Barack Obama and people who want him killed

A few days ago I asked readers if they would like to express their biggest hope for Obama in eight words or fewer. The number of comments on that post is now approaching 1,700 and is still rising.

I was surprised at first by how many readers gave their main hope as simply that the President-Elect survive. I was inclined to believe that this was paranoia. Perhaps these readers, having been sure that Americans wouldn't elect a black President, had simply switched over to the view that he would be killed.

But after moderating the comments for a while, I changed my mind.

Because it was a disturbing, depressing experience.

Most of the comments, given the hour at which they were posted, came from the United States. And among them were dozens and dozens, certainly more than 100, comments from people who want, and are prepared to say they want, Barack Obama to be killed.

I did not allow these repulsive comments. But after a lot of thought I have decided to give you a small sample. I think it is important to understand the hate that is out there.

The hope for Obama is:

That he goes to Dallas

A bullet!

Rapid death, and soon

Assassination

An assassin's bullet, right on target

That he has an 'unfortunate' accident

That he choke on a splintered rib bone and expires

These are not death threats, of course. But I think they show that there is something to fear. I think it shows that the worry about a killer is not a product of fevered imaginations.

There are some very sick people in this world.

Comments

[Jim Dodd]

Not so shocking when one considers the repulsive and idiotic Republican attacks hamming up his "terrorist" associations or that he is some kind of Al Quaeda Manchurian Candidate.

The Republicans, as usual, ran a campaign aimed at the lowest common denominator and should be eternally ashamed (of course, they won't).

I do worry that some nutter may attack him - please God, he stays safe...

[Margraret]

Not sick-just deeply infected by the racist virus that makes them believe a man is not entitled to the same oportuntities because of the colour of his skin. And fearful as their preconception is proved wrong. Let us rise above the arrogance of our fore fathers and realise that God created all men (and women) equal.

[Richard Evans]

So by my maths that means that for every 17 people who responded, one of those wanted for him to be killed. That really is a disturbing figure, particularly as you'd think that the sort of people who'd read The Times aren't the sort you'd associate with these kind of views.

[James H]

I was pondering Mr Obama's life-expectancy the other day. A comforting thought popped-up: the racist wackos in South Africa never managed to get Nelson Mandela post 1994. SA and the US may well be different, but I think it shows Obama's premature end is far from inevitable!

[Liam Murray]

"There are some very sick people in this world"

There are - there's also a far greater number of idiots and provocateurs who enjoy taking the contrary position for effect, a tendency likely to be all the greater given the rather 'extreme' positive reaction Obama's election has generated around the world.

I hope I'm not naive in believing this latter group accounts for the vast majority of comments of that ilk....

[Brad Brzezinski]

There is much that Obama has said and done to give conservatives and true believers in "the American Way," extremely grave concerns. This is coupled with the general collapse of the heritage media into Obama's personal propaganda arm.

I imagine many of those people feel cornered and stripped of normal democratic process. Let's hope their desires are just talk and also that the winners remember history and act to restore confidence rather than to suppress dissent.

[Ann]

People whom enjoy the thoughts of another humanbeing (such as Obama) being harmed, killed etc. resonate in a very dark and low conscience level. These probably smack their dogs, beat their kids up side the head for breakfast and need a whole gun cabinet filled with weapons inorder to even feel competent in this world. Those are the ones whom scream the loudest to invade and kill others, because they simply are too ignorant to "get to know that which they dont understand".

If you can`t help to make things positive for all of our children of the next generation by working together, then I think you need to get out of the way for those of us whom do not desire to fear, do not desire to be lied to anylonger and quite simply are sick and tired of this racial and bible belt thinking of the past dont really want such to be part of the community because all you do is spread anger, hatred and havoc towards others.

Obama shall live! For he is a part of each and every one of us.

[Conor Foley]

People say stupid things on the internet. The night before I last went to Afghanistan someone on Harry's Place wrote a piece which mentioned me (and misrepresented my views, yet again).

Amongst the comments in the thread below someone expressed the hope that I be attacked while I was there. When I complained to the moderator of the thread in question I was told to 'stop whining' and that Afghanistan was not a particularly dangerous place. A suicide bomb a few streets away killed almost 100 people just after I received that message. Since then a number of aid workers have been murdered in Kabul.

The comment was very upsetting at the time and the attitude of the moderator was even more so, but what can you do? Personally, I would prefer people not to post anonymously. Failing that moderators have to take responsibility for their threads.

[CT Barbarian]

I shouldn't put too much credence to this. Posting inane, provocative comments to a blog entry is a cost-free activity (cf. Mr. Dodd).

I believe the final sentence of the posting said it best.

[Harry]

What we could wish, and earnestly, is that British bloggers and journalists might refrain from passing judgement on American politics and trends. We here long ago resigned ourselves to the mockery and ridicule concerning our nation that has always emanated from certain sectors in England, but we do feel that editorial interference in our governmental system is just a bit overly intrusive. The old, settled, self-assured nations of the world have very little concept of the seething, erupting, intensely vital situation that continues to develop daily in North America. This great mental and physical ferment has been frothing almost without interruption since the War of Independence separated the colonists from England, and in fact left the new nation prematurely on its own, facing whatever had to come entirely by means of its own ingenuity and resourcefulness. It really is time for Europe to understand that the United States of America is dealing with mighty issues of human destiny (and please be very clear, we are doing this whether we want to or not!), and these issues must be settled by Americans, possibly with the understanding and assistance of other nations, but never with the contemptuous disdain and deliberate political meddling of other nations. The last three elections have demonstrated clearly that opinion is equally divided in America about what we shall establish here and take into the future with us (and very likely a great deal of the rest of the world with us). The simple truth is, both sides in the destiny-deciding, head-butting, virtually endless quarrel have their good points and bad points. The present task is to extract the good from both sides and discard the bad -- but this is no easy task! Emotions and animosity run high and stalk the new land like a dangerous animal. Even worse, at present the emotions and animosity of the rest of the world are far outweighing that of America itself, and this is producing disastrously perilous instabilities and imbalances everywhere, in every situation. Obviously, and it should be obvious to anyone, this is no atmosphere in which to be making epochal decisions. What is needed is sensible cooperation with the rest of the world, and above all, the intelligent, mature mindset -- everywhere -- that can look at the disputing factions and see how to end the disputes and bring them together in harmony and good will. My dark suspicion is that no nation in the world is up to this task, but my bright hope is that humanity is perhaps approaching a level of development where the people can begin to understand that hate, death-wishes and destruction are clearly not the way.

[Albert]

Pretty soon those people will be making films about killing the President! Oh, forget that, the "tolerant progressives" have already done that to Bush.

Or maybe they will be writing plays fantasizing about killing the President! Oh, forget that, the "tolerant progressives" have already done that to Bush.

Or maybe they will be writing books about killing the President! Oh, forget that, the "tolerant progressives" have already done that to Bush.

[Celebrity Gossip]

We shouldn't be surprised that there would be people in America who want Obama dead. America for all its democratic ideals still harbours a sick underbelly of inolerance and stupidity. I think Obama will surive his time in office, sure some nutcase from the deep south might try and kill him. So what; it's part of the Job Obama! We mustn't forget that everything about Obama will be historic - even the potential "first black president to be assassinated"

[Mark A.]

As an American, my perspective is this: 143 years ago, the primarily commercial, urban, and egalitarian elements in our society defeated the primarily agricultural, rural, and aristocratic elements. Although the physical conflict ended, the ideological conflict goes on for some. Some of the same grievances that motivated the terrible bloodshed in the Civil War motivate hate-filled Americans today: a revulsion to the urban, the modern, the commercial, and, yes, the non-white.

Obviously it's not quite so simple -- organized religion seems to have switched sides since then, and very few Americans are openly or even consciously racist. Cold-war-era attitudes have crept into the equation as well, as the tarring of our President-Elect with the absurd "socialist" label shows.

Nonetheless, it is striking how much hate and ill-will one element of this country has for the other, and how many of the grievances go back to the Civil War and before. It is also striking to see how the axis has shifted from North-South to urban-rural.

I wish we could finally be, after all of these years, one country. I take refuge in the thought that those who cravenly call for the assassination of our President-Elect are surely a tiny, tiny minority. Most of us are comfortable with our differences, and express our opinions with our words and our votes, not with weapons.

[Christie]

I believe that the past could be healed not with hatred, threats,arrogance or chronic division and discrimnations. But with mutual understanding, co-operation and fairplay. Twenty first century does not need primitive manipulation and acrimonious intimidation. I hope he makes a difference during his regime. We are all one, created by God in His image and likeness. I pray for Obama's safety because he has a lot to offer the world.

[Gabriel]

Bush has put up with these comments for years. In fact, it's fairly easy to buy T-Shirts that say "Kill Bush" in high-street stores around the world.

Liberals started it, they'll have to learn to deal with it. So let's have one big hearty "not my President!"

(Hardly surprising to see Fink picking up the establishement "hateful right-wingers" narrative though. British conservatism is in a very sorry state indeed.)

[A Tight Scotswoman]

THE REASON McCAIN LOST IS HIS CAMPAIGN ADS WERE SO NEGATIVE!

I'M JUST GLAD THAT PALIN IS BACK IN ALASKA WHERE SHE BELONGS!

SHE SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON
MAKING MOOSE STEW FOR THE "FIRST DUDE" AND TAKING CARE OF HER SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD.

HER FAMILY SHOULD BE HER FIRST PRIORTIIY, NOT TRYING TO BE THE VICE PRESIDENT OF A COUNTRY.

[Keith]

Like it or not, the fact remains that there are people in America who can not countenance the idea of a Negro (even a mixed race Negro) in charge of their country. It therefore follows that amongst these people will be a number who will attempt to assassinate Obama.

[Alex Lisinge]

It is obvious to say that every American president faces the threat of being killed. Nonetheless, what is shocking is that while most of the threats to ex presidents comes from non - nationals, Obama's stems from nationals.

[Daniel]

As another commenter pointed out, liberals on the fringe (as opposed to the legacy MSM completely in the tank for Obama) wanted Bush killed as well.

Of course, these kinds of threats are disturbing. But where was our darling, unbiased, American media (and The Guardian) when the threats were made against Bush? Hm?

[Thomas]

Yes There Are Some Very Sick People In This Word Some Of The Live In The Uk

[Thomas]

Harry Us/
Very Interesting Piece Hopefully The u.s Will Keep Its Nose Out Of The Uk Politics It Goes Both Ways Learn To Take A Bit Of Flack.

[David Scott]

Sick comments indeed; however Obama is a politician who evokes very strong emotions on both sides of the political spectrum and I think it's probably fair to say that most of these are reactions rather than statements of intent. But before we all start throwing stones, I think it is only fair to reflect on some of the equally vile sentiments expressed regarding President Bush from those on the left that would happily have seen him killed. Gabriel Range made a mockumentary about it called "Death of a President", it did ok in UK cinemas which means that quite a few of you sickos must have paid to see it.

[Kate]

I thought your readers might like to know that at my church, we Bible believing, gun toting, evangelical church members in Texas prayed for Obama as the Bible tells us to pray for all our leaders. Of course our members are of all races reflecting the make up of our community. There are a few more African-Americans now than a couple of years ago since some of the people we helped after Katrina decided to stay with us and make their home here. I don't know what was said in our Spanish service but I am sure it was something similar. Have a little faith people. We aren't that different.

[b.bony]

what is most troubling those idiots is not one black, but one educated. For the first time we can be sure the man in trully educated, defined as educated and smart not with the help of his uncle's position. What is disturbing to them now is the fact that the color of the skin, nationality or even the citizenship is no longer main criterium for the selection of the best.

This is what has been changed, at least bited into. The wheel of history is not turning reverse. At least we hope it isn't, and continue to hope, giving all possible support to this hope, not allowing the first trace of it to disappear.

[Matt Blackler]

Sarah Palin is responsible for much of this hatred with her evil attacks on Obama's character.

[DJDallas]

Do you know how many people said that about Bush???

I know several people who thought Bush would be killed. It was just wishful thinking on their part.

I think it has nothing to do with his race. Some people do not like his politics.

There is no way that anything Obama could do would be worse than the things Bush has done to our country.

[Vijay Prozak]

I think many people lack an outlet for this simple thought:

They recognize that multiculturalism does not work, and as a result, they do not want a black president.

[Iker]

While shocking nontheless it must be remembered that these sick minded individuals are making these comments on the internet, a forum where they cannot be publically indentified or made accountable. I would like to think the vast majority of such comments are merely for effect and to provoke. A twisted and immature play on the question.

[katie]

Why did this article even have to be written. We (most Americans) are so happy to have Obama as our President.
He is truly an inspiration to us and our children.
Why do you have to find something terrible to say about this country.
Of course there are terrible people here, as there are everywhere, but cut us some slack.
This is the problem with the media.
I know you have become accustomed to slander the States, but it's time to stop. Grow up. Stop feeding people with hate. It's time for Hope.

[Geoffrey McGehee]

Fortunately, racism, stupidity and hatred only exist in the US. The British are far to evolved for this type of behavior!

[John Botha]

JAMES H: Re: "Racist SA Whackos" White South Africans never intended to kill Mandela. If they had done, he woudln't have come out of prison. Look carefully at what colour his body guards were when he was sworn in! It really annoys me that everybody forgets that White South Africa chose a NEGOTIATED SELLTEMENT to usher in non-racial democracy. The last whites only vote was 69% in favour of such a settlement. Obama victory is like SA voting in another white president. Leave us out of this one! I'm a white South African and am, personally, very happy with Obama's election.

[Gerard]

I'm not sure this is all about race. America has assassinated and attempted to assassinate quite a few presidents right across the political divide. Kennedy was left(ish) Reagan a rightwinger and both were shot. I'm surprised no one has tried to do for Dubya!

[gordon mann]

There will be some who want to assassinate Obama because he may represent change for the good.
Many good people represent a fear for the evil who prosper from bad legislation and ignorant legislatures.
it's not hard to find the causes of evil derived from actions of self deluded do gooders. Like the present 'Western democracies.'

[Valerio]

What about the people who wanted Bush death? Oh, that's fine I suppose, he is white after all, doesn't matter...

If Obama get killed, a new Che Guevara is born and one is more than enough.

[Expat Mum]

Let's not forget that the Ku Klux Klan is alive and well here (US), and has over 8,000 members. The thing I find so awful is that it's usually the scum of the earth who consider themselves so superior to any non-white.

[Reginald]

I for one believe that if "they" could get to Kennedy, Then "they" can get to Obama. My thought is.. who the hell are they?, and why are "they" such coward's as not to be able to strike in the open instead of plotting in the sewers?

[Ian Thorpe]

Anyone who casts himself as a messiah must expect to attract the attention of nutters. Those who want him dead are no more crazy than those demanding Nov 4th be made a national holiday, Barack Obama day, in honour of his election. (We managed a comedy blog on this at Boggart Blog)

I look at both right and left leaning U.S. blogs and I confidently predict Obama will be the most disatrous president ever, possibly emulating Buchanan in leading the country to civil war.

If ever there was a one term President it is Barack Obama.

As a P.S. I noticed a comment above referring to Sarah Palin's attacks on Obama's character. The writer does not mention Obama's nasty, sexist attacks on Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. If we forgwt about his colour and examine Obama's credentials we see a pitifully inexperienced and inept individual who has problems telling the truth.

[apaa]

i really dont care. and i dont like him but i dont wish him death.?

[BM]

As a literal child of America's Sixties, who remembers the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK, I'm worried to the point of obsession about Obama's safety, and recoil at the consequences to our society.

[Henry]

It stands to reason that non whites in America is discriminated against on a daily basis. The Republican Party basically promotes this type of behavior. Sarah Palin came so close to using the "N" word without any discipline from her party. She is a hate mongrul, not a pit bull. For the life of me, I can't understand why any African American would join this party at all.

[Mike]

I'll pay attention to what you all think when you stop worshipping the inbred morons you call royalty and select a non-white for any senior position in your lily-white government.

[NILMARIE GALARZA]

hii my name iz nilmarie i am happy that obama iz da president we need changez in diz world i hope obama make the changez hes sain hes goin to change obama some people need help and dont let people die in da war we need help ur da frist black man to be president in diz world iraq need help..............ur da best

[Advocatus diaboli]

It's amazing, reading some of the comments here, and listening to the constant churning of the media machine, how many people refer to Obama's race. I don't understand why this doesn't make them racists. Obama himself doesn't talk about race very much, certainly no more than he has to. I think that's the most inspiring thing about him. Race is, really, no more important than complexion - unless you want it to be.

As for the charming homicidal grunts from the redneck right, well, Palin woke that beast with her naive and stupid rabble-rousing. I don't expect there are any more wackos after Obama than there are after any other president, but I do wish him and America well. And those who wish for assassins' bullets need to remember that what you wish for very often comes round and bites you in the behind.

[Denise]

This is so sad. What has Barack Obama done to anyone? If he is judged of his past, he didn't sin against anyone but himself and what ever is between him and God. Why should a person get threats because of their race,sexual origin,disability, etc. There is ignorance in every race, but not every people. I Thank the God above, that there are true believers of Christ, not just saying it but truely living it. The ones that has such hate, is definitly not Christ liked, or just decent people. Some mostly in the south has the biggest problem. I feel so sorry for the children of these people, who think it to be proud to teach their children, whom never new hate nor color, to feed them such poison. This blood is required to the parents, out of a good heritage, good things are left behind, not such a cancer of generational curses. All people should pray that these people children not be plagued with a disease such as this. I pray for changed minds, new hearts and new eyes, because then all is seen is the individual.And mixed or not, you don't have to be either to posess the greatest thing of all, which is love. I have a diverse of friends whom I can say I love, and not just like. The many goodness of people will overshadow evil. I pray for Obama and I pray for the world. God Bless all.

[Ladybird]

I for one, hope that I've been totally wrong about him......we've only had his past associations to go on, because he doens't have much experience......I hope he turns out to be an awesome president! If he turns out to be a bad president, I still hope he survives his term and is removed in the 2012 election, 'cause the last thing we need him to be is a martyr!!!

[Robin Castellanos]

It is sad that in this day and era, there are still back-water, racists, idiots still in existance. Haven't these small-minded bigots been breed out yet? Thank God Obama and most of the nation are above these thoughts of evil. I pray to God that He keeps Obama and his family safe and opens the minds and hearts of the ignorant.

[Marcos]

Well, Daniel, you have no idea whether 100 out of 1700 is a representative sample of the US public, or whether any of those people mean it literally. I have been astounded at the level of vitriol directed at Tony Blair in the UK, and I wonder how many similar responses you would have gotten to a similar question about him before he stepped down. I recall a lot of posts wishing him kidnapped and beheaded and the like.

[Eleotheran]

My eight words were three: "That he's real."

The threat of a Cheney Administration kept Bush safe from left-wing nuts--and even most nuts with other sorts of wings, but is Biden scary enough to protect Obama? Let's hope and pray he is.

[Dwight]

It's not all together a question of race if Obama is killed. The Right Wing TV idiots and radio hosts who did everything they could to destroy President Clinton except assassinate him, just throws gasoline on the fire of hatred, that will make some Republican nut case kill Obama.

Look what they did to President Kennedy and over 200 innocent witnesses, the Reverend King and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Just think of how great we could be as a nation if these 3 men and the poor witnesses (who were also killed for telling the truth) would be if they would have lived. I have never heard of any death threats about Bush W. even though he's done so much damage to this country and the world that it will take over 100 years for the world to like or trust us again. Look who put him in office! The Right Wing and his buddies in the Supreme Court. Now is a time for unity and not killing Obama. The Right Wing fanatics will do everything they can to destroy Obama, just like they did with President Clinton. They stur up hated. Hatred leads to assassination. Anyone who tries to do good gets killed. Even before Jesus's birth they were killing profits of God.

Obama needs security like the French gave President De Galle in 1963 when the OAS was trying to kill him over the independence of Algeria, a French colony.

They didn't protect President Kennedy. Instead, the Right Wing for 45 years still cuts him down for his so called infidelities after he saved the world from nuclear destruction 13 months before his assassination during the Cuban Missle Crisis.

If Obama is assassinated, the world will hate us forever. Deep down I dread this will happen as I told a friend just a day before they caught two skinheads who were planning to assassinate Obama. You Right Wing idiots let him live and complete his mission to try to unify and fix this country and show the world that all of us are not evil.

Listen to Senator Robert F. Kennedy's speach the day of and after the Reverend King's assassination. He knew he was going to suffer the same fate. It is so moving and is at the end of the movie called BOBBY. He knew deep down as did Jackie Kennedy that he would be killed. It takes great courage to keep on going with your mission knowing that you will not survive to see your dreams come true.

[termite (Oz)]

Why does the USA have this strange idea that killing their CEO will achieve something? Why is assassination of the president such an occupation for the citizens of the USA? There are plenty more nations around the world who don't bother to knock off their own rulers, be they despotic or not, irrespective of the personal freedoms allowed to citizens of those nations. It is a mystery to me why they have this fixation.

And for the pure crackpots (like that weirdo who thought Jodie Foster would be impressed), why the president? What on earth does it have to do with anything else?

[Monte Taylor]

There is no respect for our leaders and for other countries any more. The old saying "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." is non existence on the web. It is easy to write whatever when you have no one to face or you are not held accountable. This mentality is spilling over into everyday actions and journalism. I read through these posts and it makes me sad. People have different ideas, respect the other person’s view and let them have it. It doesn’t mean that you agree with them. Palin, McCain and Bush should have never been brought up in these comments. This article is not about them. If you can make your point without pointing the finger you are better off. I believe you are spreading just as much hatred as the people stating they wish Obama would die. Sara Palin did not make those people write what they did. It is all a decline in society. The world is not becoming a better place by writing comments like these.

[Brian]

Sure, the Executive Branch now has a new man and new attitude, the Judicial System and law enforcement are still the same for non-European Americans!!! Observe!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chytUMgCMyY

[peterg22]

Obama's not alone - somebody wanted to assassinate Gordon Brown not so long ago. That made the headlines in the UK but I'm not sure that I heard the screams of disbelief and shock-horror that Obama's getting.

[ltarmenia4ever]

It's interesting to see that people prefer personal attacks on each other rather then logical discourse in reference to the majority of these comments.

Lol, racism this, racism that. That is so old. People need to move on.

I'm looking forward to Obama bashing as the bush bashing lost its entertainment value.

But I'm eager to see what "change" Obama brings about. Hopefully, we are still be able to criticize him without being jailed over the next 4 years. "Hopefully" we can barely survive the wave of "change" that will be forced upon the country.

[Alex]

Never heard of a death threat against G.W. Bush., or any "Kill Bush" T-shirts here in U.S. Most people here, even the most flaming liberals, knew that if anything happened to him, we'd end up with Darth Cheney in the White House which would be FAR worse.

[Inselaffe]

Everyone I've talked to, before and after the election fears the same thing. That's why I like this site: http://www.dontshootobama.com - maybe there's seomthing to be said for the power of positive thinking. And please Mr Obama - introduce some tougher gun laws...

[heath]

Racism,Prejudism & bigotry are still quite robust in many parts of the civilised world, unfortunately.
With Bush, people who wished him dead was after he messed up things, but not before he took office. Same with other white presidents wo were assassinated. Obama hasn't been sworn in & already people wish him dead, some prefer to push with the secret muslim slur rather than he colour of his skin, how can this way of thinking be produced in a civilised society in the 21st century, haven't humans learned anything yet from the past?

[M Harries]

The US is the first to boast about making it good, rising to the top, Hollywood stardom and fame, streets paved with gold etc. It's moto is in God we Trust. It should do all it can to show that they have selected the right man and by the comments from around the world,even most non US citzens would agree. Those who may threaten his life should also be aware that In God You Trust, so by God you will be judged and stand accountable.

[Elaine]

Not surprising when during the campaign Ms Palin incited supporters at her rallies to shout "Kill Him" "Kill Him". Her reaction to this. to smile. Not once did she reprimand her audience or tell them to stop. Ms Palin seems to be happy to tell us of her deep religious faith but takes no action against or makes no mention of this very unchristian behaviour. No, am not surprised by the number of assination type comments. You only have to read some of the Republican party blogs to get a feel of the level of hatred for President Elect Obama. Racism is global. one white canadian living here in Malawii commented on Obama's Kenya Father, saying he was too African & maybe he carried the gene for corruption!!!!

[Alan]

Before we in the UK condemn the “racist” US, when was our last back chief of defence staff ( as per Colin Powell ), foreign secretary ( as per Condi ).. let alone prime minister ?

[MAGGIE ALSTON CLAUD]

A man full of hope and change for this country and the world is being threatened with death while the man who created this mess, Bush, is not being threatened at all. WAKE UP AMERICA, LET US FOLLOW THE MAN WHO OFFERS HOPE AND CAN CORRECT THE MESS THAT BUSH MADE. OK?

[L.]

Ref: 'Expat. Mum' ('08 11 12 18:04hrs).

Madam,
Leaving aside your delicate judgements and descriptions let us not forget that many "consider themselves a cut above any 'White'." Rudeness, racialism, snobbery 'et al' are universal weaknesses.

[L.]

Ref: 'Mike' ('08 11 12 21:15hrs)
Dear Sir, or Madam, Would you have published this eugenicistic, and frankly offensive remark had it been 'non-Whites' who were being insulted?

[L.]

Ref: 'Advocatus Diaboli' ('08 11 12 at 23:21hrs)
Now, don't be silly. You must know that race is more fundamental than complexion. Come along now. Also, by racially caricaturing 'Right-Wing' voters you are doing precisely what you accuse them of. Please,for the sake of what I imagine is the cause you support, think your stance through to logical conclusion before making comment.

[andrew]

I think you should limit the length of comments on this site. Some are far too long, and could have edited to a couple of inches.

[andrew]

Well Tony Blair is still alive, so there must be hope for Obama.

[L.]

Ref: Robin Castellanos ('08 11 13 at 00:50 hrs). Dear Mr.Castellanos, Now there is no need to resort to insults to describe those not blessed by sharing your point of view. You see, many of your despised 'backwater racialists','idiots' and 'small-minded bigots did something unique. The fact of Obama looking a little like them inspired their interest.
Perhaps if they, for once, made the effort to vote (him in) it could work to their advantage? Would physical similarity guarantee his partiality in giving preference to their concerns? Some would apply the all-purpose dreaded 'R' word to such motivation. For me though,this is no more than mere pragmatism.

[RC]

I suspect that many of these are from kids that think they are being funny. I wouldn't read too much into them, other than sick humor or cowards ranting behind the anonymity of the web.

[Marcos]

Do any of you reall think that this kind of talk only comes from Republicans?
Check out this article in the Chicago Tribune today, about an 8th grade girl and the reaction, not only by students but by teachers, to her wearing a McCain t-shirt to school in Oak Park, Illinois, bastion of liberal "tolerance."

"One person told me to go die. It was a lot of dying. A lot of comments about how I should be killed," Catherine said, of the tolerance in Oak Park.

[H Juneja]

"It stands to reason that non whites in America is discriminated against on a daily basis. The Republican Party basically promotes this type of behavior."

Typical mindless, factless European drivel...actually if you bothered to stop being intellectually lazy, you'll find that the rising superstar of Republican politics and possible next GOP President of America is Bobby Jindal...an American born to immigrants from India.

A black president followed by an Indian one in the United States? Once minorities in this country realize how the British establishment sold them a bill of goods - "You think things are bad here in UK? At least they're better than the hyper-racist USA - the riots and unrest over here will make Bradford and the Paris banlieus look like child's play.

Oh yeah, I forgot, Europe is a racism free, unsegregated place where minorities are madly in love with their countries. Right. get real guys.

[CHERRY]

"Let's not forget that the Ku Klux Klan is alive and well here (US), and has over 8,000 members."

A piddly 8,000 members (mostly angry teenagers) from a land of 350 million? Wow, that's awesome. Remember the days when the KKK could claim millions of members? Europe would love to see such small numbers of hate groups in their land, which are growing larger by the minute.

[clinger]

Pure frustration from seeing this empty suit elected by a small majority of guilty white liberal morons.

[Paulc77]

Do these nutjobs have some sort of committee to decide who to go after and who to leave alone? If so, they might want to reconsider their Target-selection policy.

I mean, JFK barely had three years, yet Nixon would have had the full 8 if it weren't for some pesky reporters; RFK didn't even make the White House yet war-monger Johnson was left alone and now a -seemingly- good guy in Obama comes along and hasn't even unpacked before the deluge of threats flood in, yet the greatest tyrant of the 21st century spends 8 carefree years with only the danger of a chicken bone to contend with.

What gives??!

[Richard]

I am surprised that you are surprised. The internet is a combined life-support system and daycare system for nutters, ideally suited to these ends. More worrying, of course, is the class of reader that The Times attracts these days.

[Tony]

This kind of trash talking has been going on for the last 8 years. Has everyone forgotten the movie "Death of a President" (the Bush assassination movie)?

American's cherish their Bill of Rights. Unfortunately, the left and the right disagree on the definitions.

Now the conservatives believe that their Constitutional rights to property, bear arms, due process,freedom of speech and religion are under attack based on Obama's agenda, and when that occurs, they use fighting words, and some times make idiotic comments, or use morbid humor to express their concerns.

The humor and filth are the same, it is just coming a different group.

[David Legg]

What about the unborn babies he wants to kill.

Oh dear, that's 9 words. I suppose he'll get away with it on a technicality.

[Nona]

I doubt that Obama faces any more danger of being killed than any other President has.

People have spoken of hating Bush, wishing to kill him, for years and the media has not been upset about that.

This morning around the UN the security was tighter than ever for Bush. A policeman said that there is more danger from abroad than within the country.

[NYCartist]

Racism is never far below the surface in my country. For the most part, people in NYC live together and have for fewer centuries than London, for instance. NYC is very diverse. Alas, there are parts of the US that are easily "kindled" into race baiting and talk.

JFK was not a person of color. My country had 3 assassinations within my twenties: JFK, Rev.Martin Luther King Jr and Bobby Kennedy. Political assassination, although not unique to the USA, has been too often in use. I remember going to Paris in the summer of 1964, and a waiter, guessing I was American, pointed his index finger and said, "Bang bang, Dallas!". It didn't feel good. I hope we as a nation have progressed. I do point out that we don't really know who killed any of the political leaders I've mentioned.

[Emerson]

None of the threats sounds at all unusual here in the U.S., not just about Obama but in general. We are a nation steeped in the violence of the gun culture and that extends to prefering death as the answer to all of life's little problems. Read some big city newspapers on the web for awhile, not just here in New York but across the country, and note the number of young people especially simply shot down in cold blood.

This morning I clicked on the NY Times home page and the first story that caught my eye was that of a high school student shot down in school by a classmate, apparently as a result of some kind of disagreement over a boyfriend.

Why it's so pathetically easy for a teenager to get a handgun is a question for the NRA and all the other macho conservatives who want the country flooded with weapons and drowing in blood.

It's what's called "cafeteria christianity," pick and chose what you want to believe in. These people don't care how many are killed on a daily basis in this country as long as two guys can't marry! Now that's an earthshaking event calling for a revision to the Constitution! "Thou shalt not kill" slipped off the stone tablets somwhere and no one can find it; it probably dropped behind the gun cabinet.

So, no, don't be surprised at 100 or so violent comments, be more surprised that there are so few. It must have been an off day for the weaponistas.

[J.W]

For those of you pointing out that some people were wishing death on Bush, two wrongs don't make a right! Why would you try to justify the hateful mentality of the minority where Obama is concerned by bringing up the fact that some left-leaning hatemongers wanted Bush dead? Both of those mentalities are hateful and damaging to our country. I am VERY glad to see Bush go, as I never agreed with his policies or ideals, but I never wished him dead. What a horrible thing for anyone to wish on our President, no matter who is in office. Indeed, we have some problems as a nation and we need to work on unifying to solve these problems no matter where we stand politically. But I think we all need to agree that we are very blessed that we have not had to serve under the leadership that some countries have been so unfortunate to have. Americans need to come together with civility and a spirit of community and good, to genuinely try to fix our problems before it's to late. Division has served us nothing but problems, and we need to stop the process in it's tracks before there is no going back.

[Rob]

It's perplexing, and a tad worrying, that there is such a tendency in the US to try and bump off the President.

However, on the plus side, most targeted Presidents wind up on the side of the living for at least a few years more. It may be in shrugging off a poorly aimed bullet, or it may be in being informed by security of a guy with a gun found skulking outside, but in the end, there have always been more Fords and Roosevelts than Lincolns and Kennedys.

[Nelya Braynina]

I'm not American but I'm proud for the American people that they have such a wonderful President, Barack Obama. I thank the American nation for their hard efforts to keep the peace in the world and their humanitarian help.
I wish Barack Obama good luck.
God bless America!

[andy]

To all the white pride extremist types, Bush suffered the "kill bush" T-shirts because of his belief in a god given right to inflict his social religious and cultural views on the entire world, which is a concious decision he made, President elect Obama receives death threats from the kind of in-bred, jerry springer on speed dial, I fancy my own sister type, simply because of his skin colour, a biological cosequence of his parenting. For the rest of the Americans reading this we CAN tell the difference between the good guys and the bad in the US, its just that they've got very good at getting hold of power and you lot need to get back on form.

[Lizbeth]

I wonder if the people who post death threats are using the Times as an outlet for feelings which they feel will be published in a right leaning paper, owned by a right leaning man who appears to be attempting to move the countries he publishes in to his way of thinking.
Presumably the individuals who post do not want to give away their democracy to rich newpaper publishers. They need to recognize that the people have made a decision and they as concerned citizens need to support their President.

[Tom]

I am what you call a rednec, my ancestors were real rednecks and Hi Billy and yes, I hunt and licnesed to carry. I didn't vote for Obama for many reasons but the color of his skin was not a reason. I believe that this administration will bury the Constituion. However, there is absolutely no reason to threaten our president or to wish him harm. He is going to be our president, I wish him well and that God watches over him. Still the dem's policies are the exact opposite of what our founding fathers laid down and was accepted by the people.

[Steve]

Have you been so blind as NOT to see the hate that was directed at President Bush and Cabinet the last eight years. It was personal and never ending. President Bush has is not perfect nor is he unlikable as many ELECTED Democrats have voiced over the last eight years. The idea that Obama is somehow a "Messiah" is so wrong..as the folks at Newsweek recently said there is something "very creepy" about Obama..of course this was AFTER the election! All the folks that think Obama is even up to Senator qualifications is in for a HUGE shock..when he plunges us into wars and TOTAL DEPRESSION. All the while being of great health.

[Jacques]

Hey, aren't you Americans lucky. getting to make comments on a grown up newspaper that you wouldn't dare make on your own rags without a visit from an armed posse? The fact is, you do have something of a record of removing elected leaders you disagree with, in the most abrupt fashion. All killed with the guns you worship. Thw words Democracy and Freedom figure largely in your vocabulary but when you use them, they are just words.

[Steven Frain]

You assume that the only reason to hate Obama is race. That makes you the racist. The fact that this far left candidate is completely out of the mainstream of American political thought is far more germane.

Look at what happened after JFK was killed - LBJ and the "Great Society.". If Obama is assassinated, it will be the left who does the deed, just as it was black muslims who killed Malcom X.

As Clausewitz said, "war is politics by other means." The left is far more likely to hate Obama after he fails to live up to their expectations. How do you know that the posters were not democrats?

[blondegenes]

And btw, once and for all, that lie about McCain and Palin supports yelling death threats directed at Obama,,,IT NEVER HAPPENED.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/164512

It was a Times-Tribune reporter blatant lie! Just like MSN having to retract their lie/story about Palin, and all the other lies.
She has NEVER been in a Nordstroms or Saks in her life.

Unlike the actual lies that Obama has told about his citizenship status, history at Columbia (400 classmates and NO ONE remembers him)
presents a fraudulent Certificate of Live Birth rather than his REAL birth certificate.

[San Ying]

Is Daniel Finkelstein aware that his words can possess a deadly momentum which can result in Obama's asassination?
If he considers readers' commenents, "repulsive" WHY go on to "give a few examples"?

[Andrew Milner]

If President Obama initiates an independent investigation into the attacks on 9/11, then all bets are off.

Many people do share that fear, but what we should watch is the big question mark: who is/are the mastermind/s?. It could be easily to established that there are a lot of people, inside or outside America who wants to see Pres.-elect Obama dead before or during his term as a phenomenal president in our modern times! Still, if we will put it in the context of real politics...will he not be a hostage to the real threat to his life and to his career!!

[Alan]

Right and nobody wanted Dubya assassinated. There was even a Kill Bush PC game. At an Obama rally there was a "Bush Whacker" guillotine with Bush administration official's heads liberated from their body's. What about the mass protests fulled with chants of kill Bush or Nobel Peace Prize winner Betty Williams telling school children she would love to kill Bush. But Obama gets a mere smidgen of the same treatment and you're all suddenly outraged

Bunch of hypocrites

[Victoria K.]

I am writing from the US, and despite all the advances our country has made on race relations, the undercurrent of racism remains strong in many sectors of society. The Chicago Tribune noted a strong increase in gun sales, even higher than after 9/11, motivated in part by fears of a "race war": http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-guns_wednov12,0,4425738.story

Two teenage skinheads have already been arrested for plotting to assassinate our president-elect: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/2008/view.bg?articleid=1128193&format=&page=2&listingType=2008campnews

Sad but true.

[Mark]

I hope Obama survives and makes a fine president. But I take threats of his being assasinated seriously and have to ask myself "who would benefit". So far, the first answer might be to say, certainly the wealthy who have the most to fear from a New Deal style Democrat. But rather than looking to the republican right, no-one has considered the possiblity that extremely wealthy figures on the Left might have an interest in preserving their wealth and claim to power. It could be argued that, hypothetically, the wealthy and well-connected Hillary Clinton might have enormous amounts to gain. In my opinion, her pandering to religion-, gender or race-baiting both before or during an election has been clear; an election, in which she was masterfully outmanouevered by Obama. After having gained all the "experience" of government (courtesy of having to sleep with Bill) to have that power snatched from her must rankle. Would she actually back such a plot herself? I honestly don't know. However, we are talking not of who might assassinate Obama but who would benefit. On that score, were Obama to be assasinated, in my opnion its possible she might well emerge and with her wealthy white women supporters (while endlessly repeating the fatuous mantra of being "the most qualified") to claim the mantle of "change" to seize the zeitgeist of a shocked country and position herself as the inevitable choice. As she did before.

[Rob]

"Unlike the actual lies that Obama has told about his citizenship status, history at Columbia (400 classmates and NO ONE remembers him)
presents a fraudulent Certificate of Live Birth rather than his REAL birth certificate."

Posted by: blondegenes | 14 Nov 2008 01:56:04

A fraudulent Certificate of Live Birth? So, he was actually born dead, then?

Another success for US voters! First nation on earth to elect a zombie as head of state!

Then again, perhaps you're just clutching at straws, loathe to admit that somehow, a reasonable, sensible, decent and forward-thinking man has been elected President. And he may even be alive.

[a reader]

I am a white, middle aged man who proudly voted for Senator Obama because I saw and heard a person who I believe has a remarkable intelligence,a deep thoughtfulness and the brilliant organizational skills needed to promote consenual and cooperative ways to help find pragmatic solutions to many of the dire problems we face in this country and worldwide.

My hope is that there is a rising class of center-minded voters,aka "pragmatists" who are slowly realizing that political and religious ideology and adherence to dogma from either side of the spectrum is what is keeping us from finding much needed common ground.

It is absolutely essential for the future of humanity and the biological health of this planet that we find common ground to work on. I sincerely believe Mr. Obama, while obviously not without faults(who is?),is someone who may be able to bring many of us to the table to find real answers.

But the most critical, underlying idea here is that it is NOT HE that is solely responsible for this change of direction...if you listen carefully to his speechs, he is asking all of US in the United States and by default elsewhere to share in the responsibility.

Those who wish harm and death to him,his family or any other leader regardless of their poltics have allowed themselves to be blinded by irrational hate,bias and fear.
We have the capacity to rise above this lowest level of human weakness.

I may sound naive, but Mr Obama's election gives me hope we are starting to resurrect some of the nobler ideals that we have had in this country,but have let slip away in the polarized,pathological and self-absorbed cultural/political climate of the past 30 plus years

[Elias Friedman]

And these are somehow nastier than death wishes for President Bush that I've been hearing for the past eight years? The left has its share of murderous jerks a la Squeaky Fromme just like the right does.

It's inevitable that there are always some nut jobs from the edges of the bell curve - this is why the president has secret service protection.

It's also inevitable on the Internet that such subjects will attract Trolls out to say provocative things and who are stupid enough to think that just because they put in a fake email address, that they can't be traced by their IP address.

[Gabriel]

Further, an unwillingness to take out leaders by force is the least of the globe's problems right now. The situation in Zimbabwe is unprecedented in human history: even ten years ago it would have been inconceivable that such incompetence would not have met with a serious attempt to depose him either from within or without.

Behind all the silly blather about two, rather mismanaged, interventionist wars we've waded into, that's the real story in global affairs. Catastrophic misgovernment no longer carries with it serious risks. If Brown or Obama makes a similar mess of their countries (and Brown's current policies are, make no mistake, completely out of this world insane), I sure hope they get deposed before inflation hits 10,000%. However, I suspect they won't be because Britons and Americans are, if anything, rather more craven, spoilt and stupid than the poor Zimbabweans

A lot of blame has to go to the CIA for not, for example, taking credit for deposing Allende and saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Instead they washed their hands and allowed the argument - both nonsensical and historically illiterate - that deposing destructive governments is a bad thing to become the accepted wisdom.

[Callum]

How many British people would have said the same thing for Bush? Remember when he nearly choked on a pretzel and the jokes that ensued?

Fact is, every President will have haters. Several have been killed before and none of them have been black. I don't doubt that there are some racist nutters who want him dead, but I doubt many of those posters are of that kind.