# Did you think Obama would be assassinated? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 13, 2017, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018 "2017-01-13T07:26:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/21 "2017-01-13T16:43:26Z")
at this point, no Why would they? ---
**Author:** ![Waxwinged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Waxwinged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waxwinged)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/22 "2017-01-13T16:44:44Z")
No, the thought never crossed my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/23 "2017-01-13T16:55:03Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > Because even the crazies aren’t dumb enough to kill a President who has only a week left in his term. :dubious:🙂 But he’s going to declare martial law, refuse to leave the White House, have all our guns rounded up and put out the worldwide call for jihadi immigrants. He just hasn’t gotten around to it, with so many things cropping up at the last moment. Great Zarquon, cut the guy some slack. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/24 "2017-01-13T17:14:52Z")
When Obama was first elected, yes. I felt 75% sure he’d be dead in the first two years. Those concerns went away when he made it through his first term. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/25 "2017-01-13T17:24:31Z")
EVERY President is the subject of assassination nuts and their fantasies. The fact that Obama is black is way, way overshadowed by the fact he’s President. The Secret Service is just getting incredibly good at what they do, knock on wood. I suspect they probably stop a lot of would-be assassins before they get as close as John Hinckley - a lot of them probably by paying close attention to what the John Hinckleys of the 21st century post on the Internet. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/26 "2017-01-13T17:34:41Z")
Ya, I thought there was a chance. I worked in the oil field and several of them openly talked about hoping Obama got shot while they were at work. I figured if people were crazy enough to talk about it then multiple someones would be crazy enough to try and it only takes one to get lucky. I think there is a decent chance of someone taking a shot at trump too. Of course the nice thing now is if you say assassinate and Trump on the internet then I’m sure you’ll get a visit from the feds well before you could put together a plan and that makes it much harder to pull off. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/27 "2017-01-13T17:36:35Z")
Thought it was a possibility, but not a very likely one. I doubt I’ll see that happen to any President in my lifetime (and thankfully so). ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/28 "2017-01-13T18:21:53Z")
As it turns out the last three presidents all have had shots fired in the general direction of the White House, with no real damage other than maybe having to patch a wall. As they could not get close enough they were more dangerous to the other people by the fence. But considering several recent instances of perimeter incursions including someone running all the way into the WH, you can see there is always the risk from one random unpredictable nut who just gets lucky when The Voices start. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/29 "2017-01-13T18:29:34Z")
I wasn’t sure if there would be an average chance – which is still pretty darn high for anyone to accept – or a slightly above average chance which would have anyone quaking in their boots. But I didn’t think the chance was anything like 50/50. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/30 "2017-01-13T18:40:15Z")
I didn’t think the chance was any higher than for any other president. But I did have a cousin who spent Thanksgiving dinner 2008 ranting on and on about how she was convinced that he wouldn’t make it through his first year. Sadly, she has since died of natural causes, but at least her concern turned out to be unfounded. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/31 "2017-01-13T19:05:27Z")
My dad in Texas was convinced some nut job would take a crack at him. They did, but it didn’t stick thankfully. I hope nobody takes out Trump. I don’t want to live in a place where the highest office is murder bait. It’s disconcerting to say the least. I wouldn’t wish death or injury on anyone, cept maybe Assad or something but still it goes against my inner grain. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/32 "2017-01-13T19:40:11Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > When he was first elected, I expected there to be attempts to take his life, ones that progressed to the point of shots being fired or explosives detonated. I’m glad I was wrong. You weren’t wrong. From the wikipedia link posted > [@List of US Presidential Assassination Attempts](#): > > In November 2011, Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, a man who believed he was Jesus and that Obama was the Antichrist, hit the White House with several rounds fired from a semi-automatic rifle. No one was injured. However, a window was broken.[57] ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/33 "2017-01-13T20:08:00Z")
It was always in the back of my mind, kind of like nuclear war. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/34 "2017-01-13T20:56:59Z")
Bear in mind 9% of Presidents have been assassinated, and a few have had very, very close calls. In terms of survivability, it’s a really, really dangerous job. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/35 "2017-01-13T21:03:40Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > When Obama was first elected, yes. I felt 75% sure he’d be dead in the first two years. Those concerns went away when he made it through his first term. Same thing, except my concerns never went away. They haven’t yet; I think he will need that full Secret Service protection, all his life. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/36 "2017-01-13T21:07:10Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Bear in mind 9% of Presidents have been assassinated, and a few have had very, very close calls. In terms of survivability, it’s a really, really dangerous job. You missed noting that of the 53 men who have been President, 48 are dead. That’s a 91% fatality rate… ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/37 "2017-01-13T23:37:10Z")
I would have pegged him at higher than average for a modern president, due to Obama derangement syndrome. Say 20% chance of a threat with a serious chance of success. I’d give Trump about the same chances, given the similar (although more deserved IMHO) panic his election is causing on the other side of the spectrum. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/38 "2017-01-13T23:50:04Z")
I honestly feared for him. I figured everyone who hated him owned a gun. But on the other hand, I saw him speak when he was a candidate, and was impressed by the efficiency and thoroughness of the Secret Service. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Terrific](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tom_terrific/32/342_2.png) [@Tom\_Terrific](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Terrific)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/39 "2017-01-13T23:55:43Z")
He had the best insurance policy there was, Biden. If Obama was gone Biden as president might have been able to get his gun control dream realized. Biden was a worse alternative for many on the right than Obama. Remember Biden could possibly gotten more things accomplished as president than Obama could. IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018/40 "2017-01-14T00:57:28Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > When Obama was first elected, yes. I felt 75% sure he’d be dead in the first two years. Those concerns went away when he made it through his first term. Same here … fear is funny stuff, uh? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-think-obama-would-be-assassinated/777018.md?page=3)