Would you take a bullet for the President?

[Lincoln Republican]

You find yourself in the following situation:

President Obama is greeting people in your area.  You are there to see him and hear him speak.  He is shaking hands with the people in the crowd.  You see someone draw a gun aiming it at the President.  The shooter has a clear shot at Obama.  Security tackles the shooter to the ground, but not before he fires.  You are right next to the President.  Only you are in a position to throw yourself in front of the President so the shot would hit you instead of Obama.  You have a split second to act.

Would you throw yourself in front of President Obama so the shot hits you instead of Obama?

In other words, would you take a bullet for the President?     

[DINGO Joe]

Don't our tax dollars go to pay for people to do that?

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Yes, but only if I get a book deal and the chance to knock up one of his daughters once they hit 18.

[Maxwell]

Being absolutely and clearly honest with myself: No. That's probably the case for any President.

[perdedor]

Would he do so for me? No. I refuse to believe that I am objectively less valuable than the President because of the position he holds.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Truthfully, probably not.  I don't really think I'd do that for anyone that I didn't know really well.

[Napoleon]

Lol no

[Indy Texas]

If I have such quick reflexes and have time to jump in front of him, wouldn't I also be able to just shove him out of the way or something?

[© tweed]

isn't it a federal crime to say "no"?

[Lambsbread]

I don't think I could build up the courage. I'd probably just run away.

[DC Al Fine]

No, I don't particularly like the man. I'd certainly try and save his life via first aid, but I'm not trading my life for his.

[TDAS04]

No, regardless of whether or not I like the President.  I'm not that courageous.

[dead0man]

I'd like to think that I would, but it's tough to say until put in that position.

[Antonio the Sixth]

No, regardless of whether or not I like the President.  I'm not that courageous.

[angus]

Hell, no!  Why should any of us?  I don't think I'd take a bullet for any lawyer or any politician, unless he were my son.  Damn strange question.

[emailking]

I wouldn't take a bullet for anyone. I guess if you believe in an afterlife maybe it makes sense to, but barring that I don't see the point.

[angus]

I wouldn't take a bullet for anyone.

There are people that I'd take a bullet for.  It doesn't have anything to do with any beliefs about ultimate reality either.  I'd take a bullet to save the lives of my family.  I might even take a bullet for Barack Obama (or George Bush or Bill Clinton), but if I did it wouldn't be because he's an overpaid government employee and a slick lawyer who is smooth enough to get himself elected.  It would be because he is a man with children who need their father, and only then if I'd become an old man whose children are grown, or a single man upon whom no one depends.

I wouldn't expect any of you young studs to lay down your life for the president either.  He's the one with an explicit legal obligation to defend the constitution and a tacit moral obligation to protect the people.  If anything, he should be taking a bullet for you.

If we have come to the point in which ours is a police state in which civilians are expected to take a blood oath of loyalty and defense of high-ranking government officials, then you have to ask whether any of them are worth dying for in the first place.

[Zioneer]

Well, since it's plausible that I'd get the same doctors to save my life that the President gets, yeah, I'd probably do it. Especially since if I survived with no mental damage (also plausible), I'd get to talk everyone's ear off about my pet issues.

But seriously, no, I probably wouldn't. I'm a coward at heart, and though I respect the president, I wouldn't want to die to save the life of someone who I don't know.

And in any case, why would the President (assuming it's Obama or another Democrat) be speaking in Utah?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

A bullet is a small price to pay for the continued security of the United States. Being a national hero would be pretty rad, too. I dunno, I'd do it in a logical sense, but in the heat of the moment, we'd have to see. Self-preservation is a pretty strong instinct.

[badgate]

Yes, cause if I lived I'd probably be able to get elected to Congress

[Napoleon]

What does this have to do with courage?

[DC Al Fine]

I'd get to talk everyone's ear off about my pet issues.

You make a strong case there

[King]

If I knew him personally, yes.

[DrScholl]

What kind of thread is this to start? Sort of a sick question.

[anvi]

What kind of thread is this to start?

That is what I was wondering.  I mean, I'm sort of afraid to ask, but what exactly was the question designed to demonstrate?