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OBAMA

Is Obama the Most Threatened President in History?

That's the claim from the liberal blogosphere

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by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t +

Image: AP

Among the top ten "hottest" posts on Reddit today is a headline claiming that " Obama Is the Most Threatened President In History," linking to a blog post on the ultra-liberal Daily Kos. That claim was made a few times in 2009, and by more credible sources than a Reddit headline, but is it true in 2012?

The short answer is, we don't know. The Secret Service has made no official statement since 2009. And in fact, it may never have been true that Obama received more threats than other White House occupants. The claim was refuted by the Secret Service Director when it was first made by the Boston Globe in 2009: He said that although Obama received a "large number" of threats, it wasn't out of line with threat statistics for George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

There's been a spike in death threats against Obama in 2012, and in 2008, but apparently that's normal for an election year and George W. Bush was afflicted the same way.

So why are claims that Obama is more threatened than others so widely believed by some on the left? It may be that his supporters simply notice threats to Obama more than they noticed threats to Bush.

Via Reddit, the Christian Science Monitor, the Boston Globe, and TPM.
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Why do some on the left believe Obama is threatened more than other presidents?

137 Comments (view in Forum)

  • Neo_NtheMatrix
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    I don't know if he's the most threatened, but he is definitely the most threatening president in history. No other president has brought this country literally to the brink of insolvency. I think that his record of governance reflects that.
  • Bleeding_Blue
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    @Neo_NtheMatrix I see you constantly making these baseless claims. But yet you never support it with anything, just like every other "Happy Meal" Neo Conservative.
  • Neo_NtheMatrix
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    @Bleeding_Blue -$17T of national debt, 7.9% unemployment (real unemployment/under employment rate: 25.4%), a divided and dysfunctional Senate/Congress that can't govern, and our ambassadors over seas being slaughtered as the Middle East falls apart. Do you need any evidence to support my claims? This was just off the top of my head, but the Patriot Act, NDAA, and murdering American citizens without trial are a few more things that should be mentioned. This president is no good.
  • Bleeding_Blue
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    @Neo_NtheMatrix

    Yes because the entire 17 trillion is on him right? No, actually it's not. In truth Obama is only responsible for roughly 4 trillion. Bush spent over 2 trillion in his last four months that was added on to Obama's debt, because of the way the Fiscal Calender works. Then we can also say another 2 trillion was spent fighting two wars Bush started. 7.9 percent unemployment, is right where it was when he took office, and is an improvement over the 10% we were facing after the Bush era recession ended. The dysfunctional senate/house is as much to blame on the House Majority Republicans, and the obstructionist who call themselves the Tea Party. One Ambassador is dead, stop pretending there was more. The Patriot Act and the NDAA were both signed in to law under Bush Jr. first. And I'm not sure what imaginary "americans" are being murdered by Obama, but lets stay in reality please. As I said, you have nohting, just bogus talking points, lies, and half truths, spit out by the likes of you, and the failures that are Fox News, and Rush Limbaugh." No if you want to actually start debating with real facts, please let me know. But stop with your baseless BS.
  • bsking
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    @Neo_NtheMatrix well you gotta give credit where its due... after all Obama did get us out of Iraq and the war in Afghanistan he closed Guantanamo ... pick up the deficit and have his first term.... let's see what else did he do I can't remember all the good stuff he's done so far

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  • bsking
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    he may be the most threatened president ever.... but that's because he's the president of the US of KKK-A according to his pastor. that will all change wants to you and controls the Internet.... maybe we'll get that story soon. I wonder if the people at the you and have a favorable view of political discussion on the Internet?
  • Laradian
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    @DARSB
    That's because he's much better at sitting on the front porch playing a banjo somewhere in the back woods of West Virginia.

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  • DerivePI
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    The assasination of our president would be the worst thing for our nation in this difficult time. Further, many of the problems that are highlighted by his reelction would continue even in the event of his absence since those problems stem from the ignorance of the American people and not necessarily from its leadership.
  • PNWest
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    The Secret Service generally keeps quiet about Presidential threats. Given the pure venomous hatred directed at the President by many on the right I would not be surprised if Obama has received more threats than any other President. Let the Secret Service do their job and protect him for the next four years.
  • MongoAPillager
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    @PNWest And by the way if something did happen to him Joe Biden would become President and be eligible to run in 2016 and 2020.,,,is that some kind of veiled threat???
  • PNWest
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    @MongoAPillager No but hopefully it might deter any idiot that was thinking of harming the President. Remember many of JFKs initiatives were stalled in congress until LBJ became President. LBJ was able to push much of that policy through because of the country's sympathy for the fallen President. Biden would do the same if he became President under similar circumstances.
  • mtkopf
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    @PNWest I actually like to hear Joe Biden, and Chris Christie for that matter, speak. I find it refreshing to hear a politician talk and act like a regular person and not a automaton regurgitating talking points. Imagine a Christie-Biden debate. That could be a pay-per-view event.

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  • martydotcom
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    If not the most threatened, I think he's the most at risk President due to the ability of any whacko to get a weapon, the tenor of the political debate, the 24 hour news cycle, keeping the hate level dialed up and the fact he's black and elected for a second term has the racists acting like we're in 1861 with secessionist petitions, etc.
  • mtkopf
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    Is President Obama the most threatened I hope not. Why might he be the most threatened? Not because of race (even though I believe many conservatives are racist) but because the political extremists in the media ON BOTH SIDES are dividing this nation. One only has to look at some of the posts here (mine included) to see how politically divided and intolerant our nation has become.
  • Citrus93ta
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    I believe a lot of people on the left are racist then right Al Sharpten , Jesse Jackson are the leaders on the left and that's how they make money is race race race ! People are not just divided on politics but there pissed there freedoms are taken away by Obama with obamacare for just starters and that should bother both left and right
  • mtkopf
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    @Citrus93ta for starters, if you reply to my post with a rant please lay off the booze. It makes it difficult to interpret what you are trying to say(especially since I'm in a six pack right now). Remember conservative credo: do as I say...not as I do
  • mtkopf
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    @Citrus93ta you are making absolutely no sense so have a good night. BTW I did not have any beer 7 HOURS AGO when I originally posted.

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  • jessejaymes
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    Considering the Bible Belt institutionalized redneck racism one would have to assume that a Black President would be the most threatened president in USA history.
  • commonsense51
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    The left is made up of total hypocrites. They will lie, distort, exaggerate, take out of context, anything to get their agendas passed. What they say is meaningless to any thinking person who is not on the take from tax payers.
    America is threatened more today than any other time in our history. We are going bankrupt and have a Socialist running our nation who lives in denial, and refuses to even talk about the debt. All he ever talks about is raising taxes and never spelling out what he would cut in spending to get our HUGE DEBT under control. He is truly the worst pathetic president of all time.!
  • commonsense51
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    @Jet_Silverman Look at Obama and you see the worst of Socialism. A Government purposely growing the welfare roles to secure election, having no regard for our debt but only Government control of the people. The vast majority of Americans did not want Obamacare and what did he do? Forced his Democrat flunkies to pass it under duress. That is taxation without representation.They ran commercials pushing people to get on the welfare dole. People who thought they were doing ok and not in need for charity from tax payers but that does not stop Socialists who need the majority of Americans on public assistance thereby insuring election victory for Democrats. What kind of corrupt politician would take a nation 16 trillion in debt and still push more people to join up on the tax payer's back. Where is that money suppose to come from? We can't give away our future. Who with any sense whatsoever does not understand that if a nation goes bankrupt, all people will be hurt, even the ones who you claim you want to help. The simple truth is Obama cares little for the poor or he would be trying to get them out of a demeaning embarrassing lifestyle. No, he is doing everything in his power to keep them on welfare.
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    commonsense51
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    @Jet_Silverman The part of Socialism I'm talking about is redistribution of the wealth. Taking from successful people who actually do us a great service by creating our jobs and running our economy. The Socialist wants to punish those successful people and reward people who are a drain on our system and will never pay back the money they take. That is totally idiotic.

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  • mimi57
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    If that's true and the black pop.is about 14%, and approx. 90% voted for Obama...how did he get elected by the
    majority which is white, if there are so many white racists?...That doesn't make sense...???
  • Jet_Silverman
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    @mimi57 I didn't say all, or even most whites are racist, in fact, I didn't even mention whites. I said there are a lot of racists around. Do you deny that? And a lot of the hatred aimed at Obama is due to the fact he's black.
  • acchokiefan
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    No other president has had FOX and the others fell so threatened by him. There are 60 million Americans willing to fight to the death for him, so if you want to try to get to the president, you better bring 60 million bullets because you're gonna need one for me. He's done a damn good job even against getting no support form the right and America, Atleast half of it has seen totally thru the BS on the right. Forward!!!!!!
  • Citrus93ta
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    Stop posting your a idiot ! 60 million would fight for him are you a moron ? What side owns guns left or right ? What side would the military take left or right ? Don't talk shit if you don't know what your talking about , how many military personnel didn't even get a chance to vote ? If you don't feel threatened by Obama or any other part of the government your part of sheep that will be lead to slaughter .
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