Secret Service Fears Not for Obama

[LegalEagle 22]

Check this out:

http://www.star-telegram.com/667/story/486413.html

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.

JACK DOUGLAS Jr., 817-390-7700

jld@star-telegram.com

[AURaptor 1,126]

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

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That "apparently" is what gets me. Either it was or it wasn't. There's no solid answer either way, so I can't tell from how this story is written just where the order came. I can see a scenario where the Obama crowd orders the rest of the folks to be let in, so everyone can get a seat and no one will miss anything Barack says. If the line was so long and slow moving, there might be some angry folks wanting to get in, so the let everyone in and avoid any sort of angry crowd issues. They want their supporters to be in a good mood. The way you present it, it's almost as if the SS are setting up the local police and letting down their guard, daring anyone to come in and cause trouble.

I don't understand the ' come late , bring hate ' comment either.

[LegalEagle 22]

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

.

That "apparently" is what gets me. Either it was or it wasn't. There's no solid answer either way, so I can't tell from how this story is written just where the order came. I can see a scenario where the Obama crowd orders the rest of the folks to be let in, so everyone can get a seat and no one will miss anything Barack says. If the line was so long and slow moving, there might be some angry folks wanting to get in, so the let everyone in and avoid any sort of angry crowd issues. They want their supporters to be in a good mood. The way you present it, it's almost as if the SS are setting up the local police and letting down their guard, daring anyone to come in and cause trouble.

I don't understand the ' come late , bring hate ' comment either.

The point is that should someone want to harm BHO then they just need to remember to come late to the meetings! I wish this had not been published. Surely they won't let this happen again.