July 13, 2012

"During that conversation, the police officials said, the officer allegedly said he would shoot the first lady..."

"... and then used his phone to retrieve a picture of the firearm that he said he would use. It was not immediately clear what type of firearm was allegedly shown."
[In a Friday television interview on NewsChannel 8, District Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D)] called the allegations “ridiculous in the sense that it’s hard to believe a police officer would do something, you know, say the kinds of things that were said, and I hope he didn’t, to be honest with you. But there’s no room for jokes or frivolity when you’re dealing with the first family.”...

On Thursday, a Secret Service spokesman said... [t]he agency “respects the right to free speech... However, we have an obligation to determine the intent of the speaker.”

17 comments:

Emil Blatz said...

This guy wanted to retire, real bad.

Crimso said...

No free speech rights for threats against the First Lady, so this is not a free speech issue at all. However:

"The officer allegedly made the comments Wednesday morning as several officers from the Special Operations Division discussed threats against the Obamas. It was not immediately clear where the alleged conversation took place or how many officers took part in the conversation.

During that conversation, the police officials said, the officer allegedly said he would shoot the first lady and then used his phone to retrieve a picture of the firearm that he said he would use. It was not immediately clear what type of firearm was allegedly shown."

That sounds like he may have been saying to these agents (who were discussing threats against the Obamas) "If I were going to shoot the First Lady, here's how I'd do it." That makes sense. Making an overt threat to kill Michelle Obama to people involved in preventing such attacks doesn't make any sense at all.

SunnyJ said...

Absolutely...just seems like the left does and says some pretty disgusting things and the FBI or SS manages to not show up to determine "intent"...Uncle Ted Nugent goes on a rant and they can't get there fast enough.

There is such a distrust and lack of confidence in this administation, it permeates everything. Cronyism up the ying yang, and anyone that even seems to disagree gets the public flogging, enemy list or kill list, supporter vetting scrutiny. Would the Feds have rushed on this if the comment was about Ann Romney (granted not firt lady yet but protected as Repub nominee spouse)? I think not. Obama's campaign runs this administration and everthing, everything is seen as a campaign opportunity.

edutcher said...

Sounds like housecleaning time in DC.

Regardless of race, creed, etc.

leslyn said...

"Uncle Ted Nugent goes on a rant and they can't get there fast enough."

Well...it was a pretty public and intentional rant.

Ted Nugent is your uncle?

TWM said...

"That sounds like he may have been saying to these agents (who were discussing threats against the Obamas) "If I were going to shoot the First Lady, here's how I'd do it." That makes sense. Making an overt threat to kill Michelle Obama to people involved in preventing such attacks doesn't make any sense at all."

I'd lay a small bet that this was exactly what this was and someone overreacted or had a grudge against the officer. Still, once reported they have a obligation to investigate.

jeff said...

""Uncle Ted Nugent goes on a rant and they can't get there fast enough."

Well...it was a pretty public and intentional rant."

It was also exceedingly clear that uncle ted was not threatening anyone in his rant, but expressing hyperbole that the government would be killing him. but you already knew that. only the hyper partisan perceived that as a threat. Even as they recognize the democrat operative who suggested killing Romney was speaking figuratively.

rhhardin said...

The secret service is always in the indicative mood.

Synova said...

If someone had any real thoughts of harming the first lady, would he say so? A bad joke is a bad joke. But if you think about it, it's pretty much these people's jobs to figure out how to kill the people they guard. Vulnerability assessment is a strange sort of thing.

The guys doing VA where my husband works don't program and simulate the defense of DOE facilities, they model attacks on them.

Yes, this could be a crazy man who meant it, but that seems just weird. And actually, it seems really really weird that it got out. How did anyone report this?

leslyn said...

Sunny J says,

"Uncle Ted Nugent goes on a rant and [the Secret Service] can't get there fast enough."

Well, he did say it on the 14th, and the Secret Service didn't interview him until the 19th, after they had politely made an appointment. So would you say that that is "too fast," "not fast enough," or "just right?"

jeff says,

"It was also exceedingly clear that uncle ted was not threatening anyone in his rant" Are you and Sunny J siblings, or first cousins? Just courious--Uncle Ted seems to have a lot of relatives.

sakredkow said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
David said...

". [t]he agency “respects the right to free speech... However, we have an obligation to determine the intent of the speaker.”

Bullshit. You don't need to "determine" his intent. He expressed his intent. Too late to take it back. No I'm kidding defense. Prosecute him. And fire his sorry ass from the police department.

bagoh20 said...

""... and then used his phone to retrieve a picture of the firearm that he said he would use. It was not immediately clear what type of firearm was allegedly shown.""

What if this was the picture?

For Michelle

Carnifex said...

what is coming clear is that Zero has alienated a bunch of the working members of almost all branches of LEOs. he's insulted them, used them, slandered them. The only one's who he can trust are his immediate cadre of crooks. The SS, the DoJ, and the brownshirts of the HSA.

The DoJ has always been a band of political dick strokers, but to see the SS fall so far in the publics eye is shocking. they desereve to serve a better man than this Marxist despot.

PS.

SCOTUS approval ratings lowest ever...there's the genius of CJ Roberts at work again.

I am still seeing a civil war coming. too many big government idiots in both parties for the country to continue as it has, and the bastards just won't stop.

leslyn said...

bagoh20

You might want to review the sentiment in the post just above yours.

leslyn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Scott said...

Cop culture is Bizarro-world.