How One Rodeo Announcer Factors into the Election

Amanda Walters

amanda.n.walters@gmail.com

A local rodeo announcer in San Louis Obispo County, California made a joke over the PA system at the Creston Classic Rodeo.

How does this make the top of a major news outlet’s website?

The joke, made by Ed Kutz, has been seen as a racist remark about the First Lady.

The joke, as audience member Dona Wilson told the San Lois Obispo Tribune, went something 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.”

This remark is not the first time recent politics has been plagued by racist remarks. Earlier this year, Presidential hopeful Ron Paul had to answer for racist remarks made in newsletters sent by his office in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s.

The tea party itself has been in the hot seat over whether many of the group’s members are racist.

The Republican’s aren’t the only ones who have had to answer for their remarks. Vice President Joe Biden caused a stir earlier this year when he said that Wall Street under a President Romney would “put ya’ll back in chains.”

But is this guy, a private citizen, and his remarks really newsworthy?

On this I’m actually torn. This guy and his “joke” will have absolutely no real impact on the election. But it’s one of those stories that show how far we really have to come as a country when it comes to race.

Part of me doesn’t see the worth of having this covered by one of the biggest news outlets in the country. If you look at the comments, you can see that people aren’t having a great discourse about the stories. Here are just a few examples:

takacrat: Lets go and burn down a Red Wood Tree in Protest, then Approve Two Keystone Pipe Lines, plus, make abortion legal to the age of 6 or at lease to Kindergarten!!

USSAmerikan: I'm not sure the comment refers to her race, but to the fact that, let's face it, she is far from attractive... Really far. Now, if Obama would have married Beyonce and someone made the same comment, THAT would be racist!!!

…..So is this article actually worthy of the coverage it’s gotten?

I don’t know. All I know is that it did get me to click on it and sometimes that’s all that seems to matter.