By Taing Sarada, VOA KhmerOriginal report from Washington
30 October 2008
A number of Cambodian-American supporters of presidential hopeful Barack Obama voiced concern over his safety after they learned this week of an alleged plot to assassinate him.
Authorities on Tuesday arrested two men in Tennessee, Paul Schelesselman, 18, and Daniel Cowart, 20, on suspicion they had planned to shoot Obama and several black students. The two men allegedly followed white supremacist beliefs.
Obama is the first black man in US history to run for president under a major party, the Democrats.
Kheun Somkhan, an education advisor in Lowell, Mass., said the reported threat was a reminder that the culture of racism in America and the world should be eliminated.
“I was very worried to hear about the plot to kill Obama,” he said.
“As you know presidential assassinations have already been listed in America’s history, so we are very concerned about Obama’s security,” he said, adding that the government should provide more security for the presidential hopeful.
Seth Kopha, a Democratic supporter from Illinois, agreed.
“I urge the government to take serious care of Obama’s security,” he said.
Another Obama supporter, Holl Sophorn, said US presidential assassinations should be a thing of the past and accused the two men of having mental problems.
“I think those two young men are barbaric,” she said. “The government and US competence should seriously protect these presidential candidates.”
Tach Saren, a Republican supporter in Virginia, said the two men were not professional murderers and were likely suffering from emotional problems. The alleged plot would not effect the election, he said.
“They just don’t like Obama and it came through in strong emotions,” he said. “My theory is that they are not experts.”
Virginia is still fresh with the memory of another shooting: the murder of 32 students by Seung Hui Cho at Virginia Tech in April 2007.
Amercia’s legacy of violence includes the assassination of president Abraham Lincoln in 1865, president John F. Kennedy in 1963, black civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., in April 1968, and senator Robert F. Kennedy in June that year.
Authorities on Tuesday arrested two men in Tennessee, Paul Schelesselman, 18, and Daniel Cowart, 20, on suspicion they had planned to shoot Obama and several black students. The two men allegedly followed white supremacist beliefs.
Obama is the first black man in US history to run for president under a major party, the Democrats.
Kheun Somkhan, an education advisor in Lowell, Mass., said the reported threat was a reminder that the culture of racism in America and the world should be eliminated.
“I was very worried to hear about the plot to kill Obama,” he said.
“As you know presidential assassinations have already been listed in America’s history, so we are very concerned about Obama’s security,” he said, adding that the government should provide more security for the presidential hopeful.
Seth Kopha, a Democratic supporter from Illinois, agreed.
“I urge the government to take serious care of Obama’s security,” he said.
Another Obama supporter, Holl Sophorn, said US presidential assassinations should be a thing of the past and accused the two men of having mental problems.
“I think those two young men are barbaric,” she said. “The government and US competence should seriously protect these presidential candidates.”
Tach Saren, a Republican supporter in Virginia, said the two men were not professional murderers and were likely suffering from emotional problems. The alleged plot would not effect the election, he said.
“They just don’t like Obama and it came through in strong emotions,” he said. “My theory is that they are not experts.”
Virginia is still fresh with the memory of another shooting: the murder of 32 students by Seung Hui Cho at Virginia Tech in April 2007.
Amercia’s legacy of violence includes the assassination of president Abraham Lincoln in 1865, president John F. Kennedy in 1963, black civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., in April 1968, and senator Robert F. Kennedy in June that year.
19 comments:
It is quite obvious that in 2009 Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th. US Pressident. And I have a reason to believe that he is an end-time President of this great country appointed from high above. Therefore, no ill individuals can do any harm to this man. Blessed with wisdom and he'll lead wisely.
He will deal with enemies of America swiftly. He will put to terrible shame those nations in axis of evil if they mock him with contempt and test him in a dangerous way.
How he'll aid Israel in dealing with Iran should Israel decide to attack Iran's nuclear sites remain to be learnt.
Even though Obama has a least interest in committing this great nation to war he'll not hesitate to use his decision to nuke "them" in retaliation. This is the beginning of the end of man civilization or even life itself.
So long hellish world.
Obama is the end time president.
Most Cambodian in Mass. must be brain washed by the Kennedy. Why? because a lot of people are worrying America turning socialist or communist by obama and here some of you cucu few were worrying about the life of a man that perhaps one day will lead America to just that.
to 5:33
Your commentary is confusing. Are you supporting Obama or against him?
Some of you people need to learn what being a socialist and communist is before typing your comments. Let me guess, Obama is going to redistribute the wealth making him a socialist. Yet, McCain wants to give tax credit of 5k for health care. Wouldn't that make McCain a socialist as well?
This argument about being a socialist is pointless and only generate fear. Fear is what drives communist and dictatorial regimes such as the one in cambodia. So next time ask yourself what governments use fear as a way to control their people.
More government control on Obama and less on McCain stupid and when there is less gov it means more freedom. That is why McCain isn't seeing as a control freak.
So when Obama is elected he will take away my freedom? Are you kidding me? Your buddy W. Bush, took away some of your freedom but im pretty sure you realize that already. Go read the Freedom Act before you respond.
7:27AM
Well, I wrote all the good things about the man, didn't I? So, go ahead and make your own assumption.
Anyhow, I'll vote for McCain so that he can make the successful even more successful, starting with Vietnam. See?
5:33pm, how can u be so sure that no one will be able to hurt Obama? What is he? Invincible? hehehe History has shown itself and history tends to repeat itself.
Though I like to think the same, but it's ridiculous. Yeah, the govt. should do everything to protect Obama, knowing that he wld run a high risk of being assassinated. There are a lot of evil people out there.
Anyhow, I know Obama will win the election and will lead the country in the right direction!
Politic is a dirty business. Candidates use tactics and schemes to win election. For 5:33, you are confuse, paranoid, and disillusion--stop read bible for a day then you'll be fined.
I will elected Obama to be American president.
8:45AM
I am pretty sure that no one, I mean no one can hurt Obama. Anyone who ONLY starts contemplating of hurting the man will get a terrible flu like symtom running down his spine and never get out of the coma bed until he's ready to apologize. Obama is well protected by both S.A. and invisible angelic beings.
9:32AM
Frankly I don't read much of the Bible. But I have faith in God. Anyhow, I'm perfectly fine. Hope you're fine too.
Some of the comment in here are too ignorance about communism and socialism. As we have already experienced before the cold war between capitalism, socialism and communism, we found that USA was a leading of Capitalism, URSS was the leading of socialism and China was a leading of communism.
While Capitalism allowed individual of their citizen their freedom to speech, express their opinion against their leaders, allow them their freedom to anticipate all sectors of their economy, Socialism and communism are differents.
In Socialism, the state has been led by a group of powerfull leader with full mandate to control everyone life. The state would have collected all properties, all industries and all sectors of the economy. Everyone was working for the state in manufacturing, in commerce and in collective agriculture. All leaders would have to struggle to each others to hold the high post. Those who have lost their struggle would have to be excecuted. There was no free challege. All Challenge would face with death and rise.
For communism of China, it has gone a bit further. Everyone has to eat in collectif. All scholars were being endured. Everone has to live as proletaria. Personal movement was very limited.
But besind of these regimes, there were many small and medium countries have adopted another system for their country to protect their people from exploitation of socialism and communism. They called themselve wellfare state, such as New Zealand and Australia and all the countries of scandinavies. New Zealand was the first country to be the wellfare state. NZ has successfully to be the first developped country with wellfare State where, all their citizen can enjoy their medicalcare, education free from the state. At the same time all their unemployment people and their elderlies were supported by the State. To archieve this system, the government must use taxation to distribute the wealth of the nation to narrow the gap of riches and poors. It is a wonderfull system to make the country rich. Everyone has a house, a car, a job and public security. Areak Prey
7:25 am. you contradicted your self. Which one are you in favor?
And make correction. if most Cambodian in Mass. worrying Obama will turn US to Socilism and/or Communism and at the same time concerned about Obama safty, why would they bother to accept all inputs form Kennedys and support Obama?
???
As taxe payer the CIA and FBI need to do very good job to protect te Government,Just the reminder some people out there that foget your own past. Our ancestors are refugee that come around the world to reside in America.
So please do not get angry if Mr.Obama get Elected to be the President of United State.
May GOd Bless the U.S.A
Read this 9:04pm, 7:25a.m is in favor of Mr. McCain and a lot of people on his or her side hate to see America turning to socialist state by obama and yet, people from Mass.seem so naive into it. Even Mr.Kennedey himself didn't even know that Mr. obama'associate is a friend to Jack Kennedy's killer. Look! nobody really know mr. obama o.k. They know more of McCain and to trust a stranger is just plan stupid. It's so hard to believe that Mr. Clinton, Mr. Gore are also supporting obama full swing and Mr.Powell. We trust all tree men, but the man they trust just seem so remote. So so far away in an unknown world. You may vote for the strange man, we 're going with McCain and Palin. It's just too many shits stuff out there that we don't know. So long!
So no one knows anything about Obama? Well, he didn't just pop out from no where, right? He's a U.S Senator, isn't he? Obama was an Illinois Senator for EIGHT YEARS and has been a U.S. senator since January 2005. Isn't that enough? And if it wasn't...then go read his biography. Perhaps you will know more about him.
Just want to say that Palin is bringing McCain down. She wld be one of the reasons for his loss. according to the poll, 59% people said they hate her....even the republican complains about her.
BS! She is no cartoon barbie. I love her and I love her gut as governor /vice President to the highest office in the world. How many women can look that good, raise five beautiful children and yet, still working full time as the state executive? You just don't mess with American women.
Just a quick reminder from Saddam Hussein vs Ms. Rice.
I applaud Palin for that, but that's all there is to it. Whether u like it or not, the polls shows. And i've watched her debates and interviews on many occasions and she seems clueless at times. All i'm saying is that McCain stands a better chance to win if he were to chose someone else to be the vice president.
I've always been a republican, but not this time around. There's no way i'm way voting for that lady nor for the senior citizen dude. Does he need someone to pull him out of bed every morning? We need a strong man or woman to run this country, not only mentally, but physically as well.
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