A Washington, D.C., police officer has been removed from his unit and placed on administrative duty over remarks he allegedly made about first lady Michelle Obama—but the Secret Service is downplaying the controversy, msnbc.com reports.
The officer, who worked as a motorcycle escort for White House officials, "allegedly said he would shoot the first lady and then used his phone to retrieve a picture of the firearm he said he would use," according to the Washington Post.
Officials familiar with the situation say that it was a bad joke made by someone who should have known better, according to msnbc.com.
"Pump the brakes on this one," a Secret Service official told NBC, saying the agency is not concerned that the remark made by the officer constitutes any kind of actual threat.
"We're aware of it and taking the appropriate steps," an official for the Secret Service told msnbc.com.
While I seriously doubt that this officer was serious about shooting Mrs. Obama, I think most Americans are going to be pretty serious about getting this POS off of the streets. The Secret Service may think it reasonable to "pump the brakes this one" but personally I think the guy needs to go through a serious investigation, after which he needs to lose his damn job. The people of Washington DC deserve better police officers enforcing their laws.
Besides who in the hell thinks making jokes about assassinations are funny?
And it might have been ONE thing if he were talking about the President, and that is certainly bad enough, but he was talking about Michelle Obama! There is NOBODY in this country as beloved as Michelle "freaking" Obama!
I just finished reading Ms. Obama's "American Grown," on the White House gardens. She is beautiful, smart, funny, charming, and inspiring. Here's to 4 more years.
ReplyDeleteHear,Hear!
DeleteYeah, sure it was joking. David Chaney has some sense of humor as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd they're already backing up from this one. Wait for the cover-up and bizarre explanation. Another one of those boys will be boys comment. I'm sick of these racists and their hatred of the Obama's because of their skin color. It's ironic because we've had how many years of white Presidents and haven't heard the amount of vile talk about them in the black, hispanic, Asian or Native American communities. But let one of "them" ascend to the highest office and the white haters come alive.
ReplyDeleteYou know this started with Sara Palin. The haters were always there but Sara gave them voice and when they took their tentative first steps at her speeches she could have shouted them down but like some rabid slobbering mutt she whipped them into a frenzy and now they feel emboldened to speak more and more hate. Thanks McCain, one more time, you piece of shit for bringing to us the race baiting hater - I hope she took care of your wrinkled old pud because what you did is unforgiveable - and given the herpes sores on her lips I hope you've got them now
Yeah, Scarah makes them 'cute' like Tripp and 'funny.'
DeleteWait till Sarah goes on Hannity to whine about how this good, patriotic public servant is having his free speech oppressed by those mean old Obamas...you know she loves this kind of shit.
DeleteAnd the fame chasing whore complains about all the attacks her family endures.. Really, $arah?
DeleteSomeone in the MSM community needs to step on her neck and shove her words back down her throat. Won't happen of course because she won't go near anyone that might ask her something or tell her to STFU. Once, just once I'd love to see Greta remember that she was once seen as a decent reporter and stiff that bald drug addled creature a question that would leave her stammering or put a spear into her heart by telling her to STFU but that's too much to ask - esp if her husband is still sucking Sara's atrophied teats. I'm so sick of Sara and the chaos she created in this country with her racist hate - I can't believe the MSM doesn't just pull out the hidden information from her vetting and smack her upside the head. Then she'd be gone for good. I'm tired of the MSM using her and her hate for clicks and ad revenue.
Deletejust watched mitt interview on CNN. he will NOT release his tax. just 2011 and 2012. and he wants Pres to apology.WTF
ReplyDeleteAll he can say is he left Bain in 98 or 99. No matter what evidence to the contrary he is sticking to his lie. What a guy.
DeleteWhat kind of professional jokes like that? What kind of employer gives them a pass? The Secret Service clearly needs a revamp. Mark Sullivan should have been gone after he played so dumb at that kangaroo Senate committee (Leiberman/McCain).
ReplyDelete“checking out”
http://americanvisionnews.com/3004/married-secret-service-member-suspended-for-prostitute-also-admits-checking-out-sarah-palin
He should be treated same as anyone else who would make a comment like that Even worse he is a cop!!!
DeleteArrest this POS and throw away the key and make sure he never owns a firearm again!!!
Exactly.
DeleteJessie, I wouldn't go as far as you would in punishing the officer, but I do think a mental examination is called for to find out his mental stability, and he should be made to pay for it. If he is found stable, his department should suspend him without pay for maybe up to 2 weeks to make sure he understands the seriousness of what he said. People often say things they are not serious about, but there is certainly a time and place when certain comments are completely out of line. It's also important of what position the person holds when such a comment is made. Someone in his position as a police officer should've never make such a statement, but we're also all human and can say something we shouldn't say at times. This particular person violated all three, time, place, and position, but to end his career over it? His fellow officers, or whoever was with him at the time, know best what the atmosphere and conversation was at the time he made the comment. They should be listened to carefully in determining the seriousness of his comment and how best to punish him.
ReplyDeleteYeah, poor guy...it's only human to make jokes about murdering the First Lady and even showing your friends the weapon you'd do it with. We should really take it easy on him, I mean, who DOESN'T do that on occasion?
Deleteyeah, and it is adult behavior.
DeleteListen to his fellow officers and what they have to say? Really? Cue the chorus in 3...2...1
DeleteHe's a fine officer.
Best partner I ever had.
Not a mean bone in his body.
Racist? No, not him, never.
lather, rinse, repeat
I guess none of you have ever said something you regretted later, or said something and then wished you never said it. I also bet none of you have ever said something like 'I'd like to kill so and so' either. Unless you were there and knew the circumstances, how can you make judgement on someone. There is no age limit for saying something stupid.
DeleteDurham,
DeleteIt is about being a professional, an adult and doing your job. Everyone says something they later would take back and that is another matter. If someone says something so out of line with how they should have been trained and it is so egregious and wrong, they should lose that job. If you are in a postion where safety is so much your job, you don't get umteen chances to take back the stupid. In this case as it has been stated that person should not get one chance. They have a mental problem, not compatible with the job and should be relieved of desk duty as well.
Think about your loved one, not mentally intact and bed ridden in a nursing home. A nurse makes inappropriate jokes about death and such. You would do what? We may not agree on how to handle that or what we would do for our love one. Try to understand not all people are as lax about inappropriate professionals and potenial fatalies.
@ Durham,
DeleteI say stupid things often, but do so on my own time -- not while I'm being paid to act in a professional capacity.
Additionally, my job description doesn't include walking around with a firearm, live ammo, and a license to use them. His does. Whether he made a "joke" or not, he should know better. The fact that he clearly doesn't should get his ass summarily fired.
It seems to be OK for the right-wing nutcases in this country, not that this particular police officer is one, to make these kind of statements.
ReplyDeleteLike Ted Nugent saying if Obama is re-elected he'll either be in jail or dead in November, obviously alluding to the fact that he will be the one that 'takes out Obama' and people cheered that!
Remember also that $arah Palin put a bulls-eye target over Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' face, an obvious reference to a 'target' and then Giffords and several others were shot, all innocent, and even several killed. This isn't funny, folks. But it's the right-wing way. They do think this sort of thing is funny.
No, it isn't a joking matter. Not about Mrs. Obama, the President, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary, Boehner, Paul Ryan; none of them. Not even our last President, the deserting coward & his VP, that asshat Cheney (tho if he finally dropped dead I would not be sad). Assassination is just not cool to be kidding about. The cop should definitely lose his job.
ReplyDeleteWe have a young summer visitor in the house and inappropriate joking has come up. NO. It does not happen. An idiot can learn better than that officer. I would not give him the slightest break. He is an adult. He should be gone. If a 16 year old can learn we must expect the best and the brightest of our protectors.
DeleteDC is doomed if they tolerate that of any employee. They all need to be disciplined and that jokester best be history. SS sucks big time too.
DeleteI bet if I joked about killing this ass wipe with my big ass gun I'd be facing a boat load of trouble. This guy gets "desk duty", boo fucking hoo.
ReplyDeleteThe officer should be fired, if he did what he is accused of doing. He swore an oath to serve and protect, and he jokes about assassinating the First Lady of the United States? Sorry, if he were an insurance salesman it would be up to his boss, but he is a public servant and we need to trust them!
ReplyDeleteHe could go on and on about how much he disliked the President's policies and that would be his right. But he threatened to use his position as an official trusted with the safety of all he was assigned to serve and protect, to kill the First Lady of the United States. No pass and no badge from here on out.
As for the SS, I believe them quite capable of downplaying this publicly, while behind the scvenes they make damn sure that their handling of this situation does not encourage copycats (another reason why I think the message to this officer, if he did what he is accused of doing, is that such actions will not be tolerated. His "joke" could lead to someone else's action.
I am sick of the SS looking weak and as if they are covering up for A-holes. That committee thing was atrocious and cost us plenty. We the people need much better. Fire most of Congress, too. Sick of the hate towards decent Americans and blowing all our money.
DeleteUnfuckingbelievable. An off-duty police officer allegedly made a racial slur towards Carl Crawford (left-fielder for the Red Sox...one of these days). The case has been under investigation for a week, and won't be concluded until Tuesday. The officer has been assigned to desk duty, and faces disciplinary action, which could include anything from suspension to termination.
ReplyDeleteI am in no way implying the Leominster police department is overreacting. I'm just dumbfounded that the Secret Service isn't taking a threat to the First Lady's life as seriously as a local police department takes a racial slur against a ball player.
The police and SS must set standards and limits. It is inexcusable if they tolerate this.
DeleteFire him. Accuse him of threatening the first lady and prosecute. He took an oath to uphold the law and therefore should be held to a higher standard.
ReplyDeleteDon't mess with our FLOTUS. I will fuck you up :)
Fire him. And I hope he and his rascist buddies rot in hell.
ReplyDeleteAnd since these riascists and right wing traitors always want to know about Muslim involvement in crimes, isn't fair to ask whether he calls himself a Christian and if so, publish that information?
Yeah, I've had it with these traitors.
Agreed.
DeleteI normally have low blood pressure, but now it’s normal/high because of this. If steam could escape my ears, it would. I presume Michelle was the target because she’s fully black?
ReplyDeleteI cannot accept what’s going on in my country. Was this SOB white? He must have been. But why were so many witnesses silent? This cannot be swept under a rug with “mistakes were made.”
Didn't "Squeaky"Fromm threaten to kill President Ford? Didn't she end up in prison/mental hospital for several years? If you even mention a weapon or bomb in an airport you will be arrested. Isn't our First Lady as important as plane passengers? Perhaps this guy needs to be made an example so others won't be inclined to repeat his stupidity.
ReplyDeleteABSOLUTELY THIS IS AN EXAMPLE. I want to see the example the WashDC Police are and the Secret Service. This is making me sick. We pay this people to care for our elected officials and others. THIS IS AN ABOMINATION.
DeletePrecisely.
DeleteIn what universe does this asshole live in that a "joke" about killing The First Lady of the United States is FUNNY!
ReplyDeleteYou know I don't think the President is going to let this one slide! I think he expects to get the death threats from the Klan and their ilk...but when you got someone who is part of PROTECTING your family saying shit like this....Naww....this ain't sitting right with me!
Did this asshole forget that Michelle Obama is the MOTHER to two young daughters? And this motherfucker still got a JOB?? Well...we'll see how long that shit will last!
1) investigate thoroughly
ReplyDelete2) conduct an administrative review (or criminal proceeding, if warranted) in accordance with due process
3) if allegations are proven true, dismissal is the only remedy (after contrite public apology to Mrs. Obama and to the decent, reasonable, law-abiding citizens of America.)
I know that Palin didn't send that lunatic a note to tell him to make jokes like that cuz a sense of humor is so important. She is however responsible for the culture (corroding as it is) and her climate of hate. Especially tea baggers and some parts of the military and other agencies. Back in the days when Todd was fraternizing with David Chaney and he got so hot and bothered. He wasn't just hard over that flat butt of hers. He was with her when the beast first raised it's ugly head. She took the gloves off and gave permission for other crazies to start releasing their venom.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Palin-hits-hard-at-Obama-in-California-visit-3266882.php
Not a joking matter. Beginning, middle, end. Not. A. Joke.
ReplyDeleteNow, the picture above I could figure out what kind of design she had on her dress, then I thought it looked like two little shadowed aliens staring out at us and I was thinking WTH? Then I focused and and saw it was the mik. Okay. Crazy how the brain works.
Hah! I have been trying to figure that out also. Now I see that it was the mic's.
DeleteThe officer should be fired for pure stupidity. I also think that yes, it was a joke. But a police officer should realize that he of all people should not be making jokes about that. And showing people a picture of the gun he would use? That's just plain creepy. Fire his ass, he was being totally unprofessional and inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteJust b/c something is a joke doesn't make it alright. The man is not a comedian. Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, assassins, murderers also tell jokes.
Delete"Officials familiar with the situation say that it was a bad joke made by someone who should have known better, according to msnbc.com"
ReplyDeleteYes indeedy, he should have known better. Fire his fucking ass, and charge him with the appropriate crime.
One would think that an officer of the law should be held to a higher standard than "Joe Schmoe, run of the mill racist gun loving real American". This man isn't your ordinary, everyday Police Officer, he's in the President's Motorcade, and has access.
ReplyDeleteFor whatever reason they're handling this in this way, it offends me deeply that a verbal threat (even jokingly) followed by a "Visual depiction " of a weapon shows me some level of pre-meditation, and what could the reason be? FLOTUS's stance on nutrition and physical activity? Her rocking style sense? Her educational bona fides? Her sense of style? She's a proactive mother? What am I missing?
Oh, could it be she's the first FLOTUS of color?
Suspend him without pay, have a psychological profile done, investigate, and if what I suspect is proven in a court of law, lock him up and throw away the key.
OT Our city, Philadelphia, buried the first of two cops recently killed in the line of duty. This man was a motorcycle highway officer who had a stellar record. People came from all over to pay their respects, all races, all socio econimic levels, all professions.
http://tinyurl.com/86hd5d3
What is on those mics in front of her? It looks like two zombies holding hands.
ReplyDeleteThis is the 2nd known incident. A couple of months ago, Reston and other northern VA police made "jokes" about snipers taking out the President.
ReplyDeleteJokes could be like the canaries in the mineshaft. What are those people really thinking? It is a fact that there are police, military, FBI and all sorts of officials that are into the beliefs of anarchists and those that are planning for a military coup. It is not a stretch to think some discuss assassinating various people. Another officer knew that was a sign of trouble and did report the "joke." The clown may have been a lone nut. He may have all that weird literature, frequent web sites that encourage small cells or lone nuts or he may attend secret meetings with like others. The media downplays the crazies in uniform that have homegrown terrorist tendancies.
DeleteThe stark contrast between the candidates wives.....yet another reason to vote for Obama....
ReplyDeleteI don't get the repubes hatred of Michelle, what has she done? I looked up France's new first lady and ended up on the freeper site and they were crapping their pants over she and Michelle when they first met. Michelle was ugly, they said, and she needed to do something about her big butt. Valérie Trierweiler was tacky, and poorly dressed, they said, and everyone knows you don't wear stockings with peep-toe pumps. These are the same people who can't get enough of the high-stylin' Sarah "I never Met a Leopard Print Muppet I Wouldn't Wear" Palin, and Condi "I'd Still be Ugly as a Man" Rice. Sheesh. Sarah & Condi are goddesses, if you are a republican.
ReplyDeleteEven the untrained public knows enough not to make bomb jokes at the airport.
ReplyDeleteThis goes beyond serious problems with judgement. Waaay beyond unprofessional.
Stupid is a good start.
Love this comment on the story found on Jezebel.com:
ReplyDeleteLaComtesse yesterday
It's okay, guys. Michelle could just arch her amazing eyebrow and stare the bullet down. And then the bullet would turn away and thank her for the time it was allowed to bask in her awesomeness...
It was incredibly stupid and irresponsible for this law enforcement officer to make such a comment, either in earnest or in jest. It's bad enough that the president himself has been the target of way more death threats than his predecessor ever was. This fool needs to be fired and then tried in court. Then he needs to go to jail.
ReplyDelete