Posted on 09/17/2012 12:59:52 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
Rodeo clown was behind racist joke about Michelle Obama
It was rodeo clown Mike Hayhurst of Barstow, not announcer Ed Kutz of Arroyo Grande, who made an offensive, racist joke about first lady Michelle Obama over the public-address system of the Creston Classic Rodeo, a rodeo board member confirmed Sunday.
Spectators initially believed and reported that Kutz made the comment Saturday. Both he and Hayhurst were on microphones at the same time.
Speaking Sunday on behalf of the rodeo’s nine-member board, Mike Barrett said the rodeo is not responsible for the joke and will ask Hayhurst for a letter addressing the issue and a public apology. The board will discuss at its next meeting whether it will fire Hayhurst, and it will review scripts for future performances by any clowns.
“We probably won’t be using his services in the future,” Barrett said of Hayhurst.
The joke, as told by Hayhurst, went like this: Playboy is offering Ann Romney $250,000 to pose in the magazine, and the White House is upset about it because National Geographic only offered Michelle Obama $50 to pose for them.
According to rodeo board member Tom Hansen, the joke fell flat.
“Creston didn’t find it funny. This isn’t the kind of thing we trade in,” Hansen said.
Hayhurst was not performing at the rodeo Sunday. He was taken to an area hospital Saturday evening for head injuries, Barrett said. He did not know whether the injuries were related to an incident at the rodeo Saturday in which a bull tossed Hayhurst into the air.
When reached on his cellphone Sunday and asked whether he wanted to apologize for the joke or explain his comment, Hayhurst said: “I cannot believe how insensitive you are. I am in the hospital.” He then uttered a vulgarity and hung up.
Hayhurst has performed at the Creston event for several years but is an independent contractor and not officially affiliated with the rodeo, Barrett said. According to Hayhurst’s website, prorodeoclown.com, he has performed as a rodeo clown since 1977. He was once a city police sergeant and is now a charter school administrator.
Kutz, who was erroneously identified as the one who made the comment in initial reports, declined to speak to The Tribune on Sunday.
At the rodeo Sunday, as organizers distanced themselves from the comment, several people in attendance said they were not offended by the joke and did not believe an apology was necessary.
A woman who refused to give her name but said she lives east of Creston said, “It’s called freedom of speech. I don’t think (Hayhurst) did anything out of the ordinary. ... Let’s not blow things out of proportion.”
Another man who lives in Creston, who also declined to be named, said, “It’s not racist at all. It’s a joke. If these people are offended by that, then they don’t need to come to our rodeo.”
But one woman, who also would not identify herself, said, “It’s offensive on many levels. It’s also offensive to women, and it’s not an appropriate comment for a public forum.”
Don't you sass me...
LOL, Clown Clinton. Remember when he said Rush Limbaugh had stood up for Attorney General Janet Reno, but “only did it because she was attacked by a black guy.”
It was in very poor taste to send it out over a PA system to hundreds of people though.
I think in reality magazines actually offer her money to keep her clothes on, but that’s just me.
OK that would be mildly amusing in a locker room among guys- but even then, YES it is racist...
But to think that would be funny in a crowded audience? That is certainly stupid
Hey it was a clown—a fool—why should anyone care?
I’m with you ... that was funny!
“Hayhurst was not performing at the rodeo Sunday. He was taken to an area hospital Saturday evening for head injuries.”
This brave rodeo clown speakers his minds exercising his First Amendment Rignts and he is fired from his job and likely brutally attacked by agents of the Obama Regime.
$50, wow, THAT much???
I wouldn’t pay 50 cents to see her in person.
I don’t know but I’m sure the same guy does their makup!
They feature pictures of whales too, and I'd say that the reference to Playboy was because Ann Romney has a nice figure, while Moochelle's figure resembles a female cow (whale).
Its not funny only because Bill Maher didn’t tell it first.
How was that joke racist?
__________
You have to be old enough or have a sense of history. Before there was Playboy, there was National Geographic and the women of primitive tribes.
It WAS a racist joke. Vulgar and inappropriate too - why should women who don’t sell their bodies be discussed appearing naked, and this in front of children?
Oh please, just pick any prominent conservative woman - Palin, Bachman, Malkin, etc. - and I’m sure we can compile a much longer list of tasteless jokes made at their expense, with references much more objectionable than this.
*rimshot*
Actually I think this is an example where the comment was racist.
Squatch.
That’s actually a better joke! He should have used your punchline instead!
One of those conundrums where I have to say the joke made me laugh, but I don’t feel comfortable repeating it.
If I’m uncomfortable telling the joke to black friends then I won’t share it with white friends either...an dats the name of dat tune
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