card or not. This country is in deep caca if we keep the couse we are right now. Wake up Bob before it's too late.

[Wes]

Is it just me, or did Bob really not saying anything that inflammatory? I think you guys are just arguing with him because his comment was ambiguous and conservative-sounding

[Bruce and co.]

"Bob" is right. African-Americans are the racists because they are the ones who incessantly bring up race and cry racism every time things don't go their way.

Obama has run his campaign the same way. Crying racism to damage his opponent, when no racist slurs have been made. Then he dances away once he's accomplished what he needs and says, "Oh, let's not make this about race."

Obama tried to bury both Clintons with bogus accusations of racism. Both Clintons have every right to be disgusted and furious at these phony and politically calculated accusations. Bill Clinton has been laser accurate in his criticism of Obama's tactics.

Bob is right that with Obama as Pres, the American people would never be able to criticize or risk being called racist. Or risk riots which seems to be what law enforcement prepares for every time African-Americans are mad about something.

"Casey" is right in pointing out that this guy was arrested for his alleged words. There is definitely a double standard with Obama. Those who threaten a white candidate aren't arrested. And, it is not right that we taxpayers have to fund extra Secret Service for Obama. Let Obama fund extra security from his vast donations resources rather than further burden the American people during a budget crisis.

The commenter who stated that someone who threatened to murder him would be arrested is living in a fantasy world. The LAPD does nothing about murder threats (or most anything else.)

[DaveT]

You can't trust anyone these days. So if this kid did simply orally threaten killing Obama or Bush or Pauly Shore, we do need to really take these threats seriously. There are plenty of deranged people out there. Now we find out that the culprit for the 2001 anthrax killings were purportrated by our own military scientst, Dr. Ivins. And even before this event occured, be exhibited mental illnes.The shootings on college campuses or high schools. These kids are mentally insane. And there were clear signs. John Wilkes Booth made statements before he shot Lincoln about how he wanted him dead. So let's not take these events lightly.

[Master]

This is stupid. Listening to you under evolved barely conscious apes squabble over these politicians... ahem, POLITICIANS... is sad. None of them have been honest and I guarantee you will be kicking yourselves in the future should your candidate be elected.

So instead just vote for Paris. Shes hot.

[mikerw]

Uh... is there anybody except morons who have been living in caves for the last few decades who *doesn't* know it is a federal offense to make death threats against the POTUS? If this is a "freedom of speech" issue for somebody, go to the Congress and get the law changed. Good luck with that. Our freedom of speech is guaranteed for the purpose of public debate. Threatening to kill a public official hardly constitutes a reasoned argument.

Somebody who makes threats like these... you have to deduce they never finished grade school and don't know how to read a newspaper, or they are serious about the threat -- either because they psychopathic or otherwise mentally disturbed.

If you are of the "didn't finish grade school" variety, you'd do well to take note of what's going to happen to this guy and maybe, you know, finally learn something.

If you are of the mentally disturbed variety, I think it's great the federales have the authority to take you off the streets. I mean, *sheesh*.

[April]

No matter what a persons race is I would hope that if this happens to a white person that we would have the same results, PROTECTION!

[Mac]

i bet Mr. Bob is a hardcore redneck and just know how to use internet. Am just sad to have such ppl around.

[John Q. Public]

What percentage of us can honestly say we are better off than we were 8 years ago? Nothing about neo-conservatism even resembles the republican platform. By the time McCain is done kissing up to the so called conservative 'base' you see how much he'll resemble your ideals. By 2012 you'll be learning Cantonese. These guys don't care about you, they will sell you and your families to the highest bidder.
Just keep voting for the people they tell you are republican, get some more ARM loans, buy some more mortgage backed bonds. -And watch the world as you know it fall apart faster than you ever imagined.
Did any of you even imagine Bush and his people could mess so much up so fast?
Partisan is one thing, just stop being misinformed and distracted. Abraham Lincoln was a republican. McCain was around then, and he knows he's no Abraham Lincoln.

[nuttin funny]

To Alice and your lack of spelling skills: Only people like you who have no idea of how to spell correctly would be dumb enough to threaten Nancy and Obama online.

YOU CAN BE TRACKED DOWN VERY EASILY BY THE NSA, FBI, CIA, SECRET SERVICE AND ANY OTHER POWERFUL ENTITY IF YOU USE THE INTERNET FOR THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS.

Cheers....

[Ronald Reagan]

If Obama gets elected, you have another Jimmy Carter and liberalism dies forever. If you kill Obama, you make him a martyr and that will give liberalism enough fuel to burn for decades.

[Dirk Derka]

Pencil them both out and write in Ron Paul for President.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................

[Joe]

Geisel's likely nothing more than a loudmouth.

[robby]

Wait a minute... maybe this J@ck@^ss was just reciting the lyrics to his latest eminem or 50 cents song!

[Confused]

Why does he/everyone else refer to him as African-American when he is 1/2 Caucasian and was raised by caucaisans? Seems like he would be classified as Caucasian just as easily. Duh! What an obvious question!!!

[Tom]

I doubt this stupid guy was really serious about his ridiculous threat, but it feeds nicely into Obama's phony psychological complex about being a target just because of his skin color. He's so important that he needs lots of extra protection from the Secret Service. Everybody who doesn't support him will be branded a racist by his followers. Even some who do support him, like Bill Clinton, will also be called racist, just because they dared to challenge the affirmative action candidate who has been ordained to lead the country out of its racist past.

[Joe Canadian]

I'm tried of listening to Americans pretend that racism no longer exists, and if it does, it's because African-Americans continue to use a 'race card'.

Racism did not end in the 1960's, it simply got pushed below the surface, and there will be people who will vote against obama simply because of the colour of his skin. Many interviews with voters in West Virginia during the democratic primary proved this.

Racism is still a real issue, and its time for Americans to began discussing this topic like ADULTS, which many people in this discussion have been. And the hatred is still current enough that Barak's life is endanger every single day. So Bob, wake up.

[seriously]

Maybe you 1st Amendment enthusiasts should read the Associated Press version of this story. Here's a little tidbit for you: "A search of Geisel's SUV and hotel room uncovered a loaded handgun, knives, dozens of rounds of ammunition, body armor and a machete."

So if death threats against a presidential candidate/public official weren't enough, this reinforces the theory of probable cause.

And just for clarification, I'm sure our Founding Fathers did not envision the freedom of speech to include death threats.....

[freedom of speech]

I thought the US had freedom of speech.
I believe no body should be arrested for saying something no matter what awful.
Should we arrest my wife every time she says: " I hate you I am gonna chop your balls" ?

[Minymee]

I can not believe you guys are saying race is not an issue. It is a BIG issue. 100% of the black people will vote for Obama only because he is BLACK not because he is the best candidate. Is that not racist?

[Fareed]

The Federal Prison System has a fair share of prisoners doing 5 years for threatening to kill the President. Rest assured that if "Anyone" makes a death threat against the President they will get a visit from the Secret Service like Geisel did; wherein, he will be given an opportunity to explain what he meant by that threat to a Federal District Judge. After a fair trial he will get the standard 5 years minimum case closed.

[me]

The statements that Obama made that I find interesting are " people have a moral right to health care" & "I will re-appropriate wealth" That sounds like... hmmmm. socialism! Marx would be proud! We are only 20 years or less behind the socialistic European union! yeah for the dems!!! A couple of facts on "free health care" Germany's income tax 45%; 20% vat tax on everything,$10 gasoline. How can anybody logically look at obama and vote for him??? btw, a friend is working in Germany, so these are FACTS! So according to my math, I pay about $3000 a year for health care, make about $80k a year so under socialism, "free health care" will now cost me about $44k a year!!! Does anybody have math skills out there and can justify that???

[Fred]

If I had to pick the candidate that constantly brings up race up out of ALL the men and woman who ran for the last TWO years ad naseum, it is Barak Obama - over and over and over...second only to that lovable guy, yes his "pastor" of 20 years -Jeremiah Wright

I have heard his two vapid books and can't believe anyone thinks of them as partucularly well written or enough people bought them to make him a millionaire.

I'm like the lady who said she didnlt want a Socialist as President only I will call him what he actually is...a MARXIST.

[mykeedee]

Do you think you really vote for a presdent,By the way they are all libral,What is the diffrence between them,
Our political systems a joke , they never fix things ,they keep passfier in your month , I here it all the time the presdent did it( they new).Congress took the vote to go to war,The last 2 years its been democrate congress the have the power to change . But did they

The one single event of 9/11 shut down this country,were see the results now . we did not go to electric cars in the1970 Keep on building Nuke plants
so we could cheap power now ,Don't tell me nuke waste can't be burned over and over again because it can.

Here's easy fix One drink served with dinner would cut
30,000 deaths a year from drunk drivers a year.IN 10 years thats 300,000 Deaths just think what that costs us

And don't get me started on smoking

And we all complain about sending people to unwanted war which could have been won buy taking out the bad guys and there weapons.

You see it is simple take out liers washington and impowering the people with a simple tax system
would clean up most of our mess

[Sammy]

What is wrong with people.
People are people who cares about the color of
their skin. We raised are children to be color blind.
If they have a good heart and treat you with respect
who cares what color their skin is.
When will the World ever get off this.
There is good and bad in all races.
Look into the heart and the eyes. That is where
the truth of the soul lies.

[John]

It's amazing to me - folks have no problem electing a white guy as President - regardless of who foolish he acts. Someone who isn't white has a legitimate chance of being elected and all of the sudden the idiots come out of the woodwork and starting making silly threats. I'm voting for McCain. I don't like the idea of stupid folks being able to procreate, recreate, duplicate - much less elect our next President.

[Tom Kingsley]

When will it become apparent the two-partyssytem has failed us?

[Reality]

Sheesh, crybabies and whiners, wah-wah-wah.

If everyone who felt they wanted to shoot this hoard of crooked politicians we have was arrested and put in jail, over half this country would be locked up. Obama's a crook just like the rest of 'em.

[Steve]

Go Obama ... Go Obama.... Go Obama....

Obama will absolutely win.

[Scootmandubious]

Man, I was set to comment on the story but am more astounded by some of the comments on here.

Was (Not Was) lyrics never seemed more appropriate; "the woodwork squeaks and out come the freaks."

[Ceci]

It's just a matter of time that the rest of the racist and small minded people make an issue and a serious attempt. Yeah ...only in America can you get rid of a "Nation of 500" and not call it GENOCIDE. Or that a woman still earns about $.70 to a $1.00 a male earns even if he only has an 8th grade education. Change is about to happen and wether it's a man like Obama that makes it happen or someone else it will make the cowards and the racist throw their arms up and call it whatever they CHOOSE. It's the FEAR of change that makes them run for GOP and hide their heads under the sand! Obama will be president cause we are "UNITED AS AMERICANS" .. "WE THE PEOPLE support a man who has courage & character to deal with the mess that the BUSHES and their cronies have left us!

[Barry L.]

BHO is half white, right? Why doesn't he ever stick up for us white people? Why doesn't he address the inequalities towards non-minorities?

He may be smart, but one can safely assume that his admission into top tier schools was a result, at least in part, of his skin color.

Do away with quotos and affirmative action programs and let the best person win. Why do liberals not understand that? Aren't they the party of fairness?

[Sara]

Just to clear up the freedom of speech and living in China talk...

A viable threat against anyone is an arrestable offense (or you could be hospitalized on a locked unit) - it doesn't matter that he is running for president. Yes, lots of people blow off steam and say stupid things that sound like threats - that wouldn't get you arrested. Saying those things in a serious way and having access to weapons to carry it out, that will get you arrested, no matter who you threaten.

[Theodore Kennedy]

I am always amazed at how white people get 'outraged' or 'disgusted' when anyone mentions race, not just ANY race, but when it comes to talking about a black person. We, as a country, have become over zealous in our reaction to any discussion that involves people of color. There will always be many responses saying 'its sickening' or 'im appalled' but in reality, those people are not actually so upset, as they are wanting to show how NON racist they are. When someone talks about another race in a negative way, it doesnt make them racist, the term better used would be bigoted. The term racist gets thrown around so casually at any mention of 'a black guy' and its almost taking the power and meaning of the word away. People need to not be so sensitive when having a discussion over a black person and white people should not be so automated as to break out the flag cards saying these 'im on your side' buzz words. You need to be able to look at the CONTEXT of the argument and not just one simple word. My comments are in no way directed at the story, actually they are directed at the many poorly worded responses and arguments in this website. As long as you are on autopilot to respond this way, we will never get over this outdated topic. It is almost a ''racist'' thought to be so nervous around a black person and worried that you might ''slip up'' and mention skin color. People, outward appearances do not make the person, nor should they make you so nervous and afraid that you cannot speak your mind. As long as you do it in a civilized tone, there is no reason you should not criticize a black person if you do not agree with them, and NOT be labeled as a racist.

This candidate has a history of the race card being played whenever anything negative is said about him, oh its not by Obama himself, but mainly the people surrounding him. You cannot hide your faults behind your skin color, especially when your in public office, and expect to shield yourself from criticism in this manner. It is the LOWEST argument to simply label someone as a racist anytime they criticize a black public official. Grab a thesaurus and learn some new terms.

Theodore

[The Joker]

Silly silly little sheep all lined up in a row,
Wondering who to vote for, its all a joke you know....

I have to say I have enjoyed listening to the various mouth breathers respond so negatively to ''Bob'' for speaking his mind. This goes to show that Obama-maniacs run wild around the internet, blindly defending their deity in their small minded pursuit to be on what they feel is the winning team.

Snake oil salesmen are apparently alive and well in PoL1+iX these days, and one of the salesmen of the year is running on the Democrats tab and you are all gulping down his kool-aid.

Enjoy life in your blindness, keep your heads in the sand and chanting OBAMA OBAMA!

I am voting for Bob.

Toodles.

[Peter Principle]

"a Secret Service affidavit charges during a class for bail bondsmen last month, Raymond Hunter Geisel allegedly referred to Obama with a racial epithet and continued, 'If he gets elected, I'll assassinate him myself.' "

I guess the guy thought Obama was a little too "presumptuous"

Another Fox News viewer, no doubt.

[IdiotKiller]

Every one of you is an idiot.

[Preston]

This is what they want, all of us fighting with each other so they can steal us blind of our hard earned money, liberty and peace. Who's the dumbshit in this scenario? We are. Fooled again, and again, and again because we don't simply think things thru before we just do what "the authorities" tell us. Don't trust the news, it's half wrong and the other half is incomplete.

[dave]

G Barack...God will protect you because God loves America.

[garrett]

Wait how come Jesse Jackson was not arrested for saying something to the effect of wanting to cut off obama's balls?

wait i guess cuz jesse is black and they only arrest white people.

[Lets get real]

Everyone is so uptight about this election - what we should be more concerned about is eliminating the injustice built into our political system. If our country is truly democratic (and it's not, it's a republic) then the candidate with the most votes should win, right? I say eliminate the electoral college. The entire state goes to one party or the other - cancelling out millions of votes and often electing the candidate with the fewest votes. Eliminate thought crime prosecution while we're at it. And what's the big prize for blacks if Obama gets elected? Reparations for decendents of slaves from the civil war era (sorry white folks, you're not eligible). Translation - transfer of wealth (a socialist concept). Germany doled out billions in reparations to compensate the Jewish victims of WWII - and Obama is a former law professor. Now we see a plan forming for a methodology to justify that transfer of wealth. Indians have reaped the benefits in recent years of casino ownership (sorry non-indians, you're not eligible). Who's going to pay the bill? White Americans, who else?

[Martha]

Proud of yourself, Hillary?

[NinaK]

This guy in Florida is being used as a "whipping boy", pure and simple. These high level candidates receive threats all the time and the Secret Service has the huge task of tracking down those who make these threats.

It is amazing to me that there are people out there walking among us who will risk throwing away their futures by making threats against presidential candidates such as Barack Hussien Obama; undeniably an empty suit and a mental midget.

The selection of a president should never be determined at the end of the barrel of a gun; rather, in a democratic and civilized society, we will make our decision in the voting booth in November.

Vote wisely.

Posted by: Larkin Mea
--------------------------
Larkin, you state Senator Obama as ab empty suit and a mental midget. First, Senator Obama fills his suit rather handsomely! Are you a potbellied beer drinker?? Are you one of these guys that believes a man has to have a beer belly to "fill" his suit? Obama a mental midget? Surely you jest!! He is definitely one of the most intelligent candidates in history running for president! He is not only extraordinarily intelligent, he is also an intellect and very, very smart. So your mental midget discription is completely erroneous! It appears to me that YOU are the one lacking in mental capacity (and mental stability). Don't you feel rather foolish making such outlandish and untrue remarks?? They really do make you look like an envious and jealous dork.

Senator Obama has already proven his leadership skills and financial management skills by the way he has run his campaign, raised campaign fund, and managed those funds---nearly flawless! His campaign and his fundraising have been recognized and identified as the BEST in U.S. history. He has been identified as the BEST fundraiser EVER! Senator Obama, his campaign, and his volunteers are solely responsible for bringing people together, encouraging them to vote, and for the huge turnout of voters at the polls and caucuses. Senator Obama is a great man with unsurpassed oratory skills, integrity, honesty, wisdom, vision, good character, the ability to inspire and motivate all people to become involved in our election process regardless of who they are voting for. Senator Obama is a powerful man who wished to serve our country and to lift our country from the quagmire in which we find ourselves due to the last eight years of Republican leadership with a Republican Congress for the first six years. Anything the Democrats try to pass, the Repubs go against. I certainly do NOT want another corrupt and bumbling, doddering Repub in the White House. McCain is an older Clone of the Bush version. Only McCain is much dirtier, he makes Bush look like a choir boy.

[NinaK]

Everyone is so uptight about this election - what we should be more concerned about is eliminating the injustice built into our political system. If our country is truly democratic (and it's not, it's a republic) then the candidate with the most votes should win, right? I say eliminate the electoral college. The entire state goes to one party or the other - cancelling out millions of votes and often electing the candidate with the fewest votes. Eliminate thought crime prosecution while we're at it. And what's the big prize for blacks if Obama gets elected? Reparations for decendents of slaves from the civil war era (sorry white folks, you're not eligible). Translation - transfer of wealth (a socialist concept). Germany doled out billions in reparations to compensate the Jewish victims of WWII - and Obama is a former law professor. Now we see a plan forming for a methodology to justify that transfer of wealth. Indians have reaped the benefits in recent years of casino ownership (sorry non-indians, you're not eligible). Who's going to pay the bill? White Americans, who else?

Posted by: Lets get real
-----------------------------
I see you as very afraid, VERY AFRAID OF YOUR OWN SPECULATIONS AND PREDICTIONS. Just because YOU think in such outrageous terms does not mean it is so. Are you one of this people that is afraid to go into the city because you might have an accident because of the heavy traffic? Or because you might get lost because of all the hustle and bustle? Or because some drunk will try to grab you? Or because a gay person might say "hi" to you? Or because the city is such a wonderful place that you are afraid to really get to know it because of all these fears and gloomy speculations and predictoins you have concocted in your mind?? Come on! Quit making up crapola which will NOT happen. The only place that is happening is in your own mind.

[NinaK]

I agree with you Bob, I doubt that Obama has received a single racially motivated death threat. Those made by the KKK clearly had other motivations. You are definitely not a cretin.

Posted by: apesca
------------------------
He just got one! That is what this article is all about!! Didn't you READ the article?? That, or you failed to grasp what the article stated.

[Morris]

Assassination threats should be taken seriously, to ensure safety.

However, with that being said, I can' t help but wonder just what type of America Senator Obama would mold us into if he were made President.

Obama is a person that publicly burned Don Imus at the stake, but then Obama himself was active member and contributer to the "White Hate" church of Jeremiah Wright. And time and time again, Mr. Obama is questioned on his patriotism and true allegience to this great country of ours.

All of this has me convinced that if Obama becomes president, people everywhere will have to start watching their backs, watch what they say, measure everything against the "Politically Correct" template to ensure the SECRET SERVICE DOES NOT COME KICKING DOWN THEIR DOOR AND DRAGGING THEM AWAY FOR SPEECHING THE WRONG THING! OH AND NO BAIL FOR SUCH PEOPLE EITHER!!

Many people say Bush is a fear mongeror. Well at least Bush sees foreign foes as enemies and is not looking to "socially cleanse" our society of its diversity.

Barack Obama - it's change alright... the changing of K to Panther

Oh and all of this can easily be bypassed by voting for the candidate with years of track record.

Go McCain 2008!! Mr. McCain, You have Earned the right to be our next President. Thank You!

[Rolandoh]

And why wasn't Jesse Jackson arrested for threatening to perform mayhem on Obama's genitalia?

[Jill]

Anyone on here that is a nay-sayer about Obama should expect to have the SECRET SERVICE KICKING DOWN THEIR DOOR SOON. It's the NEW America, It's "CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN" and "HOPE YOU DON'T GET YOUR FREEDOM REMOVED"!!!

[NinaK]

86% of blacks are voting for Obama according to the polls, You think they all are politically moved? NO, they want a black man. I'm tired of being called a racist because I don't want a socialist president!

Posted by: Pam
--------------------
Ninety+ percent of African Americans voted for Bill Clinton---Clinton is NOT black. Why did the great majority vote for Clinton?? Because the wanted a "Clinton" president?? America is the melting pot of the world, we are all supposed to have equal rights; yet that is not the case. If people are brown, black, Asian, or women we are labeled "minorities". So, then, based on this "label" in our wonderful USA, that leaves WHITE MEN AS THE ONLY SUPERIOR ENTITY. That is correct, folks, if we are not WHITE MEN we are all minorities!! It is so ironic, isn't it? It is time to change this landscape in our country as it is grossly unfair and unequal. Any person of ANY color or race should have the same opportunity as the mighty WHITE MEN to serve our country as president as long as they meet the criteria. Most people and candidates hang on to so-called "experience" as a qualification for the office of the presidency. The fact is: NONE of the candidates have the "Presidential" experience because NONE of them has ever served as president before. The ONLY time you have an experienced president is when an incumbent is running for president. All others do NOT have the experience period. So, then, we must look at the "QUALITY" of the candidates. Between John McCain and Barack Obama, Obama wins on all counts. He is a top graduate of Columbia University and of Harvard Law School. He is 47 years old and has attained the presumptive Democratic nomination for president versus McCain, at age 71 (72), attaining the presumptive Republican nomination. I would say Senator Obama has worked much harder to get to where he's at at age 47. Senator McCain, aside from being at the bottom of his graduating class from the Naval Academy, getting himself shot down, becoming a POW (which he firmly believes gave him the experience to be president), and being a member for 26 years, of a Congress which McCain, himself, described as broken for 30 years and a Congress which has failed us for 30 years, what has he done besides being a major member and participating member of that same Broken Congress and that same Congress that has failed us for 30 years? It has taken McCain 26 long, long years to arrive at the conclusion that the very Congress in which he served has been broken and has failed us for 30 long, long years!!! The truth is, McCain NEVER saw the Congress as broken and as failing us, how could he? He was part of the Congress "family". The ONLY reason he is saying this now is because he wants to make YOU and ME believe he had NO part in that broken, failed Congress. He wants us to think he is the ONLY honorable member of that Congress!! Yes, folks, McCain believes we are stupid, gullible, know nothings and that we will believe anything he says and does. Please, let us all PROVE HIM WRONG!! We are intelligent, we are smart, we are NOT gullible, and we are educated and we are informed, and we KNOW when we are being USED an REFUSE TO BE USED FOR MCCAIN'S PERSONAL POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS. Time to move on in this new centurywith new ideas and ideals, with a younger generation president who is in touch with the people. A candidate who appreciates us, the people, a President who would much rather hear the sounds of thousands upon thousands of HUMAN VOICES rather than the ROAR of MOTORCYCLES. A President who loves and respects his wife and honors her rather than a President who volunteers and encourages his wife to compete in the Buffalo Chip Beauty Contest and says it would be great to have a First Lady who is also the Buffalo Chip Beauty Queen at the same time!! McCain failed to "VET" the Bufffalo Chip Beauty Contest where the contestants wear minibikinis and perform simulated sex motions!! Perhaps McCain would volunteer her and encourage her to compete, regardless.

Thanks, McCain, I would rather have a president who loves, respects, and honors his wife because I know he would respect and honor me as well. I would rather have a president who would rather hear us, the people, applauding and saying "YES, WE CAN", than a president who prefers the roar of motorcycles. I want a president who believes in us, the people, not a president who believes in roaring motorcycles. Motorcycles are THINGS!! People are LIVING, BREATHING, FEELING, ENTITIES. Also do you want a president who volunteers and encourages his wife to enter wild and sex-oriented beauty contests?? Think about it people. All this matters.

[NinaK]

What is really amazing is the fact that no one seems bothered that a man was thrown in jail for his words, not his actions. His words don't even reach the level of a disorderly conduct charge in any of the states. Yet the author and every comment so far seem to have no problem with this. I'm thinking that everyone on this page would feel quite comfortable living in China. Move fast and maybe you can catch some of the olympics while you erase any last vestage of the meaning of the 1st Amendment from your minds.

Posted by: Casey
--------------------
Casey, just why do you suppose the candidates are assigned Secret Service Protection?? It is to keep our presidential candidates SAFE and OUT OF HARMS WAY. Why do you think the Secret Service carry weapons?? The man made a racial slur and clearly stated if he (Obama) became president, he would assassinate him himself. We have to take this guy seriously, he was not joking, he was angry! A person who harbors this kind of hatred and these kinds of thoughts is very dangerous. Did you read where he had weapons in his vehicle and in his room?? The man is definitely a serious danger!! Yes, he had to be arrested and thrown in jail. What would you rather have the law do, let this guy follow through with his threats?? Come on, surely you are smart enough to know this much.

[NinaK]

No matter what a persons race is I would hope that if this happens to a white person that we would have the same results, PROTECTION!

Posted by: April
-------------------
April, if McCain got threatened in the same way Obama was threatened, the Secret Service and Law Enforcement would react the same way. Candidates for president and vice presidents are under special protection at ALL times and any threats against them, black, white, brown, yellow, brpwn, will be addressed in the SAME WAY. That is the LAW. Hilliary is assigned Secret Service protection as well because she was First Lady. Bill Clinton, George Bush Senior and Barbara, Jimmy Carter and Roslind, Nancy Reagen, ALL have Secret Service Protection because of their high leadership and First Lady positions. Even Chelsea has her own SS.

If someone made a threat like that to you or to anyone else, the person would probably be arrested, taken to jail, and sent to a psychiatric ward for evaluation and get some counselling. Then he'd be released most likely with probation period. IF something did happen to the threatened person, then the police would look for him first. (Which is probably what they'll do with this guy as well). The police would encourage you to get a restraining order against that person where he cannot be less than a mile from you.

[NinaK]

thought the US had freedom of speech.
I believe no body should be arrested for saying something no matter what awful.
Should we arrest my wife every time she says: " I hate you I am gonna chop your balls" ?

Posted by: freedom of speech
-------------------------------------
Nice wife YOU have. I hope you do not sleep deeply!!
Remember Lorena?

[NinaK]

Wait how come Jesse Jackson was not arrested for saying something to the effect of wanting to cut off obama's balls?

wait i guess cuz jesse is black and they only arrest white people.

Posted by: garrett
---------------------
Garrett, your racism, bigotry, and stupidity is in full display an it is not pretty.

[NinaK]

Many people say Bush is a fear mongeror. Well at least Bush sees foreign foes as enemies and is not looking to "socially cleanse" our society of its diversity.
----------------------------------------------------------
Your Wright arguement is an old broken record, Senator Obama is NOT responsible for other peoples actions and words. You try to condemn him for others' behavior. Are you responsible for all your friends' and family's crazy actions, maybe even crimes and their stupid comments?? Well, are you??

[dave]

'united, we stand divided. we fall...'
- jane & joe doe

this is the credo hammered into people's minds by those seeking power and control.
and people buy it, more often than not, and pay the bloody price for their credulity.
to those who think they have a divine right to rule, and are entitled to the subservience of others, race has no color or looks.
those are the means of division, and distractions.

there is something very wrong when people running for public office think or feel they need physical protection.
ultimately, there can be no safeguard but wisdom, integrity and self-confidence.
and there is no army, that can protect a man against himself.
as history has shown, body guards are no security. the most sophisticated security technology is no security. weapons are no security. armies are no security.
it might be the body guard who shoots the president in the head. it might be generals, or ceos, or bankers, to make him start a war. or it might be his advisors who would mislead him. the logic of security at all cost is self-destructive.
anyone not willing to value the people's interests as his own, based on his own best understanding of the values of the constitution, is not fit to be president.
anyone who would make himself a prisoner, to gain power, predictably will abuse his office.

'any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.'
- benjamin franklin

[rosa]

obama is one of the best things that ever happened to this
disfunctional world! racist people are always going to try to put him down or any minority that tries to succeed in life.this takes us back to the martin luther king assasination. its time for a positive change in the world,so that means obama is the bestcandidate,and only smart people will vote for him.whoever doesnt vote for him is just stupid or racist!

[gg]

This man is in jail not because he said he would put a bullet though the President's head but because he would kill a presidential candidate. His hatred for Obama is just as bad as for Bush. Neither is justified. But this "Obama love" is too scary. I worry what would happen if Obama became president... we better watch our thought.

[garrett]

NINA K regardless of my race. I don't know why you are calling me the racist. I simply observed that Jesse Jackson was allowed to make comments threatening the safety of Obama and get off with a simple apology. How about letting this other guy apologize. seems that you are the racist since you failed to note my sarcasm in my comment. Maybe the bias in arresting this guy was not race but instead economic discrimination. Jesse Jackson like most movie stars seem to get away with things. I on the other hand believe firmly in free speech. thanks for insulting me simply for making an observation and asking a legitimate question. I guess your the racist. NOT me. Good luck hypocrite.

[LBZ]

wow, after 8 years of liberals writing books and making movies and writing blogs and holding protest signs calling for the killing of George W Bush.... someone gets arrested for saying the same about Obama??? Where is the balance there??? There are around 1,000,000 Liberals out there who need to be arrested and brought up on charges. Because if this guy is guilty... so are they. But the difference is... he threatened a worthless sac of dung, while they threatened our Commander in Cheif.

[nkb]

aside from the obvious racism we've seen here - I'm actually most saddened by the comment made by alice - she is clearly the poster child for the child that was left behind. does anyone get a decent education in this country anymore?