Missouri fair bans rodeo clown wearing Obama mask

[MrBates2]

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. 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.

The fair said in a written statement announcing the clown's ban that he had engaged in an "unconscionable stunt" that was "inappropriate and not in keeping with the Fair's standards." The fair's press release did not identify the clown.

At least one person defended him. David Berry, a Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association member who was at Saturday's event, described the clown as a friend and said there was nothing offensive or unusual about his actions. Berry said the Obama character was meant to look like a dummy and that rodeo clowns have long performed such acts, often imitating sitting presidents.

Missouri House Democrats have suggested the Republican-led chamber should form a special committee to investigate the incident and determine whether to continue providing tax dollars to the fair.

State Rep. Steve Webb, chairman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, said Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon should cancel the governor's annual ham breakfast scheduled for Thursday at the fairgrounds. But Nixon spokesman Scott Holste said the governor did not plan to cancel the breakfast because of the "deplorable actions that took place during this one event."

 

[Joeybagadonuts]

Sounds like scapegoat time. More than one person is responsible.

 

[Beco]

I feel like a beat-up rodeo clown....

 

[1sickbastard]

Sounds like scapegoat time. More than one person is responsible.

True that.

Also, I have to wonder at gov't sanctions against political dissent.
The current POTUS is, like his predecessors, not universally loved, admired or respected.
I see no reason why people should not be allowed to demonstrate that fact, regardless of format, so long as no laws are violated.

 

[phrodeau]

True that.

Also, I have to wonder at gov't sanctions against political dissent.
The current POTUS is, like his predecessors, not universally loved, admired or respected.
I see no reason why people should not be allowed to demonstrate that fact, regardless of format, so long as no laws are violated.

His payroll came from a government contract. He violated a basic rule of conduct on the job.

 

[1sickbastard]

His payroll came from a government contract. He violated a basic rule of conduct on the job.

Violating his contract is one thing, and I can see him getting fired for that, which I wouldn't and don't have any issues about.

But he's facing a state wide ban at all rodeos by the Missouri Rodeo Commission. That's a bit over the top, imo. It's not not like he's a doctor or lawyer who has committed some violation of ethical conduct.
He's a freaking clown. Clowns are supposed to make fun and take potshots. And anyone who is a politician is a completely legitimate target for a clown.

 

[Joeybagadonuts]

True that.

Also, I have to wonder at gov't sanctions against political dissent.
The current POTUS is, like his predecessors, not universally loved, admired or respected.
I see no reason why people should not be allowed to demonstrate that fact, regardless of format, so long as no laws are violated.

Respect for the office of POTUS has eroded since watergate, as well as subsequent revelations about Kennedy, Johnson and others. With the current president there is also the obvious addition of racism.

 

[phrodeau]

Violating his contract is one thing, and I can see him getting fired for that, which I wouldn't and don't have any issues about.

But he's facing a state wide ban at all rodeos by the Missouri Rodeo Commission. That's a bit over the top, imo. It's not not like he's a doctor or lawyer who has committed some violation of ethical conduct.
He's a freaking clown. Clowns are supposed to make fun and take potshots. And anyone who is a politician is a completely legitimate target for a clown.

The Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association is an independent body under contract with the Missouri State Fair, which is run by the Department of Agriculture. The Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association can hire and fire whomever they like. That's capitalism. I'm sure they feel that by banning the clown they can hope to keep that contract.

 

[1sickbastard]

Respect for the office of POTUS has eroded since watergate, as well as subsequent revelations about Kennedy, Johnson and others. With the current president there is also the obvious addition of racism.

Respect for the office is one thing.
The person in the office is another.
Before he became a politician, Mr. Obama was just another ordinary citizen. His shit didn't stick any better or worse than anyone else's.
He did choose to become a politician. Politicians deserve zero respect as politicians.
I'd grant you the racism point if Mr Obama had been characterized in a racially insensitive manner, either deliberately or not, but just his picture? Then I suppose I'd be called racist if I said I didn't give a flying fuck about his melanin levels. I don't like how any of our federally elected officials are performing in office.

 

[1sickbastard]

The Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association is an independent body under contract with the Missouri State Fair, which is run by the Department of Agriculture. The Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association can hire and fire whomever they like. That's capitalism. I'm sure they feel that by banning the clown they can hope to keep that contract.

So basically like joey said, he's being scapegoated, because he was a clown who made fun of something people have thin skins over.

Sucks to be him...

 

[phrodeau]

So basically like joey said, he's being scapegoated, because he was a clown who made fun of something people have thin skins over.

Sucks to be him...

So if Ronald McDonald made some rude public comments about Ray Kroc while he was in makeup, he should be allowed to keep his job?

 

[1sickbastard]

So if Ronald McDonald made some rude public comments about Ray Kroc while he was in makeup, he should be allowed to keep his job?

Since Micky-D's doesn't have the power to make me do or not do shit by using men with badges and guns, I could care less.

If the clown violated his contract and got fired, sucks to be him, not my problem.

If a clown makes fun of a political figure and is looking at sanctions that could prevent him from ever being a clown again...
Well, let's just say the situation isn't causing any warm, fuzzy, trustful feelings in me about any of those who hold elected office, or their partisans.


So are you saying that one shouldn't be able to poke fun at political leaders in a free society?

 

[phrodeau]

Since Micky-D's doesn't have the power to make me do or not do shit by using men with badges and guns, I could care less.

If the clown violated his contract and got fired, sucks to be him, not my problem.

If a clown makes fun of a political figure and is looking at sanctions that could prevent him from ever being a clown again...
Well, let's just say the situation isn't causing any warm, fuzzy, trustful feelings in me about any of those who hold elected office, or their partisans.


So are you saying that one shouldn't be able to poke fun at political leaders in a free society?

He can be a clown all he likes. He just can't expect to be a rodeo clown at any rodeo operated by the Missouri State Fair or the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association.

By the way, "Missouri Rodeo Commission" is something you made up.

 

[phrodeau]

You should remember that this rodeo was a family event, and children tend to pay particular attention to the clowns.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

Respect for the office is one thing.
The person in the office is another.
Before he became a politician, Mr. Obama was just another ordinary citizen. His shit didn't stick any better or worse than anyone else's.
He did choose to become a politician. Politicians deserve zero respect as politicians.
I'd grant you the racism point if Mr Obama had been characterized in a racially insensitive manner, either deliberately or not, but just his picture? Then I suppose I'd be called racist if I said I didn't give a flying fuck about his melanin levels. I don't like how any of our federally elected officials are performing in office.

It's not a just rodeo clown being a plain ol' nameless rodeo clown. It's being the President.

It's not just a "picture." They (meaning the people who gave the go-ahead with this performance) deliberately portrayed his likeness in action, in front of an audience, in a situation emphasizing danger in which they intentionally called out for him to be run down by a bull. If you want to play not-so-slippery slope with this, they're promoting the idea that it's entertainment to see President Obama killed and that it's okay to cheer for it. That's an agenda being formulated. On top of their whole outfit being funded by the big ol' bad soshulist government, why would anyone with a modicum of taste think this was a good idea?

You may personally think this is all Looney Tunes-ish Wile E. Coyote style cartoon antics to be tossed aside, but it's not. It's a shitty thing to do to a politician regardless of the way you personally feel about any of them or the position of being one and none of them deserve that in that arena. Politics has zilch to do with rodeo clown buffoonery catering to families and tourists. You have the creative right to express yourself and your views as you see fit, but you also have to own the consequences of your actions. Those rodeo honchos got a business to run and bottom lines to be met. If you ain't meeting that rubric, then sayonara.

Far as the racism is concerned? May be a reaching tangent in this case, but I will say that there is a price white people pay for living with the privileges of being the defacto standard face of American society when it comes to being able to play the "everyperson" and have carte blanche to not have stigmas attached to negative actions or theatrical portrayals such as this. Because people's faces are impressionable and our current president has been the brunt of plenty of racism from jump. People of color didn't write that script for this country, but we gotta deal with it. No tears given.

If you don't feel me on that, then take it this way: Switch out the Obama portrayal with an Hasidic Jew caricature and have the audience be mostly Neo Nazis/Aryan Nation nimrods. This scenario was somewhat satirically portrayed in the movie Borat. Don't ever think people aren't stupid enough to go down that road. Because in so many ways within differing scales in our society of now, we have always been going down that road.

Now, if the railroaded homeboy who was fully in on the shebang wants to be a rodeo clown, there's other states without the ban that he can move to do so in. That's the beauty of our proudly capitalist free market open source whatever blah blah blah society. Lesson learnt, hope he saved up a good emergency egg while the gig was good for him.

 

[1sickbastard]

.....

 

[1sickbastard]

He can be a clown all he likes. He just can't expect to be a rodeo clown at any rodeo operated by the Missouri State Fair or the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association.

By the way, "Missouri Rodeo Commission" is something you made up.

Missouri Rodeo Commission, yah, I meant the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association.
My bad. Thanks for the correction.

And I can't disagree with the rest of this point either.

 

[Boxlicker101]

You should remember that this rodeo was a family event, and children tend to pay particular attention to the clowns.

The Big O was not shown masturbating or fucking somebody; he was simply made to look like a buffoon. As a politician and a public figure, he should be as eligible for such lampooning as any other politician or public figure, including W and any other former POTUS.

 

[1sickbastard]

It's not a just rodeo clown being a plain ol' nameless rodeo clown. It's being the President.
Honestly, I could care less if it's the sitting President. The office is worthy of respect. The office holder is a different matter.

It's not just a "picture." They (meaning the people who gave the go-ahead with this performance) deliberately portrayed his likeness in action, in front of an audience, in a situation emphasizing danger in which they intentionally called out for him to be run down by a bull. If you want to play not-so-slippery slope with this, they're promoting the idea that it's entertainment to see President Obama killed and that it's okay to cheer for it. That's an agenda being formulated. On top of their whole outfit being funded by the big ol' bad soshulist government, why would anyone with a modicum of taste think this was a good idea?
I never said it was in good taste, nor am I saying the clown or those who thought it was a good idea were right. I am agreeing with joeybagadonuts that the clown is being scapegoated. I'm also observing that from a certain perspective, it does appear that the clown is being punished for political dissent by making fun of an elected official. No, it isn't the same as him being arrested and imprisoned, not by a damn sight. But would you disagree that this creates a somewhat chilling effect on being able to poke fun at elected officials?
You may personally think this is all Looney Tunes-ish Wile E. Coyote style cartoon antics to be tossed aside, but it's not. It's a shitty thing to do to a politician regardless of the way you personally feel about any of them or the position of being one and none of them deserve that in that arena. Politics has zilch to do with rodeo clown buffoonery catering to families and tourists. You have the creative right to express yourself and your views as you see fit, but you also have to own the consequences of your actions. Those rodeo honchos got a business to run and bottom lines to be met. If you ain't meeting that rubric, then sayonara.
No disagreement with any of this except that, given how shitty our politicians have been is serving the public and particularly our Federally elected officials have served the nation over the last several years, every single one of them has earned all the derision we can heap upon them, and then some. That's my own personal opinion, something which I'll be happy to agree to disagree with you, or anyone else.

Far as the racism is concerned? May be a reaching tangent in this case, but I will say that there is a price white people pay for living with the privileges of being the defacto standard face of American society when it comes to being able to play the "everyperson" and have carte blanche to not have stigmas attached to negative actions or theatrical portrayals such as this. Because people's faces are impressionable and our current president has been the brunt of plenty of racism from jump. People of color didn't write that script for this country, but we gotta deal with it. No tears given.
Agreed. No tears shed.

If you don't feel me on that, then take it this way: Switch out the Obama portrayal with an Hasidic Jew caricature and have the audience be mostly Neo Nazis/Aryan Nation nimrods. This scenario was somewhat satirically portrayed in the movie Borat. Don't ever think people aren't stupid enough to go down that road. Because in so many ways within differing scales in our society of now, we have always been going down that road.
I get you and the point you're making. I don't think the analogy you've offered here is an entirely apt comparison, but I get it. As an demographic, WASP America is going to be paying for the sins of slavery and segregation for generations to come, much like Germany will be paying for Nazism for generations to come, or the Israelis will be paying for their apartheid and displacement of the Palestinians. People do tend to use racial/ethnic differences as a basis for abuse. And once that has happens, there is always going to be a basis, valid or not, for accusing or punishing those whom are perceived as doing the same.

Now, if the railroaded homeboy who was fully in on the shebang wants to be a rodeo clown, there's other states without the ban that he can move to do so in. That's the beauty of our proudly capitalist free market open source whatever blah blah blah society. Lesson learnt, hope he saved up a good emergency egg while the gig was good for him.
agreed

.....

 

[phrodeau]

The Big O was not shown masturbating or fucking somebody; he was simply made to look like a buffoon. As a politician and a public figure, he should be as eligible for such lampooning as any other politician or public figure, including W and any other former POTUS.

No, he was made to look like someone whose harm would be entertainment.

 

[miles]

The Missouri NAACP wants the government to investigate.

 

[Boxlicker101]

No, he was made to look like someone whose harm would be entertainment.

Like Wile E. Coyote or Seminole Sam or Elmer Fudd or various cats in Mighty Mouse or Oliver Hardy or numerous other actors playing persons in peril. I'm sure he was never really in any danger.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Peggy Noonan feels President Obama should defend the blackface rodeo clown.

She must feel teh vibrations are right...
http://media.salon.com/2012/11/biggest_losers_rect-460x307.jpg

 

[BotanyBoy]

Peggy Noonan feels President Obama should defend the blackface rodeo clown.

She must feel teh vibrations are right...
http://media.salon.com/2012/11/biggest_losers_rect-460x307.jpg

Any relation to Danny??
http://media.screened.com/uploads/0/5125/416668-danny_noonan.jpg


Was she being the balls??
http://collisionmax.com/Portals/45834/images/Ty%20Webb%20Chevy%20Chase%20be%20the%20ball%20Danny%20Noonan%20Michael%20O-Keefe.jpg
Nananananananananannanaaa nununununununununnnnn

 

[Boxlicker101]

Peggy Noonan feels President Obama should defend the blackface rodeo clown.

She must feel teh vibrations are right...

It wasn't blackface, which would have been quite racist. It was somebody wearing a mask depicting a prominent person who happens to be black. Do you believe Obama's race should make him immune to mockery?

People have been doing the same kind of thing to public figures since before any of us was born.