CBS4 News at Denver reporting: Plot to Kill Obama....

CBS4 at Denver is reporting that four people are under arrest for plotting to kill Senator Obama at the convention. The African American community had been extremely scared of this possibility. It is very difficult to realize that there are really evil folks out there who are committed to do only harm to others. Atleast one of the plotters had links to white supremacists.

As we still bicker amongst ourselves over Obama-Clinton feud, please do not forget the bigger picture. Beyond everything we are humans and that's what bonds us as liberals, progressives, moderates, conservatives, liberatarians, Democrats ....
Please stop this silly infighting and sieze this historic opportunity of building a permanent Democratic majority for a longtime to come.

CBS4 has now learned at least four people are under arrest in connection with a possible plot to kill Barack Obama at his Thursday night acceptance speech in Denver. All are being held on either drug or weapons charges.

CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass reported one of the suspects told authorities they were "going to shoot Obama from a high vantage point using a ... rifle ... sighted at 750 yards."

Law enforcement sources tell Maass that one of the suspects "was directly asked if they had come to Denver to kill Obama. He responded in the affirmative."

Sources told CBS4 police found two high-powered, scoped rifles in the car along with camouflage clothing, walkie-talkies, a bulletproof vest, a spotting scope, licenses in the names of other people and methamphetamine. One of the rifles is listed as stolen from Kansas.

Subsequently authorities went to the Cherry Creek Hotel to contact an associate of Gartrell's. But that man, who was wanted on numerous warrants, jumped out of a sixth floor hotel window. Law enforcement sources say the man broke an ankle in the fall and was captured moments later. Sources say he was wearing a ring with a swastika, and is thought to have ties to white supremacist organizations.

A third man -- an associate of Gartrell and the hotel jumper was also arrested. He told authorities that the two men "planned to kill Barack Obama at his acceptance speech."

That man, along with a woman, are also under arrest.

The Secret Service, FBI, ATF and the joint terrorism task force are all investigating the alleged plot.

http://cbs4denver.com/investigates/assis ination.plot.obama.2.802827.html

Rocky Mountain News is reporting the same:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/20 08/aug/25/police-investigate-possible-pl ot-kill-obama/

[Video Link Updated] Police Press Debrief Link



Display:


This is freaking scary..I hope Secret Service (2.00 / 10)

is doing everything to protect Senator Obama.


by louisprandtl on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 10:13:17 PM EST

Re: This is freaking scary..I hope Secret Service (2.00 / 2)

Thank you Louisprandtl for writing this diary.
REC  This really scares me and I have been around long enough to know this can happen. Especially to someone like Obama.

by canadian on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 12:02:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is freaking scary..I hope Secret Service (none / 0)

I wonder who is behind this?

Who funded it?

Hmmm?


Can I Haz More Palin?
by reebus on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 02:23:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is freaking scary..I hope Secret Service (2.00 / 1)

I worked late last night and have not seen the news. This is a horrible turn of events, but not an unexpected one.  I sincerely hope the action that uncovered this works to suppress any similar attempts on the lives of ANY of our political leaders.

Thanks for the diary, so those of us not glued to the news could find out about this.

A thousand plagues to those who have turned this horrible scheme by wrong headed white supremacists into political fodder for attacking either any political leader.


Hell's bells, even the GOP didn't have to crucify Eisenhower's record in order to make Reagan their 'saint'. We can have two great ones, you know?
by emsprater on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 11:22:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

there... (2.00 / 4)

are some sick, sick people in the world.  feh.


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 10:13:43 PM EST

This is very scary...I cannot believe even today (2.00 / 4)

such folks would try to create such terror..


by louisprandtl on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 10:15:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: CBS4 News at Denver reporting: Plot to Kill Ob (2.00 / 7)

It sounds like these people were more serious than most of the so-called terrorists the Bush Administration has apprehended over the last eight years.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 10:22:30 PM EST

Re: CBS4 News: Plot to Kill Obama.... (none / 0)


Law enforcement sources tell Maass that one of the suspects "was directly asked if they had come to Denver to kill Obama. He responded in the affirmative."

This ain't a plot. This is a couple of racist drunk bubbas with too much time on their hands who watched "Manchurian Candidate" too many times. Heck, I bet the Secret Service busts a couple of clowns like this every week.


by blueflorida on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 10:25:29 PM EST

Re: CBS4 News: Plot to Kill Obama.... (2.00 / 6)

You need to look up the definition of a plot.


by Cincinnatus on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 10:27:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: CBS4 News: Plot to Kill Obama.... (none / 0)

you need to look up the definition of hyperbole.

This has all the looks of a classic hold my beer incident.

Look, maybe there's more to this, but based on the apparent evidence this was as much of an assassination plot as I am America's Next Top Model.


by blueflorida on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 10:44:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: CBS4 News: Plot to Kill Obama.... (2.00 / 12)

They had guns. They intended to kill him. That is an assassination plot.


by Cincinnatus on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 10:52:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: CBS4 News: Plot to Kill Obama.... (2.00 / 5)

They also had fake id's, camo, scopes, vests, and a stolen, therefore un-tracable gun.

This isn't "Bubba, I got an idea," dumbass.


by IowaMike on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 12:38:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You do realize (2.00 / 1)

that if this was just a lark in a Bubba's Night Out, that's much scarier?

Assassination plotters are rare. Drunken, gun-toting young men are not.

So I'm hoping "plot", as opposed to "fad".


by Neef on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 11:26:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Sorry can't be cavalier about this. Every such (2.00 / 8)

threat needs to be seriously.


by louisprandtl on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 10:28:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

When psychos are in echo chambers of hate (1.66 / 3)

Like a clan meeting, or on a racist hateful forum in the guise of a democratic website, people that are not balanced get there insanity bolstered by constantly being around other pathetic people who hate as well.  


"Is there no keeping with class in whom we mingle with anymore?"
by Brandon on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 10:53:53 PM EST

Re: When psychos are in echo chambers of hate (2.00 / 4)

And what of your hate toward the Clintons or PUMA?  Is it not the same?  You tend to go off the deep end more than a usual hater.


Toot, thank you for raising such a terrific person...You done good and we will have you in our hearts.
by hootie4170 on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 01:27:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: CBS4 News at Denver reporting: Plot to Kill Ob (2.00 / 8)

What douchebags. A threat to kill the Democratic candidate and some people can't get past the hate.

Pathetic display, you know who you are.


Welcome to a landslide WITH white working class, latinos, women and holding on sweeties!!!
by spacemanspiff on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 11:08:23 PM EST

I'm sorry that every diary and thread seem to (2.00 / 5)

be degenerating to the same...


by louisprandtl on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 11:10:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Too bad there isn't a forum like (2.00 / 11)

MyDD but with moderators who actually did anything.....


Motley Moose: Progress Through Politics
by chrisblask on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 11:17:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Chris, start one! (2.00 / 1)


by Dumbo on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 12:41:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Nazi Methheads with stolen rifles (2.00 / 3)

Ick


It's time to restore balance and fairness to our economy,... It's time to stop giving tax cuts to corporations that ship jobs overseas... - Barack Obama
by Lefty Coaster on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 11:15:23 PM EST

Re: Nazi Methheads with stolen rifles (2.00 / 1)

Where's Indiana Jones when you need him.


by Cincinnatus on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 11:24:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Nazi Methheads with stolen rifles (2.00 / 2)

A meatball can kill you as dead as Einstein. they had the weapons, the scopes, the camo and the walkie talkies.


by Christy1947 on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 11:40:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The question also is (2.00 / 4)

  whether they were isolated conspirators or were they part of a bigger conspiracy involving the republican neo-con movement which stands to lose an awful lot when Barack Obama is elected President?


The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem, it is generally employed only by small children and large nations. -- David Friedman
by pollbuster on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 11:49:33 PM EST

Re: CBS4 News at Denver reporting: (2.00 / 9)

The comments here have really taken a turn for the worse.  sigh.  I'm just glad Obama is safe.


by Skaje on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 11:52:08 PM EST

I'm terribly sorry that it did... (2.00 / 7)


by louisprandtl on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 12:01:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

What we need (2.00 / 7)

 
to always remember is that whenever progressive forces are on the verge of a victory, they will always send in the most reactionary forces to attempt to reverse it.

The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem, it is generally employed only by small children and large nations. -- David Friedman
by pollbuster on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 11:52:24 PM EST

Follow the money (2.00 / 6)

Don't just dismiss them as nutballs who came up with this over the 6th beer.  That's just what a larger plot would want the police to do. After all the tragedies (assassinations, plane crashes, etc) that have struck Democratic politicians since 1963, I wouldn't put anything past the enemies of democracy and change.

Follow the money to find the potential larger plot:
where did they get the guns?
where did they get the money for the guns?  
are they childhood friends, or how did they meet?  
did they have hotel reservations, and if so, whose credit card was used?  
what - or who - else can be linked that credit card?  
who paid for the car they were driving, and where did it come from?
who do they work for?  
who do they live with?
who pays for wherever they live?
cell phone history?
home phone history?
internet usage?

There's a ton of places to look.  There could be so much more to this than just drunk wackos.


Enough is enough!
by Bear83 on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 12:00:22 AM EST

There is press debriefing at 10 am by US Attorney (2.00 / 2)

..hopefully we'll know more..


by louisprandtl on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 12:13:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

The Obama family (2.00 / 18)

has an unimaginable amount of courage, starting with Barack and Michelle. They know full well the risks they're taking, and understand completely what the worst scenarios could be. But they forge ahead, their fears and anxieties overcome by their unwavering hope in the character of the American people.

When you stop and think about it, it's very Barack's whole campaign is a symbol of hope over fear, of faith over despair.

I'm humbled every time I think of it.


"This victory alone is not the change we seek -- it is only the chance for us to make that change." -- Nov. 4, 2008
by BobzCat on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 12:05:13 AM EST

Re: The Obama family (2.00 / 5)

Really well said.


by wasder on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 12:14:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

This is really scary for me. (2.00 / 6)

I hope, hope that nothing happens to Obama.  Our nation does not need any more grief.


by Jenai on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 12:15:26 AM EST

The stadium (none / 0)

When they announced the plans, I wrote that this was a high-risk, hard-to-control situation, precisely because of racists and the difficulty in controlling seating and line of sight with lots of advance time for planning.  We've had real and very devastating  problems with this, and I don't think people on his team are thinking this out.  


by Andrys on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 05:32:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Plot to Kill Obama (2.00 / 4)

Please stop this silly infighting...

I think we have turned a corner on this blog and elsewhere. The hard feelings are melting away now that the convention is finally putting an end to the primary season. The speeches by Teddy and Michelle had to have softened the hardest of hearts. And this neocon threat to rob America of its rightful future by assassination should bind all together to thwart the darkness they represent.

For my part, I will no longer "debate" with anyone who attacks Obama or Hillary, but rather assume they are McTrolls trying sow hatred and HR them on sight.


"I don't know too much about Sarah Palin, but perhaps that's the good news." -- GOP Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison
by Obama44 on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 12:20:27 AM EST

If we are so damn dumb (2.00 / 4)

to be under-concerned at this moment that all we can do is either downplay this, or find a reason to attack each other, no wonder we always lose.

We put way too damn much energy attacking each other. And I am no angel in this.

But if some well armed wack jobs were there to kill Clinton, or hell Bush, I would hope we would all have enough sense to take it seriously until we get the whole picture.

No one deserves what these worthless evil pieces of shit wanted to do.


by IowaMike on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 12:44:35 AM EST

I was worried about this (none / 0)

as soon as they announced he would do the acceptance speech at Ivesco Field.  Yup, too many movies like Parallax View and Manchurian Candidate.  I hope the Secret Service isn't slacking this week.

750 yards is a difficult shot.  That would require an experienced sharpshooter.


by Dumbo on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 12:54:02 AM EST

Re: I was worried about this (2.00 / 1)

Do we know the stage setup already? Are they taking measures to block the view from the interstate? Will there be bulletproof barriers?

It is definitely a concern. Even inside the stadium, it is a concern. When you think about it, it's absolutely amazing that he goes out there every day and puts on that brave face. He refuses to be scared, and that's more than I would be able to do.

Hey, assholes. You want a reason to support Obama? Proof of his character? This is it. He knows the danger. He knows the constant risk. But he's out there every day, and he never lets you see him sweat. Never mentions it.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 05:46:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

deporable (2.00 / 4)

this is disgusting. it cannot be treated as just talk.. those people need to be monitored carefully.


Fight for Democrats in Congress.
by owl06 on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 01:04:50 AM EST

Re: deporable (2.00 / 1)

No, it can't, and I can't imagine why anyone here would do so. It's one thing to think that he's playing a race card, it's quite another to pretend that white supremacists and delusional "Christians" aren't on their very own message boards right now talking about how something should be done.

This is not a joke. This is not a minor concern. You don't have to like Obama. Just hope he doesn't get murdered because of the color of his skin and/or political leanings.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 05:49:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: CBS4 News at Denver reporting: Plot to Kill Ob (none / 0)

I find it curious the cable networks haven't mentioned this arrest, or did I just miss it?


by libertyleft on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 01:18:46 AM EST

Re: CBS4 News at Denver reporting: Plot to Kill Ob (none / 0)

Thanks for the HR, you just made the list...


Toot, thank you for raising such a terrific person...You done good and we will have you in our hearts.
by hootie4170 on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 01:34:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

ONOS TEH LIST (none / 0)

Try not posting personal attacks.


by libertyleft on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 02:10:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: ONOS TEH LIST (2.00 / 1)

Ah OK, we should just let people sow division among Democrats.  I'm glad you're such a defender of such troll activity.  Atleast I know where you stand now.


Toot, thank you for raising such a terrific person...You done good and we will have you in our hearts.
by hootie4170 on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 02:47:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: ONOS TEH LIST (none / 0)

Personal attacks don't heal any wounds, and are pretty much exactly what trolls want.  Don't go feeding them anymore.


by libertyleft on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 05:06:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Well, its great to see that a (2.00 / 1)

possible death threat on anyone, let alone our potential President, really brings us together.

We deserve to have McSame win if this is how we really are.


by IowaMike on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 01:23:34 AM EST

Re: Well, its great to see that a (2.00 / 3)

This isn't how we really are. This is how a few incredibly loud, opinionated members our community are. Nobody deserves what McCain would inflict on our country because of the behavior of bloggers.

As for all you arguing up the thread, did you happen to see the Obama daughters at the end of the convention tonight? Somebody out there wanted to FUCKING ORPHAN THEM. SO SHUT THE FUCK UP.


by Cincinnatus on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 04:28:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Probably another button salesman (none / 0)

I don't think it would be possible to kill to a Presidential candidate in this day and age.  One of the safest place in the world is inside the Pepsi Center.

This either has to be a crackpot rumor or a mistake like the button salesman.


by RichardFlatts on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 08:42:07 AM EST

Toxic (2.00 / 1)

Racism, violence, stupidity, and meth is a very toxic combination.

We must hope that any would be assassins are no more organized and professional than these folks. I fear there are many white supremacists and neo-Nazis who are larger threats.  

Fortunately, I do have a very high level of confidence in the Secret Service.


"We live entangled in webs of endless deceit, often self-deceit, but with a little honest effort, it is possible to extricate ourselves from them". -- NC
by Trond Jacobsen on Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 09:07:11 AM EST


You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.