Wow, a new report by the Congressional Research Service and government sources say there are an unprecedented number of death threats against President Obama -- and that the Secret Service does not have enough funds and staff to handle it.
WASHINGTON - The unprecedented number of death threats against President Obama, a rise in racist hate groups, and a new wave of antigovernment fervor threaten to overwhelm the US Secret Service, according to government officials and reports, raising new questions about the 144-year-old agency’s overall mission.
The domestic threat is also growing, fueled in part by Obama’s election as the nation’s first black president, according to specialists who study homegrown radical movements.
Obama, who was given Secret Service protection 18 months before the election - the earliest ever for a presidential candidate - has been the target of more threats since his inauguration than his predecessors.
In total, the Secret Service regularly protects 32 people and arranges security for high-profile events. But the election of Barack Obama has increased threats against the president's life by 400 percent from his predecessor, according to "In the President's Secret Service".
As Bryan Bender at The Boston Globe reports, some government officials are calling for a review of the way the agency is run, and suggesting that some of its financial investigations be transferred to the Treasury Department so the Secret Service can focus on terrorist and assassination threats.
When the DHS reported on the rise of right-wing extremism, the GOP and the Media shamefully decried the report. My guess is the Media will not report this findings either. The Media continues to defend Fox News and Glenn Beck despite their ugly rhetoric.
This is the the kinda ugly stuff the president faces
Two days before Obama’s appearance at San Francisco fund-raisers on Thursday, a 59-year-old Northern California man was indicted on charges of sending a racist, profanity-filled e-mail threatening to kill Obama and his family. The rambling e-mail included specific references to Michelle Obama and the phrase, "do it to his children and family first in front of him,’’ according to the indictment.
I just hope the Secret Service is provided adequate resources to protect President Obama and his family because I don't think the threats would decrease anytime soon. As far as we have an African -American president, there will always be folks who would exploit racial tensions for ratings and financial gain.