[spoiler]SW: Why padme?

[Omegium]

One thing I still don't know about Ep. I and II: why are they after padme. In EP I the trade federation is blocking at naboo, for no apparent reason, but they are all hunting for her. In Ep 2, she still is the target for assasination, but why? The viceroy of the trade federation clearly wants her dead, at the arena scene he is worried about "this isn't supposed to happen" and even suggests to shoot her. Why? I can't think of a profitable reason to have her dead.

 

[A2Z]

Maybe they have something against young and pretty politicians? I guess Jar Jar's safe then, damn!

 

[333 Dave]

Its actually rather simple: Palpatine chose his homeworld for the blockade and eventually the invasion to boost his sympathy vote. Nute Gunray just carried the grudge because she managed to beat him politically and ruin his reputation.

 

[orbitalfreak]

Another reason for the assassinations:

In Episode II, Senator Amidala is voting against the formation of the Army of the Republic. Palpatine/Sidious (or, Sidious at least, for some people) wants the army to be created, because then he could have a war. This war will allow him to remain in absolute power for as long as the war goes on, and he will eventually "out of the goodness of my heart, must put to rest this Grand Republic. Too long have we suffered through the beaurocrats manipulating the system to their own benefits. The Senatorial method of governing is no longer trustworthy; because of this, I propose that the Republic shall be reborn. As the EMPIRE." --Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (quote not authentic)

Sidious, talking to Dooku, even says this. (paraphrased)
Dooku: "The war has begun."
Sidious: "Excellent" --does C. Montgomery Burns impersonation

 

[Welverin]

Its actually rather simple: Palpatine chose his homeworld for the blockade and eventually the invasion to boost his sympathy vote. Nute Gunray just carried the grudge because she managed to beat him politically and ruin his reputation.

I believe Palpatine thought with her being young and newly elected that it would be easy to manipulate her into signing the treaty the blockade was about.

 

[Jack Haggerty]

Because the surest way to start (or end) a war is to assassinate the leadership of the opposition.

With Padme assassinated, the opposition against the Republican Army would fall apart, and the rest would be hardened to fight against whoever had her killed... Remember what happen to US popular opinion after Sept. 11th? Not only that, but Palpatine can certainly firmly place the blame on whomever he wants to take a fall.

 

[Lady Dragon]

The trade federation obviously hate her perhaps she has been constitantly voting against any legislation that they want passed because she doesn't trust them becasue of want happened in episode I combined with they way she helped thwart them in episode I.