Barbara Walters Talks To Obama About Neo-Nazi Death Threats

November 27th, 2008 7:06 AM

Barbara Walters raised the question of potential assassination threats from racists to Obama on Wednesday night's interview. Displaying a National Socialist publication with Obama's head in a target, she asked:

I want to ask you a sensitive question. There is, of course, a tremendous outpouring of good will towards you. There has also been a reported increase in racist violence since you were elected. There are crosses being burned. There are Internet racist postings. Authorities say there are more threats against you than any other president in history. Why do you think this is happening?

She added:

There are a lot of people concerned about your safety. Are you concerned about your safety?

This allowed Obama to say he wasn't worried, in part because "I have a deep religious faith." Walters avoided the racism of Obama's longtime minister. Obama's old church or his choice of a new one did not come up.

The opening slammed Bush:

In only 55 days, Barack Obama will replace one of the most unpopular presidents in modern history. He will inherit two wars and an economic crisis not seen since the Great Depression.