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The press thinks they are sneaky with how they will handle this "problem". The solution is simple: Make sure as many people as possible know everything they can about Obama.

Why does that work? Because up until now, people feel good about his campaign because there is a lack of substance. What do you think will happen if more people know what Obama REALLY wants to do?

Obama is a very green candidate with lots of pronouncments -- most of which are unworkable and scary.

I had a friend who was an Obama supporter until two weeks ago. Why did she drop him? She heard a rumor that he wanted to raise taxes to an absurd level. She called the campaign and they pretty much confirmed it for her.

What is the old saying? "The more you know..."

That they will vote D anyway. Being of an empirical nature, I encourage other people to test their assumptions.

www.scottbomb.com

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might not hurt the Democrats in House races, however, it might significantly hurt them in Senate races, since Democrats typically plan on heavy black turnout in urban areas to offset Republican turnout in rural areas.

...it's easy to come up with a scenario where Hillary wins the EV, but Congressional Democrats in Red States still get hosed. Particularly all those first term Democrats in the House who haven't done anything to justify getting re-elected.

Still think that Nancy Pelosi's a great Speaker, kids? - Because we do.

The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!

I think a major African-American candidate for President has every reason to have strict security about his person. Seriously, THAT'S not partisan, that's just common sense. There are people who would like to see him ill, I'm sure.

He thinks that all these embittered AmeriKKKans are dying to blow his head off. So naturally he loads up on the Secret Service.

It's just another sign of his twisted view of our great country.

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So do you suggest that other candidates should drop the security details?

There *are* people in this country who are not likely to accept a black president. It is just prudence to be careful in this matter. Politicizing security measures that are taken for actual risks is just plain silly.

I mean, seriously. You don't think there's white-supremacy groups out there or something?!?! You can tar Senator Obama for any number of things if you like, but this is just nutty.

To suggest that Obama has any special need for security is pure fantasy.

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"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater

We've already lost one Senator who was running for President due to assassination. I'm sorry, but I think anybody who criticizes Obama for having a thorough security detail (and omits other candidates who have had one) is simply looking for reasons to bitch.

There were reports he had been receiving death threats prior to requesting the security detail. Senator McCain is welcome to be as brave as he likes on this issue. His actions, however we might feel about them, are not common practice. If Senator Obama, or his people, or the Secret Service had reason to think these threats were credible, then they are doing the right thing to take it seriously.

We are talking about a man's life. Silly use of "KKK" mixed into "Americans" does not change the fact that if there were threats, he should be properly looked after. Jesus, people, not everything is a goddamned political issue.

What precisely does that have to do with appropriate security measures for a presidential candidate?

Of what not to politicize.

On the other matter it goes to judgment, common sense and self image. We are talking about a gathering of newspaper editors. For the most part these people don't own guns and don't want anyone else owning them. They would much rather take a bullet for Obama than do anything that would make them seem like REDNECKS.

So in this case, it doesn't reflect that well on him. Unless you think the death threat came from a newspaper editor ?

Determining that anybody who is present under color of employment at a newspaper is no threat because they purport to work there is ludicrous.

Nobody said that.

But nice job of replying to the statement you wanted made.

Here is another couple of good ones for you.

Just what does it say about Obama that he feels the need to create psychological distance between himself and his followers ?

Just what does it say about him that he feels no problem playing to his audience no matter what the audience is ?

It says nothing relevant to the question of whether or not it makes sense from an operational perspective to employ those security measures or not. You are talking politics. I am talking security. I am not commenting on what he's running on, if it is good or bad, right or wrong. I am just talking about security. If they received threats (which they appear to have), and upon consultation with the Secret Service have come to the conclusion that these measures make sense, then I will give them the benefit of the doubt, and my tax dollars to see it done.

There are things I don't like about McCain. I believe I have listed them on this website. (Several times)

I don't go all defensive about them. Is Obama so weak in your eyes you have to ?

I have only posted in this thread because I saw a remark I thought to be ridiculous and said so. If there was a similar situation with another candidate, I would absolutely have reacted the same way. If, for example, somebody with an axe to grind with Mormons made threats against Governor Romney, I wouldn't have said a damned word if he'd been given similar protection.

This isn't about the particular candidate or my own views of him. This is about the impression I got that some folks in this thread were being just silly about this. My reaction wasn't political. I believe the remarks that got my attention were.

I'll say again what was the realistic expectation at this gathering ? And yes the secret service could and would anyway vet all the attendees.

Creating the inner sanctum is certainly in the realm of overkill. Plus you have nothing to say it was done at the secret service's insistence. So you are turning your biases into axioms.

"Just what does it say about Obama that he feels the NEED to create psychological distance between himself and his followers ?

Bias? Axiom?

It's good to be critical, just not ridiculous.
Lets talk of something more relevant like Obama's middle name or something.

I didn't say candidates couldn't use protection. I said that Obama has no special need of protection, as in your Wright-ian suggestion that America especially murders dark-skinned politicians.

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You will kindly refrain from comparing me with that bigot. I have been respectful, and you would do well to do the same. I don't call people names because ad hominem attacks further no argument, they merely serve to get a cheap rise out of someone, or yourself.

As to your point, I do not suggest that "American especially murders dark-skinned politicians." I do outright STATE that there are people in this country who hate African Americans and make no bones about it. They are a small group (thank god), and I make no broader implications to the populace at large (so do not suggest otherwise), but if you think there aren't such people in the world, you're living in a fantasy land.

I have met neo-Nazi skinheads in my life. One or two of them were very violent people by reputation, and I made for damned sure I got the hell out of situations where I might come into contact with such folks.

Klukkers are nuts, but they ain't all dead yet. We've come a long way on the question of race. I'm proud of my country, proud of how we've developed on this issue in the last fifty years or so. That doesn't mean that we don't have any violent bigots in this country, and you know damned well that we do have them.

Yes, there are people who hate any particular group you can think of, I'm afraid. That doesn't mean that the symbolism of an African-American president to such a person could not be such that it could inspire violence. Civil Rights leaders were assassinated by people with a particularly odious view of African-Americans. I am not, I repeat, NOT suggesting (or thinking) that these views are anywhere but in the margins of society.

But it only takes one nut with a gun and a grievance.

And when you do that, you ARE spreading the same message as Wright, sorry.

If you don't want that comparison, change what you're saying to comport with the truth: In this country ANY politician can get killed. Obama is not special.

Obama is just another politician. He is not special.

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"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater

Any politician can get killed, yes. Are there analogous groups to those I have described, in reverse? Are there Black Power groups with a record of assassinating White politicians?

You don't get to decide the basis upon which the Secret Service assesses threats. They do. Not all threats are equally probable, or equally dangerous.

But martyrdom always did appeal to some people.

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I made no mention of it whatsoever. And you still dissemble, deflect and dodge.

P.S. Given the statistics I would be much more worried as a white politician about being shot by a white guy.

The eeeeevil hillbilly with a gun shooting down the Proud Black Man for being too darn Proud.

They love this stuff.

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"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater

Thank you for making my points into a caricature. I appreciate your obvious maturity in that post.

You're pathetic and you're living a pipe dream in your little fantasy world, where you desperately wish, all the way down to your special place, that the Rubes who make up the flyover country in this nation -- you know, the Heartland that folks like Obama, Kerry, etc. love to talk down to and hate to visit -- would prove you right and act out all of your fantasies by doing something only your side of the aisle would ever even envision as being a possibility.

Nice try. When stuff like this ever does happen, it's invariably a Lefty claiming that he was acting out what the Right wanted, etc, etc, etc. Pathetic, every last one of you.

Couldn't have said it better.

*insert witty comment here*

I am no fan of Barack Obama -- indeed, as far as I know, I am the first person on RedState to call him a Marxist -- but as the first serious Black candidate for President, it is an object of special hate and for a certain very small segment of American society. Yes, more an object of hate than McCain, Hillary, and even Bush.

Let's face it, there is something unique about the Presidency and there are some -- a very small minority but still some-- who do not want an African-American (regardless of their politics) to hold the office.

Indeed, at the risk of being accused of confusing fact with fantasy, there was an story arc on the television show, The West Wing, that illustrates my point. It had someone attempt to assissinate the President because his (White) daughter was dating one of his (Black) assistants. The interesting and relevant thing about this is that the writers of the television show wrote the storyline because in real life they were getting death threats for writing a storyline about the President's daughter dating a Black man.

Now if there are people in this country who are literally crazy enough to send death threats to writers for writing a fictional storyline about the President's daughter dating a Black guy, don't you think there are people in this country who are crazy enough to try to assassinate a serious candidate for President who is Black?

Whatever else I condemn Barack Obama for, and there are many things I condemn Barack Obama for, having the press pass through metal detectors is definitely not one of them.

Thanks for your thoughts. This is pretty much in the same vein as what I meant earlier. Not everything is political, nor is everything an invitation for ridicule, just because the other guy/gal does it.

and shake hands. Or is that Shake Babies and Kiss Hands ?

Just a typical, small town, white girl...

It is mathematically impossible for either candidate to get a lock without the other dropping out.

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"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater