PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) – A local newspaper in northwest Pennsylvania apologized on Friday for running a classified advertisement that called implicitly for the assassination of U.S. President Barack Obama.

The Warren Times Observer, with a circulation of about 11,000, ran the ad in Thursday's paper and pulled it as soon as it was discovered by a manager, said publisher John Elchert.

The ad read: "May Obama follow in the footsteps of Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy," Elchert said.

Elchert declined to identify the person who placed the ad, and said he had referred the case to local police, who notified the Secret Service.

Elchert said the representative who took the ad apparently didn't make the connection between the four assassinated presidents -- Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy -- and mistakenly allowed the ad to run.

"It was just an honest mistake," he told Reuters.

Jim Mackin, a spokesman for the Secret Service, said investigators had identified the person who placed the ad and were taking it seriously. "We do not have the luxury of doing otherwise," he said.

Concerns about Obama's safety arose early in his campaign for president, especially among African Americans who expressed fears he could meet the same fate as black civil rights leader Martin Luther King, assassinated in 1968.

The Secret Service provided round-the-clock protection for Obama, the first black president in U.S. history, from an early stage in the campaign.

In a post on its website on Friday, the newspaper said the ad "apparently alludes to the wish that President Obama meets an untimely end by linking him with four assassinated presidents." It said the paper apologized for the "oversight."

In the 2008 general election, voters in the surrounding Warren County, about 300 miles northwest of Philadelphia, backed Republican candidate John McCain with 52 percent of the vote against Democrat Barack Obama with 46 percent.

*********************************************************************

I don't like politicians...but wow

Ya know no matter what no one can honestly say that Obama will not have many death threats before it is over. And yes a majority of them will be due to his color. Sad but true, I do feel that things such as this is mild due to what may end up happening.

Myself I could careless if the President is Black or a Women it all depends on what they do while they hold office...

it's pointless to assassinate him NOW...can you imagine biden as president?

*shudders* or...pelosi?

i'm glad they pulled the post, but i wouldn't be too worried about the poster. it's probably an idiot person who felt the need to share his idiocy. were it for real, they never would have posted such in the paper.

While I think the man is an idiot where does free speech stand here? I would have read that in the paper and thought immediately that he was a jerk, but what he said doesn't seem illegal, or is it?

I believe the secret service would argue that it is a threat against the President, which is illegal.

saying "I don't like BHO" is one thing but this was basicaly a threat or a call foran assassination. that is were it is illegal. regardless of if it's the president or someone down the street...can't do it.

I just wonder why the paper didn't catch it before they ran it. do they not read first?

Hopefully he will finish his 4 year term and then when we kick his dumb butt out the American people will realize that Liberals should never be put into government positions and that Socialism sucks and doesn't work.

Well I agree with at least half of your statement.

Hmmm but he said: 'May Obama follow in the footsteps of Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy'

He didn't suggest anyone do it, only that he hoped Obama follow in the footsteps. I can't see that winning a conviction.

I understand what your saying, it's just the wording that doesn't sound like a command, just as wish. Though a sick wish.

Oh chill out...

Oh and the Republican way is SO much better.

I'm not even a liberal, or a conservative, and I know that the two party system is, and will continue to be, the downfall of this country.

there is no one in politics who can see the middle ground necessary to get this country back on the right track.

It's either one extreme or the other. left or Right.

There is no center where things can get done.

I am of two minds on this.

I support this persons right to say "&uck you" to the president but I also know making or publishing a threat on the life of the president is a crime.

If the author of this ad really feels this way he ought to have the intestinal fortitude to write a letter to the editor and tell the world in person.

I can get in enough trouble with just one mind... Ok ok getting sleepy now. You do have a point, but personally I think the guy is an idiot, not to mention stupid. I better go to sleep now, I think I am beginning to get a bit stupid myself.

true...speaking one's mind and a threat are different. whether it's toward the president or anyone else...you can't make threats like that

at the same time, saying "i hope such-n-such dies" isn't the same thing as "i plan to kill such-n-such".

good point lulu. in this case IMO...it's the wording...may Obama...

could be contrude as "I hope" or "this will happen"

A terroristic threat is a crime generally involving a threat to commit violence communicated with the intent to terrorize another, to cause evacuation of a building, or to cause serious public inconvenience, in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or inconvenience. It may mean an offense against property or involving danger to another person that may include but is not limited to recklessly endangering another person, harassment, stalking, ethnic intimidation, and criminal mischief.

http://definitions.uslegal.com/t/terroristic-threat/

very good point

and those that disagree should watch the original 12 angry men

which is off point a bit

but makes a very good point

But its so much easier to cheer for 'my side' than think about the issues! And its so much more satisfying to be convinced 'my side is always right.'

maybe they just thought Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy, were great presidents

and is hoping that obama will be a great president as well

some do say lincoln was the best prez ever andhey there are those tha really liked kenedy as well

and garfield and mckinley had to have done something good at sometime don't ya think



maybe it is the paper's editor's own mind set that is creating the thought process behind the hope for the unthinkable

just a thought