Church Carnival Game: Shoot Obama, Get a Prize!

Roseto, Pennsylvania -

Our Lady of Mount Carmel held a "Big Time" fair and festival last weekend.  One game sparked complaints.  The image, of a black man holding a health bill and wearing a belt buckle with a rudimentary presidential seal drawn on it - was set up as a shooting target (Note the red circle bulls-eyes over the head and heart) for the general amusement of the parishioners.  If you hit those targets, you receive a prize!  Might I suggest a life sized stuffed Klansman?

The Big Time fair was set up by Goodtime Amusements, who claimed they were exercising their right to free speech.  Word has it Fox News and conservative ditto-heads have not yet reported this story, as there are not any images of Goodtime Amusements employees appearing to be African-American.

The local newspaper, the Express-Times, reports:

Even though the game shows a black man dressed in a suit, holding a scroll labeled "health bill" and wearing a belt buckle that features the presidential seal, Goodtime Amusements President Irvin L. Good Jr. said the image does not portray President Obama.

Good reports speaking to two people with complaints about the game. Of one complainant, he said, "She said she was offended by it. I said if you are, you might want to be. But you're interpreting it as being Obama. We're not interpreting it as Obama."

Richard Shultz, said he would have complained no matter the political party of the president depicted.

"The message ... step right up and shoot the president -- I mean, c'mon," he said. "In my lifetime, two presidents have been shot and I don't think we should have that as an amusement game."

The Rev. Jim Prior, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, said he would have put a stop to the game had he seen it during the carnival. A parishioner didn't complain until after Big Time was over, he said.

If you'd like to make a suggestion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church regarding future games and prizes at their Big Time carnival, you can find their contact information here.

The owner of Goodtime amusements has since apologized, saying he himself was an Obama voter and takes full responsibility.  "I guess we made an error in judgment, and we apologize for that."  The game no longer exists.  The secret service is now investigating.

Readers, please note:  I usually do not censor comments, however, any comments justifying this display because somewhere, somehow, someone may have done something like this to a Republican in effigy will not be permitted and will be deleted.  This is wrong no matter who does it, when, and for whatever reason.  There is nothing funny, cute or amusing about any simulated Presidential assassination.