Mark Shields said Friday on The News Hour, "The unspoken story of this campaign

have been the assassination threats against Barack Obama. It's widely known. It's widely whispered. It's widely discussed, always in private.

He had Secret Service protection earlier than any candidate in our history. He is the first African-American. I don't care who it is, who's covering an event, whether it's 75,000 people on the Portland waterfront or when he plunged into the crowd in Des Moines, there's a sense of holding their breath for fear that some lunatic could step forward."


My question for Hillary supporters is, if the relatively greater possibility of Obama's assassination is widely known, widely discussed amongst the players in Washington, why is it whispered and always in private? If you haven't figured it out yet, I'll tell you. These insiders understand that putting the bright national media spotlight on such a scenario takes an already dangerous situation and makes it exponentially more so. They've been purposely keeping it on the down-low all this time. Even people like Bob Novak haven't written about it. Fox hadn't gone there yet. In other words, everyone was hoping to keep the light as low as possible on this one. Unfortunately Hillary walked into the room and threw the switch to the Klieg lights. Yes, Hillary and McCain are at risk too. Hillary probably more so than McCain. But it should be obvious that neither faces the risk that Obama does.

As to her motives, of course I don't believe that she wants to see Obama harmed. That she slipped up because 'she was tired' defense is problematic because she has brought it up before. As Hillary likes to say, "I've been around a long time". I can't believe, as smart and as well connected as she is, that she didn't know what everyone else knew - that this is a place you don't go to.

Why would she raise this possibility when nobody else would? Maybe she would like it to become a national story. Floating it out there, raising the specter so that it moves from the dark subconscious mind of some Americans to the forefront of all. How does the dread that resonates in the wake of such a story effect Obama's positive message of hope and change? Hopefully not much. But let's face it, at least in the short term it casts a pall over the the campaign. Long term, it may serve to dampen the joy and enthusiasm of many knowing that this may all be taken away in an instant. It will naturally lead to questions. Are we as a nation ready for the possibility that this may happen again? Do we need this now? Do we want to roll these dice?

Say what you want, but there is a real political aspect to this. And in Presidential politics when one candidate in desperation mode, all possibilities aught to be examined, especially when the original explanation seems lacking.

The press has collectively agreed not to repeat this idea in their venues -- and they are right.

/oops

there.

how can hil be so cold or stupid to articulate it in such a matter of fact manner?

why put her in a position as vp so that she could benefit from such a tragedy?

something concrete in the plans of the Neocons or the Bushies or the CIA. Bill already proved himself with those crowds by letting the Iran-Contra investigations wither in '93. Certain parties who may be guilty of any number of high crimes may feel much safer with a Clinton than with Obama, and may act accordingly. Carnahan. Wellstone. Baxter. Hatfield. Kangas. For that matter, JFK, RFK, MLK. That crowd plays rough.

I have been very, very scared for a long time now.

She and Barack have an agreement. This is his ONE shot at it, she's not putting the family through this again.

I can't even put myself in her shoes.

When Larry King discretely posed THE QUESTION

"You must know the real reason that Colin Powell's wife wouldn't let him run, DO you ever think about it?" asked Larry.

thank you.

She can't win. It's over. What is she trying to do?

Also, it's one thing to whine and complain and throw little schizophrenic tantrums every few days. But "RFK assassination" imagery is uncalled for and inappropriate.

Who knows what the hell she's actually trying to say these days. She crossed over to fantasyland a long time ago. It would be nice if she drops out and stops hurting the party. But if she stays in, she needs to stop using the word "assassination".

Hurts him as a primary candidate, although it damages his opponent also, justifiably, but it destroys him as a GE candidate. Which is why Obama wants us to move on from this story. It's the political aspect, as you say, that need concern us most, and the best way of dealing with it is Obama's way.



http://thepage.time.com/2008/05/25/obama-i-think-we-should-put-it-behind-us/

Why does he want the story behind us? Because it is more seriously damaging to his prospects than it is to his opponent's, both in the primary and the GE. He wants to win the White House not just the primary. He does not need his image to be that of a victim, but as a strong and capable leader. He does not need people thinking of assassination every time they look at him. This story needs to be gone. Fortunately, the Clinton campaign can never, ever again bring it forward.

That's productive. Rather than expecting his erstwhile opponents to step up and help bring the nation forward, we'll blame him for the hatred of some. The nation is damaged, not Obama; and he is not destroyed as a candidate. I think what he is doing is the right thing to do--appealing to those would have us move beyond the traditional prejudices.

PS. The Clinton campaign is still talking about this.

breathtaking. just breathtaking.

I think it is a realistic view. What is disgusting about it? Perhaps we have a misunderstanding I can clear up.

that this fear is something that is damaging to obama's candidacy, and that he wants it swept under the rug, so that it does not damage him politically.

raises the chances that he will be shot.

:hi: ¿todo bien? :hug:

although it's hard to imagine a scenario where he would be ungracious.

:hi:

:hug:

I've been listening to this stuff for a year now.

Isn't the most important point about this issue is that Sen. Obama is acutely aware of this country's history of political violence and that he is STILL WILLING TO RUN?

How many of his supporters know that political violence is an option and are still willing to stand up for him regardless?

Do not let this assassination-point get turned on supporters as though we are all shocked someone said it. We thought about it and decided to troop on.

her own blind ambition and her urgent need to grab the white house for the dlc?

I have no qualms thinking hilary wouldn't give a shit if Obama were harmed or not. She just needs to STFU with her hot fetid rhetoric and get her a$$ off the airwaves so intelligent people can have real debates.

I was hoping to score tickets.

When I got there, every ticket was gone.

"Can I stand in the crowd outside.." I begged.

The Allentown campaign officer told me "No. You have no idea the grave security risks
this man faces. YOu just have no idea."

I asked why this isn't public knowledge.

"You don't want to fan the flames..."