Risk management: Candidate's Security

[NightWatcher]

I am a security/risk management professional and I also work in executive/personal protection.

I get scared every time I see either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama walking through an open crowd shaking hands. The amount of fear and hate that the reich wing has towards both women and african americans along with the amount of nutjobs out there that consider themselves 'dittoheads' and such, leads me to really fear for our leading contenders.

I cringe when I see them walk through a crowd. I know that I cannot see most of the security measures in place, but the amount of access that the candidates afford themselves to the general public frightens me.

Is anyone else scared of the 'crazed repuke' in the crowd or the black operative? The speech today by the Kennedys made me think of the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK. There are rumors out there about the people behind these attacks and I think that our candidates piss off the same groups as did JFK, RFK, and MLK.

[Fredda Weinberg]

1. My thought exactly, which is why I don't understand the welcome

for the Kennedy high profile involvement.

[Fresh_Start]

2. yes I worry about all the candidates and their spouses NT

NT

[MADem]

3. They both have protection, provided by the Treasury Department and paid for by we taxpayers.

I'm pretty sure they're alert and awake. They also do a fairly good job of "blending in"--it's only when that guy in the golf shirt starts blocking an overenthusiastic fan, or turns and speaks to someone who is shoving, that you realize that a "supporter" is actually "muscle."

I also would not be surprised if the candidates are wearing a bit of ballistic clothing in the real open venues--I know I would if I were in their shoes. It no longer looks like a MAE WEST lifejacket--they actually can make normal looking clothing that will stop most bullets (you may end up with a broken bone or a bad bruise, but you won't die).

Miguel Caballero is the best-known purveyor of "high fashion" clothing, but there are others.

http://www.miguelcaballero.com/cms/front_content.php?idcatart=429


Some of his stuff:

[Beacool]

4. I do too!!!

At last Wednesday's rally in North Bergen, NJ I thought the same thing. Despite the previous sweep of the hall and the metal detectors, the bags were checked perfunctorily. It wouldn't have been too difficult for someone who knew what they were doing to sneak a gun into the place. I was about 2 feet from Hillary at a couple of times and so were many people. Thank God that it was a friendly crowd!!! But yes, I think that it probably wouldn't have been too difficult to pull something off. The individual wouldn't have gotten away, but a lot of them are crazy enough not to even care.

I hope that we never have in this country another tragic event like with JFK, Bobby and MLK.