Obama: Some won't vote because of concerns for his safety

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: Obama: Some won't vote because of safety concerns

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama told a radio audience he believes some would-be supporters won’t vote for him out of concern for his safety, and urged them to overcome a “disempowering attitude.”

Obama’s comments came Tuesday in an appearance on the nationally-syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show. Obama cited a New York Times article where several African-American women in South Carolina expressed concern someone might try to harm him. One of the women said that the best way to protect Obama might be by not voting for him.

Obama told Joyner that, while grateful for the expression of concern, he wanted to encourage voters to focus more on the opportunity at hand and not succumb to what he called a “disempowering attitude.”

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we need to take advantage of it,” he said.

Obama became the first candidate to receive Secret Service protection after Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, expressed concern over his colleague’s safety. Sen. Hillary Clinton already receives protection due to her status as a former first lady.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

[Colobo]

1. I'm behind you, Obama!

[Dhalgren]

2. I hope the Senator and his family will stay safe and healthy.

This should not be an issue for anyone, in who they choose to vote for. Senator Obama is a courageous man and would not want fear to be a factor in this election. And I agree with him. I am not a supporter, but I hope for his continued safety and health.

[illinoisprogressive]

4. that is a sweet thought, Dhalgren. thanks.

[Cha]

6. That E V Debs quote is

priceless!

[illinoisprogressive]

3. Isn't that the oddest thing. Not voting for him to protect him.

I heard awhile ago that some would not vote for him out of fear for his safety and they wanted to keep him around along time safe to do good for the people.
This odd maternal instinct kicks in.
But, how can he help if they insist on protecting him?
it's kind of odd.

[silverojo]

5. Methinks it's someone planted by the Hillary camp

Sorry if I sound overly skeptical, but nobody would be stupid enough to "protect" their candidate by making him lose.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. Yeah, Because The Shooting Of

Vernon Jordan, Malcom, Medgar Evers, and Dr. King is an urban myth...

SARCASM

[hisownpetard]

7. I have to admit, when I heard he was going to run (way back when), my immediate reaction was

"No, he shouldn't!" because I didn't want anything bad to happen to him.

I overcame that reaction within about 5 seconds and realized how much I wanted him to run, and succeed;
but I can understand people who do have to face down that particular fear.

[Grandrose]

8. It is a very real concern!

I am African American and my 82 year old mother did not want him to run for that very reason!
Think Dr. King, most of us feel that racism has not gone away, just more or less underground!
When certain people realize Obama could possibly win...everything will change, sad but true!:-(

[silverweb]

9. I heard someone else say something similar.

My daughter and I were shopping together last month and were talking about the campaign while standing in the checkout line.

An elderly African-American gentleman standing nearby looked us over, shook his head sadly, and said, "They'll kill that boy."

I could see in this man's face that he was reliving the sorrow of King and the Kennedy brothers, of witnessing decades of injustice and repression and domestic terrorism.

We both hastened to reassure him that Obama knew exactly what he was doing and had Secret Service protection already, but I don't think that quite settled the gentleman's fears.

Any Democratic candidate would be a potential target, likely Obama more than the others -- but his courage in taking on that risk is an even greater reason to respect him and follow his lead.

We can not refuse to act because of fear. That's exactly what the fascist RW wants -- abdication out of fear.

[BeyondGeography]

11. Only older people think this way

It's always possible someone will take a pop at Obama, but there hasn't been an attempt on any politician's life for a long time in this country. Reason? Part of it has to be that there are so many comparatively easy ways to be famous these days, why do sonething that could get you killed or land you in prison for the rest of your life? Martyrdom was always a hard sell in America, never moreso than now.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. Do You Really Think It's That Or Better Security?

And do you mean famous or infamous?

Because if a person wants to pull a Columbine or Virginia Tech they are looking for a different kind of fame than being the next "American Idol."...

[BeyondGeography]

14. Better security definitely helps

but there are still plenty of chances to get close to a politician, particularly during primary season; still, it hasn't happened.

You raise an interesting point on school shootings, but these often involve personal revenge fantasies of some sort.

[Grandrose]

15. Respectfully disagree....

This is beyond famous, we are talking about President of United States of America and all that entails!
Those of us who lived through the turmoils of assassinations will never forget.
It will not be about martyrdom but institutionalized powerful interests!

[Colobo]

12. Bob Marley said:

"Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, only ourselves can free our minds!"

I think it's self explanatory.

[Terri S]

16. Michelle Obama has something to say about that fear...

"It's fear...fear again raising its ugly head. Fear, fear of everything. Fear that we might lose. Fear that he might get hurt. Fear that this would be ugly. Fear that it would hurt our family. But you know, the reason why I said yes was because I am tired of being afraid. I am tired of living in a country where every decision we have made in the last 10 years wasn't for something, but it was because people told us we had to fear something. We had to fear people who looked different from us, fear people who believed something that was different from us, fear of one another right here in our own backyard... I am so tired of fear. And I don't want my girls to live in a country, in a world based on fear."

................

"The thing I want you to remember, please, please, don't base your vote this time on fear. Base it on possibility. Think. Listen. The game of politics is to make you afraid so that you don't think. And what we need right now isn't political rhetoric. It isn't games-playing. We need leadership. We need people with judgment. We need decent people; people with common sense; people with strong family values; people who understand the world. We need a man like Barack Obama who you know, on the day that he is elected to office, will change the way the world sees us. You know that. That is the possibility of Barack Obama.

We have this window of opportunity. We have a chance to make something real happen, something possible happen, to live beyond our fear. Think about that. And help us. Help lift us up. Help us to fight this fight to change, transform this country in a fundamental way. This chance won't come around again."

~Michelle Obama

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