Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Police concerned about order to stop screening
Star-Telegram ^ | Feb 21, 2008 | JACK DOUGLAS Jr.

Posted on 02/21/2008 4:10:45 PM PST by mdittmar

DALLAS -- Security details at Barack Obama's rally Wednesday stopped screening people for weapons at the front gates more than an hour before the Democratic presidential candidate took the stage at Reunion Arena.

The order to put down the metal detectors and stop checking purses and laptop bags came as a surprise to several Dallas police officers who said they believed it was a lapse in security.

Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence, head of the Police Department's homeland security and special operations divisions, said the order -- apparently made by the U.S. Secret Service -- was meant to speed up the long lines outside and fill the arena's vacant seats before Obama came on.

"Sure," said Lawrence, when asked if he was concerned by the great number of people who had gotten into the building without being checked. But, he added, the turnout of more than 17,000 people seemed to be a "friendly crowd."

The Secret Service did not return a call from the Star-Telegram seeking comment.

Doors opened to the public at 10 a.m., and for the first hour security officers scanned each person who came in and checked their belongings in a process that kept movement of the long lines at a crawl. Then, about 11 a.m., an order came down to allow the people in without being checked.

Several Dallas police officers said it worried them that the arena was packed with people who got in without even a cursory inspection.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because, they said, the order was made by federal officials who were in charge of security at the event.

"How can you not be concerned in this day and age," said one policeman.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: crowdsecurity; eventsecurity; obama; screening; secretservice

1 posted on 02/21/2008 4:10:47 PM PST by mdittmar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

Hmmm. Interesting.


2 posted on 02/21/2008 4:12:22 PM PST by Califreak (Hangin' with Hunter-under the bus "Dread and Circuses")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar
here we go.

remember,it was weeks ago that I coined the phrase "one man civil war."

3 posted on 02/21/2008 4:12:52 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (unavailable for comment)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar
the order -- apparently made by the U.S. Secret Service

Ruh Roh!

4 posted on 02/21/2008 4:13:10 PM PST by rocksblues (Tagline on hold)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rocksblues

why would the secret sevice involve itself in such a decision? Seems very unlikely.


5 posted on 02/21/2008 4:15:34 PM PST by Williams
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

Bobby Kennedy re-deux? Hope not! It’s not usually in your best interest to be compared to a Kennedy, or to be the object of desire in the middle of a messianic mania.


6 posted on 02/21/2008 4:16:11 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

Let’s see what this turns into.


7 posted on 02/21/2008 4:17:07 PM PST by wastedyears (This is my BOOMSTICK)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Williams

I know but this is Dallas!!!!!!!!!!!


8 posted on 02/21/2008 4:19:10 PM PST by rocksblues (Tagline on hold)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

the US Secret Service would only give that order at the direction of the candidate himself and after they lodged the appropriate objections. Obama himself, not a campaign flunkie or manager, would have had to order his detail to stop the screening.

Apparently, if it takes too long to get people in they tend to faint....


9 posted on 02/21/2008 4:19:46 PM PST by bpjam (My party has fallen and it can't get up)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar
Had everyone been vetted elsewhere? Sometimes crowds are checked at another location, then bussed to the event. From what I've heard, the Secret Service has increased security for Obama and Clinton.

http://cryptome.org/obama-protect/obama-protect.htm


10 posted on 02/21/2008 4:19:55 PM PST by Brian S. Fitzgerald ("We're going to drag that ship over the mountain.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Still, if this sort of thing becomes standard practice and becomes known it’ll be like a Senator Wellstone moment all over again.


11 posted on 02/21/2008 4:20:19 PM PST by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

“But, he added, the turnout of more than 17,000 people seemed to be a “friendly crowd.” “

“You can’t say Dallas doesn’t love you, Mr. President!”


12 posted on 02/21/2008 4:23:10 PM PST by PLMerite ("Unarmed, one can only flee from Evil. But Evil isn't overcome by fleeing from it." Jeff Cooper)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: the invisib1e hand

It’s a wild and whacky election year,and it’s only February;)


13 posted on 02/21/2008 4:23:19 PM PST by mdittmar (May God watch over those who serve,and have served,to keep us free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: muawiyah

The wailing and gnashing of teeth will be without end!

Many times I’ve thought that I could easily put up with another lib’s funeral, but man...it’s covered 24/7 and they’re immediately elevated to Saint by the MSM.

Go figure. ;)


14 posted on 02/21/2008 4:26:26 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: PLMerite

Arthur Bremmer was let loose recently.


15 posted on 02/21/2008 4:30:43 PM PST by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar; All

don’t believe the news, don’t believe the “witnesses.” it’s agitprop, for the luvofgawd.


16 posted on 02/21/2008 4:35:31 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (unavailable for comment)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

If Barack is taken out - he would just be one more member of the Klinton hit list.


17 posted on 02/21/2008 4:47:09 PM PST by The_Republican (You know why Chelsea Clinton is so Ugly? Because Janet Reno is her Father! LOL! - Mac is Back!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

Most interesting post today.


18 posted on 02/21/2008 4:49:45 PM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture™)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

In Dallas of all places ...


19 posted on 02/21/2008 4:51:42 PM PST by Polonius (It's called logic, it'll help you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

>> It’s a wild and whacky election year,and it’s only February;)

Isn’t THAT the truth.

I was in sixth grade the year Robert Kennedy was shot. We had class projects coinciding with the ‘68 election, so I remember that one pretty well.

Since then, I don’t recall any election year more wild and wooly than this one. (Not counting 2000, but the campaigning itself wasn’t that strange, just how the election turned out.)


20 posted on 02/21/2008 4:54:29 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Retire Ron Paul! Support Chris Peden (www.chrispeden.org))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Williams
why would the secret sevice involve itself in such a decision? Seems very unlikely.

They are the only ones who could give such direction. They have primary responsibility for his protection at this point.

21 posted on 02/21/2008 5:07:04 PM PST by Starwolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

Given the phoniness and theatrical staging of the RAT candidates, it wouldn’t suprise me if the Obama crowd has found some dupe to stage a fake assasination (one that fails, of course) attempt in order to fix their messiah as the true heir of JFK, MLK, RFK, etc. Unlike them, however, this messiah would rise again and go on to the White House in triumph against a VRWC.


22 posted on 02/21/2008 5:23:25 PM PST by WorkingClassFilth (Don't cheer for Obama too hard - the krinton syndicate is moving back into the WH.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

Given the phoniness and theatrical staging of the RAT candidates, it wouldn’t suprise me if the Obama crowd has found some dupe to stage a fake assasination (one that fails, of course) attempt in order to fix their messiah as the true heir of JFK, MLK, RFK, etc. Unlike them, however, this messiah would rise again and go on to the White House in triumph against a VRWC.


23 posted on 02/21/2008 5:23:45 PM PST by WorkingClassFilth (Don't cheer for Obama too hard - the krinton syndicate is moving back into the WH.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WorkingClassFilth

How can so many be so stupid?


24 posted on 02/21/2008 6:09:16 PM PST by bicyclerepair (It took a Carter to get a Reagan.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: rocksblues
If you ever get the chance to go to Dallas
Take it from me, pass it by
Cause you'll only sing the blues down in Dallas
Take it from me, don't go and cry


People do you wrong down in Dallas
I know well, they've done it to me
Stealin' all your bread, they're so callous
I know well, just look and see

- Jimmy Buffet
25 posted on 02/21/2008 6:35:20 PM PST by Islander7 ("Show me an honest politician and I will show you a case of mistaken identity.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Islander7

I am a Blues fan. Thanks for the tip!


26 posted on 02/21/2008 6:43:01 PM PST by rocksblues (Tagline on hold)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Williams
The Secret Service provides security for presidential candidates.

I hope this is just some bureaucratic snafu, because the alternative explanation is very troubling....

27 posted on 02/21/2008 7:12:17 PM PST by steve-b (Sin lies only in hurting others unnecessarily. All other "sins" are invented nonsense. --RAH)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

I don’t care who the candidate is, this is not smart. ESPECIALLY given the fact he is black. It would supposedly confirm all of the crazy prejudices the left (and blacks in particular) have against this great nation. There’s too many nuts running around.


28 posted on 02/21/2008 7:54:40 PM PST by PghBaldy (Shut the heck up Michelle. You're making me really proud of McCain.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

The people making these decisions are the ones Obama surrounds himself by. That being said, if the are so flippant on his security along with his supporters. what does that say about how they’ll treat national security of the United States of America?


29 posted on 02/22/2008 4:56:42 AM PST by paltz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PghBaldy

He’s only 6.25% black, 50% white and 43.75% arab. He married a black woman.


30 posted on 02/22/2008 5:05:15 AM PST by flynmudd (Proud Navy Mom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: flynmudd

Thank you for the clarification ;)


31 posted on 02/22/2008 5:51:40 AM PST by PghBaldy (Shut the heck up Michelle. You're making me really proud of McCain.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson