Fear for Obama?

United States
February 23, 2008 10:15am CST
I read a story tonight in the news about how many black Americans are concerned over the safety of Barack Obama, especially if he wins the race and makes it into office. I hear people talking about the time about they think if he does make it into office he will be assassinated. Ignorance of the masses is still very much a concern, especially in the wake of random public shootings. My question is : Do you agree that Obama would be in danger if he made it into office? Do you think he shouldn't run for this reason, or do you believe that fear is what keeps our most intelligent, talented, and capable from running for positions of leadership because of the risks? This is not a discussion to cause chaos and personal attacks, I am merely looking for opinions and mature comments.
3 people like this
12 responses
@lightningd (1039)
• United States
23 Feb 08
Honnestly, I do think they will have to increase security around Obama if he is elected. I also think that it would be the same for Clinton. I do think that regardless of who is elected, if it is Clinton or Obama, you can bet your last biscuit that the republicans will be looking for any excuse to try to impeach. Meanwhile nobody has tried to impeach GWBush. Of course, it would be pointless at this junction in time, his term is almost ended. But then the rest of the republicans in washington have been protecting his sorry butt.
2 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
24 Feb 08
"It still wouldn't do any good to impeach him, because look at our alternative...." Which I'm sure explains why there have been no successful attempt to do so! It would have to be an "two for one" impeachment process with this sorry bunch! I've wanted to get a bumper sticker that says "Would someone please give Bush a B_ J_ so we can impeach him but my husband and daughter didn't think it would be "nice" since we got to a lot of our grandkids' sporting events...lol. That's not to say they don't agree, they just don't think it should be put on my car for bunches of kids to see it. Annie
2 people like this
• United States
24 Feb 08
OMG Too funny! I'd buy one and put it on the vehicle I didn't drive to kids functions!!! Good one!!
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Feb 08
Well I guess I should have said the republicans in washington are protecting bush so impeachment proccedings won't happen. How this country managed to elect him not once but twice, is beyond me. I guess big business won again. But I still have my bumper sticker that says, "Don't blame me, I voted for Kerry!!" It still wouldn't do any good to impeach him, because look at our alternative....
2 people like this
• United States
24 Feb 08
hiya~ great question. i have heard ppl mention this fear as well. then i get to thinking, and i realize that since he announceed his intent to run for this office, he has been the most gaurded man by the secret service in history, at least of those running for office. so me personally i dont fear he would be taken out. i think he is well gaured and i think that as the people get to know him more, they will like him all the more....i think he has won the 'heart of America' and i feel that puts him on safer ground. i also think that this risk only makes him stronger! ~j
2 people like this
@petebaja (516)
• Mexico
25 Feb 08
Some of the greatest men (and women) in history have done things despite possible consequences to their personal safety. If you look at the history books, people who risked a lot gained a lot for their causes. I don't know about Obama's security or safety risks. I don't know what will happen to him in the future. All I know is that he is the head of a new revolution in this country. He is leading a grass roots movement in this country for change. Not the kind of change that's just lip service. The kind of change that requires sacrificies to better the nation. I believe he knows of these sacrificies and risks. And I believe he's willing to take them for the country for he will eventually ask us to do the same. That's why these people succeed in pushing through revolutionary movements. Their willingness to sacrifice, their strength to look at risk and laugh at it, and their call for the masses to do likewise. These are key ingredients that Obama has with key revolutionaries of past. He is willing to sacrifice personal needs for that of the whole.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
23 Feb 08
Assassination will always be a concern for presidents. Sadaam Husein tried to assassinate George Bush Sr. even after his term was over and Clinton was president. The fact that Obama is black, would certainly cause an increased risk of assassination by racist groups such as the KKK. It's my feeling that the secret service is well trained and experienced in these matters. It's been a long time since an assassin successfully managed to kill a president and there have been many attempts.
2 people like this
• United States
23 Feb 08
I read yesterday that the KKK is endorsing Obama. I did a double take and searched Snopes. Its false but it sure did scare me.
1 person likes this
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
23 Feb 08
I'm all for Obama winning the election but I think they would put extra personal body guards around him because of his race to keep him safe. At least I hope they would.
• United States
23 Feb 08
I do agree with that but looking into things in the past that have happened, do you think personal body guards are going to stop a crazy person from doing whatever it is they feel they have to do? Thats what scares me.
1 person likes this
@Crysi23 (515)
• United States
24 Feb 08
I heavily support Obama for the election Absolutely not I don't think he's in even more danger than the current president that we have in office right now. I don't fear for his safety at all. I mean every president that gets elected into office has that risk. It doesn't matter of the color of the person. Whites have just as much of a risk as a black person does. Plus Obama isn't 100% black he has a white mother an a black dad so technically he's Malato not Black. I guess what I'm trying to get at. Is getting elected as president there is always that risk of being assassinated. NO matter the color of your skin.
2 people like this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
23 Feb 08
I do not think that Obama is in any more danger than any other candidate running for office. I do not think that his color is going to get him killed. He has a lot of charisma and he has a lot of the white vote behind him. I really have not heard any really bad things said about him except for the things said about the church he "used"to attend. His wife is the one who has said the dumb stuff. If he can get control of her he should be ok. I do not think he has had any serious threats made against him. Most candidates have a few threats made against them while they are running for office. There are always a few nut cases out there. That rarely stops anyone from running. Shalom
23 Feb 08
He's got no more to fear than anybody else running for president. He should run and may the best person win. I just don't know if the country is ready for either a black person or a woman in the white house.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Feb 08
In the history of the United States of America people are STILL not used to having a president to lead the country that isn't white OR male. This is a first in US election history: A colored/non-white candidate and a female candidate. I don't know about you, but there are some people who just don't like to have a non-white person to lead the USA. I'm fine with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. After all, it won't matter at all because if either one's elected, it'll be a first in the US presidency. Some people don't want the chain of white and male presidents to be broken, but that IS ignorance as you said. Martin Luther King Jr. got assassinated because of his views on civil rights. Assassinating a non-white president is just racist, and it'll be a serious two-steps-back in what King fought and got shot for.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Feb 08
So far I think what I have read here are Democratic view points on this, so let me throw in a Republicans view. I have always voted Republican because their political views most closely match my moral views. Well that is until this election. I really believe, McCain has more of a chance of being assassinated than Obama. He has angered so many people who are conservatives that anyone of the rifle toting moral majority, could take him out, (Only half joking here). I would hope and pray that doesn't happen, but as I say I feel it is a possibility, especially since he apparently is going to get the nomination. I pray for God's protection for all of the candidates, I too lived through the assassinations in the 60's, it was a sad time for our nation as a whole, no matter what party you were, I hope this nation never has to live through that again. We have enough crazies out there shooting our children right now, without a presidential candidate becoming a target too.
1 person likes this
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
24 Feb 08
I actually discussed this with a friend of mine. I have a feeling about Obama and assassination came up. He does closely parallel JFK in his views and speeches, maybe I'm just thinking because they are so alike it could happen to Obama too. I hope not, he's about the only hope we have.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Feb 08
Obama would be in no more or less danger than Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley,Kennedy and almost Regan. The pope has been shot, Robert Kennedy as well as King. There are nuts out there, I suppose that is why we have the secret service. Random public shootings happen in both the black and white worlds. Remember the black dude that cut a hole in the back of his car and the younger black dude shot people at random? There was a white dude around here shooting people at random along the interstate. I don't think fear keeps intelligent people from running for positions of public leadership, it think it is their intelligence that keeps them in the private sector.
@kabzbkny (30)
• United States
23 Feb 08
I personally believe he might be in some trouble if he does reach the White House. Seems like a lose lose situation on the Democrat side. If hillary wins, we'll be deemed racist and if Obama wins, we'll be deemed sexist. Hopefully I'm wrong and everything turns out well, although I'm definitely concerned.
1 person likes this