GOP provocateur wants Obama-mocking rodeo clown for Texas
(CNN) – A U.S. Representative from Texas known for his provocative statements wants the Missouri rodeo clown fired for mocking President Barack Obama to know he is welcome in the Lone Star state.
Rep. Steve Stockman, the Republican who invited conservative firebrand musician Ted Nugent to the 2013 State of the Union address, has put out a release inviting the rodeo clown to come and perform in his home district in Texas.
"Liberals want to bronco bust dissent. But Texans value speech, even if its speech they don't agree with," Stockman said in the statement.
The unnamed clown wore a mask in the likeness of the president at a rodeo performance Saturday, with a broom handle stuck up his backside. A rodeo announcer asked the audience if they would like to see Obama run over by a bull.
Asked for comment Wednesday, White House spokesman Joshua Earnest reacted to the rodeo performance with distaste. "As a native Missourian it's certainly not one of the finer moments for our state, and not the way that I like to see our state mentioned in the news," he said.
Stockman, himself fond of anti-Obama and anti-Liberal statements on social media, called the performance "a harmless gag," he said.
"Liberals have targeted this man for personal destruction to create a climate of fear," the second-term Congressman said.
"The idea to create a state of fear and make people afraid to trivialize Obama."
There's been no word on whether or not the clown will take up the offer.
- CNN's Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report.
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Who cares about what those racist punk say, after george bush, no clowns from that state will enter the white house
Texans value free speech?
So do liberals. We also value respect for the office of the president. Clearly this politician does not.
I believe the outrage is from the announcer asking the audience if they wanted to see President Obama run over by a Bull.
Yeah the GOP cannot get anything else done might as well spend time and dollars to get a clown.....he will fit right in.
What is sad about this rep from Texas having to make such a political statement with this lame rodeo clown.
First off, it's not like the president had the guy sent to prison or anything. We don't even know if he even has an opinion on this matter. Nobody's rights are being enfringed upon so enough with the constitution arguments. And by the way, he hasn't been taking guns away from any law-abiding citizens either, which I'm sure conservatives were hoping would happen. Nice try.
As long as this kind of crap exists in this country, the people here are going to be thought of as ugly and backward. As they should be thought of.
It was racist, it was disrespectful to a sitting President, but the worse offense is that the Missouri Fair is subsidized by federal dollars. The clown was a contractor paid for with Federal tax dollars. Federal representative (contractors by with federal tax dollars) must be non-political. We expect the IRS Agent, the teacher, the defense contractor to be non-political. Once you sign a contract you no longer represent yourself. If the clown wants to stand on the public street corner and do his act it is within his individual First Amendment rights. It is not his right to do so when paid with taxpayer dollars.
he,s a clown and that's what clowns do they make people laugh.
I agree with RLalo. This has been completely blown out of proportion. And how is this a "race" issue? This is about exercising freedom of speech to criticize those in elected office. While this act may have been in poor taste (to some people) there is nothing illegal about it, and he certainly should not have lost his job.
From one clown to another! come show yourself in our state. how pathetic!
This article says it all. A "clown" indeed. An ignorant little clown with a bigot nature, drenched in fear and depression that this country no longer values his ignorance, his opinion or his "whiteness" any longer. RIP you piece of disrespectful garbage.
It's pure racism. Texans used to be known for their love of freedom, liberty and being a Texan meant something special. Now all it means is a bunch of old good ol white boys desperately trying to hang onto their old racist views. They hate all blacks, mexicans and anyone else that doesn't look like them. It's so pathetic
Freedom of speech is not a God given right, it's a priviledge. But, to show such utter hatred and disrepect for the POTUS is disgusting. Sam Houston, et al. would be so ashamed.
As I remember my history, Texas went against the Union and was pro-slavery. Looks like nothing has changed. I'd like to remind you great American Heros that people from all over the USA came to your defense when you succeded from Mexico.
You didn't become a state by yourselves. You don't like your president , fine. Would any of you pull this garbage on Eisenhauer, Nixon, Bushes etc. Don't think so. You don't like Obama, great then vote for someone else next time.
Oh, i forgot, you don't have a descent candidate to vote for.
In the past parodies of the Presidents were mostly done tongue in cheek. These things are far beyond funny. We are seeing the same attitudes that led to cheering, at the suggestion that someone be left to die in the streets if they had no health insurance, during the 2012 Republican ?debates?. These things, there are many others, are mean spirited and malicious. The only people who approve of them are the mean spirited and malicious. I find it difficult to believe that this bozo is truly representative of the people who live in his district. God help them if he is.
@Gurgyl: "Do those Texan nasty idiots know that rodeo clown was cleaning up the mess caused by that animal?"
Well said! And in answer to your question: No, because Texas is where intelligence goes to die.
That's right GOP, do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. That IS the definition of insanity.
Effigies of Bush were burned on a regular basis. It was horrific, but there was no uproar like this. Democrats are arrogant and have thin skins! Give all of us a break! It's a rodeo!
I'm so tired of extreme right wing massacres.
Well, of course Stockman invited him.
Because this is how Congressional Republicans fill the void created by their complete inability to function as legislators. What's one more clown to add to the circus known as the House Republican caucus?
Remember that "content", "character" thingy?.......that's what separates the jokes about Bush from those of the current President......Bush made himself into a clown, President Obama is strapped with trying to clean up after him
bush made a clown of himself....President Obama hasn't
Yup, Texas again. Let them secede and we will rid ourselves of garbage like Stockman and the Bushes. Buh Bye!
What a crock! This Republican Congressman would never respect a rodeo clown. He doesn't have enough money to be worth listening to. Republicans are the rich people's boot lickers!
@RLalo, What a jump to compare this country to Iran. If it is ok to want the President injured because he doesn't think exactly like the right wing nuts do. Then isn't it with in my freedom of speech rights to express anger about a Congressman who raises up a drug addled Nugent and a Rodeo clown as representatives of his wing nut party. Both who seem to want violence put on our President. In my opinion Representative Stockman is more like the ayatollah as he pursuades the masses it is ok to bring violence on our President. On the other hand, he is from Texas and what else can we expect?