# Security Forces told to Stand Down at Obama Rally. WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 22, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725 "2008-02-22T16:04:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/1 "2008-02-22T16:04:10Z")
I don’t know if this was mentioned in any of the umpteen other Obama threads, but (a) I feel this deserves a thread of its own, and (b) yeah, this is umpteen and one. As stated in the linked article below, security forces were pulled off screening detail for attendees to one of Obama’s rallys in Dallas…that’s right. Dallas. How the heck is this even contemplated, much less approved and implemented, especially in Dallas, of all places? The little conspiracist in me is clawing to get out, but I’m hoping someone can talk me off the ledge here [Security relaxed at Obama speech](http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/02/21/report_security_relaxed_at_obama_speech/8649/) > [@](#): > > The Secret Service told Dallas police to stop screening for weapons while people were still arriving at a campaign rally for Barack Obama, a report said. > > Police stopped checking people for weapons at the front gates of Reunion Arena more than an hour before the Democratic presidential hopeful appeared on stage Wednesday, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram reported. …more… ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/2 "2008-02-22T16:10:49Z")
They did this in NYC. Here, they had everyone going single-file through metal detectors. It was slower than airport security. With 25,000 people lined up, it would have been 11pm before we all got in. So after 3 hours of doing this, they just let everyone in. Maybe the theory is that you only really need to screen the people that will be close to the stage? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/3 "2008-02-22T16:12:48Z")
[QUOTE=Richard Parker] Maybe the theory is that you only really need to screen the people that will be close to the stage? [/QUOTE] An assassin does not need to be close to the stage. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/4 "2008-02-22T16:13:49Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] An assassin does not need to be close to the stage. [/QUOTE] Why not? Could you assassinate someone with a hand gun from 50 yards? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/5 "2008-02-22T16:16:36Z")
[QUOTE=Richard Parker] Maybe the theory is that you only really need to screen the people that will be close to the stage? [/QUOTE] Perhaps you’re right that this was the thought process, but that’s got to be one of the most ridiculous rationales for, in essense, putting someone’s life at increased risk I’ve ever heard. What, bullets won’t kill Obama just as dead if fired from the nosebleeds? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/6 "2008-02-22T16:18:08Z")
Same thing happened in Hartford, everyone on the ground floor, i.e. able to touch, handshake etc…etc…Obama was searched. Everyone else was let in willy nilly. Plus, there was an enormous amount of security there, he has 3-4 guys in suits following him, and no one knows how many in normal clothes. I’m sure he and hillary are getting threats already…probably lots of them. ---
**Author:** ![JohnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@JohnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnM)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/7 "2008-02-22T16:18:54Z")
I saw Obama at the rally in Wilmington, DE a couple of weeks ago, and the same thing happened. And once the floodgates opened, many of the unscreened folks (including me and my family) were able to get quite close to the podium, say about 20 feet. There were four obvious Secret Service agents deployed around the podium, but whether they could have stopped a determined assassin in time is an open question. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/8 "2008-02-22T16:19:05Z")
[QUOTE=Onomatopoeia] Perhaps you’re right, but that’s got to be one of the most ridiculous rationales for, in essense, putting someone’s life at increased risk I’ve ever heard. What, bullets won’t kill Obama just as dead if fired from the nosebleeds? [/QUOTE] I don’t disagree. Just speculating. I’m not a shooter, but I suspect it would be pretty difficult to quickly draw a hand gun, aim, and fire it accurately at 50 yards in a crowd of people before you get taken down by the crowd or security. Of course, the secret service also has many other security measures, including electromagnetic scanning equipment that works on entire crowds of people. ---
**Author:** ![zoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71c47a/32.png) [@zoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/9 "2008-02-22T16:21:27Z")
The rally in Bangor had screening for the floor and lower balcony. The upper balcony was not screened. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/10 "2008-02-22T17:58:02Z")
Interesting coincidence is how very close Reunion arena is to the location Kennedy was shot at. Less than half a mile. [Map](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=500+Main+St,+Dallas,+TX+75202,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title) ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/11 "2008-02-22T18:12:54Z")
In Atlanta this summer, he didn’t even have SS. Some “people”, but they weren’t even serviceable goons. The location chosen was also completely open, by the rooftop of around 4 buildings. As in, I have been on top of 4 buildings, without permission, that loomed directly over where he speechified. Also, he wondered through the crowd, people touched him, whatever. Nothing happened, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/12 "2008-02-22T18:50:13Z")
Not that I wish ill on Mr. Obama, but I think two things have to be borne in mind here: 1. It is flatly nuts to think it at all logistically possible to screen every person who’s going to be within shooting distance of him at a public appearance, 2. People are probably underestimating how difficult an assassination attempt is – there’ve been more failed attempts than successful ones, and 3. If you did invest a huge amount of time and effort into this, to the point that you could actually screen everyone, you’d have to severely curtail the number of people who could hear him speak, which no politician wants, and Mr. Obama ESPECIALLY doesn’t want, since public speaking is one of the things he does best. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/13 "2008-02-22T20:23:35Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] 1. It is flatly nuts to think it at all logistically possible to screen every person who’s going to be within shooting distance of him at a public appearance, [/QUOTE] Does GWB ever make a public appearance under any other circumstances? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/14 "2008-02-22T20:33:17Z")
The other thing is…where is this coming from? Is it Obama who is making this decision or is it his security people? What (if anything) does HE have to say about this situation? Knowing politicians I’m guessing this is his own requirement and the security types have to grit their teeth and do what they are told. From a politician’s perspective making perspective voters wait in long lines and feel harassed might not be the best course when trying to be elected. From a security persons perspective it would be best if the candidate never did public speaking engagements and if they could keep their charges in a bullet/bomb proof box the entire time. -XT ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/15 "2008-02-22T20:42:53Z")
[QUOTE=ZebraShaSha] In Atlanta this summer, he didn’t even have SS. Some “people”, but they weren’t even serviceable goons [/QUOTE] That’s really surprising, I remember reading that IL Senator Durbin had requested protection for Obama [back in May.](http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/03/obama.protection/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/16 "2008-02-22T20:43:18Z")
Put it this way, he’s got more say in it now, than he will when he is in the oval office. He won’t be able to get as close to people when he’s POTUS. I wouldn’t think that is. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/17 "2008-02-22T20:46:55Z")
[QUOTE=xtisme] Is it Obama who is making this decision or is it his security people? [/QUOTE] According to [this,](http://www.star-telegram.com/dallas_news/story/486413.html) the Dallas police say the decision “apparently” came from the Secret Service (which has refused to comment); of course, Secret Service guards do not report to the person they are protecting, unless it is the POTUS, and even then **he** has to do what **they** say. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/18 "2008-02-22T20:47:36Z")
He won’t. He best enjoy his freedom now because once he wins the SS will hold him to a pretty tight line. They tend to take that kind of things seriously. Which is a GOOD thing…we want this guy to be around for 8 years, ehe? -XT ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/19 "2008-02-22T20:56:10Z")
Missed the edit window…the ‘He won’t’ comment was meant as a response to Phlosphr saying “He won’t be able to get as close to people when he’s POTUS.” I think at this stage in the game the SS is going to be a bit more lax and do a bit more of what the candidate wants them to do. My guess is that it is Obama setting the parameters here for how security is being run (at least in general terms) than the SS deciding not to protect him as well as they can. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725/20 "2008-02-22T21:09:05Z")
Yikes. It’s unrelated, but I don’t know where else to put this. A motorcycle officer in Clinton’s motorcade was [killed when he hit a curb](http://cbs11tv.com/local/clinton.motorcade.crash.2.660392.html) while escorting her to a rally in Dallas today. She canceled her Fort Worth rally to be with his widow. How tragic. Condolences to the Lozada family. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-forces-told-to-stand-down-at-obama-rally-wtf/438725.md?page=2)