Obama Draws Streaker, Book Thrower
It is always nice to report on a crime which, after investigation, turns out not to be a crime. A man was investigated by the secret service on October 11, for throwing a book at President Obama. The president was in Philadelphia for a rally and attracted a few stunts, as well as thousands of supporters. Although the book thrower was cleared of criminal wrongdoing; the streaker was not so lucky.
Much like the way the TSA does not appreciate innocent jokes about bombs being told in the security line at the airport, Homeland Security, home of the Secret Service, does not appreciate any unusual activity in the vicinity of a sitting president. According to the CBS report, a man threw a book toward the president while he was on stage at the Philadelphia rally. This in and of itself was enough to have the thrower hauled in for questioning.
As it turns out, reports CBS, the book throwing fan was just that, a fan who wanted the president to have a copy of a book he had written. The other loose cannon at the rally was a streaker (sidebar: is this the Carter Administration?) who was trying to win $1 million in a publicity stunt for a website. The streaker was arrested.
According to the report by the Philadelphia Daily News, the streaker, known to the sponsoring website as King Vamp, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure, disorderly conduct and open lewdness. The site's founder told the Daily News the stunt was not meant as a slight to the president of whom he is a fan, just great marketing.
And illegal marketing. Fortunately for the site, indecent exposure is a misdemeanor under Pennsylvania law. Otherwise, they could be looking at a conspiracy charge as well. So much for the free PR.
Despite flying debris and unsightly nudity, President Obama emerged unscathed from the Philly rally. Or likely he did, depending on how much cheesesteak he had to eat.
Related Resources:
- Book thrower questioned after Obama incident (AFP)
- Conspiracy (FindLaw)
- Secret Service (FindLaw's LawBrain)