Washingtonpost.com:
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A clown wearing a President Barack Obama mask appeared at a Missouri State Fair rodeo this weekend and the announcer asked the enthusiastic spectators if they wanted to see “Obama run down by a bull.”
The antics led the state’s second highest-ranking official, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, to denounce the performance in a tweet Sunday. He said it was “disrespectful” to the president.
“We are better than this,” the Republican tweeted.
State Fair officials said the show in Sedalia was “inappropriate” and “does not reflect the opinions or standards” of the fair. “We strive to be a family friendly event and regret that Saturday’s rodeo badly missed that mark,” they said in a statement Sunday.
It wasn’t clear if any action will be taken against the performers.
Perry Beam, who was among the spectators, said “everybody screamed” and “just went wild” as the announcer talked about having the bull run down the clown with the Obama mask.
“It was at that point I began to feel a sense of fear. It was that level of enthusiasm,” Beam, a 48-year-old musician from Higginsville, said Sunday, referring to the reaction from the crowd that filled the fair’s grandstand.
He said another clown ran up to the one wearing the Obama mask, pretended to tickle him and played with the lips on the mask. About 15 minutes into the performance, the masked clown had to leave after a bull got too close, Beam said.
Beam was at the rodeo with his wife and a student they were hosting from Taiwan. He said they were having a good time until the end of the rodeo.
“It was the usual until the very end at bull riding,” he said. “As they were bringing the bulls into the chute and prepping them … they bring out what looks like a dummy. The announcer says ‘Here’s our Obama dummy, or our dummy of Obama.
“They mentioned the president’s name, I don’t know, 100 times. It was sickening,” Beam said. “It was feeling like some kind of Klan rally you’d see on TV.”
There are always effigies of presidents but none have been presented quite as disrespectfully as effigies of President Obama. Of particular note is the fear felt by musician Perry Beam. The group mentality apparently resembled a feeding frenzy of sorts.
Beam was grew up going to state fairs. However, he stated that he felt the spoof was cruel and disrespectful and he had never seen anything this bad at state fairs he attended, especially considering the fair received state funding. he was quoted in the Washington Post:
“This isn’t the Republican Missouri State Fair,” Beam said. “It was cruel. It was disturbing. I’m still sick to my stomach over it. … I’m standing here with a mixed-race family. My wife’s from Taiwan, and so was the student (his family was hosting). I’ve never seen anything so blatantly racist in my life.
“If an old country boy picks up on something like that, imagine what a person of color would think.”
I guess entertainer Beam will now be as hated as the Dixie Chicks.
Is it the area of the country that creates the bad taste? Would people, regardless of educational level do such a thing in this area? I don’t know the answer to that question. Certainly the comparison to a KKK rally on TV tells us that racism is involved. I suppose that is low hanging fruit for some folks though.
It doesn’t get much worse than an announcer asking who wants to see “Obama run down by a bull” to the cheering frenzy of half crazed Obama haters, drunk with crowd mentality.
Americans should be better than this. At least make it a goal.
Nope.
Just making fun of a sitting President as has happened for 200+ years.
This isn’t a cartoon.
Pretty far out. It’s sad the way a certain (ignorant) segment of our population really thinks they own the country, and don’t respect people they disagree with.
The mock guillotine in Denver with an effigy of George W Bush’s severed head in the basket wasn’t a cartoon either.
What was that about only one side being insulted?
Back in 1994, the cowboys used George Bush dummies at the Woodstown, Pennsylvania rodeo.
For some reason, the liberals didn’t seem to mind this too much.
Philly.com http://articles.philly.com/1994-08-19/news/25842089_1_bullfighting-clowns-rodeo-arena-clown-smile reported:
“The big white gate flew open. The bull came out bucking. The rider flopped from side to side and the bullfighters held back, letting the bull make his moves until the rider dropped off. Licciardello crouched in a heavily padded barrel, a human target should the bull decide to charge. Hawkins waited near the barrel, holding his big inner tube. A dummy with a George Bush mask stood beside the clown, propped up by a broomstick.“…
…”.J. Hawkins rolled out the big inner tube, and the bull lowered his head, shot forward and launched into the tube, sending it bounding down the center of the arena. The crowd cheered. Then the bull saw the George Bush dummy.
He tore into it, sending the rubber mask flying halfway across the sand as he turned toward the fence, sending cowboys scrambling up the fence rails, hooking one with his horn and tossing him off the fence.”
@Wolverine
I didn’t run a blog back in those days. I would have treated that the same way. Totally inappropriate.
@Cargosquid
Did the other rodeo clowns play with the lips of the George Bush mask?
I don’t think any of that is appropriate.
Agree — in both cases. Inappropriate. Unfortunately, we seem to be stuck with it all across the political spectrum. Myself, I hate seeing that crap, no matter who does it.
Rodeo clown, huh? It seems we’ve finally discovered an occupation for which Obama may be qualified.
This was sponsored by a State Fair, correct? Not a protestor?
Looks to me like it was a personal protester (or protesters) without notification to or the approbation of the state fair authorities. Missouri is still a rather divided state politically. I don’t think the state fair people would have given their permission for something like this, especially the mask, which looks like a throwback to the cartoons and charicatures of 100 years ago or more.
The “execution by guillotine” of George W. Bush took place on 26 October 2008 near a large Obama campaign event. But I don’t recall anyone accusing the campaign authorities of authorizing it — maybe just not speaking up loudly enough in criticism.
It wasn’t a protestor. It was part of the rodeo which came under the auspices of the state fair.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/12/obama-rodeo_n_3743617.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
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.
Yes, the clown was part of the rodeo contract setup. But, since no one but himself and maybe a buddy or two appears (or admits) to have known the anti-Obama bit was coming, that looks to me like somebody slipping in a personal protest. Not unlike an actor getting an Oscar who makes unexpected political remarks during an acceptance speech — which has certainly happened.
Very UNlike an actor accepting an award. That actor is obviously speaking for himself. In this case, the misbehavior appeared to speak for the entire rodeo, if not the fair. I think you assume no one else knew about it. There is no evidence that is true.
Good to see Republican Lt Gov Kinder denounce this juvenile and despicable act for what it was.
“appeared to speak for” is not evidence of culpability. I said: “…(or admits) to have known….” Until evidence may be presented, this has to stand as a personal action taken without the sanction of higher authority. Ergo, you cannot blame the state fair officials anymore than you could blame the Academy for an actor’s political remarks. If such evidence IS presented, then the blame scope enlarges.
I think it works in reverse. That’s the reason a company doesn’t want an employee talking smack or off the cuff. That employee represents the entire company in the eyes of the public.
It reflects poorly on state fair officials, rightly or wrongly. That is why they are upset about it.
Not sure what kind of dream world you live in Wolverine. That’s the reality of it.
Washingtonpost.com:
This situation obviously is not limited to one or two people. The spill over effect is tremendous.
Moon, back at ya. Your response is not relevant to my point. Of course, a “company” never wants that kind of trouble; but it sure as Hell happens from time to time and has to be dealt with. Unfortunately, in this contemporary society we are now much too quick to blame others through mere appearances of association and not by credible and precise evidence. So, we will probably wind up here with some who will dismiss the thought that the clown may have gone off the reservation and call instead for the “lynching” of the whole Missouri state fair. Unless you provide evidence that the contract rodeo association or the state fair hierarchy were aware beforehand, the clown did it. Period. Anything else is banana republic stuff.
The spillover is beginning to look like an out-of-control molehill to mountain deal. The clown was banned for life from the fair. So be it. He goofed badly. Now we get “Call the Secret Service! Call the DOJ! Defund the state fair! Cancel the traditional Governor’s dinner at the fair! Fire the school superintendent! Send all the rodeo clowns to sensitivity training!” Cripes. Friggin country full of French Revolution Jacobins.
Huffingtonpost.:
No, none of this is about race, is it?
Some things just can’t be dismissed and they should not be trivialized. Perhaps it would be less important if all this other crap weren’t going on.
Everybody look on the bright side, it’ll only be racist to criticize the president for three more years. Then it’ll be sexist!
I hope so!
So if Republicans don’t vote for her, will that be more proof of The War On Women?
Of course not. Surely you can see the difference in policy disagreement and attack on female attributes.
The war on women involves not supporting equal pay for equal work, making sure reproductive rights are compromised or difficult to access, and general disrespect.
I am surprised that I have to even say that as long as you have been on this blog.
I can see the difference, but when people start attacking her because of things Bill did, I’ll be willing to bet you’ll be the first to complain that people never attack a male candidate over his wife. (even though they do)
All kinds of nasty stuff was thrown at Sarah Palin that never got mentioned, but suggest that Sarah Fluke should buy her own birth control…(wo)Man the barracades, Ladies! It’s a war on women.
What’s the old joke: The battle of the sexes will never be won. Too much fraternizing with the enemy. 🙂
Sandra Fluke wasn’t a candidate. I never attacked Palin over anything but policy and saying incredibly stupid things.
Not only was Sandra Fluke not a candidate, she wasn’t running for an office that put her a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Frankly, however, as little as I know about Sandra Fluke, I know enough about Sarah Palin to be able to form a pretty solid opinion that Fluke would be a better Vice President or President that would Palin.
And another standing ovation for Scout the Great!!!
http://bit.ly/17uMeY8
That link probably carries a virus.
@Wolverine
“Friggin country full of French Revolution Jacobins.”
THAT’S IT! I knew I had seen this mindset before, but I couldn’t remember where!
If this continues we are in dangerous ground.
@Moon-howler
It’s only about race because they AND the President, who uses the race card as needed, made it about race.
If you are against Obama, its always racism and not about his policies. THAT is the narrative.
The clown caricature was not racist. It has been used before against other presidents.
Calling the President a Kenyan is not racist. It may be incorrect, but its not even an insult.
Was it “Baa Baa Blacksheep” or Bye Bye? I can’t find that song so I can’t tell if that is racist or not.
Impeach the “half white Muslim” is actually a play on the usual “he’s a black muslim’ So, pointing out that he’s “half white” is racism against blacks? And the “47% negro” IS rude….but even the black commentators discussed that he wasn’t “black enough” for them in 2008.
If these are the samples of racism…… racism is dead.
Cargo, its
Baaa Baaa black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes sir yes sir three bags full.
One for my master and one for my dame
one for the little boy who lives down the lane.
Its Mother Goose I think.
I can always count on you to excuse stuff that most of us shudder over.
I don’t mean this offensively but do you think it is the difference in Louisiana and Virginia?
I know too many people personally who make racist remarks about the president to think for one minute some of this isn’t race.
Want an example? Someone who used to be a good friend saying, ” I wish I had a gun and I would shoot that N***** because he hurt my retirement.”