Alpine Opinion

Assassination threat?

Posted in World events by Ray Dixon on 30 May, 2009

“May Obama follow in the footsteps of Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy.”

The above words that appeared in a north-west Pennsylvania (USA) newspaper under the ‘personal’ classified ads have been deemed to be “implicitly calling for the assassination of US President Barack Obama”.  But I’m not sure they do.

According to this ABC news report, the Warren Times Observer, with a circulation of about 11,000, ran the ad in Thursday’s paper but have since apologised and referred the name of the person who placed the ad to local police, who have notified the Secret Service. A Secret Service spokesperson says they are taking it seriously.

I’m certainly not defending the miscreant who placed the ad but I think the whole thing might be an over-reaction. What the author is saying is this: “I hope Obama gets assassinated”. And while that’s a crap thing to wish on anyone, it’s certainly not a threat.

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6 comments

6 Responses

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  1. clubwah said, on 30 May, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    I think the newspaper did the right thing in alerting the authorities. It can be read as both a threat and wishful thinking. You have to wonder about the kind of fucktard who’d place such ad and the kinds of organisations they may be involved with.

  2. p of v said, on 30 May, 2009 at 2:45 pm

    Define it any way you want, the Secret Service has to take that kind of stuff seriously.

  3. Brokenleftleg said, on 30 May, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    What is it with teh right and political violence?

  4. Greg Naylor said, on 30 May, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    To the normal person, who can discuss this issue, it is not an over-reaction. However, to the type of person who assisinated those presidents, it can only be seen to be an incitement

  5. Ray Dixon (Bright) said, on 30 May, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    The problem as I see it, was the paper actually being stupid enough to publish such an offensive message. It’s only an 11,000-wide in circulation local ‘rag’ but now it’s got worldwide attention and, via that, it might be seen as ‘inciting’ an assassination attempt. But unless the F*cktard who placed it has got ‘form’ and/or he’s got pictures of Obama on his bedroom wall with targets drawn on his head, etc, I don’t think he’s committed a crime. He’s just a dickhead.

  6. Don said, on 31 May, 2009 at 8:50 am

    What an interesting case it would make, because all those presidents would have done one or two good things in their terms and the fucktard could simple say that’s what he/she was talking about. Will you be following this story for us Ray and posting updates? I’ll stay tuned.


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