Skinhead Plot

by hilzoy

AP:

"Two white supremacists allegedly plotted to go on a national killing spree, shooting and decapitating black people and ultimately targeting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, federal authorities said Monday.

In all, the two men whom officials describe as neo-Nazi skinheads planned to kill 88 people — 14 by beheading, according to documents unsealed in U.S. District Court in Jackson, Tenn. The numbers 88 and 14 are symbolic in the white supremacist community.

The spree, which initially targeted an unidentified predominantly African-American school, was to end with the two men driving toward Obama, "shooting at him from the windows," the court documents show.

"Both individuals stated they would dress in all white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt," the court complaint states. "Both individuals further stated they knew they would and were willing to die during this attempt."

An Obama spokeswoman traveling with the senator in Pennsylvania had no immediate comment."

You can read the affadavit here. They seem to have taken some concrete steps towards putting this plan into action:

"On October 20, 2008, Cowart allegedly traveled from Tennessee to Arkansas to pick up Schlesselman in order to carry out their plan. The Complaint states that at this time, the defendants further discussed their killing spree to include targeting a predominately African American School and to continue their spree until their final act of violence which would be to attempt to assassinate Presidential Candidate Barack Obama. "The United States Secret Service takes all threats against Presidential Candidates seriously and is actively investigating the allegations," said Richard Harlow, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service-Memphis Field Office. "The Secret Service does not comment on this type of investigation."

The Complaint further notes that the defendants stated that they would be willing to die during this attempt. According to the Complaint, after soliciting a friend, to drive their car, between 11:00pm on October 21, 2008 and 2:00am on October 22, 2008, the defendants made plans to rob a house but were diverted when they arrived and observed a dog and two cars at the location. Cowart and Schlesselman then dropped Stafford back off at her residence and then went to a local retail store and allegedly purchased nylon rope and two ski masks.

"It is critical that the alleged plot was interrupted," said James Cavanaugh, Special Agent in Charge of ATF. "We give credit to the Deputies of Crockett and Haywood Counties. All forces of law enforcement have come together to stop this threat.""

Jesus.

Comments

[russell]

Jesus.

Get used to it.

A black man with an Arab name, president of the United States. Just the thought that it might happen is raising the crazy level to new and unprecedented heights.

If Obama actually wins, he's going to draw the crazy like Epsom salts draws pus. And that is no mere metaphor.

Buckle up. Don't freak out, but buckle up. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Thanks -

[MeDrewNotYou]

Just to pre-emptively answer the question, '88' is code for 'Heil Hitler' (H is the 8th letter), and 14 stands for the '14 Words': "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children."

I learned this on the History Channel, their documentaries about the neo-Nazis and the KKK were interesting, if more than a bit depressing.

[david kilmer]

I hope the media doesn't make a huge deal about this.

I would be very surprised if these guys were capable of executing the "rent tuxedos" part of their plan.

[LizardBreath]

Do the white tuxedoes refer to something, or did these loons come up with that bit all on their own?

[KCinDC]

These guys remind me of some other hate-motivated but also, fortunately, incompetent groups that have been arrested for their plans in recent years. Anyone think the government and the media will use the word "terrorist" as much for these skinheads as they do for Muslims?

[Jay C]

What david kilmer said. Not to be too casual about it or anything, but, even allowing for the dry "official" tone of the ATF affidavit, it really doesn't sound like these two asshats - despite their grandiose "plans" - were capable of ding much more real damage than they eventually caused.

Unfortunately, we can't always count on potential assassins being as careless as the short-bus SS busted in TN.

[Turbulence]

I doubt these two brilliant folk were ever a danger to Obama, but most high schools are significantly less protected than a candidate for the Presidency. It doesn't seem to take much brains to walk into a school with some weaponry and kill people. So while Obama may have been safe, a bunch of kids were endangered and I don't think we should be too dismissive about that.

[Gary Farber]

"Not to be too casual about it or anything, but, even allowing for the dry 'official' tone of the ATF affidavit, it really doesn't sound like these two asshats - despite their grandiose 'plans' - were capable of ding much more real damage than they eventually caused."

James Earl Ray and Sirhan Sirhan weren't terribly impressive sorts, either. Nor Oswald, for that matter. (Nor Guiteau, but who remembers him these days?)

(Oh, dear, I opened the They Were Patsies door; never mind.)

[Bernard Yomtov]

I agree with Turbulence.

[david kilmer]

My only worry is about the media making a big production out of something that should not be a front page story. I certainly wouldn't want law enforcement to be dismissive.

[david kilmer]

"James Earl Ray and Sirhan Sirhan weren't terribly impressive sorts, either. Nor Oswald, for that matter."

They're more impressive than the skinhead duo in at least two ways:

1. They were not caught before carrying out their plans.

2. Their plans - as far as I know - did not place undue emphasis on issues like what they would be wearing when carrying out their plans.

[wordtodawise]

It's not such a shock to learn about the plot to kill Barack Obama by two neo-Nazis. These crazy bums have drawn their inspiration from the current caustic political atmosphere created by the Republicans.

The McCain and Palin attack ads are working. The vitriolic ads are designed to incite hate and spur ferocious acts against Barack Obama by the screw heads of the party.

The use of Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright as prime material for attack ads are sufficient reasons to label McCain and Palin as racist enablers. They can't wiggle their way out of this charge, try as they may.

McCain and Palin and the right wing talking heads, the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Riley and all the lesser clones should bear supreme responsibility if any harm should come to Obama as a result of their blatant use of racism and bigotry to advance political goals. These people are playing with fire. This is not the way it should be.

Wordtodawise

[Mike Schilling]

And if the ATF had had to torture a few skinheads to discover this plot ... God help me, but I'm not sure that would bother me.

[Gary Farber]

"And if the ATF had had to torture a few skinheads to discover this plot ... God help me, but I'm not sure that would bother me."

It would me; how would you know you had the "right" skinheads?

And how would even having the "right" skinheads make it any easier for the torturer, if they had any humanity or conscience, to deal with later in life, necessarily? And how would it make it right?

Either torture is wrong, or it isn't. If it isn't, hey, why not use it for any serious crime? What, are you soft on child molesters and kidnappers and common murderers?

[Tsam]

I'm worried about the safety of Obama on election night, with the huge crowd he will be among in that park.

[lou]

who cares about Mr Spread the Wealth

[Hartmut]

Wait for the "revelation" that those two guys were actually Obama agents like Ashley Todd that want to stoke the fire of reverse racism.
Remember that islamofascist Timothy bin Veigh?

[patricia]

What the heck is going on with this country leave it to some racist rednecks to do something like that. The funny thing is when they probly dont even know the policies of either candidate and just dont like him because he is mixed...yes people did we not forget he is half black and half white, I bet half of this country is mixed with something or another, unless your parents came off of a boat you never know who was sleeping with whom down the line. Can we all just get along, are people really that ignorant to judge someone by the color of thier skin and not what kind of person they are, this is not the 1920s get over it!!!!

[Ugh]

Both individuals stated they would dress in all white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt

Some strange form of panache, I guess.

OT, but Obama related - Is it just me or is the 30 minute TV time Obama has purchased for tomorrow night almost 100% downside? It plays right into one of John McCain's meme (however stupid), that Obama's a celebrity, now with his own TV show! Plus, do people want a 30 minute political commercial in the middle of prime time? It seems to me that the odds of someone watching that who's still undecided is going to be persuaded, and that the odds that he'll alienate people who might otherwise support him.

OTOH, they seem to have been running a decent campaign so maybe they know something I don't know.

[Gary Farber]

"Plus, do people want a 30 minute political commercial in the middle of prime time?"

Really, shouldn't he dance with someone, or offer to guess what's in a briefcase, or something?

[Neil H]

The blog Pharyngula mentions the word that's curiously missing from this story.

That word is "terrorism".

I mean, a plot to kill innocent people for political reasons?

Would people be so sanguine if it was two Muslims planning to elaborately dress up and go kill white Christian schoolkids?

[rea]

Do the white tuxedoes refer to something, or did these loons come up with that bit all on their own?

They heard on TV that Obama was surrounded by elitists, and wanted to stay inconspicuous?

[Hartmut]

This is typically called an amok run* by poor deranged boys not connected to any political movement. It's only terrorism, if it can be blamed on muslims or liberals.
Probably white tuxedos and top hats to distinguish themselves from the black trenchcoats in Columbine. Full KKK regalia would also have drawn suspicion too early when approaching the target.

*please ignore that there was more than one person involved or that there was a longer preparation for it.