"Live Free or Die" now considered a threat?

The Nashua Telegraph reports that using New Hampshire's "Live Free or Die" motto in its comments section caused the Secret Service to investigate a local man for a possible threat to the President.

The man, who posted his comments Wednesday under the username NashuaDan, wrote that Obama's events are often orchestrated and that the president's upcoming Town Hall meeting in Portsmouth could be more of the same.

"I hope NH is better than letting this guy off the hook. Let Obama know what 'Live Free or Die' means (hint: it isn't reckless TAXING and SPENDING). Otherwise, Portsmouth will just be another glorified photo-op for the Socialist-in-Chief," he wrote below a news brief announcing the president's Seacoast visit.

On Thursday morning, NashuaDan found himself on the phone with a Secret Service agent explaining that his remarks were only philosophical and not intended to threaten Obama, he said. (more)

Reporter Albert McKeon goes on to report than another commentator asked if this was a veiled threat on the President's life, and "phoned it in", presumably to the Secret Service.

The Secret Service has to take potential threats seriously, and they appear to have accepted the man's explanation about our state motto. But that anyone could take "Live Free or Die" as a threat is pretty strange. I would think we would all want to "Let Obama know what 'Live Free or Die' means."

Here's our roundup from last week's 200th Anniversary of "Live Free or Die".