Secret Service investigates radio talk show host Bob Haa after complaints

[Hazcat]

 By Joel Anderson, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Tuesday, August 4, 2009

BROOKSVILLE — The U.S. Secret Service confirmed Monday that it has opened an investigation into local radio talk show host Bob Haa following a number of complaints about his Friday morning broadcast.

Haa, conservative host of the Haa Wire show on WWJB-AM 1450 in Brooksville, became the subject of an investigation after authorities were alerted to complaints that incendiary comments were made on the show.

"We're looking into what was allegedly said," said John Joyce, special agent in charge of the Secret Service's field office in Tampa. "We have yet to determine what was actually said that day."

Joyce said he couldn't go into any further detail about the investigation.

Talk about the investigation started Friday, when Hernando County administration staffer JoJo DiViccaro started receiving calls about 10:15 a.m. complaining that Haa was making threats and racist comments about President Barack Obama.

DiViccaro said she then called Mark Tobert, Hernando's emergency management planning coordinator, who told her he would notify the proper authorities.

Later, DiViccaro said, she took a phone call from a Hernando sheriff's deputy, but she did not remember his name.

She later took a handful of calls from other people who asked what would be done about Haa and the threats.

"Somebody called (Monday) and asked if the station had to be shut down'' because of the threats, DiViccaro said.

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office and the Brooksville Police Department have said they are not involved in the investigation.

Haa also confirmed Monday that he had spoken with the Secret Service, calling the investigation a "waste of time." The topic of discussion on Friday was health care, Haa said, and not Obama.

"There's one fruitcake in town out there trying to start all these rumors," he said. "I would never stand for anyone threatening the president. We do not have that kind of edgy talk on there."

Haa said he is complying with the investigation. He said he had plans to meet with the Secret Service in the near future.

"They've asked me to do something for them," said Haa, declining to go into further detail.

Haa didn't appear on the show Monday but said that was because he was tending to his ailing wife. He said he hoped to return to the air this morning.

"If I'm not there, don't everyone jump to conclusions," Haa said. "I wish to God I had been there to do my show" Monday.

Messages left with WWJB president Steve Manuel and vice president Robert Bruce Snow were not returned Monday afternoon.

Haa has previously faced accusations of using threatening rhetoric and promoting violence on his show. The Hernando County Sheriff's Office investigated Haa in 2001 after he was accused of trying to incite his audience to "act violently" against the County Commission. But the case was closed when investigators were unable to produce information proving those claims.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/article1024477.ece

Comments at link

[fightingquaker13]

Shockingly, the SS is pretty good about this kind of stuff. They investigate everything, as they should, but are pretty professional about sorting out the wheat from the chaff. Hell, they let the guy who was open carrying at a BO rally  (stupid no matter which candidate) go. I expect theyll listen to the tape and call it a day. Its not like W or Clinton  didn't get their share of empty threats from blowhards.
FQ13

[Rastus]

An old song comes to mind.  I don't remember the name, but it went something like:

"They're coming to take us away.  They're coming to take us away HA HA HO HO HEE HEE To the funny farm where life is ....."

Only replace"funny farm" with "fascist farm"...where life is hard....

The rest of the story may say something else...like the Sheriff saying it is a town fruitcake...but on a larger scale this is expanding...the First Ammendment is going down quickly under the rule of the fascists. 

MB needs to open one his podcasts with this song..........it's getting close to the time when he'll be fined or imprisoned for saying something about our rulers...better get it in now.

[tombogan03884]

 Rastus, It was "They're coming to take me away Ha Haaa " by Napoleon XIV.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They%27re_Coming_to_Take_Me_Away,_Ha-Haaa!

FQ, The SS DID NOT let the open carry guy go, He was recently acquitted of all charges because A) he was not at the rally site, he was in a park across the street, B) He was not causing any trouble he was simply handing out literature, C) He did not give the Cops any grief or get pissy, D) He was fully compliant with the law, in other words he did nothing wrong.

[fightingquaker13]

Rastus, It was "They're coming to take me away Ha Haaa " by Napoleon XIV.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They%27re_Coming_to_Take_Me_Away,_Ha-Haaa!

FQ, The SS DID NOT let the open carry guy go, He was recently acquitted of all charges because A) he was not at the rally site, he was in a park across the street, B) He was not causing any trouble he was simply handing out literature, C) He did not give the Cops any grief or get pissy, D) He was fully compliant with the law, in other words he did nothing wrong.

Actually Tom
The SS did take a pass. It was the locals that made a stink. I'm just saying that A) showing up to presidntial campaign rally where the main event is surrounded by professionally paranoid people and flashing a piece is a bad idea. B) The SS could have taken him federal, but didn't. It was a local beef with a local DA.
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[blackwolfe]

John Noble, aka Mtn Jack, was not taken federal by the SS.  John Noble did not break any federal laws. He did not break any PA laws in regards to firearms.  He was detained by local authorities who notified SS.  SS interviewed him and declined to act.  John Noble cooperated with all authorities.  The locals got their panties twisted and eventually charged him with two bullshit charges both of which he was found not guilty.  One charge by jury and one by judge.  John Noble was not carring at the campaign rally, but rather several hours before the rally and outside the rally area.  He was also carring his bible.  Local Asshats (LA) decided in part to charge him based on internet forum postings he had previously made.  LA saying that his postings indicated he intended to create a disturbance.  I saw no indications of that in his postings.  The whole John Noble incident was about power and  stifling decent.