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[rivethead]

I find it interesting that a few posters have gone out of their way to point out that Volkmann is White. Would it have been different if a Black fighter had called out Bush a few years ago?

There are a couple issues here. This isn't the first time a weak threat against the President has been investigated at this level and made the news. Anyone with any common sense/understanding of the government knows what happens when you initiate something like this. Volkmann was a fucking moron for saying what he said.

I think the issue here is a consistent response to any perceived potential threat. If they "google it" or dismiss it after reading a transcript without personally checking out the individual who made the statements, it sets a precedent. So the next moron who says he wants to go to DC and "whoop Obama's ass" gets to point at the Volkmann case and cry discrimination when they check him out...and if they don't check him out, there is another dumbfuck down the corner somewhere who is going to say something worse. It's a consistent policy, a line needs to be established and followed.

Originally Posted by Mac

So much for freedom of speech.

That's an interesting perspective, and I can understand why you feel like it's an infringement, but I disagree.

Volkmann wasn't arrested, he wasn't detained, he wasn't charged or financially burdened. He got to pop off and get his 13 minutes of fame--minutes that transcend his ability to achieve fame as a fighter--and he's none the worse for it.

I could see where the government might feel justified in presenting him with a bill [to save the taxpayers] for the fees involved with investigating and resolving the concern as a non threat. He initiated it, he's at least theoretically responsible. But they didn't, because that's not what the constitution is about.

And I'm comfortable with whatever contribution I've had to make as a taxpayer to ensure there isn't a threat against the President [I'd have felt the same if it was Bush, and I had even less respect for him as a person and a politician] while simultaneously upholding the tenets that made this country great. Despite having an African American in the Oval Office, we're more conservative and closer to a police state than at any time in my adult life, and I'm pleased that nothing else happened to Volkmann--even if he's a moron--besides a short conversation.

rh

[Smitts]

Originally Posted by 23Xtreme

Where you hear that?

My guess is that you never did read the whole sarcasmpart of the post = all of it?

[Esox Express]

Originally Posted by rivethead

I think the issue here is a consistent response to any perceived potential threat. If they "google it" or dismiss it after reading a transcript without personally checking out the individual who made the statements, it sets a precedent. So the next moron who says he wants to go to DC and "whoop Obama's ass" gets to point at the Volkmann case and cry discrimination when they check him out...and if they don't check him out, there is another dumbfuck down the corner somewhere who is going to say something worse. It's a consistent policy, a line needs to be established and followed.

rh

The thing that makes this different than any "moron" making a threat to the president is his profile. Lets say Ray Lewis (NFL linebacker, in case anyone isn't aware) says he'd like to lay an open-field hit on Obama because he doesn't agree with his health-care plan. Will the Secret Service show up at his door? no. Should they? I don't know. I don't necessarily have a problem with the Secret Service looking into this, it's just that the whole situation is pretty absurd since it is fairly obvious that Jacob Volkmann does not actually intend to engage in a fist fight with the President of the United States. But I agree in that he is a complete idiot for thinking that that is something logical to say in a post-fight interview.

[Masscore]

Guys come on this is the President of the United States, you can't publicly threaten him in this day and age and not expect to get a visit. Sure it wasn't real threat, but what if it wasn't? What if Volkmann was some nut job with a sniper rifle? This is what the secret services gets paid to find out. And when it comes to the secret service they will always want to be safe then sorry.

[MMAV]

Originally Posted by 23Xtreme

Where you hear that?

Oops sorry i meant hurt/challenge Barack lol. My bad i was in the middle of watching 1,000 ways to die so that must have been on my mind haha.

[fuzzrocks5285]

lmao...glad to see my tax dollars @ work

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by Esox Express

The thing that makes this different than any "moron" making a threat to the president is his profile. Lets say Ray Lewis (NFL linebacker, in case anyone isn't aware) says he'd like to lay an open-field hit on Obama because he doesn't agree with his health-care plan. Will the Secret Service show up at his door? no. Should they? I don't know. I don't necessarily have a problem with the Secret Service looking into this, it's just that the whole situation is pretty absurd since it is fairly obvious that Jacob Volkmann does not actually intend to engage in a fist fight with the President of the United States. But I agree in that he is a complete idiot for thinking that that is something logical to say in a post-fight interview.

I guarantee Lewis gets a visit from the Secret Service if he said something like that. 100% guarantee he gets a visit.

It's the President. Just as night follows day, threatening the Commander in Chief with bodily harm gets you a visit from some suits--minimally.

This isn't a race issue, this isn't a discrimination-against-MMA issue. This is a stupidity issue, where Volkmann made his own fuckwit bed.

I'm actually thinking the whole thing was a publicity stunt. If Volkmann had any sense of self-respect, he'd be too embarrassed about the whole thing to talk about it.

rh

[Xtremo]

Originally Posted by Awesomeryde

Oops sorry i meant hurt/challenge Barack lol. My bad i was in the middle of watching 1,000 ways to die so that must have been on my mind haha.

Good excuse is a good excuse

Originally Posted by Smitts

My guess is that you never did read the whole sarcasmpart of the post = all of it?

Why the hell would I read that entire article, I only read like two sentences and thought Noob Jack...(ended up getting moved later)

[Mac]

Originally Posted by rivethead

There are a couple issues here. This isn't the first time a weak threat against the President has been investigated at this level and made the news. Anyone with any common sense/understanding of the government knows what happens when you initiate something like this. Volkmann was a fucking moron for saying what he said.

I disagree, he just got all kinds of publicity over this. No body outside of the MMA community knew who this guy was and now he's a national news story.

That's an interesting perspective, and I can understand why you feel like it's an infringement, but I disagree.

Volkmann wasn't arrested, he wasn't detained, he wasn't charged or financially burdened. He got to pop off and get his 13 minutes of fame--minutes that transcend his ability to achieve fame as a fighter--and he's none the worse for it.

I could see where the government might feel justified in presenting him with a bill [to save the taxpayers] for the fees involved with investigating and resolving the concern as a non threat. He initiated it, he's at least theoretically responsible. But they didn't, because that's not what the constitution is about.

And I'm comfortable with whatever contribution I've had to make as a taxpayer to ensure there isn't a threat against the President [I'd have felt the same if it was Bush, and I had even less respect for him as a person and a politician] while simultaneously upholding the tenets that made this country great. Despite having an African American in the Oval Office, we're more conservative and closer to a police state than at any time in my adult life, and I'm pleased that nothing else happened to Volkmann--even if he's a moron--besides a short conversation.

rh

I just think the time and money spent to send someone to "interview" this guy over this is dumb. So now, if someone hears me say, I'd like to slap Obama upside his head, they should send someone to interview me to see if I'm going to follow through?

I think they could have easily got everything they needed by watching the video. There are millions of people who say similar things every day. It doesn't make them threats and they shouldn't all be investigated.

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by Mac

I disagree, he just got all kinds of publicity over this. No body outside of the MMA community knew who this guy was and now he's a national news story.

You're right. I don't think he's stupid, unless he was actually shocked that he got an interview. I think it was calculated, and an attempt to propel him from C level status to public eye.

I just think the time and money spent to send someone to "interview" this guy over this is dumb. So now, if someone hears me say, I'd like to slap Obama upside his head, they should send someone to interview me to see if I'm going to follow through?

I think they could have easily got everything they needed by watching the video. There are millions of people who say similar things every day. It doesn't make them threats and they shouldn't all be investigated.

Yes, it's dumb, but I understand why they do it. It's dumb that people say dumb shit. I believe it's all about consistency, that they have an established protocol, and deviating from it can cause more issues than wasting time and money.

rh