Death Threats Remain Steady

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Secret Service director Mark Sullivan testified before Congress yesterday about PartyCrasherGate (or whatever they’re calling it), and it’s only at the very end of today’s LA Times account that we actually learn something interesting:

[Sullivan] pushed back Thursday when Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D–D.C.) suggested that the event may not have been properly staffed given reports of a rise in threats against President Obama.

Sullivan said that the number of threats against the nation’s first black president was now “at the same level it was” during the two previous administrations.

Same level as always, eh? So why is the belief so widespread that death threats are up? Bob Somerby speculates here. (Warning: as usual, not for the faint of heart or easily pissed off.)