Missouri State Fair bans Obama imitation

Monday, August 12, 2013

This photo provided by Jameson Hsieh shows a clown wearing a mask intended to look like President Obama at the Missouri State Fair. The announcer asked the crowd if anyone wanted to see "Obama run down by a bull," according to a spectator. "So then everybody screamed. ... They just went wild," said Perry Beam, who attended the rodeo at the State Fair in Sedalia on Saturday Aug. 10, 2013. State Fair officials apologized calling the display inappropriate and disrespectful. (AP Photo/Jameson Hsieh) (AP Photo)

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barack obama, national/world

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri State Fair has permanently banned a rodeo clown whose imitation of President Barack Obama has been criticized as disrespectful.

The clown, identified as "Tuffy Gessling", put on a President Obama mask Saturday night -- then asked spectators if they wanted to see "Obama run down by a bull."

Many fans responded enthusiastically.

He also said, "We're going to smoke Obama, man."

Gessling has apologized, saying he never meant to offend or disrespect anyone. The Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association says disciplinary action will be taken.

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Tags:

barack obama, national/world