Oops: Paper runs ad calling for Obama's assassination

A Pennsylvania newspaper has apologized for a classified ad it printed; the Secret Service is investigating

Published May 29, 2009 5:40PM (EDT)

A Pennsylvania newspaper has apologized for printing a classified ad that appears to call for the assassination of President Obama.

The ad, which was supposed to run for three days, was only caught after the first day it was printed. It read, "May Obama follow in the footsteps of Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley & Kennedy!" All four of those presidents were assassinated.

"A person from Warren [Pa.] placed the ad, which apparently alludes to the wish that President Obama meet an untimely end by linking him with four assassinated presidents. The ad representative didn't make the connection among the four other presidents mentioned and mistakenly allowed the ad to run," the paper, the Times-Observer, said in its apology.

"Upon realizing the mistake early Thursday morning, the ad was immediately discontinued and the identity of the person who placed the ad was turned over to Warren City Police as per newspaper policy. The local police department forwarded the information to federal authorities, as per department policy."

The Secret Service is now reportedly investigating.


By Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon.

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