NAACP the Real Clowns

NAACP the Real Clowns
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
August 19, 2013

Live, from New York, it’s Chevy Chase making a career out of mocking President Gerald Ford!

Ford stumbled and fell once or twice and the former All American University of Michigan football center becomes the subject of perpetual ridicule that people forget he was a talented athlete, and not just on the gridiron, but also on the golf course.

The Saturday Night Live alumnus was merely one in a class of presidential mockers, the champion of which had to be Dana Carvey’s President George H. W. Bush – “wouldn’t be prudent – at this juncture!” Such humor actually netted Carvey an invitation to the White House.

And don’t forget the masks of just about every president since JFK, especially the lampooning of Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush – especially masks promoting Dick Nixon’s prominent proboscis.

So what of a rodeo clown performing at the Missouri State Fair last week having donned an Obama mask as part of his routine? That resulted not just in the firing of the rodeo clown, but a lifetime ban from working at the Missouri State Fair.

Adding insult to injury, the Missouri chapter of the NAACP has demanded an investigation in to the rodeo clown. In a statement it released, the NAACP said “The activities at the Missouri State Fair targeting and inciting violence against our president are serious and warrant a full review by both the Secret Service and the Justice Dept.”

For what? For doing his job of entertaining the crowd at the rodeo? For mocking the president? Should all late night TV talk show hosts be investigated by the Justice Department and the Secret Service? What a waste of time and fiscal resources that should be used on genuine menaces in this country.

What was so provocative as to garner such intense scrutiny by the Missouri NAACP?

Here are the clown’s words “inciting violence” as suggested by the Missouri NAACP: “President Obama. Hey, I know I’m a clown, he’s just running around acting like one, doesn’t know he is one.”

Disrespectful? Sure; no more than any late night comic or SNL actor. Inciting violence? No chance, Lance.

Then, as the bull was readying to charge the clown, the next set of words were: “We’re going to smoke Obama man. You ready, Obama, they’re coming for you! I’m ready. This bull’s going to get you Obama; he’s going to get you!”

Inciting violence? Still no way, Jose. Exchange the Obama mask for one of President George W. Bush and nary a peep would come from the NAACP or any organization for that matter.

Even liberal Fox News contributor Jehmu Greene laughed as she said, “It’s ridiculous! The NAACP is out of their dang mind to think that should be investigated by the Department of Justice – it’s way overkill.” Greene went on to defend the hard work of rodeo clowns with the knowledge of one who has attended more than one rodeo.

Erik Rush, author, columnist and another FNC contributor called this incident “The biggest example of race baiting… the NAACP struggling to stay relevant promoting hypersensitivity.”

This is yet another example of how liberals (NAACP, et al) wish to limit the free speech of those with whom they disagree. It is a pervasive, over-sensitive, censoring of First Amendment rights in the United States. Sadly, a recent survey demonstrated that 36 percent of those asked could not name even one of the freedoms granted by the First Amendment to the Constitution.

This is not just sad, but frighteningly dangerous as more and more people, particularly younger and younger Americans, believe the First Amendment grants too many freedoms to the American people.

What the United States needs is more speech. We don’t fight hate speech with censorship, but with the implementation of more speech. Yet, the Missouri state fair commission also said it will force clowns to undergo sensitivity training – yet another example of overkill.

Following the firing of the rodeo clown, Texas Congressman Steve Stockman invited him to perform in the Lone Star State. ”A rodeo clown is really a nominal thing and it hurt no one,” said Stockman, who noted that when Bush 43 was portrayed as a murderer the NAACP was patently silent.

And where was the NAACP and such race hustlers as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton when three black teens were videotaped beating the daylights out of a white teenager on a school bus? The crickets are chirping loud and clear.

Were Obama not as thin-skinned as he is known to be, he would take the lead, request the rodeo clown be reinstated, and invite him to the White House to perform for children unable to afford to attend a rodeo or circus. After all, if he can host a beer summit, he can host a rodeo clown at his own big top.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.