Ohio House speaker criticized for joke saying Obama should go to prison

DaytonDailyNews.com ^ | 2/22/12 | Laura Bischoff

[Typelouder]

Ohio House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, is catching heat for joking at a Summit County GOP event that President Barack Obama should be sent to prison.

[Typelouder]

Batchelder's quote: “While some are trying to twist a harmless joke into an opportunity to attack me, make no mistake that I have deep respect for the presidency and the integrity of the office, regardless of who holds it. I will not apologize for the joke, but I will apologize to my friend and colleague who apparently considered it more than a joke. I will do my best in the future not to quote jokes previously delivered by Jay Leno and other comedians.”

[smalltownslick]

Never apologize when you tell the truth.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Someday history will laugh at the fact he was criticized.

[max americana]

Go to prison? Which one: kenya or indonesia?

[Truth29]

What joke? Other than 25 to life is too light.

[dsrtsage]

The audacity of making a joke like that. Who does he think the president is...Bush?

[Typelouder]

The local radio station said he was not available for comment when they called his office. Sounds like he is not too anxious to add fuel to the fire, or apologize for that matter.

[Deaf Smith]

Guantanamo Bay

[FourPeas]

I will do my best in the future not to quote jokes previously delivered by Jay Leno and other comedians.”

Priceless.

[Jagdgewehr]

“The unprecedented disrespect we have seen for President Obama only serves to undermine and threaten our democracy. I would expect my longtime friend, colleague and the Speaker of the Ohio House to respect the office of the President of the United States regardless of party affiliation.”

Utter nonsense. But then it came from a Democrat. I guess it's to be expected.

[drypowder]

Batchelder has shown he has no character (he must be lawyer) by putting himself and politics over the truth. He needs to go.

[detective]

“The liberals are asking us to give Obama more time. And I think 25-to-life would be a good start.”

What a great line. Funny and to the point. This is much funnier than the politically correct crap by the so called “comedians” we see on TV. It far funnier than a typical Letterman joke.

Let's have more jokes like this. Things are so bad our country needs it.

[FourPeas]

The offended one:

[detective]

“Batchelder has shown he has no character (he must be lawyer) by putting himself and politics over the truth. He needs to go.”

What are you talking about? Why are you throwing a hissy fit over a funny joke?

Grow up. Calm down. And try to get a sense of humor.

[re_nortex]

And try to get a sense of humor.

Frank Luntz had a old but funny zinger a couple of nights ago at a Rick Santorum event in Michigan:

“I have a ‘Run, Barack, Run’ bumper sticker, but I put it on the front of my car."

The perpetually offended were evidently not pleased. I've heard that well-worn line about seemingly every candidate running for office since the early 60's. But only now do the humor impaired find it outrageous.

Thankfully there's someone at Mediaite with a sense of perspective on this tiny tempest in teapot.

[Typelouder]

I think the Speaker was being a bit facetious in regards to his apology to Sykes, especially in light of the following comment about not using Leno’s material again. If he did speak to Mr. Sykes, he’d probably tell him to “lighten up, Francis.”

[re_nortex]

[BitWielder1]

It's very hard to tell 0bama jokes, the left don't think they're funny and the right don't think they're jokes.

[Cicero]

“The liberals are asking us to give Obama more time. And I think 25-to-life would be a good start.”

I think it’s an excellent joke. Moreover, if the race baiters and leftists want to make it into a serious issue, Obama really SHOULD go to jail. He has committed numerous felonies and holds the constitution that he swore to uphold (at least, I think he swore to, although there was a bit of a problem there) in contempt.

[Joe Boucher]

Marxist poser should go to prison./