My Thoughts On the Missouri Rodeo Clown

If you haven’t already heard, a Missouri rodeo clown is in deep doo-doo over his poor choice of words in the rodeo arena last Saturday. But that’s really what it was, a poor choice of words, because everything else had been done before.  That’s right, this wasn’t the first time a mask of an American president was put on a dummy in a rodeo arena.  Initially this wasn’t about race, or politics, even though it could be made to be so by the media.  Which they did, of course.

That’s right, it wasn’t about race until a few locals and the media attention dug into the sensitivities that already exist over President Obama being black. It’s not about him being a Democrat, or a liberal, or that Missouri is predominantly a Red State. To prove my point, put a mask of President Bill Clinton on a rodeo dummy and do the same act, and you’ll see most people, including the media, shrug it off.  Oh yes, it’s been done before, so the point is easily proven.

So why was it a poor choice of words?  Because this “sensitivity” is well-known in America today.  It is also well-known that among Red State Conservatives, President Obama is disliked more than any other President than I’ve ever heard about.  I know this because I am a native Missourian, I live in Missouri now, and have for most of my adult life. I hear it first-hand, from people I know and don’t know, who are very vocal about their dire dislike and distrust of President Obama. Sadly, I’ve heard them reference his race in their disdain for his policies and politics. This was low hanging fruit for the liberal media (who know of these references) to take this situation and further spread their influence over political correctness.

Was the rodeo routine done in bad taste? Probably so, but ask yourself the same question when it’s done with any other President.  That’s the point I want to make. This is where “race” is made an issue, and it now becomes “politics” and they don’t care who they hurt. Because when it’s all said and done, who is going to win in this deal?  Was President Obama hurt in this situation?  Well, I guess you’d have to ask him.  I’d like to hear his response. I’d like to hear him say, “I’m no more offended by this than Bill Clinton was or would be, or Ronald Regan, or Jimmy Carter, or George H. or George W. Bush would have been when the joke was on them.”  But will he say that?  I doubt he will, because he is first and foremost a politician. It's probably just another one of those moments for "calm reflection".

My thought is that it was in bad taste when it was done with any or every American President, now or in the past.  My thought is that it is also offensive that anyone involved in that rodeo, besides the rodeo clown or whoever was in charge of scripting that entertainment segment, face any sort of serious sanction, such as the loss of their jobs because of their association with the rodeo company, simply because of the elevated sensitivity of the race of our current American President.  And I am not just talking about rodeo jobs, I am talking about the rodeo announcer, who is also a school superintendent, and may have lost that job because of his close association with the event.

Oh yes... the Secret Service also got involved, too.

But, this happening will be used to make an example out of these folks, and I would say that because of the “sensitivities” involved here, that it will never happen again, with any President, Senator, or high ranking official, in any American rodeo arena in any state.

Now we can score one for Political Correctness, and the continued ability for the media to use race as an issue.  Score another one for lessons in sensitivity, not just to those rodeo folks, but to an overly sensitive segment of our American culture.  Now slap the hands of those who need to find better ways to entertain their audiences, and for not recognizing the trouble that could get them into.  Right or wrong, they could have avoided that.  I don’t think anyone involved in crafting that act intended to martyr themselves or the welfare of their family, they were just trying to be funny. Well, that certainly came back to slap them in the Presidential mask, because now I don’t hear of anyone laughing.

Comments

[Renee Bremer]

Steven, there are so many layers to this issue - and I generally shake my head at all of them. I should no longer be amazed at the hyper-sensitivity of the political world - caused, I believe, by the media. So WHAT!! - is my reaction to this incident. Are they going to send out Secret Service to every child that wears an Obama mask for Halloween? Oh wait...nope, they won't. Why? Because the media is NOT involved. Ugh!

Free speech. The freedom to protest. These are in our basic makeup. Is it always WISE to exercise that freedom? Hmmmmm...perhaps not. Or perhaps a little more thought into the far-reaching consequence would help.

Does it hurt the President's feelings? Shock him? Huh. If it does, he isn't that 'in touch' with his public. A President has to be strong enough to accept the bad with the good...as EVERY President faces negative reactions from his people. This is ALSO in our basic makeup. The beauty of living in America - the ability to express when we are happy AND when we are a little miffed at the 'powers that be'. Or a lot miffed.

Me? I would have laughed. Because I would understand the humor without reading ridiculous depth into the moment. In truth, I would laugh no matter which President was used - whether I voted for them or not. Because...well...it's just funny.

[Ron Lairamore]

Obama is half white, just put the mask on the white part, but then he is a dummy anyway. So if the show fits, wear it. Ron Lairamore

[Larry Wood]

I largely agree with you, Steven. I think people in general and the media in particular are too sensitive to racial issues. As long as people are hyper-sensitive to race, we will never achieve the race-neutral, color blind society that Martin Luther King dreamed of. Until we are not even conscious of race, we'll never completely eliminate racial discrimination. However, I do think donning the Obama clown mask is a little different than when previous presidents were made fun of, because it evokes images of the old minstrel shows where white comedians donned black-face masks to poke fun at black people. It's kinda like opening an old wound, akin to hoisting a Confederate flag in your front yard when a black person moves into your neighborhood.

[MJ Caffrey, Major USAF (Retired)]

This rodeo clown mask incident is unfortunate, especially since many rodeos begin with patriotic singing of the National Anthem and a prayer. Out of respect for our servicemen and women who serve under their Commander in Chief, the US President, the clown should have left the mask in his kit.

Thank you for a reasoned and thoughtful essay on this subject.

[Don Bendell]

Right on, Steven! Agree wholeheartedly!

[J. Lee Butts]

Well, said, Steve. Seems the lib press has conveniently forgotten about the movie made during Bush's term that depected him being assassinated! And there are oh so many more similar examples. Regan was mocked unmercifully as being a idiot, a man losing his mind, not capable of doing the job. Bush's father suffered similar indignities and Bill Clinton was the butt of almost every political joke for the entire time he served in office. This entire event is total bullshit and should be exposed as such by everyone who can. BULLSHIT! Folks, this is total BULLSHIT!