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Obama rodeo clown stunt was pretty racist

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Obama rodeo clown stunt was pretty racist

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I don’t know if you caught a glimpse of this racist dumbassery that ensued at the Missouri State Fair. A rodeo clown thought it would be a hoot to put on an Obama mask and have the announcer ask if the crowd would like to see the president of the United States gored by a bull.

Several racist dumbasses in the crowd screamed that they would love to see this.

It’s a joke, you see. Get it?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuSiz4IDveU&w=480&h=270]

I tried to explain to some of my more conservative-leaning friends why this sort of thing is pretty unbelievably racist.

It evoked images of the Civil Rights era, when Birmingham police officers used dogs to maul blacks who were protesting segregation. Doesn’t look like anyone found that funny, either.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPrHwmiUMH0&w=420&h=315]

One of my friends pointed out that people took some pretty mean digs at George W. Bush. But I’m pretty sure no one put a W. mask on and then stood in front of a pissed off animal at a state fair. If he had, I don’t think it would’ve gone over well.

Remember how the Dixie Chicks got banned from country radio stations for saying they were ashamed that George W. Bush was from Texas?

My friend Marcus, who is black, jumped in and made the point better than I ever could.

Here was his take:

Nothing warms my heart more than two white men arguing over what should and shouldn’t be viewed as racist. We have really come a long way as a people.

I can understand your point. People often call those that criticize the president racist reflexively and I can see how that might ruffle the feathers of those that are not exactly fans of POTUS 44. However, racism in 2013 is not at all the same as racism in 1954. It’s a lot like porn: hard to define but you know it when you see/experience it. Taken in total, it’s really hard to look at the kinds of things that have been said publicly to/about this president and not conclude that those saying them are either racists, tone-deaf to racial issues or just somehow acting out over the fact that a person of color is now leader of the free world.

W may have taken a lot of slights from comedians (and a projectile shoe from the occasional Iraqi reporter) but when was the last time you saw a governor dress down and shake a finger in the face of a sitting president outside Air Force One? When was one ever heckled by a U.S. Representative during a joint session of Congress?

I seriously doubt that you have and until we elect a President Santos you won’t again. Seeing Obama gored in effigy, while not the equivalent of a burning cross on my lawn, is offensive and akin to coming home and finding a noose where my door knocker used to be. It doesn’t frighten me, it just pisses me off.

Hate the guy if you must. Hate him with the fire of a thousand suns. But remember that Barack Obama is merely the steward of the office. The symbol of the presidency is still important in the 21st century. The office should always be respected.

Amen.