Obama signs bill giving himself lifetime Secret Service protection

The Daily Caller ^ | 1/10/13 | Alex Pappas

[Nachum]

President Barack Obama signed a bill into law on Thursday guaranteeing himself Secret Service protection for the rest of his life.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Obama signed the “Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012” on Thursday. The law affects Obama, former President George W. Bush and future presidents, who under current law would only be protected for 10 years after leaving office.

According to the press secretary’s office, the law “restores lifetime Secret Service protection of former Presidents who did not serve as President prior to January 1, 1997, and their spouses; and provides for protection of all children of former Presidents until they become 16 years of age.”

Republican South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy introduced the bill in the House.

[BamaDi]

Clinton was the last one to get lifetime protection.

[353FMG]

Yeah, but this protective squad will not be armed and will have to depend on jiu-jitsu to protect Bambi.

[Ellendra]

I’m forced to question the sanity of those who live in such fear of We The People that they must constantly surround themselves with armed guards, while at the same time they spew laws guaranteed to create chaos and provoke hatred.

[CityCenter]

Will they be armed?

[AndyTheBear]

What about the arguments for gun control? Wouldn’t the President be safer in a gun-free zone?

[AndyTheBear]

It is nice that George W Bush is protected as well...was the least Obama could do after blaming W for everything wrong.

[Cementjungle]

Clinton was the last one to get the lifetime coverage. Starting with GWB it was supposed to be limited to 10 years.

[null and void]

I think we just got the answer to the make the area around the president a gun-free zone petition...

[gaijin]

1. Enormous new BatCave under the WH

2. 1.7 billion rounds for DHS

3. Lifetime SS protection for GayMuzzie

How is this unlike any African potentate...?

[MurrietaMadman]

Goes to show you how slimey they are. They completely slipped my mind.

[hal ogen]

I bow to King nobama. He needs to stick it to the taxpayer as much as he can...a man full of hate.

[Fran B]

Nervous a little???

[Orange1998]

Only a KING makes laws that directly effect himself. Hail to King Obama.

I seen this movie before Eddie Murphy "Coming to America".

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Evidently he thinks he's going to need it.

Armed guards for me, soft-targets are thee.

[jetson]

Have you noticed how he scans the high ground as he is walking outside. Looks like a man who is expecting something.

[boop]

Actually I thought ex-POTUSES always got SS protection.

It was "news-worthy" that Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon and Jimmah refused theirs.

IIRC, they had/have private armed guards, though.

Unsure about GWB. Doesn't he go out in public all the time?

[jmcenanly]

This bill actually puts the Secret Service protection back to where it was before 1997. In that year, Congress had set it for a period of 10 years after the President leaves office. With the recent series of relatively young Presidents, it is possible that they would have outlived their protection.

[opentalk]

Just as he wants to take gun rights..protection away from the rest of us.

Interesting he included Bush, why now. Is he preparing for a short term.

[Moonman62]

I agree with this, especially as we are in a continuous fight against jihadists.

[dljordan]

“Probably thinks he’s gonna need it. Can’t imagine why, what with being so popular and all.”

Let’s just hope they’re not out chasing whores and getting drunk when he’s needing some protecting. :)