....that there is no reason to think this was directed at Obama?

Seems to me like an article taking his comments which have base and using them to take a shot at the Commander in Chief and/or take the power out of the argument that the word is loaded.

On the topic at hand though, in this instance.... if the word thug is directed at the looters/brick throwers, and not the protestors.... I ain't got no problem to be honest.