Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Man Tries to Order Priciest Starbucks Drink Ever Total cost: $23.60 »

Secret Service 'Stretched by Dozens of Daily Prez Threats'

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 4, 2009 2:09 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – The Secret Service is struggling to cope with a huge number of threats being made against President Obama, according to the author of a new book on the agency. Threats against the president have quadrupled since Obama took office to some 30 a day, few of which are publicized for fear of attracting copycats, according to writer Ronald Kessler. Instead of boosting agent numbers, however, the service has ordered agents to work longer hours and skip training sessions, reports the Telegraph.

We have half the number of agents we need, but requests for more agents have fallen on deaf ears at headquarters," one agent told Kessler. "Headquarters' mentality has always been, 'You can complete the mission with what you have. You're a USSS agent,'" Because of corner-cutting at the agency, there have been numerous gaps in security that an assassin could exploit, Kessler claims.

Few of the threats against President Obama are thought to be credible, but the Secret Service is required to carefully investigate each one.
Few of the threats against President Obama are thought to be credible, but the Secret Service is required to carefully investigate each one.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
A Secret Service agent stands watch as President Barack Obama speaks during a town hall meeting on health care in Ohio last month.
A Secret Service agent stands watch as President Barack Obama speaks during a town hall meeting on health care in Ohio last month.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
A Secret Service agent looks on as then-candidate Barack Obama speaks during a campaign event last year on the outskirts of Denver, Colo.
A Secret Service agent looks on as then-candidate Barack Obama speaks during a campaign event last year on the outskirts of Denver, Colo.   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 19 comments
Snarfeh
Aug 5, 2009 5:18 AM CDT
@logothete - lol! I thought about that (SS) after my post was submitted and I re-read it. As for liberal fascism, I fear CK may have given birth to something. People getting banned because some liberals do not like them, because they sign off with a web site, bitching at people for commenting off topic of the article although the bitcher has done it, too...it's really starting to scare me that some of my fellow liberals can be so harsh. :o( Yes, I know it is defined as hate speech, but many liberals have used some hateful speech about Bush, MYSELF included. Why? Because I *do* hate that SOB and I hate what he and his crowd did to our country. Hate speech is not defined by only certain people unless there is indeed an element of fascism involved. If liberals here do not like the Obama bashing or what they consider hate speech, they are, in effect, abandoning democratic liberties and pursuing censorship with redemptive banning of people by ganging up on them. I am a homosexual and I defend a homophobic's right to hate me. I do not defend a homophobic's right to deny me certain inalienable rights or to do bodily harm to me but he can hate me alllll he wants. And one cannot assume hate talk leads to violence. As I said, I hate Bush, but I would not do violence against him other than if he led an invasion against the people and I had to join a revolution. Some people can be led by hate speech, some can't. I will not deny freedom of speech to someone because of the nut base in every segment of society that is always there.
cognitivefilter
Aug 5, 2009 4:06 AM CDT
i don't think this is a partisan issue. there are crazies everywhere on the spectrum. HOWEVER---having secret security skip training sessions seems downright irresponsible
northeast
Aug 4, 2009 12:26 PM CDT
How many left-wingers honestly wanted Bush dead? Hot air aside, my guess is that most hated the man but respected the office too much to attempt assassination. Same way now that the scales are turned.

 
Secret Service • death threats • threats • assassination • President Obama

More Newser Stories

Secret Service Probes Pic of Obama With Bullet Holes

Publisher: Sorry About Calling for a 'Hit' on Obama

Failed Politician Calls for Assassination of Obamas

Texas Student GOP Leader: Shooting Obama 'Tempting'

Bullet Hits White House Window, Cops Hunt Shooter
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne