Book Thrown at Obama, Naked Man Arrested at Campaign Rally in Philly
The British Daily Mail is reporting what the mainstream media in the U.S. are ignoring: that yesterday, at a campaign rally in an African American neighborhood in Philadelphia, someone--literally--"threw the book" at President Obama:
This is the astonishing moment a book was apparently hurled at the head of U.S. President Barack Obama during a campaign rally in Philadelphia.
The flying missile narrowly missed hitting the President yesterday.
It is not clear what the book was, where it came from in the crowd, or why it was thrown at Mr Obama - who did not appear to notice the danger.
Watch closely or you'll miss it--the book whizzes by the president's head around 39-40 seconds into the clip:
The rally, which attracted 18,000 mostly black participants, was meant to energize the president's most loyal constituency: the African American community. And yet...
Recall that when, in a similar incident, an Iraqi journalist threw his shoe at George W. Bush, who ducked and avoided it, the mainstream media's coverage was endless:
The bizarre incident recalled the moment in 2008 when an angry Iraqi journalist hurled a shoe at then-U.S. President George Bush during a press conference in Baghdad.
The surprisingly nimble Mr Bush ducked the shoe - and the moment became immortalised with online parodies and internet video games.
Yesterday's book-thrower was not the only one misbehaving at the rally in Philadelphia:
The rally was clearly an eventful one - other images showed a naked man being led away in handcuffs by police.
It is not clear if the man was involved in the book-throwing incident - or why he was not wearing any clothes.
Twenty-four-year-old Juan James Rodriguez will apparently receive one million dollars for his stunt. Billionaire Alki David offered that sum to anyone who streaked yesterday's event (via The Weekly Standard):
If billionaire Alki David is an honest man, the man who streaked in front of Barack Obama at the president’s rally today in Philadelphia will be paid $1 million for his stunt. The man who performed today’s stunt, which captured the attention of the Drudge Report and an Associated Press photographer, is 24-year-old Juan James Rodriguez, THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned.
Here's to keepin' it weird on the campaign trail.
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Jun '10
Re: Book Thrown at Obama, Naked Man Arrested at Campaign Rally in Philly
It reminds me that we should all pray everyday for Obama's safety (and the safety of all his family and staff.) The last thing I want for Obama is for him to be some kind of martyr. Please God, keep him safe.
May '10
Re: Book Thrown at Obama, Naked Man Arrested at Campaign Rally in Philly
My first thought was that the Secret Service is lucky there wasn't a bomb hidden in the book. I wouldn't have had that thought a decade ago, but since the shoe bomber and underwear bomber, it's a relief to know it was just a book.
I was on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral when Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass there. I was told the security was as much or more as the President receives. To get my ticket, a background check was performed. I passed through multiple security checkpoints where my ID was verified and I passed through metal detectors. There were snipers on the rooftops and helicopters patrolling the airspace. But no bomb-sniffing dogs. I'd hate to be a bodyguard these days.
Re: Book Thrown at Obama, Naked Man Arrested at Campaign Rally in Philly
I wonder what book was thrown at Obama? It was a paperback. The Road to Serfdom? Doubtful, but there's nothing wrong with wishful thinking!
Edited on Oct 11, 2010 at 7:54amAug '10
Re: Book Thrown at Obama, Naked Man Arrested at Campaign Rally in Philly
Looking at the photo that catches the book midair, I'd venture a guess that it was a copy of City Journal, judging from the dimensions and thickness of the book. That is unfortunate. But the good news is that maybe Reuters provided the picture, in which case it's probably photo-shopped and it was actually a copy of
________________ ( fill in the blank).
Edited on Oct 11, 2010 at 8:02amRe: Book Thrown at Obama, Naked Man Arrested at Campaign Rally in Philly
Aaron, I wonder if Obama's Secret Service agents are going to get a stern talking to for not trying to leap in front of the "flying missile" as the Daily Mail calls it.
The Daily Mail reporter, referring to the G.W. Bush shoe-incident, notes:
Edited on Oct 11, 2010 at 8:01amMay '10
Re: Book Thrown at Obama, Naked Man Arrested at Campaign Rally in Philly
The still photo of the trade paperback missile appears to show that fuzzy picture of the Loch Ness Monster. Indicating it was some tinfoil hat guy, or someone asking for tree-fitty (South Park, people). What was interesting to me was that Obama didn't even notice it. Dude, somebody just lobbed something at your head like you were Justin Bieber on stage. Pay attention.
The nekkid man was paid $1million for streaking the Prez with a start-up website address written on his chest. You see where I'm headed with this, so will merely state that I could use $1million.
May '10
Re: Book Thrown at Obama, Naked Man Arrested at Campaign Rally in Philly
The President's a basketball player. He was waiting for the rebound.
Sep '10
Re: Book Thrown at Obama, Naked Man Arrested at Campaign Rally in Philly
Looks like the book came right out of the sky. Perhaps it was Allah returning a copy of Barack Obama's health care bill with the following note attached to it: "What a horrible read. I seriously had more fun reading Christopher Hitchens' book about me. Forget what I told you about book burning."
Edited on Oct 11, 2010 at 12:35pmJul '10
Re: Book Thrown at Obama, Naked Man Arrested at Campaign Rally in Philly
Seriously, this sort of nonsense has no place in our political discourse. We don't throw things at our Presidents. Except well placed words.
The idiot who did this needs an extended vacation in the hoosegow.
Sep '10
Re: Book Thrown at Obama, Naked Man Arrested at Campaign Rally in Philly
Are we certain that this is not an optical illusion and that nothing was really thrown directly at the President? It just seemed lame to me. Other than the book itself, there was no story about the book thrower. Either there is no story or the book thrower is a total weenie. I think the former at this point.