Rodeo clowns and announcer mock Obama in MO State Fair

[Opti]

usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/12/19987718-rodeo-clown-mocks-obama-at-missouri-state-fair-state-leaders-denounce-antics?lite

A rodeo clown at the Missouri State Fair put on a mask of President Barack Obama, and an announcer asked an enthusiastic crowd whether they wanted to see “Obama trampled by a bull,” according to a witness and video posted online.

Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, said through a spokesman that the antics were “disrespectful and offensive,” and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, a Republican, said on Twitter: “We are better than this.”

A fair-goer, Perry Beam, posted his account on social media. Video of the stunt aired by NBC affiliate KSHB in Kansas City, Mo., records a rodeo announcer saying, “We’re gonna smoke Obama, man.”


“The crowd went absolutely nuts,” Beam told KSHB.

Beam said another clown ran up to the one wearing the Obama mask and played with the lips on the mask. About 15 minutes into the performance, a bull got too close and the clown in the mask had to leave, Beam told The Associated Press.

“They mentioned the president’s name, I don’t know, 100 times. It was sickening,” Beam told the AP. “It was feeling like some kind of Klan rally you’d see on TV.”

What do people think? I think the hate against Obama has gotten too big and out of control. While Bush(W), was given a lot of grief he was rarely flamed in public(US) the way Obama has been. I think no sitting President in my lifetime has been treated as badly in this country. I'm not a fan of W and admit liking things like My Bush or whatever that animated series was ... but it was never as bad as this nor as bad as what is posted on P&M daily.

[formerroomate99]

What do people think? I think the hate against Obama has gotten too big and out of control. While Bush(W), was given a lot of grief he was rarely flamed in public(US) the way Obama has been.

They made a movie about assinating Bush. My old boss had a calendar he bought at Borders that was devoted to mocking Bush, somehting I had never seen with Clinton. You're fooling yourself if you think this sort of thing is unprecidented.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

They made a movie about assinating Bush. My old boss had a calendar he bought at Borders that was devoted to mocking Bush, somehting I had never seen with Clinton. You're fooling yourself if you think this sort of thing is unprecidented

And don't forget about Nixon as well.

[Tennesseer]

What was the intent of playing with the lips of the Obama mask?  Several thoughts come to mind.

[Opti]

They made a movie about assinating Bush. My old boss had a calendar he bought at Borders that was devoted to mocking Bush, somehting I had never seen with Clinton. You're fooling yourself if you think this sort of thing is unprecidented.

Name another live incident like this that happened in this country, not at a roast or comedy club, that happened to another President in the last 30 years.

Yes there are T-shirts, action figures, calendars, etc. I have not heard of anything like
this in the last 30 years. If I've missed it, please share and post something that backs it up.
(BTW, While I didn't like I bought a pro-Bush greeting card for a former co-worker's bday.
There were also lots of pro-W stuff out back in the day you could purchase.)

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

What was the intent of playing with the lips of the Obama mask?

Caracitures often over-exaggerate facial features - whether it's a sketch, political cartoon, or (in this case) a mask.

Remember the Nixon mask years ago? It exaggerated his nose & lips.

[djAdvocate]

oh goodie.  it is trample the ni**er time all over again.

[justme]

There were also lots of pro-W stuff out back in the day you could purchase.

And there's plenty of pro Obama stuff you can purchase now.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 12, 2013 12:13:54 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

oh goodie.  it is trample the ni**er time all over again.

[hurley1980]

While I get that some don't like Obama (and some absolutely despise him), this is an embarassment to our country to act like this.  Do we really think England would play "trample the prime minister?"  I agree with the person in the article that said we are better than this.  All this does is make us look like a country of disrespectful baffoons to the rest of the world.

This is far beyond a SNL spoof or a joke on Comedy Central.  This is actively applauding violence on our Commander in Chief, and shows an extreme lack of class. 

[mtman]

As long as barry keeps acting like a buffoon.....Then he will be treated as one.

[djAdvocate]

Aug 12, 2013 12:39:21 GMT -5 mtman said:

As long as barry keeps acting like a buffoon.....Then he will be treated as one.

two things:

first of all, we don't suggest that buffoons get trampled to death, no matter how nutty they are.

two: this is the POTUS, mtman.  as much as i hated Bush, i never suggested that he should be harmed in any way, other than at the hands of the legal system (same suggestion as i have had for Obama).

to suggest otherwise is to fall into a 3rd world crevice of dictators and rebellion.  nein danke.

[hurley1980]

Unbelievable....

[djAdvocate]

Aug 12, 2013 12:58:37 GMT -5 hurley1980 said:

Unbelievable....

what is the MOST painful for me is that we can't universally condemn this kind of thing.

[formerroomate99]

While I get that some don't like Obama (and some absolutely despise him), this is an embarassment to our country to act like this. Do we really think England would play "trample the prime minister?" I agree with the person in the article that said we are better than this. All this does is make us look like a country of disrespectful baffoons to the rest of the world.

I believe there were widespread parties along with some looting and rioting when Thatcher died.

And let's not forget what happened after, where the Republican governor of the state called them out on this.

[djAdvocate]

Aug 12, 2013 13:08:07 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

While I get that some don't like Obama (and some absolutely despise him), this is an embarassment to our country to act like this. Do we really think England would play "trample the prime minister?" I agree with the person in the article that said we are better than this. All this does is make us look like a country of disrespectful baffoons to the rest of the world.

I believe there were widespread parties along with some looting and rioting when Thatcher died.

And let's not forget what happened after, where the Republican governor of the state called them out on this.

"this"?

[Deleted]

Aug 12, 2013 12:44:40 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Aug 12, 2013 12:39:21 GMT -5 mtman said:

As long as barry keeps acting like a buffoon.....Then he will be treated as one.

two things:

first of all, we don't suggest that buffoons get trampled to death, no matter how nutty they are.

two: this is the POTUS, mtman.  as much as i hated Bush, i never suggested that he should be harmed in any way, other than at the hands of the legal system (same suggestion as i have had for Obama).

to suggest otherwise is to fall into a 3rd world crevice of dictators and rebellion.  nein danke.

What he said !

Hate him or love him; he is still our Commander in Chief.

[formerroomate99]

"this"?

Sorry, the Republican governor of Missouri called the rodeo people out on their behavior.

[djAdvocate]

Aug 12, 2013 13:12:11 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

"this"?

Sorry, the Republican governor of Missouri called the rodeo people out on their behavior.

ok, thanks.  thanks for pointing that out.  i haven't kept up with this story. 

[Deleted]

 Many very respectable and credible people were critical of GWB and his policies.
 But Obama... is the target of rodeo clowns and fourth-rate aspiring comics.
 That's quite a difference.

 When it comes to criticism of a public figure, does anyone take a Rodeo Bozo seriously?

[workpublic]

I believe there were widespread parties along with some looting and rioting when Thatcher died.

and the "wicked witch" thing.

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/antithatcher-song-ding-dong-the-witch-is-dead-misses-top-spot-in-radio-1-charts-8572547.html

[workpublic]

Many very respectable and credible people were critical of GWB and his policies.
But Obama... is the target of rodeo clowns and fourth-rate aspiring comics.
That's quite a difference.

[djAdvocate]

Aug 12, 2013 13:15:53 GMT -5 @patiencetried said:

 Many very respectable and credible people were critical of GWB and his policies.
 But Obama... is the target of rodeo clowns and fourth-rate aspiring comics.
 That's quite a difference.

indeed.  what is next?  Obama shooting range targets and pinatas?  sheesh.

this country had better start acting like grownups, or someone is going to come along that uses our childishness against us.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 12, 2013 13:15:53 GMT -5 workpublic said:

I believe there were widespread parties along with some looting and rioting when Thatcher died.

and the "wicked witch" thing.

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/antithatcher-song-ding-dong-the-witch-is-dead-misses-top-spot-in-radio-1-charts-8572547.html

We are not Great Britain.

[workpublic]

indeed. what is next? Obama shooting range targets and pinatas? sheesh.

Many very respectable and credible people were critical of GWB and his policies.
But Obama... is the target of rodeo clowns and fourth-rate aspiring comics.

puleeze, stop the nonsense and the faux rage and faux ignorance.

www.zombietime.com/zomblog/?p=621

vofreason.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/tucson-insanity-hate-speech-and-hypocrisy/

[Opti]

Caracitures often over-exaggerate facial features - whether it's a sketch, political cartoon, or (in this case) a mask.

Yes. But what does that have to do with various rodeo clowns coming up to the clown wearing the Obama mask and playing with its lips for 15 minutes? In the arena! It seems very odd and disrespectful to me.


I've enjoyed various political exaggerations over the years. In fact my favorite was Gerald Ford. Seemed like an OK enough President with the added bonus of things like Chevy Chase falling sketches on SNL. This I think is only a sign of how bad it really is. Kind of like the shock some of us have had reading comments about the Zimmerman trial and the initial incident with Trayvon. Just as I was dismayed to find out how deep some people's hatred and racism was, I feel the same reading this. FWIW, I thought the ding dong the witch is dead vis a vis Margret Thatcher to be pretty awful as well.

[djAdvocate]

Aug 12, 2013 13:24:26 GMT -5 workpublic said:

indeed. what is next? Obama shooting range targets and pinatas? sheesh.

Many very respectable and credible people were critical of GWB and his policies.
But Obama... is the target of rodeo clowns and fourth-rate aspiring comics.

puleeze, stop the nonsense and the faux rage and faux ignorance.

www.zombietime.com/zomblog/?p=621

vofreason.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/tucson-insanity-hate-speech-and-hypocrisy/

i condemn all such speech.  do you?

[mmhmm]

Aug 12, 2013 13:09:57 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Aug 12, 2013 12:44:40 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

two things:

first of all, we don't suggest that buffoons get trampled to death, no matter how nutty they are.

two: this is the POTUS, mtman.  as much as i hated Bush, i never suggested that he should be harmed in any way, other than at the hands of the legal system (same suggestion as i have had for Obama).

to suggest otherwise is to fall into a 3rd world crevice of dictators and rebellion.  nein danke.

What he said !

Hate him or love him; he is still our Commander in Chief.

Damn straight!  This kind of thing is done by the dregs of our society.  There are a lot of people I don't care for, and some I positively loathe.  I know better, however, than to publicly denigrate these individuals or to wish harm upon them.  I was raised better than that.  It's a shame so many seem to have grown up in a freaking barn!

[zibazinski]

You don't understand! It ONLY racist when it's directed at blacks or democrats. If you're white and Republican, it's all good.

[mmhmm]

Aug 12, 2013 13:24:26 GMT -5 workpublic said:

indeed. what is next? Obama shooting range targets and pinatas? sheesh.

Many very respectable and credible people were critical of GWB and his policies.
But Obama... is the target of rodeo clowns and fourth-rate aspiring comics.

puleeze, stop the nonsense and the faux rage and faux ignorance.

www.zombietime.com/zomblog/?p=621

vofreason.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/tucson-insanity-hate-speech-and-hypocrisy/

What rage?  Disgust is a better word.  People who do things like this don't deserve to receive enough consideration to generate rage.