
As a journalist, I believe the unquestioned right to freedom of speech and expression is one of our most important gifts living in America.
But every now and then, I see something said or written that is so irresponsible and potentially dangerous, it gives me second thoughts on the whole freedom of speech thing.
The latest example is a new book by author Ronald Kessler, 'In the President's Secret Service,' on the inner workings of the agency that paints a troubling picture of an overworked, underfunded agency assigned to protect our president. ...
For the record, the Secret Service denies Kessler's allegations that it is cutting corners in guarding the president. But the stakes are so high, its hard to dismiss this issue without further investigation.
Normally, I would find such an expose fascinating and must reading for anyone interested in what really goes on behind the scenes of protecting the POTUS. But there are a couple of very disturbing aspects to the release of this book.* Barack Obama is the first black man to lead our nation.
* Obama has been subjected to a great increase in the number of threats to his life as compared to the white men who have held the presidency.
* The Secret Service is facing financing and manpower shortages due to government cutbacks.
To me, this information is a prescription for a tragedy.
While most threats to the president are nothing more than empty wishes of deranged individuals, it takes only one organized group or person to create mayhem.
And think about it. It's not as though the defense of the president has looked all that great in recent years.
We have had a guy close enough to throw shoes at President Bush. And we have also seen people and planes get over the the walls at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in recent years.
Perhaps the author is trying to shock us into providing additional resources for the Secret Service. If that is the case, mission accomplished. Get them the money they need to protect President Obama properly. Anything less could cause a calamity that is to awful too contemplate.
President Obama Pictures
US President Barack Obama winks as leaves after signing a proclamation celebrating the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US President Barack Obama reacts after signing a proclamation celebrating the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US President Barack Obama reacts after signing a proclamation celebrating the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US President Barack Obama signs a proclamation celebrating the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US President Barack Obama signs a proclamation celebrating the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US President Barack Obama signs a proclamation celebrating the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US President Barack Obama signs a proclamation celebrating the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
President Barack Obama salutes from the stairs of Air Force One as he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md, Friday, July 24, 2009, after a day trip to Cleveland and Chicago.(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
AP
President Barack Obama walks down the stairs of Air Force One as he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md, Friday, July 24, 2009, after a day trip to Cleveland and Chicago.(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
AP
U.S. President Barack Obama makes remarks at the daily briefing after a surprise visit to the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, July 24, 2009. Obama said he should have chosen his words more carefully when he said police "acted stupidly" in arresting a prominent black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, touching off a debate over race. REUTERS/Jim Young (POLITICS CRIME LAW)
Reuters


Comments: (32)
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By: Eldo on 8/12/2009 10:49AM
He maybe, if that had been bush he could'nt have gotten within 100 yards of that place wearing a weapon, regardless if bush entered and exited the rear of the building as they said Obama did.
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By: Lala on 8/12/2009 4:05PM
Bring your AK(s) too. Violence is the only thing these uncivilized people understand.
We are tired! Rise Up!
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By: Jane Craig on 8/12/2009 11:28PM
President Obama has been a great President thus far
and will continue to be. All of this anger is not about healthcare, it's about racial hatred and prejudice.All of those ring-wing, hateful people
would complain if you hung them with a gold rope.
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By: Bill Coleman on 8/13/2009 10:40AM
I was watching the Town home meeting the other night and as the President went into the audiance shaking hands I feel that he is not getting the protection need. I pray everyday for our Prsident, because I think he is doing a great Job. I think he need more protection.bill coleman sac.
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By: Dora on 8/13/2009 12:04PM
It's secret. lol!
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By: randall causey on 8/14/2009 12:09AM
We must protect the President at all cost. I feel! very close to this president. I must admitt being a man of darker color bring about a special kind of admiration for this president. I also know that ignorence is wide-spread and must never be over looked because the moment we take our eye off the potential mis-fortune of someone wanting to harm the president, The mis-fortune could manifest. The repercussion of such and act! would render this nation into chaos this time. We have lost Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Suffered the horrable exploits of six hundred yrs of so-called white imperialistic colonial rule only to see! the first man of color hold office as president come under attack by way of death threats.It is unconscionable to even try to imagine someone, Or ones trying to do harm to the president. From a political stand-point, America couldnt in good consciousness ever hope to promote democracy ever again. The damage at such and act!, Or attempted act! would speak! loudly to the world in clear terms, democracy doesnt work. America has much to loose if there was ever and attempt to attack the presidents life. I speak in certain terms when i say!...America doesnt know the unintended consecquences of such and act!. Let us all pray! and be very watchful over this president. I urge all people of all cultures & faith to be vigilant in taping down the notion of doing harm to the president. May the Creator watch! over us all until we return unto his care.
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By: LadyJNewYork on 8/13/2009 2:54PM
White folks need to just get over themselves, he is the President. We just have to pray the angels encamp about President Barack Obama daily and "love and unity" trump all the evil&hatred out there!! If something happens to President Obama there is going to be civil unrest...So the Secret Service had better step it up!!!
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By: Jim on 8/13/2009 5:51PM
the world, is ready for our first black President...unfortunately the world is filled with hate which is not ready to go away...it's never been about anything but racism...you saw it during the elections, it's not going away, just like that...it doesn't matter what President Obama does...he's hated because he's black, too many idiots...mainly people in power...
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By: randall causey on 8/14/2009 1:48AM
Jim, I agree with your opinion the hatred isnt all about health-care, Or the government. Most of this anger is legitamate because so-called white american havent been tested in this type of capasity as it relates to the economy. I dont think? so-called white america can handle the types of unimployment and day to day struggles that so-called black people have handled historically. The pressure and reality of the world changing has cause great fear! to a large amount of so-called white america. However, The problem has never really been racism. The term racism implies & suggest that people are created from different sources other than human being. Think? about what? i am trying to convey to you. It is a physiological impossibility people have been repro-created with alien entities. people history & geanology are fixed inside of a permanent truth. Therefore, Words are very important because words reflect the inner working of how? people react to lifes situations. Truth is absolution this is why? i willnt participate in non-trues. I am not being disrespectful to so-called white people when i call them so-called white people. I am being truthful with them, just as i am being truthful with you right now. My point, if you as a man of darker color continue to mis-diagnos racism as the problem the psychosis will increase and continue to spread the virus to future generation which will effect them in the negative as well. Racism is word play. A game of semantics. The notion racism has served its creators magnificently, impostor to the end, However, its real creator are non other than, Imperialistic colonialist. People of darker color often mis-identify the source of illness that has plague there life for far to long. Colonialist are the ones who? created your current identity labeling you forever black & hence labeling themselves as white. Lastly, It is the imperialistic colonialist who? created the notion & mind-set people were from other races because colonialist understood that human being could be controled with mind programs and fear! techniques. Amazing people can live there entire life and never know the truth, But colonialist depend on this fact of reality of people not knowing the truth to promote there agenda. Colonialist wage a seaseless cultural warfare against any other member of humanity to remain the dominant culture. Brother, At the end of the day, This fight all along was over economic & social superiority. However, Natural law had already spoken!. The anomaly in this equation is you. Colonialist and there hideous plot to rule the world didnt realize a truth, Resussive DNA & GENES willnt allow them to become the dominant factor as it relates to repro-creation of life. This is why? people of darker color are 34% of the american population currently. 34% of 330,000,000 million american citizen. projection currently indicate, By 2041, People of darker color will be 50% of the american society. This is the real truth of why? so many men of darker color are imprisoned and repressed through-out this society. So-called white females are crushed and out-cast by the colonialist because they repro-create with other culture of men and those children are considered non-white, thus declining there numbers in there population. I end my summation with this truth, One thousand yrs of tarrany. Six hundred yrs of exploitation and the colonialist in just a few days will become a minority group of its own political devices. May The Creator of all the Universe watch over us all.
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By: CannotfoolHim on 8/13/2009 6:15PM
Someone tried to assassinate Reagan.
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