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Update 10/02/09: The "Kill Obama" pollster has been identified: According to the Secret Service, the pollster is actually a juvenile. Both the kid and his parents were questioned, and it was determined that no charges would be brought against the kid or his family. Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan has declared this "case closed."
The vastness of the Internet cuts both ways for President Barack Obama. Online, his supporters form communities, organize and disseminate information instantly, but technology has no political allegiances. President Obama's detractors also form online communities, organize and disseminate information instantly.
Not surprisingly, though, "hate 2.0" looks exactly like "hate old-school style." The latest incident to grab headlines was a poll on Facebook that garnered more than 700 responses before it was taken down.
The U.S. Secret Service is investigating a Facebook survey that asked whether the most tech savvy president in history should be assassinated. The poll was posted Saturday on Facebook and asked whether people thought President Barack Obama should be offed. The popular Palo Alto, Calif.-based social networking site quickly took down the poll after company officials were alerted to its existence.
It is against the law to threaten the president of the United States. It can get you up to five years in prison.
...Like any threat against the president, Secret Service agents are taking no chances. "We are aware of it, and we will take the appropriate investigative steps," said Darrin Blackford, a Secret Service spokesman. "We take these things seriously."
The poll asked respondents "Should Obama be killed?" The choices: No, Maybe, Yes, and Yes, if he cuts my health care. Source: Secret Service Investigates Facebook Threat to President, NBCBayArea.com
Because the "kill Obama" poll was put up using an application developed by a third party, once it was deactivated, the poll results became unavailable. So it's unlikely that we'll ever know for sure how many voted yes or no. And what would we learn from those results anyway -- that some people hate Obama? That's not news.
And to wrap this all up, Wired.com points our attention to this: A poll was created Monday on Facebook asking whether the creator of the "Should Obama be Killed Poll" be arrested.
Well, what say YOU? Should the creator of the "Should Obama be Killed Poll" be arrested?
President Obama Pictures
HONG KONG August 18, 2009 (AFP) - AFP photo coverage advisory . Tel: (852) 2829 6206. Duty editor: Edmund Edwardes Jones..--ASIA--.TOKYO/OSAKA: Start of 12-day official campaign for Japan's August 30 general election.TAIWAN/CHINA: Aftermath of Typhoon Morakot.AFGHANISTAN: Build up to the August 20 presidential elections.PAKISTAN: Returning IDPs and situation in general as available.JAKARTA: Independence day parade.DELHI: Nepalese Prime Minister Madav Kumar Nepal visits..--MIDEAST--.DAMASCUS: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki visits Syria for talks with President Bashar al-Assad.TEHRAN: Political developments as available.BAGHDAD/JERUSALEM: Situation as develops..--AMERICAS--.WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama meets with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.VENEZUELA: President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mohammed Ibn Chambas visits.HONDURAS: Situation following coup d'etat..Your opinion matters - Online customer satisfaction survey.Click here to win one of 50 copies of the AFP Yearbook for 2009. .http://www.sphinxonline.net/afpmarketing/photo2008/start.htm (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Two Iraqi boys hold plastic flowers in their hands as US soldiers (L) stand guard during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
An Iraqi boys talks to a US soldier standing guard next to his armoured vehicle during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
A US soldier stands guard during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi soldiers (R) join US troops guarding the inauguration ceremony of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US soldiers patrol a northeastern suburb of Baghdad during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi children stand next to US soldiers guarding an inauguration ceremony for a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi boys look at the tattoo on an American soldier's hand during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
An Iraqi girl holds her mother's hands as she plays next to US soldiers standing guard during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi children stand next to US soldiers during the inauguration of a US-funded project to support small businesses in a northeastern suburb of Baghdad on August 18, 2009. US President Barack Obama warned on August 17 that Iraqis would be tested by more "senseless" violence but vowed the United States would meet its deadline to pull out all troops by the end of 2011. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Comments: (53)
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By: Jen Copus on 9/30/2009 11:25AM
Of course this person should be arrested. That seems like a threat to our Presidents life to me!!!
I am for "Separation of Church and HATE!!!
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By: a on 9/30/2009 11:25AM
Should automatically be put in jail. I wouldn't care if it was Bush or any other Republican. That is the main problem in this country. People believe it is there right to do or say what ever they want out loud. You have to draw a line somewhere. Some of the things that make this country so great are the same things that make this country wrong.
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By: Robin Wright on 9/30/2009 11:25AM
Like Duh! Evidence must be proven correct. Creator, Palo Alto, Ca. social networking site, Facebook poll, the law states, "threat against the President of the United States" can get you five years. Case closed.
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By: Mocha Brown on 9/30/2009 11:25AM
Why is this even a question to be asked or considered? I'm tired of all of the Jedi mind tricks!!!! This is NOT a race card issue!!! Pres. Obama is not in a position to confront the overtly racist remarks that are hinting at rebellion and anarchy because of who he is as president but those of us who have been black all of our lives and that can stand by him need to start speaking up and drowning out the Tea Bag Express and other lunatics who are creating an environment of dare I say, assassination!!!! Yes, the fool who created this ignorant poll should be arrested!!! It is a federal offense to in anyway elude to violence toward a sitting president. Are we asking this question b/c Obama is black or b/c we are falling for the mind games of political pundits who are trying to make the racist component of these incidents seem non-existent? If IT looks like a duck, quacks like a duck...it's a duck!
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By: NotasignorantasOprah on 10/01/2009 9:51AM
This is so stupid it almost doesn't even deserve a comment. But, most of this autragious ideas and suposition threats are all created by the White House to stir up things and of course cause disturbance and hate between the people. That is exactly what Obama wants although He says he wants union in between the people but that is the way this socialist works lies lies and more lies while brain washing our children. How sad..... This is the same line that he used during his presidential campaign to attract atention and he was never in any kind of danger according to the police statement although that was quiet down so people kept on ...... hmmm hmmm hmmm sad sad sad
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By: Sadden in Atlanta on 9/30/2009 9:10PM
Hell yea the bastard should be arrested and then killed himself. How dare he/she post something like that about the President. You have to remember before Obama is the President he is also a man, human,father,husband,brother,son and a man of GOD. How dare someone would want to take a father a husband a son away from their family. You do not have to like him but GOTDAMnIT RESPECT THE MAN!!!!
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By: sexysueboo on 9/30/2009 7:31PM
i agree with you, who do these people think they are, why make such stupid comments about our president, if he was a white president and someone black posted that they would be locked up already. People are really starting to tack my nerves with all this racist/hate that's going on. Just be thankful that we have a president in office that is trying his hardest to straighten out some of the mess Bush left us in
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By: wsbashlor on 9/30/2009 11:22AM
If this person wants to play then let them pass go and right to jail.
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By: iwwilsonjr on 9/30/2009 3:06PM
All of persons involved this unlawful act should be arrested immediately.
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By: LETS BE REAL on 9/30/2009 12:01PM
What type of question is that and if secret service follows there pocedures this person will be in federal prison by the end of the month. that is a threat on this mans life... He is the president!!! maybe if they do the right thing, these people will know that they cann't continue to threaten him and get away with it....
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