Ok, so a couple weeks ago i was in the movie theater watching a preview for 2012 when the question came across my mind. Why, whenever there is some sort of crisis that threatens the lives of and unknown number of people in an unknown location, does the president become top priority?

I mean, given he is the President, but why does he get the right to be protected and we the people generally do not?

I don't want anyone to ask, "Well if he died, then who would run the country?" because that is a stupid question. Even if the president and his whole cabinet were to die, we could just as easily elect a new president, right?