Mo. State Fair Bans Rodeo Clown Who Mocked Obama (LIFETIME suspension)

[big_dog]

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri State Fair on Monday imposed a lifetime ban on a rodeo clown whose depiction of President Barack Obama getting charged by a bull was widely criticized by Democratic and Republican officials alike.

The rodeo clown won't be allowed to participate or perform at the fair again. Fair officials say they're also reviewing whether to take any action against the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association, the contractor responsible for Saturday's event.

The entertainment during the bull riding contest featured a clown wearing a mask of Obama with an upside down broomstick attached to his backside. Spectators were asked if they wanted to see "Obama run down by a bull." Many in the audience responded enthusiastically.

Numerous Missouri officials denounced the act after video and photos were posted online. Some Democratic Missouri lawmakers suggested Monday that there should be financial consequences for the fair.


http://news.yahoo.com/mo-state-fair-bans-rodeo-clown-mocked-obama-183933790.html

[DCBob]

1. How about the announcer??

Seems what he did was even worse.

[xmas74]

4. The announcer is the superintendent of Booneville school district,

one of our rivals in high school.

He has doubled down and made a statement of his own. Basically, he's saying that someone else said it and not him.

[DCBob]

16. Good grief... superintendent of a school district.

unbelievable.

[jberryhill]

2. Get the announcer

Someone ought to ask that clown whose idea it was.

There were at least two in this tango.

[chillfactor]

3. if I remember correctly....

the announcer is a superintendent of schools...some role model he is..he should lose his job and be thrown out of the rodeo association as welll!!!!

[ccjlld]

22. Statement from the Boonville School District

http://www.boonvilledailynews.com/article/20130812/NEWS/130819854

[SunSeeker]

48. Good. I hope their investigation confirms he said it and he is fired. nt

[lastlib]

28. Word is, he resigned as head of the Rodeo Cowboy Assoc.....

Big whoop....he needs to be fired from his sup't. job as well.

[Demo_Chris]

5. I imagine the announcer assumed someone else had cleared this crap...

Even IF the guy was disgusted what exactly was he supposed to do?

SOMEONE cleared this routine. SOMEONE decided that this was appropriate entertainment. That someone is the person who aught to lose his job.

[lastlib]

29. There HAS to be higher-ups that conceived and executed this stunt!

They HAVE to go!! I will be writing the state legislators, governor, and anyone else I can get hold of can those people and to de-fund future state fair rodeos. NO MORE of this racist shit!

[Demo_Chris]

30. I agree. nt

[warrant46]

6. Whipped them into lather !!

"The announcer wanted to know if anyone would like to see Obama run down by a bull," the posting said. "The crowd went wild. He asked it again and again, louder each time, whipping the audience into a lather."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-clown-obama-20130812,0,1862612.story

[Cha]

7. Good ol "online" exposure! I see they're "reviewing whether to take more action against

the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association, the contractor responsible for Saturday's event.".

The Obama racist hate goes too far and other people thought so too by suspending this clown for life! I was kind of surprised by that.

[KG]

8. a crowd of knuckle-dragging morons.

[gulliver]

9. I'm ok with Republicans being exposed as unfunny jerks.

I really miss that stupid Fox News comedy hour, for example.

But I don't like to see a clown get in trouble for something like this. Slapstick has some "violence," and people have a right to their "humor." Family Guy did worse to Bush.

Now if there is some Republican politician there (like maybe the announcer) turning the whole thing ugly, then I'm all for him taking the fall for it. Just not sure about the clown.

[okieinpain]

25. i agree. n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

26. I have to agree...

if they brought racists elements into it, like a noose or putting a Klan hat on the bull it would be another story entirely.

[7962]

46. Thanks for bringing some sense to this ridiculous "insult"

Good lord, I bet if somebody actually asked the President, he'd laugh. Didnt we see W portrayed as a chimp here on DU a thousand times over the years? (among other things!) And after Lewinsky, Clinton was the butt of MANY a skit or joke.
He's the president, it comes with the territory. Everybody needs to put on some grown up pants and get over it.

[SunSeeker]

49. This advocated violence against our president.

This is not the same as calling Bush chimpy or Clinton an adulterer. Are you sure you're on the right site?

[SunSeeker]

51. Did Family Guy advocate the killing of Bush? I musta missed that... nt

[JaneyVee]

10. "FUCKING OBAMA!"-banned rodeo clown

[greytdemocrat]

11. Who knew...

You could make a living as a clown???

[awoke_in_2003]

27. Bush made a pretty good living. nt

[NoPasaran]

31. Who knew you could end up with a lifetime ban

And a pretty sorry state of affairs it is that a rodeo clown pays a higher penalty for the shame he has brought on the sacred brotherhood of rodeo clowns than A-Rod does for the shame and scandal he has brought to our national pastime.

[90-percent]

12. Online apology from the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association

Seems in good faith to me.



The Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association would like to extend a sincere apology for the
inappropriate act during the Bull Riding at the Saturday performance of the MRCA Rodeo.
The MRCA Board of Directors and over 600 members do not condone nor approve of this
sort of activity. The MRCA Board of Directors is dealing with the situation firmly and
quickly as this type of behavior will not be tolerated. The Sport of Rodeo is not meant
to be a political platform. We are taking measures by training and educating our contract
acts to prevent anything like this from ever happening again.
All Members of the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association are very proud of our Country and
our President. Once again our apologies to the Missouri State Fair and the fans who were
in attendance and we hope to see you at another rodeo soon.

Sincerely,
The Missouri Board of Directors


-jim

[90-percent]

14. A few more things

I slogged through a few pages of the comments from the above yahoo link and they were 100% in favor of this "rodeo prank". Every single one was mad at Obama and Democrats for being hypocritical for doing exactly the same thing to Bush and family in his time as President.

The 100% hatred of Obama and Dems seems to me to be statistically invalid. America only elected the guy nine months ago. How could all 100% of us have turned against him so strongly as to comment on a news item on yahoo?

Also in the article the announcer minimized what he did, the Sgt Schultz defense. Other reports say the announcer whipped the crowd into frenzy.

Most reports I've read are regurgitating the same info. Same guy comparing to a Klan meeting, etc.

-jim

[Beaverhausen]

17. Comments at Yahoo are almost always right wing wackos.

I avoid them whenever possible. But their hatred and bigotry can be breathtaking.

[90-percent]

20. They scare me

i went back and slogged through even more yahoo hate. 100 out of 100 comments are nasty and mean. I thought we had a center left country? All those posters would impeach Obama on the grounds that he's half black alone!

Why is there not even one liberal post in all that? (I'm not posting out of fear and I don't need the grief and hate pointed at me. I'm much too sensitive)

-jim

[kimbutgar]

32. If you make a positive comment on yahoo they come back and attack you

Twice I have been hounded on yahoo taking on a right wing wacko. One of them figured out my email and spammed me like crazy.

Yahoo comments are a cesspool of hate. Best to avoid reading or commenting there Huffington post is getting there also.

[Jefferson23]

13. Many in the audience responded enthusiastically. That bothers me a lot more than the idiot clown.

Pathetic.

[loyalsister]

43. The clown is there to entertain the crowd

He didn't know that particular act would appeal to racists? The enthusiastic response was elicited by the idiot clown. It was an ugly racist episode all around.

[Jefferson23]

44. I should be more realistic about people. I guess he knew his audience. n/t

[LWolf]

15. Good. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

18. Looks like one of the Obama masks used on True Blood.

[tavernier]

19. In all honesty

I would have cheered and done cartwheels at any event where dubya was chased in effigy by a bull. I cannot lie, that murderous POS brought out the worst in me. So I suppose I have to at least agree with them on that perspective.

[OnlinePoker]

47. I just looked it up and it was done to Bush's father in '94.

Nobody made a fuss about it.

[sosuaslayde]

21. rednecks but this isnt new

Consider the source of the remarks- a redneck guy, dressed as a clown. I mean, HELLO… Missouri? State Fair? Rodeo?.... not exactly a bastion of intellect or class…. Let the kooks be kooks… It gives us something to laugh at. The picture alone says all you need to know. A man dressed as a clown..
That being said, I have been to rodeo's for the last 25 years. I have seen clowns wearing the mask of every President to date and making jokes, ect....It's really no big deal to me. I think we have all become a bit to thin skinned. I saw a rodeo where a clown wearing every mask since Nixon was in the arena and dodgeing bulls while the announcer made jokes about them

[CBGLuthier]

23. Glad to see newbies honoring the DU conventions of State Bashing

Can't let our standards slip.

[sosuaslayde]

24. anytime

You’re welcome. I wasn’t aware of any rules on "state" bashing but I'm a rebel and typically don’t conform. I’m just waiting to bash the state of Michigan next

[LanternWaste]

38. Often said by those who aren't, yet actually believe they are

"but I'm a rebel and typically don’t conform..."

Quite often said by those who aren't, yet actually believe they are to better rationalize a logical fallacy.

[cigsandcoffee]

33. This is just kind of sad. Who really cares about this stuff?

I mean, a national scandal surrounding a rodeo clown? Really?

[Elmergantry]

34. Yeah I know...this is pretty mild

Seen much worse during the Bush years.

I googled up "Bush burned in effigy". Amongst those incidents done overseas, there is plenty of domestic sickening stuff pertaining to Bush. Even a mock up of Bush guillotined with his head in the basket, signs at "peace" rally specifically calling for his murder. And of course the obligatory chimp comparisons.

methinks doest protesteth too much.

[TorchTheWitch]

35. I don't get it either

Every president since forever has been mocked and made a fool of whether deserved or not. I rather like it that in this country one can mock the president and and not have to worry about losing their job or having the SS come after you and toss you in prison. What, no one here remembers "chimpy" and the numerous mocking cartoons of Bush? No one remembers, Saturday Night Live mocking the hell out of Reagan because of his Alzeimers? Or Carter or Clinton for their various foibles? Hell, Clinton is STILL foder for comedic mockery concerning blue dresses and cigars. No one here remembers political cartoons going back to the inception of this country? I think it's wrong that this guy not only lost his job over something so petty that he himself didn't even concieve of in the first place but that he can never again in his life participate in the fair in this job. Funny, I don't remember all those Saturday Night Live actors getting fired and banned from comedy for critizing and mocking every president since the show started nor any political cartoonists losing their jobs and being banned from their work either.

This is nothing but stupid political partisanship, and NO ONE should ever call for someone's livlihood because they mocked a sitting president. Not in this country where since it's inception every single president has been cricisized and outright mocked. It comes with the job, and I think Obama is a big enough adult to deal with it without the urge to call for anyone's head or their livelihood.

[delete_bush]

37. I agree with you...

and will only add that I fail to understand the need to interject ANY form of politics at a state fair. This is family friendly and a good old American tradition which should serve to unite, to remind us that we do have much in common. Why even go there when thousands of other venues for mocking those with whom we disagree are available 24/7.

[gordianot]

40. There should be no Politics in the Missouri State Fair they are funded by State funds.

On the other hand there is in the Missouri State Capital a bust of Rush Limbaugh paid for by Missouri taxpayers. I took exception to that and was told it was honoring his contributions as a broadcaster. There was never a response when I queried and commented on his contributions.

The vile spectacle displayed at the State Fair is a source of embarrassment to me as a life long Missourian (taxpayer) and I did waste an email contacting my State Representative. I doubt my Republican Representative can come up with a rationalization of this incident if he does I will share it on DU.

[TorchTheWitch]

41. lampooning sitting presidents is apparently a common staple of rodeo delights

It's hardly anything new just like it's hardly anything new that stand up comics, comic talking heads, Saturday Night Live and scores of others use a continual treasure trove of jokes aimed at mocking the sitting pres for whatever their foibles.

[LanternWaste]

39. With the implication being that those who do in fact, illustrate concern

With the implication being that those who do in fact, illustrate concern deify leaders. Clever bit of self-validation there...

[Scurrilous]

42. K & R

[mike3121]

45. Go after the importer of these masks

The masks are racist! The importer of these needs a full IRS, ATF, FBI, NSA investigation. The masks were probably made in China but someone imported them into the US. Shut these "clowns" down.

[SCUBANOW]

50. It's just a mask!

It’s called freedom of speech, get use to it. And come on, it is just a mask, get over it.

[B2G]

54. Let's ban Halloween too!!

Presidential masks have been around for decades. Get a grip.

[alp227]

52. GOOD. State fairs should be FUN rather than Fiesta Politico. nt

[Nye Bevan]

53. Banned for life? Smacks of Lese-majeste.

People get outraged way too quickly.

[a kennedy]

56. But he's offered a job in texas..."Rep. Stockman invites Obama rodeo clown to perform in Texas"

A conservative Texas lawmaker is inviting a rodeo clown banned from the Missouri state fair to perform in the Lone Star State instead.

Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Tex.) says that the unidentified rodeo clown and his colleagues have been unfairly targeted by liberals “to create a climate of fear.” He invited them to come perform at a fair in his southeastern Texas district instead.

“Liberals want to bronco bust dissent. But Texans value speech, even if its speech they don’t agree with,” Stockman said in a statement issued by his office Wednesday. “From Molly Ivins to Louie Gohmert and every opinion between Texans value free and open political speech. I’m sure any rodeo in Texas would be proud to have performers.”

Missouri state and fair officials reacted swiftly over the weekend after a rodeo clown donned a mask of President Obama and asked people if they want to see the president “run down by a bull.”

State Fair officials labeled the show “inappropriate” and said it “does not reflect the opinions or standards” of the fair.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/14/steve-stockman-invites-obama-rodeo-clown-to-perform-in-texas/