CRESTON, Calif- A rodeo clown has made an apology for an inappropriate joke made at the Creston Classic Rodeo this past weekend. Apparently he said a political joke about the first lady during a banter with rodeo announcer Eddie Kutz. According to the Rodeo Board, Kutz had nothing to do with it.
Here is how the joke reportedly went. "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." After telling the joke, a hush went over the crowd. Some residents of Creston were thrown by the remark. "It does surprise me, I don't know who the clown was but I don't approve," said Priscilla Oxarart, a Creston resident of 21 years.
Mike Hayhurst who has been a rodeo clown for 15 years at the Creston Classic Rodeo issued this apology:
"Thanks to the Founders and defenders of our great nation, we are afforded our free speech rights. With those rights comes responsibility. At the Creston Classic Rodeo on Saturday, September 15, 2012, I irresponsibly told a joke that many people found offensive and I apologize. This was a joke I read in 2010 and chose to recycle it during this election season. I simply substituted Ann Romney's name where the original joke used Sarah Palin's name. While no apology will satisfy everyone, I hope those of you in the Creston area with whom I have had a 15 plus year relationship will accept mine. I wish all of you much future success with the Creston Classic Rodeo."
Hayhurst was an independent contractor and the Rodeo Board said they have decided to sever all ties with him and that he will not be hired for future events.
