Should Feds Investigate Obama Rodeo Clown Incident?

Was a performance by an Obama mask-wearing rodeo clown and his partner nothing more than political comedy or was it disrespectful, offensive or worse? 

Last weekend, rodeo clown Tuffy Gessling reportedly asked the audience at the Missouri State Fair rodeo if they wanted to see a bull "run down Mr. Obama" referring to the mask-wearing clown. A spectator told CBS News the crowd screamed and "just went wild" when the question was posed.


"It was at that point I began to feel a sense of fear. It was that level of enthusiasm," the spectator said.

Politicians on both sides of the aisle have condemned Gessling's remarks. The Missouri State Fair went so far as to impose a lifetime ban against the clown, referring to his actions as an "unconscionable stunt." The fair will also require any clowns or cowboys from the state's association to undergo "sensitivity training" before taking part in any future fairs.

For his part, Gessling claims he did nothing different than what other comedians have done. Gessling told digitalBURG, “I never tried to be a racist or anything like that. I love all people no matter their background. I live to make people laugh. When TV comedians are doing it every day, Rush Limbaugh is doing it every day, people on Facebook are doing it every day 10 times more than me. I was just trying to make light of the situation, that’s it. Nothing racist was ever implied.”

That explanation, however, did not reassure the Missouri chapter of the NAACP. The Washington Times reports chapter president Mary Ratliff has issued a statement describing the incident as "targeting and inciting violence against our president." Ratliff said the matter warranted review by both the Secret Service and Justice Department.

A Texas lawmaker disputes that and says Gessling and his colleagues have been unfairly targeted by liberals.

“The liberal reaction is straight out of (Saul) Alinsky. They want to crush dissent by isolating and polarizing anyone who questions Obama, even if it’s a rodeo clown with a harmless gag,” Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Tex.) said in a released statement. “The idea [is] to create a state of fear and make people afraid to trivialize Obama.  No one tried to personally destroy the rodeo clown who wore a George H.W. Bush mask.”

What do you think? Was the rodeo stunt disrespectful and offensive or just political comedy? Is a federal investigation warranted or was the incident a "harmless gag"? Let us know in the comments.