OPINION: When is 'shoot the president' a fun, innocent game? Never.

[RamboLiberal]

Americans have become a desensitized bunch when it comes to politics, public life and the right to weigh in on it all, but, still, the words, “Step right up and shoot the president” should retain some shock value. Especially when they show up in a venue that isn’t an online blog given to sarcasm and satire. Or the home page for a white supremacist group.

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The insensitivity of “targeting” a president who is facing an unparalleled number of security threats needs no elaboration, but how is it that so many people walked by Good’s Obama display and so few felt motivated to raise a stink? If Good is to be believed, he only received one or two complaints over the six weeks the attraction was in use at different venues.

We’d like to think the outrage of the American people would be an intervening arbiter here rather than having to sic the Secret Service or the FBI on a clueless vendor. Federal authorities have declined to take action against Good, which seems right, although some officials have noted it is against the law to appropriate or misuse the presidential seal. (Good offered an apology Wednesday and said the game wouldn’t be used again). And it’s true that our political figures have to endure a high level of parody and insult — even being hanged in effigy in some cases.

Yet it’s hard to imagine people walking past a carnival booth titled Texas Book Depository, inviting passers-by to take a few shots at people riding in a convertible. Or some friendly dart-throwing at an image of President Reagan and his press secretary, James Brady, getting out of a limousine.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/today/index.ssf/2010/08/opinion_30.html

[valerief]

1. When it's the president of BP, the president of Halliburton, the

president of KBR, the president of oil companies, the president of coal mining companies, the president of gas companies, the president of artificial sweetener companies, etc.

You get the drift.

[Jennicut]

2. It is pretty sick to think it is funny for any President, regardless of party.

I never wanted W. and Cheney shot, just out of office and in jail.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Was the 'game' at the Catholic church the entire 6 weeks?

[RamboLiberal]

6. No - it was at a variety of local venues

Churches, Fire companies, community fairs, etc. http://www.jtmonline.com/goodtime/schedule.html

[slackmaster]

4. People on this forum had no problem with people burning or hanging effigies of George W. Bush

It's the same thing.

Many people on DU Forums even applauded the Iraqi reporter who threw shoes at Bush. That was an actual assault, a real crime.

And of course there were video games like "Hail To The Chimp".

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Scary sick

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8884948&mesg_id=8885087