What Would You Do If This Happened To You?

[mudwhistle]

A few months ago an incident happened the facts of which I haven't fully discovered but the jist of it goes like this:

Some guy that works in one of our shops was talking about politics and let slip he wouldn't mind it if somebody shot Obama. Now this guy is white and pretty much an idiot. He's got a record of drug abuse and in my opinion he's just about the most worthless worker we have here.

So as usual he's talking smack and he lets it slip he'd like to see Obama dead. Unfortunately for him he chose to say this in front of the wrong person. A guy who I like personally and never have had a problem with. The guy just happens to be black. I'm not saying that's the primary reason, but for some reason he felt the need to report what Mr Worthless said to the authorities. Within days the FBI and the Secret Service were all up in his ass. I don't mind this because the guy is an idiot...but isn't this going too far?

 

[chanel]

Not at all. This guy might may not be able to get close enough to the president, but perhaps he might find an Obama supporter would suffice. Let the cops deal with it. If there is nothing there, so be it. Too many crazies out there today.

I just hope he doesn't find out who snitched.

 

[California Girl]

A few months ago an incident happened the facts of which I haven't fully discovered but the jist of it goes like this:

Some guy that works in one of our shops was talking about politics and let slip he wouldn't mind it if somebody shot Obama. Now this guy is white and pretty much an idiot. He's got a record of drug abuse and in my opinion he's just about the most worthless worker we have here.

So as usual he's talking smack and he lets it slip he'd like to see Obama dead. Unfortunately for him he chose to say this in front of the wrong person. A guy who I like personally and never have had a problem with. The guy just happens to be black. I'm not saying that's the primary reason, but for some reason he felt the need to report what Mr Worthless said to the authorities. Within days the FBI and the Secret Service were all up in his ass. I don't mind this because the guy is an idiot...but isn't this going too far?

Depends. Are either of them the guy who whines about me YIMing you during lunch?

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Not at all. This guy might may not be able to get close enough to the president, but perhaps he might find an Obama supporter would suffice. Let the cops deal with it. If there is nothing there, so be it. Too many crazies out there today.

I just hope he doesn't find out who snitched.

Wrong answer. Unless he made a SPECIFIC threat and had some even tiny chance of carrying it out it IS NOT a matter for the cops. I am free to say I wish someone were dead. Or that it would not bother me if someone got killed. Or even "it would not bother me if someone got assassinated". NONE of those statements are criminal acts. Nor are they suspicious or require Police investigation.

 

[mudwhistle]

Not at all. This guy might may not be able to get close enough to the president, but perhaps he might find an Obama supporter would suffice. Let the cops deal with it. If there is nothing there, so be it. Too many crazies out there today.

I just hope he doesn't find out who snitched.

Everyone knows who snitched.

I would assume the guy is just a blowhard because I've worked with him for years....but still...I would tell him personally what I thought about he said. The guy isn't part of any groups and doesn't have the loner type personality. He's just a dipshit with a big mouth. However, I would feel bad personally if anything I reported caused him to be in serious trouble.

 

[mudwhistle]

A few months ago an incident happened the facts of which I haven't fully discovered but the jist of it goes like this:

Some guy that works in one of our shops was talking about politics and let slip he wouldn't mind it if somebody shot Obama. Now this guy is white and pretty much an idiot. He's got a record of drug abuse and in my opinion he's just about the most worthless worker we have here.

So as usual he's talking smack and he lets it slip he'd like to see Obama dead. Unfortunately for him he chose to say this in front of the wrong person. A guy who I like personally and never have had a problem with. The guy just happens to be black. I'm not saying that's the primary reason, but for some reason he felt the need to report what Mr Worthless said to the authorities. Within days the FBI and the Secret Service were all up in his ass. I don't mind this because the guy is an idiot...but isn't this going too far?

Depends. Are either of them the guy who whines about me YIMing you during lunch?

No...that's Jimmy. He whines about everything.

 

[California Girl]

A few months ago an incident happened the facts of which I haven't fully discovered but the jist of it goes like this:

Some guy that works in one of our shops was talking about politics and let slip he wouldn't mind it if somebody shot Obama. Now this guy is white and pretty much an idiot. He's got a record of drug abuse and in my opinion he's just about the most worthless worker we have here.

So as usual he's talking smack and he lets it slip he'd like to see Obama dead. Unfortunately for him he chose to say this in front of the wrong person. A guy who I like personally and never have had a problem with. The guy just happens to be black. I'm not saying that's the primary reason, but for some reason he felt the need to report what Mr Worthless said to the authorities. Within days the FBI and the Secret Service were all up in his ass. I don't mind this because the guy is an idiot...but isn't this going too far?

Depends. Are either of them the guy who whines about me YIMing you during lunch?

No...that's Jimmy. He whines about everything.

In that case, I think reporting the guy was a fraction 'over kill'. He should have just called him an idiot (because he is) and leave it at that. Wasting the time of the feds just to piss someone off is pathetic. I don't think for one second that the black guy actually thought the white guy was gonna take a shot at the POTUS so it was stupid.

Two stupids never equal one smart.

 

[The Rabbi]

Not at all. This guy might may not be able to get close enough to the president, but perhaps he might find an Obama supporter would suffice. Let the cops deal with it. If there is nothing there, so be it. Too many crazies out there today.

I just hope he doesn't find out who snitched.

Wrong answer. Unless he made a SPECIFIC threat and had some even tiny chance of carrying it out it IS NOT a matter for the cops. I am free to say I wish someone were dead. Or that it would not bother me if someone got killed. Or even "it would not bother me if someone got assassinated". NONE of those statements are criminal acts. Nor are they suspicious or require Police investigation.

Who knows what actually got reported? Maybe the snitch said "a guy at work who has guns said he was going to shoot Obama." That would excite SS's attention.
I have two words for anyone who wants to see Obama dead: President Joe Biden.

 

[Article 15]

I would have told the guy to put his money where his mouth is and do it himself otherwise shut the fuck up about it when I'm around.

 

[Old Rocks]

In my lifetime, there have been two Presidents shot. Anyone that makes a statement like that in my presence, no matter what their politics are, or what the politics of the current president are, they will be reported. Just too many looney tunes out there that would make it a third president in my lifetime.

 

[Madeline]

It's a crime to make threats against the life of the president, irrespective of any present perceived ability to carry them out.

Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in the mail or for a delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President of the United States, or the Vice President-elect, or knowingly and willfully otherwise makes any such threat against the President, President-elect, Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President, or Vice President-elect, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

18 U.S.C. Sec. 871(a).

About.com: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/871.shtml

 

[mudwhistle]

I would have told the guy to put his money where his mouth is and do it himself otherwise shut the fuck up about it when I'm around.

It's a coin flip on whether I would say anything or not. The guy's an asshole. I've got plenty of reasons to tell him to STFU...this is just one of them. I think it would depend on what kind of mood I was in.

 

[mudwhistle]

In my lifetime, there have been two Presidents shot. Anyone that makes a statement like that in my presence, no matter what their politics are, or what the politics of the current president are, they will be reported. Just too many looney tunes out there that would make it a third president in my lifetime.

I don't remember ether bragging about it before hand.

I think on average Obama gets 30 threats a day. Barack Obama faces 30 death threats a day, stretching US Secret Service - Telegraph

Secret Service under strain as leaders face more threats - The Boston Globe

 

[Granny]

It's a crime to make threats against the life of the president, irrespective of any present perceived ability to carry them out.

Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in the mail or for a delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President of the United States, or the Vice President-elect, or knowingly and willfully otherwise makes any such threat against the President, President-elect, Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President, or Vice President-elect, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

18 U.S.C. Sec. 871(a).

About.com: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/871.shtml

This is true, but the guy didn't express a THREAT ... only an opinion. Right, wrong or indifferent, he should have kept the opinion to himself in this particular case. There are lots and lots of people who share the same opinion, they just don't go around publicly sharing it with "strangers" as opposed to close family and/or friends.

 

[mudwhistle]

It's a crime to make threats against the life of the president, irrespective of any present perceived ability to carry them out.

Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in the mail or for a delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President of the United States, or the Vice President-elect, or knowingly and willfully otherwise makes any such threat against the President, President-elect, Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President, or Vice President-elect, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

18 U.S.C. Sec. 871(a).

About.com: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/871.shtml

This is true, but the guy didn't express a THREAT ... only an opinion. Right, wrong or indifferent, he should have kept the opinion to himself in this particular case. There are lots and lots of people who share the same opinion, they just don't go around publicly sharing it with "strangers" as opposed to close family and/or friends.

I think it is indicative of his intelligence level.

 

[goldcatt]

Not at all. This guy might may not be able to get close enough to the president, but perhaps he might find an Obama supporter would suffice. Let the cops deal with it. If there is nothing there, so be it. Too many crazies out there today.

I just hope he doesn't find out who snitched.

Everyone knows who snitched.

I would assume the guy is just a blowhard because I've worked with him for years....but still...I would tell him personally what I thought about he said. The guy isn't part of any groups and doesn't have the loner type personality. He's just a dipshit with a big mouth. However, I would feel bad personally if anything I reported caused him to be in serious trouble.

From what you stated was said, no. Calling the authorities in was not justified. Unless the story was "cleaned up" for you, and there was more said than you were told - a specific, credible threat toward either the POTUS or one or more of his supporters. Or multiple incidents that show a pattern of obsessiveness. Or the guy has a long history of violent threats and actions against others. Then I would have been concerned. I don't know the guy, but if any of those are possible then I wouldn't be too hard on the snitch. There have been a lot of psychos going postal lately, he may have felt right or wrong that he was saving a life.

It would be interesting to hear from someone who was there and saw it go down. But from what you've posted here there's nothing that should get the guy in serious trouble. Unless the Feds find his stash, that is.

 

[mudwhistle]

Not at all. This guy might may not be able to get close enough to the president, but perhaps he might find an Obama supporter would suffice. Let the cops deal with it. If there is nothing there, so be it. Too many crazies out there today.

I just hope he doesn't find out who snitched.

Everyone knows who snitched.

I would assume the guy is just a blowhard because I've worked with him for years....but still...I would tell him personally what I thought about he said. The guy isn't part of any groups and doesn't have the loner type personality. He's just a dipshit with a big mouth. However, I would feel bad personally if anything I reported caused him to be in serious trouble.

From what you stated was said, no. Calling the authorities in was not justified. Unless the story was "cleaned up" for you, and there was more said than you were told - a specific, credible threat toward either the POTUS or one or more of his supporters. Or multiple incidents that show a pattern of obsessiveness. Or the guy has a long history of violent threats and actions against others. Then I would have been concerned. I don't know the guy, but if any of those are possible then I wouldn't be too hard on the snitch. There have been a lot of psychos going postal lately, he may have felt right or wrong that he was saving a life.

It would be interesting to hear from someone who was there and saw it go down. But from what you've posted here there's nothing that should get the guy in serious trouble. Unless the Feds find his stash, that is.

The guy is a crack-head. In that case it would be a good thing. But according to the link I provided there has been a increase of threats reported by 400 percent over the Bush Adminstration. I thought this wasn't possible. Is this because of paranoia on the part of the Administration or because of some mindless following that seems to think he can do no wrong and thinks he has to be protected at all costs. Only 38 percent would vote for Obama today....but most of America still seems to like him. I'm not sure what that means. If you don't like him enough to vote for him I don't think you really like him.

 

[chanel]

As a teacher, any and all threats must be reported. I could not live with myself if a kid hurt himself or someone else, and I had heard something. That policy makes judgement calls much easier. Maybe he should have gone to the boss instead, but if it was really bothering him, I still think he did the right thing. There are always red flags before someone goes postal.

 

[mudwhistle]

As a teacher, any and all threats must be reported. I could not live with myself if a kid hurt himself or someone else, and I had heard something. That policy makes judgement calls much easier. Maybe he should have gone to the boss instead, but if it was really bothering him, I still think he did the right thing. There are always red flags before someone goes postal.

I think the threat was racially motivated as was the reporting of the threat.....if it was even a threat in the first place.

 

[pete]

Not at all. This guy might may not be able to get close enough to the president, but perhaps he might find an Obama supporter would suffice. Let the cops deal with it. If there is nothing there, so be it. Too many crazies out there today.

I just hope he doesn't find out who snitched.

Wrong answer. Unless he made a SPECIFIC threat and had some even tiny chance of carrying it out it IS NOT a matter for the cops. I am free to say I wish someone were dead. Or that it would not bother me if someone got killed. Or even "it would not bother me if someone got assassinated". NONE of those statements are criminal acts. Nor are they suspicious or require Police investigation.

Who knows what actually got reported? Maybe the snitch said "a guy at work who has guns said he was going to shoot Obama." That would excite SS's attention.
I have two words for anyone who wants to see Obama dead: President Joe Biden.

Thats 3 and I wouldn't mind seeing them both gone and wouldn't lose any sleep over it if it were by violent means.
The shit stain in office damn well knows the consequences and that they went up because he was black hence the added security. Although he would like to jail people for speaking their mind he cant this is America