On Wed, 21 Aug 1996, jim bell wrote:
At 02:47 PM 8/21/96 -0400, Brian Davis wrote:
On Tue, 20 Aug 1996 Scottauge@aol.com wrote:
Rush Limbaugh reports:
That a husband and wife are being jailed for yelling to Clinton "You Suck".
The Secret Service states additional words (yet un-uttered to the rest of us) were mentioned that they deemed threatening.
"I hope you die."
Doesn't sound much like a "threat" to me.
And the couple was arrestd for disorderly conduct by Chicago police.
It sounds to me like the Chicops were just showing their "loyalty" by sitting on somebody, not that they believed any real crime had been committed.
Nope. When police started to ask the couple questions, they began screaming obscenities and generally causing a scene. Chicago cops, being what they are, are likely to arrest someone in that circumstance without any prodding. I'm not saying they should, but they will.
Any possible federal charges for threatening a president in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 871 await a determination of the seriousness of the statement, in context with the wife's conduct, by prosecutors. I predict no action.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
But it isn't even a "threat", regardless of how "serious" it was. The "I hope you die" part is, presumably, a statement of fact: She did, indeed, hope he dies. But I don't see how hoping this can be considered a threat, or even SAYING she's hoping this is, likewise.
The statement must be considered in context with their conduct, but as I said before, I predict no action.
Makes me wonder whether visiting one of these appearances with a "Clinton Doll" and a bunch of pins, and visibly inserting those pins into the doll (while uttering various strange incantations), would constitute a "threat."
Frankly, I'd rather have a president who didn't feel the need to be protected by thugs.
That's because you like dead Presidents.
Jim Bell jimbell@pacifier.com
BTW I read an account of the incident in the liberal Louisville Courier Journal. I guess they messed up and reported the news despite their political leanings.... EBD