[Sydrothcoathy]

Secret Service probes anti-Obama message at Lakeville golf course
By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff

The message in the final green was 15 feet high.



The US Secret Service and the FBI are investigating a vandalism incident at a Lakeville golf course, where a swastika was carved into the 18th green above President Obama's last name.

Around 6:30 Monday morning, workers at the Lakeville Country Club discovered the message, which read "I," the Nazi Party symbol, and "Obama," with a long line underneath. They immediately notified authorities, who are treating the incident as a potential threat.

"We investigate these cases thoroughly," said Steven Ricciardi, special agent in charge of the Secret Service's Boston office, which has joined local police on the case. He declined further comment.

Lakeville Police Chief Mark Sorel said the vandalism, which has also drawn the attention of the FBI, likely constitutes a hate crime, whether the culprits meant it as a prank or not.

"We don't have a suspect as yet. We are pursuing any leads that we receive," he said. He said police have spoken with neighbors who live near the course, but they did not see or hear anything unusual.

Lakeville is a rural town of about 10,000 people some 40 miles south of Boston.

Obama plans to visit Boston Oct. 23 to attend a fund-raising luncheon for Governor Deval Patrick at the Westin Copley Place hotel. The Secret Service is in charge of presidential security.

Lou Mincone, the public club's assistant manager, said he was stunned by the vandals' gall, and baffled by the senseless, hateful act.

"What would motivate anyone to do such a thing?" he asked incredulously. "To use the president's name like that? It's crazy."

Mincone, who discovered the damage, said the vandals dug the message more than an inch into the turf, likely using a tool or sports cleats. He said the message, which was about 10 feet by 15 feet wide, was written sometime Sunday night or Monday morning.

"It took a while to do," he said. "It wasn't a five-minute deal."

The course is encircled by a short fence but is simple to access, he said. Teenagers over the years have occasionally stolen flags and thrown tee markers into the water, but had never done serious damage, he said.

"Nothing like this," he said. The green is not lit and does not have surveillance cameras, he said.

The course moved the pin on the final hole to make it more playable, he said, but golfers will have to contend with the damage for some time. Repairing the green this late in the year could take months, he said, and will cost at least $1,000.

"There will be a blemish for quite some time," he said. "It's just sick."

[yespkorg]

I don't know Lefty. I don't understand what people are thinking.

[Auzuigcx]

Not only are they idiots for messing up a golf course and carving hate speech into said golf course but the ignorant fools even drew the swastika backwards. The Nazi version of the swastika goes the other direction. I suspect some bored teenagers.

[trilochana.nejman]

I guess this is what the Teabagger's do between rallies.


But when your family tree resembles a telephone pole, what can you really expect?


-JP

[PlanTaleks]

Looks like the gene pool in Lakeville is a tad shallow....

[trilochana.nejman]

Looks like the gene pool in Lakeville is a tad shallow....

that or the chlorine level is excessively high.


-JP

[treawittelf]

My guess it was Barney Frank and some Kennedy spawn after a few too many during the weekly Boston daiquiri party. That Nobel Prize is making a lot of people angry.

Kevin

[trilochana.nejman]

That Nobel Prize is making a lot of people angry.

Kevin

An American president wins the Nobel Peace Prize and that pisses off a lot of Americans?


I simply cannot wait to hear why.

(I'll get some popcorn)


-JP

[treawittelf]

An American president wins the Nobel Peace Prize and that pisses off a lot of Americans?


I simply cannot wait to hear why.

(I'll get some popcorn)


-JP

That one went over your head. Maybe I should have yelled fore. Or maybe I whiffed, like your tea bagger comment.

Carry on.

Kevin

[MadMark]

For what it's worth about the swastika. Backwards, or otherwise.

History of the Swastika

[Auzuigcx]

For what it's worth about the swastika. Backwards, or otherwise.

History of the Swastika

That is a good piece. To bad history has changed it's mean almost 180 degrees.

[yarita]

I *swastika* Obama? That doesn't even make sense. People are apparently not only annoying, hateful and criminal, but dumb to boot.


(And is it just me, or does it look like it says O'BAMA?)

[Auzuigcx]

(And is it just me, or does it look like it says O'BAMA?)

They hate him because they think he is Irish. Barry O'Bama.

[yarita]

They hate him because they think he is Irish. Barry O'Bama.

OK, I'm just trying to follow the rumors...he's a Kenyan Muslim Hawaiian Un-American Irish Fascist Socialist, did I miss anything?

[Auzuigcx]

OK, I'm just trying to follow the rumors...he's a Kenyan Muslim Hawaiian Un-American Irish Fascist Socialist, did I miss anything?

Ya just about covered everything.

[trilochana.nejman]

OK, I'm just trying to follow the rumors...he's a Kenyan Muslim Hawaiian Un-American Irish Fascist Socialist, did I miss anything?

You forgot Communist and Community Organizer.

Lord knows what people would say about him if did something like... oh, I dunno... started a war under false pretenses, or advocated torture, or referred to the Constitution as "just a goddamned piece of paper!”.


Of course, winning the Nobel Peace Prize obviously makes him the Antichrist.


-JP

[doksSirmAdods]

OK, I'm just trying to follow the rumors...he's a Kenyan Muslim Hawaiian Un-American Irish Fascist Socialist, did I miss anything?

I'd say you summed it up pretty well.

[MadMark]

You left out "politician".

OK, I'm just trying to follow the rumors...he's a Kenyan Muslim Hawaiian Un-American Irish Fascist Socialist, did I miss anything?

[medifastwoman]

That is a pretty awful, and local story. I hate vandalism.



Spoiler On the bright side: The secret service is rounding up scratch or better golfers all over the state, because of the clean divot pattern, and I heard rumors that Vijay Singh has been interviewed also.

[yarita]

You forgot Communist and Community Organizer...Of course, winning the Nobel Peace Prize obviously makes him the Antichrist.

Totally right. I also forgot Christian-extremist witch doctor.

You left out "politician".

Haha!

Alright:

Muslim Christian-extremist Witch Doctor Kenyan Hawaiian Un-American Irish Socialist Fascist Commie Antichrist Politician. (That's long. Maybe I'll take out the Irish?)