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Secret Service: Facebook Poll Not A Threat
Rachel Slajda | October 1, 2009, 12:41PM
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The Secret Service announced today that the person -- a juvenile -- behind a Facebook poll that asked whether President Obama should be killed is not an actual threat to the President.
The agency spoke with the child and the child's parents, and no charges will be filed.
"Case closed," said a spokesman. ""I guess you could characterize it as a mistake."
No names were released to the press.
Earlier this weekend, a user-created poll popped up on Facebook that asked users, "Should Obama be killed?" The choices were Yes, No, Maybe, and "Yes if he cuts my health care."
Facebook removed the poll after it was brought to their attention.
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rbeats
October 1, 2009 12:49 PM
A juvenile?
You mean Eric Cantor?
His parents must be pissed at him.
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richard f
October 1, 2009 12:52 PM
Even if it was an adult, posting a poll, even as vile as this one, wouldn't be a crime (although certainly worthy of Secret Service investigation and monitoring)
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ejg3
October 1, 2009 12:54 PM
Let's hope the kid has his computer privileges revoked by the parents. It would be interesting if they knew about it before and approved the content.
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DickTater
October 1, 2009 12:57 PM
Not so tough to explain to Mom and Dad, especially if Mom and Dad indoctrinated the young whipper-snapper with their intolerant mindset.
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Cool Blue Reason
October 1, 2009 12:59 PM in reply to DickTater
"I'm disappointed in you, son. You know damn well what the answer to that question is. Now go rotate the provisions in the bunker."
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CT Voter
October 1, 2009 1:29 PM in reply to Cool Blue Reason
If it is someone like that, we'll know sooner or later, because they'd have to be proud of their son. . .and they'll mention it to someone at some point.
Interesting that we all seem to think it was a boy. . .
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toxophilite
October 1, 2009 4:53 PM in reply to CT Voter
During the first Clinton admin, I had two teenage girls as students in a private school whose parents ran a publication whose sole purpose was to trash Clinton. This was their full time job, and they evidently made a lot of money doing it. Either girl would have been proud to do Clinton in.
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ohyeathatsright
October 1, 2009 2:59 PM in reply to DickTater
Perhaps it was an honest question for the child to pose after some dinnertime conversation with his parents...
Maybe he really wanted to know what other people thought and knew he could ask Facebook.
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glogrrl
October 1, 2009 12:58 PM
I think Mom and Dad should be investigated...the kid had to get his ideas from someone.
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Bruce Webb
October 1, 2009 2:27 PM in reply to glogrrl
Maybe he owns a TV? Or has a friend who has one?
Look there are serious armed kooks out there, maybe the Secret Service and the FBI should concentrate on them rather than be the Thought Police investigating every family that happens to tune into Glenn Beck or Lou Dobbs. This hate stuff is in the air and in the water, it is not surprising that kids pick up on it.
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kenga
October 1, 2009 3:40 PM in reply to Bruce Webb
Yeah, there certainly are serious armed kooks out there.
Hopefully those of them online decided to respond to that Facebook poll. I am quite sure that Facebook and the parent company were falling over themselves to give the Secret Service whatever logs and info they had, which related to the poll and folks who answered it.
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numediaman
October 1, 2009 1:52 PM
Cripes, leave the kid alone. The secret service have already interviewed the kid and the parents -- they were probably all sh***ing in their pants. Hopefully, the secret service asked them to "come down to the office, oh and pack a bag" just for added effect.
But is this crime? Come on, what kind of country do you want to create? Leave the "throw them all in jail" stuff to the right-wingers, they are far better at it anyway.
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Observerinvancouver
October 1, 2009 2:02 PM in reply to numediaman
One would hope you all want to create a country lacking a significant minority that rabidly hates your (wonderful) president to the point of wanting to get him out of office by any means available.
When the rational vast majority of the American populace start an effective push back against the crazies?
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Observerinvancouver
October 1, 2009 2:03 PM in reply to Observerinvancouver
Oops. Meant to say "When will the rational ...."
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psyclone
October 1, 2009 3:25 PM in reply to numediaman
No it's not a crime, apparently, or else the SS would have handled this differently. But there are and should be social consequences for this kind of disgusting behavior. That's why we're talking about it, instead of just sweeping it under the rug and pretending it never happened.
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psyclone
October 1, 2009 3:21 PM
I see "Teabagger Hero" written all over this kid's story...he should be getting calls from Hannity and Beck soon I'm sure.
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fitley
October 1, 2009 6:48 PM
It's one of those suburban households where the parents rant
N***er this and Sp*c that. The parents are drunks and spouse swap with other Blackwell employees. Oh yeah and bugger their kids too. I'm just sayin. Republicans
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Stiggs
October 1, 2009 11:43 PM in reply to fitley
Spouse swapping sounds a little progressive for this crew. They likely rant about how promiscuous liberals and gays are ruining this country and therefore probably don't engage in such an open display of "deviant" sexuality.
They have a much more traditional marriage, I'm sure - by which I mean they lie about their extramarital canoodling.
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