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More than “childish” play at an state funded event. In recent days/weeks there have been a number of incidents, even by elected officials. In comments section I will add some …
Crowd went wild in Obama clown act of bull running at rodeo “show”
SEDALIA, Mo. (StLtoday/AP) — 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.”
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.
After Beam and his family returned home, he posted a photo of the clown in the Obama mask on his Facebook page. The photo and the posting were then promoted online by a blog, Showmeprogress.com, which elicited a huge response Sunday on Twitter.
Scott Holste, spokesman for Missouri’s Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon, said Sunday in an email that Nixon “agrees that the performance was disrespectful and offensive, and does not reflect the values of Missourians or the State Fair.”
Beam, who grew up attending the State Fair and attends the fair just about every year, said he has never seen anything like the Obama mask display, which he felt was inappropriate for a state-sanctioned event that receives state funding.
“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.”
Rodeo clown mocks Obama at Missouri State Fair – VIDEO
(CNN) — A rodeo stunt at the Missouri State Fair has come under criticism after a clown donned a Barack Obama mask and stuck a broom up his backside. The stunt took place during the bull riding competition on Saturday night.
Rodeo announcer Mark Ficken, president of the Missouri Cowboy Rodeo Association and a school superintendent, announced a special guest: “President Obama.” Working up the crowd, Ficken said, “We’re going to stomp Obama now.”
“As soon as this bull comes out, Obama, don’t you move,” he said. “He’s going to getcha, getcha getcha, getcha.” A clown on the arena floor chimed in: “Hey, I know I’m a clown. He’s just running around acting like one. Doesn’t know he is one.”
The announcer in question has been identified as Mark Ficken, president of the Missouri Cowboy Rodeo Association and Boonville School Superintendent.
Beam’s story was also posted on Daily Kos and shared on social media sites Facebook and Twitter Sunday morning. Much of the outrage centered on the fact that the Missouri State Fair is publicly-funded and billed as a family-friendly event.
“I felt like I was at a Klan rally,” Beam told the website Raw Story. “This isn’t a Republican state fair. I want to write the governor and the fair board, because I want my money back. This was shameful.”
[source St. Louis KMOX tv]The stunt sickened Perry Beam, who came to the fair in Sedalia with his wife and a student from Taiwan to “give him a little piece of Americana.” Beam likened the atmosphere to a Klan rally.
Only Democrats not amused in the Show Me State of Missouri?? Mark Ficken announced: “Tonight’s the night we’re going to smoke Obama.”
Continued below the fold …
‘Obama’ rodeo clown at State Fair chased down by bull, Missouri Democrats not amused (AUDIO /VIDEO)
(Missouri.net) – A rodeo clown wearing an Obama mask at the State Fair has spurred political action on the part of Missouri Democrats. A State Fair rodeo announcer told the crowd “tonight’s the night we’re going to smoke Obama,” and then asked the crowd if they wanted to see President Obama get run down by a bull.
Now Democratic leadership — and some Republicans — are decrying the antics as racist, shameful, and crossing the line.
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, says in a press release, “If what’s being reported is true, then it’s shameful and it’s unacceptable. The State Fair is funded by taxpayer dollars, and is supposed to be a place where we can all bring our families and celebrate the state that we love.”
“But the young Missourians who witnessed this stunt learned exactly the wrong lesson about political discourse—that somehow it’s ever acceptable to, in a public event, disrespect, taunt, and joke about harming the President of our great nation,” McCaskill says. “Missouri is better than this, and I expect someone to be held accountable.”
Some Republicans are also calling the stunt inappropriate.
Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder’s Twitter feed Sunday says, “The @MoStateFair celebrates Missouri and our people. I condemn the actions disrespectful to POTUS the other night. We are better than this.”
Rep. Caleb Rowden, a Republican from Columbia, is also using his Twitter account to disapprove.
