Missouri State Fair Rodeo Clown Under Fire for Obama Stunt

In Missouri, you haven’t stayed too long at the fair until a rodeo clown dons a Barack Obama mask and asks spectators if they want to see the president run down by a bull. Yee-haw!

The Missouri State Fair Commission is apologizing because a rodeo clown recently did just that during what sounds like a rollicking performance. Governor Jay Nixon, Lt. Governor Peter Kinder and U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill also said it wasn’t really that cool to simulate killing (or at least rather severely maiming) the POTUS.

Fairgoer Perry Beam of Higginsville, Missouri told the AP that the announcer “whipped the audience into a lather” by asking fairgoers if they wanted to see “Obama run down by a bull.” Another clown ran up and “started bobbling the lips on the mask and the people went crazy.” He said he felt the show was racist.

The statement by the Fair Commission says: “The performance by one of the rodeo clowns at Saturday’s event was inappropriate and disrespectful, and does not reflect the opinions or standards of the Missouri State Fair. We strive to be a familyfriendly event and regret that Saturday’s rodeo badly missed that mark.”

According to the fair’s organizers, the man behind the mask is Mark Ficken, a school superintendent. That’s reassuring!

Perhaps the Missouri State Fair should join forces with North Dakota’s — for their next collaborative show, the bull could dress up as a fetus with wings.

[AP]