Sarah Palin blamed by the US Secret Service over death threats against Obama

by TheCameraObscura | November 8, 2008 at 03:04 pm

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Sarah Palin's attacks on Barack Obama's patriotism provoked a spike in death threats against the future president, Secret Service agents revealed during the final weeks of the campaign.

The attacks provoked a near lynch mob atmosphere at her rallies, with supporters yelling "terrorist" and "kill him" until the McCain campaign ordered her to tone down the rhetoric.

But it has now emerged that her demagogic tone may have unintentionally encouraged white supremacists to go even further.

The Secret Service warned the Obama family in mid October that they had seen a dramatic increase in the number of threats against the Democratic candidate, coinciding with Mrs Palin's attacks.

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Amy Judd

at 15:12 on November 8th, 2008

Can you please use the highlight tool to quote from outside sources? Thanks!

TheCameraObscura

at 15:24 on November 8th, 2008

I'm not comfortable installing this highlight tool software on my laptop. Why can't I write the story and link the external sources?

Albert Milliron

at 18:47 on November 8th, 2008

The highlight tool makes sure folks are able to see your work from others. One must get appropriate credit for their work. The highlight tool greys out work that is not original and sources the original link. Please review the Terms of Service if you choose to use others work.

Albert Milliron

at 18:59 on November 8th, 2008

Let me share something with you as I was ON the campaign trail. Obama had death threats before there was a Sarah Palin VP candidate. There is also no evidence that this is true. The SS would not release this information nor do they comment on these issues in public. The Guardian did not provide a source.. I would suggest it is erroneous.

BTW there was no evidence that anyone said, "kill Him" at any rally. do you have a link or proof of this? The video you cited does not have, "kill Him" anywhere in the video. In addition when Palin spoke of William Ayers, the word Terrorist could have been directed toward him.

It is very important, when reporting, to make sure you do not repeat what other reporters quote as an unknown source. Highlighting or quoting Democracy Now's video and then repeating what they said.. is not good enough. How about listen to the video yourself and share what you hear.

I am very concered about CJ's who use the net or newspapers without having personal knowledge themselves. Do you really believe everything you read or see on TV?

TheCameraObscura

at 15:27 on November 10th, 2008

politisite: "BTW there was no evidence that anyone said, "kill Him" at any rally. do you have a link or proof of this?"

Palin rallies Scranton voters; crowd member calls to 'kill' Obama

Obama Hatred At McCain-Palin Rallies: "Terrorist!" "Kill Him!"

"KILL HIM!!![OBAMA]." PALIN SAYS NOTHING IN RESPONSE

At Palin rally, reporter hears threat to Obama: 'Kill him!'

When did you miss all this? Were you napping?

M. Lewis (not verified)

at 01:11 on November 9th, 2008

I heard "kill him" at the rally when it was broadcast on TV. This is not hearsay. As you could see on this and other videos, Sarah Palin was demagogic and very scarey in mine and many others' opinions. Thank goodness she will not be the VP of the USA.

Albert Milliron

at 11:11 on November 10th, 2008

Could you please tell me what station you were watching and when was it broadcast? what other sources can I see.

TheCameraObscura

at 15:28 on November 10th, 2008

Sources are RIGHT HERE:

Karen Hatter

at 16:19 on November 9th, 2008

It is true that almost from the onset when then Senator Barack Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States in 2007, the campaign began receiving death threats.

However, Newsweek is reporting that the Secret Service informed the Obama campaign that threats increased around the time the McCain-Palin campaign began the use of the rally tactics of asking, "Who is the REAL Barack Obama?", with remarks made by Governor Palin, saying that Senator Obama was " .... palling around with terrorists", as she spoke of Bill Ayers, during September and October 2008.

Albert Milliron

at 11:10 on November 10th, 2008

Karen,

Like I stated, The secret service does not release this type of information. The guardian is also reporting this. There are no SS press release to this fact nor are there any documentation of this. Is it possible that one secret service agent said something along these line, sure. It is not an agency statement. One can simply call the SS offices at 202-406-5708 or get a FOIA request. There is nothing officially from the agency that statistics rose due to Sarah Palin.

TheCameraObscura

at 15:29 on November 10th, 2008

Politisite,

You do not speak for the Secret Service. Give it a break.

Scrivener

at 18:21 on November 10th, 2008

This thread seems to reflect an attempt to rewrite history.

The angry shouts could be clearly heard in news footage -- "terrorist!" was shouted after Palin said something about "Just who is Barack Obama?" The tape was clear and was broadcast on many news outlets. She was not talking about Ayers at that moment, Politisite. The cry of "kill him!" also could be heard clearly. I'm sure posters here could find the clips on YouTube.

Second, the crowds at these rallies reportedly carried what looked like professionally made signs saying things like "Osama bin Biden."

Is it possible these crowds were populated by the same people who are the "ground muscle" who harass and terrorize their fellow citizens by way of "organized community stalking," also known as "gang stalking"?

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/american-gestapo-state-supported-terrorism-targets-u-s-citizens

If the link is disabled, see members.nowpublic.com/scrivener -- "American Gestapo"

All that said, while I may not agree with those who attempt to rewrite history here, I will defend to the death their right to say it. That's the beauty of freedom of speech.

But some of them are starting to sound like the "thought police." Please, folks, read or re-read "1984."

Karen Hatter

at 17:19 on November 10th, 2008

Al, we all watched the bizarre transformation of the crowds that attended the Palin rallies toward the end of the campaign and there are more than a few incidents of inappropriate comments as responses to Governor Palin when she spoke during that time about Ayers and terrorists.

It is more than reasonable to state that the inflammatory nature of the events played a role in a rise or "spike", as the article says, in threats.

I'd cede that in addition to the continual use of the then Senator Obama's middle name, Hussein, with emphasis on the name, by nearly everyone as Governor Palin was introduced, followed by the Palin diatribe, the various tactics used by several Republican organizations and official websites, like the Sacramento County, California website that called for the 'waterboarding' of Senator Obama, must be factored in as well.

Remember, as the governor made her comments, Senator McCain, members of the Republican Party and the campaign and its surrogates, were commenting that Senator Obama planned to sit down unconditionally with terrorists.

It was more than clear the inference meant by all of the comments when examined in total context.

Simple analytic consideration would seem to support the inflammatory rhetoric from the campaign and the "spike" have a real relationship, if there was a spike occurring during the mentioned time period.

If an agent made the observation, as you suggest, being on the inside, they'd know better than most.

A. Tran

at 14:31 on November 10th, 2008

During the rallies in Florida in early October when a man yelled "kill him" , "treason" , and "terrorists" as Ms. Palin delivered one of her lines about palling around with terrorists, while others in the same rally shouted epithets at and one actually tried to attack an African American member of a TV crew.

The policeman in Florida, who tried to demonize Mr. Obama's middle name, forgetting the fact that he had also insulted countless Muslim and Arab Americans who might also have the name, Hussein.

Ms. Palin continued unabated with her persistent rhetorical, "Who is Barack Obama?" as the crowds shouting "Traitor", "Off with his head."

The NYT, CNN, and MSNBC; and C-Span recorded everything uninterrupted and unedited the campaign rallies.

Even Frank Schaeffer, a former McCain staffer from his 2000 run commented that "the rallies were beginning to look, sound, feel and smell like lynch mobs... "

Lastly, it was the Republicans' negative, race-baiting, and stoking xenophobia tactics that absolutely turned many Independent voters off, besides most decent Americans. I talked to a cross-section of Independent voters in battleground states during the last days of the presidential campaigns, and their sentiments were almost identical. One 76 year old man expressed about how sick he was about his party's ugly campaign style and he would vote for Obama. He thought it was wrong.

Further, there are digital archives and records of these rallies for people to pore through in order to absolve Ms. Palin for her divisiveness.

The important fact is the American public voted and Mr. Obama is the President-elect.