OBAMA'S SECURITY DETAIL???

[RoadRage]

I posted in a separate thread about Obama's big (10,000) rally in Omaha yesterday. It was great..the excitement was awesome, etc.

But, one thing that really stuck out at me was the lack of any security detail. No tickets were issued for this event, everyone just showed up to our Arena and seated ourselves. There were no metal detectors set up (like there usually are for big concerts) - people just rushed through the doors.

We were told not to bring bags, but I did have my purse with me. It was never searched, and it's a BIG purse. I didn't think about not bringing it with me until we were already inside.. but no one said anything or asked to look through it.

Hundreds of people had huge cameras with long photo-lenses, etc.

We went with my mom and several of her friends were there as well. They're all in their mid 50's to early 60's. My mom said that she almost didn't come to the rally because the last time she attend a political rally was in the late 60's to see RFK. It was 2 weeks before he was shot - and she had a horrible superstitious feeling. I'm glad that she came anyway, BUT with all of the "hoopla" surrounding Obama what do you think?

Should security be tighter around him? Even Hillary as the first women president is at a greater risk then ever before.

What do you think?

[Alter Ego]

1. Well, if he did I'm sure the "OMG OBAMA THE CULT LEADER"

crap would only increase in volume.

Only cult leaders have security details, while champions of the people like Hillary Clinton don't need them, right guys?















Guys?

[Ian David]

4. That's right! Hillary has so little security, that I was able to pee at the urinal right next to her

And by the way, she did not wash her hands!

[zabet]

12. ...

:thumbsdown:

What do the letters
GLBT stand for?
Like the man-coulter
slurs, this is rude and
insensitive to members of
our community.

[northzax]

22. but it's Hillary

it's perfectly ok to make homophobic jokes about Hillary, right?

[zabet]

28. No it is not.

Homophobic jokes are
insensitive to members
of our community, regardless
of who the joke is about.

[northzax]

29. no, no, everything's ok, when it comes to Hillary

you really need to read your memos closer.

[Coexist]

9. Obama and Clinton both have SS protection already:

"Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, who are vying for their party's nomination, already have Secret Service protection."

[papau]

14. The world is not nice to Obama - Obama as victim -posts always die when the facts are revealed

[RoadRage]

17. This post could have easily pertained to HILLARY as well..

it wasn't about Obama specificly, except for the fact that He's the only candidate running who bothered to show up and campaign, so I can't compare to Hillary's security - because she wasn't here.

But - that wasn't the point of my post at all.. and I think you knew that. Both of these candidates have psychos out there who'd rather they not be running.. and my point was that it seemed to easy to be able to get in and access them.

The Secret Service is great.. obviously VERY GREAT because W. hasn't even had an attempt yet (and you know there are people who'd like to take him out as well), but Bush doesn't show up with 2 days notice to crowds of 10,000 people very often.

No reason to turn this into a Hillary/Obama bash - there are like 10,000 other posts already alive and kicking with that sentiment. Go there.

[RoadRage]

15. I know! It's not just about the secret service detail - they can't stop everything!

I was just wondering why there was less security (metal detectors) for Obama then there is when Metallica flies into town. I realize that bands don't have the secret service, and perhaps I was more "scrutinized" then I knew, but I would have liked to have someone go through all of the purses of the women there, and a quick once over of camera equipment, etc.

I have to nearly strip to get onto an airplane these days.. but I could get within 10 feet of the possible next POTUS without getting touched. Just mentioning it!

[EffieBlack]

30. Secret Service is a lot more prevalent than you may think

The Secret Service has perfected a system of covering their protectee without being obvious about it. Just because you didn't see them, doesn't mean they're not there.

[northzax]

24. in fact

Obama has has Secret Service protection since last April, at his request, significantly before any previous candidate not already qualifying for protection got a detail (in comparison, both Kerry and Edwards got protection in February of 04, Obama was nine months before that)

no security. pah.

[Ian David]

2. I've been to an Obama event, and noticed similar problems.

However, since I was only 2 rows from the stage, I was able to see that Obama himself was surrounded by a tight ring of security.

Secret-service types were continuously and closely observing people near the stage.

However, the security at the doors to get in was so lax, that I decided not to write about it, lest someone with nefarious motivations make use of it.

[cali]

3. Obama has a Secret Service detail almost as big as bush's. n/t

[RoadRage]

7. I've heard that - good news.

And we did see a couple of guys up in the rafters.. and lots of guys wandering around with wires in their ears (AKA Secret Service). I just hoped all of us were being scanned without knowing about it. I'm sure they have great security behind the scenes that we just don't know about...

[panader0]

5. I have worried about this

I am sure that there are some people out there who have vowed not to let him be president. The comparison to the Kennedys makes the threat even more ominous.

[K Gardner]

16. Strangely enough, when I was phone-banking for Obama last week, I talked to

two voters who mentioned this issue. They specifically said they were afraid for his safety. I didn't really know what to say except to ensure them he had security, which he does. People, especially my age, remember all too well the charisma of JKF and RKF and the threat they posed to .. well, whatever.. and remember the heartache of loss. We all fear it when someone as beloved and full of promise enters a jaded and warped political scene with the promise of unity and hope, after so long in the proverbial desert.

[Renew Deal]

6. We had to pass metal detectors when I saw him in SC.

I don't know why there wasn't anything for this event. Maybe it's the size. The event I went to was 2000 people.

[RoadRage]

10. Wow...

I'd think with 2,000 there would be less of a threat then 10,000. I dunno? :shrug:

Maybe they feel that the threat is larger in the south then the midwest? :shrug:

Either way - I just hope that the ring of security around him is ready to jump in front of him if neccessary.

[lurky]

21. I went to one with way over 10,000 in September

They tried to use metal detectors, but there were not enough screeners/detectors to check everyone there so they just gave up after a while.

[The Traveler]

8. Not to sound paranoid but

In a country of 300 million people, there are going to be a least a few thousand whack jobs with a gun and a sick desire to have a twisted impact on current affairs. The last thing Obama wants, of course, is to set up barriers between himself and the people. Close up engagement and open access seem to be especially important to his campaign. Still ... I would feel better about things if there were some quiet guys in dark suits wearing sunglasses and ear pieces around him.

I was 12 when RFK was shot ... I remember that as one of the most horrible moments of my early life. Keep wondering how different things would have been had he not died ... let's not go through that again, eh?

[RoadRage]

11. Actually - there WERE a lot of suits running around

with earpieces. They didn't have sunglasses on, but it was an indoor event. ;) The secret service was DEFINITELY there.. but i kept thinking a few metal detectors would have been nice. It would have taken an hour longer to get in the doors.. but I think most people would have been fine with that.

Sounds like they do have them in some places though... just not Omaha.

[The Traveler]

19. I worry over much about such things

I know the secret service is on the case. Just hoping they have top players assigned. Sounds to me like in the case of the event you attended, someone was getting lax.

[EffieBlack]

31. Secret Service aren't only in suits

The woman standing next to you in the crowd could very well have been an agent.

Secret Service are the best security in the world, bar none. And they manage to do it without appearing to be an armed camp surrounding their protectee so that his constituents can't see, talk or touch him. They're not perfect, of course, but they are the best in the world at what they do.

[Silent3]

13. I saw Obama, Clinton, and Edwards in NH...

...and in every case I was surprised at how lax security seemed (especially for Edwards, who didn't seem to have any security at all, as far as I could tell).

Both Clinton and Obama had a few visible, straight-from-central-casting Secret Service guys, and no doubt a few plain-clothes security people among the crowd, but there were no metal detectors, and it certainly seemed to me that a would-be assassin would have had a good chance to pull off an attack. I'm guessing that the main form of security comes from people watching the crowd carefully and scanning for signs of suspicious behavior -- however effective that method of security might be.

[ursi]

18. Hard to believe, when he was in Reno, there were local cops, Secret Service and Homeland Security

people crawling all over the convention center. Seems like I remember that he was awarded "increased" status about a year ago due to threats.

[RoadRage]

20. There were SS guys there - for sure.

But, from high up in the seats, many 50 - 70 year olds were very worried that anyone could have a weapon stuffed in their pants or purse and the secret service may not have had time to react.

I can't relate, but then again I didn't live through the MLK, JFK & RFK assasinations - and that was what worried them the most.

[cooolandrew]

23. Michelle Obama "This is America anyone can get shot we don't make decisions based n fear"

[northzax]

25. uh huh

which is why he had protection before any other candidate (except Hillary who already had it)?

[RoadRage]

27. I think he was the first one targeted.. seriously targeted.

They are aware of the risks..they're just willing to take them. And, I applaud them for that.. i just wish that places like my city's arena would step up to the plate and help.

[DS1]

26. What would you have had done about 'long lenses' ?