A Republican sheriff in Massachusetts is defending a joke he told at a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast in which President Abraham Lincoln visits President Obama in a dream and suggests he go to the theater. Lincoln was assassinated in a theater, and Democratic critics say that even a joke suggesting the current president might get shot was inappropriate, especially from a public safety official. Plymouth Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald Jr. made the joke Sunday at the heavily Republican breakfast in Scituate. He told the Patriot Ledger of Quincy Tuesday that the uproar over an old joke is ‘‘absurd.’’
PLYMOUTH
Comments
Ha Ha. Funny as a crutch.
Sheriff McDonald might want to do a little research before he comments any further. He also might contact an attorney. There is a little group of people called the Secret Service and they have "visited" with good old boys in the past who like to talk loosely about any sitting president. If nothing else, Sheriff Fife now has a huge spotlight on his life and the function or dysfunction of his office.
Keep laughing, Sheriff Fife!
I don't like Obama and I hate political correctness but that "joke" was totally inappropriate, in my opinion. And from a sheriff no less. The guy is a dope.
This "joke" was in extraordinarily poor taste -- period.
When I was in high school. we used to sing to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic..."mine eyes have seen the glory of the closing of the schoo. I have tortured every teacher, I have broken every rule. We are marching down the corridor to kill the principal...our troops are marching on." That was in the 70's. Today I and all my friends would be expelled if we did this, and for good reason. Times have changed Sherriff....those days are long gone. No one should even joke about a threat today. What is good for students is good for our leaders. Sorry Sheriff, you crossed the line, teaching the students I work with that if you have power, you can indeed bully. Everyone who makes a threat should disciplined. Sorry that includes you, Sheriff...YOU SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED
The joke Sheriff McDonald made at a breakfast with mostly Republicans was DISGUSTING but not surprising coming from Republicans. Lincoln was ASSASSINATED NOT just wounded like Cheney's friend whom McDonald claimed it was like. It is NOT the same. Millions make comments in private and on public forums like the Internet both for and against the president. Some against strain crudulity but are defended on First Amendment grounds. I agree anyone has the right to say politically negative things agains anyone in office. This president, however, has received more RACIST death threats than any president bar none.
The difference between simply online criticism no matter how noxious is the fact that Sherriff McDonald is a public persona and one that is SUPPOSED to advocate law and order. It would be different if it were just another person but he is SUPPOSED to represent ALL the people of Plymouth County.
Beyond even that is that he was casting a humous light on one of the nation's most henious crimes; one which has had and still does PROFOUND implications for the negative trajectory of race relations. Lincoln is on Mt. Rushmore for God's sake. NOTHING is funny absoutely NOTHING is funny about the assisination or attempted one of President Lincoln or ANY president. If the shoe were on the other foot and it were Ronald Reagan who was in fact nearly assisinated I would say the same thing. Making a joke about it is OUT OF BOUNDS!
This is NOT appropriate for the subject of comedy. Shame on those who laughed and SHAME ON Sherriff McDonad! He should be FIRED.
I agree with your assessment and think the Sheriff should be disciplined. Who is his boss?
It's up to the voters of Plymouth County to discipline this "sheriff". When is he next up for election?
Sorry for the many typos. It is what happens when one is typing fast. Corrected:
The joke Sheriff McDonald made at a breakfast with mostly Republicans was DISGUSTING but not surprising coming from Republicans.
Lincoln was ASSASSINATED NOT just wounded like Cheney's friend whom McDonald claimed it was like. It is NOT the same. Millions make comments in private and on public forums like the Internet both for and against the president. Some against strain credulity but are defended on First Amendment grounds. I agree anyone has the right to say politically negative things against anyone in office. This president, however, has received more RACIST death threats than any president bar none. The difference between simply online criticisms no matter how noxious is the fact that Sheriff McDonald is a public persona and one that is SUPPOSED to advocate law and order. It would be different if it were just another person but he is SUPPOSED to represent ALL the people of Plymouth County. Beyond even that is that he was casting a humorous light on one of the nation's most heinous crimes; one which has had and still does have PROFOUND implications for the negative trajectory of race relations through this century. Lincoln is on Mt. Rushmore for God's sake. NOTHING is funny absolutely NOTHING is funny about the assassination or attempted one of President Lincoln or ANY president. If the shoe were on the other foot and it were Ronald Reagan, who was I might add in fact nearly assassinated, I would say the same thing against making a joke. Making a joke about it is OUT OF BOUNDS! This is NOT appropriate for the subject of comedy. Shame on those who laughed and SHAME ON Sherriff McDonald! He should be FIRED.This comment has been removed.
Sheriff, from those of us in law enforcement. Just keep your trap shut, we don't need any more bad publicity.
As someone who owes the survival of his family to those of you in law enforcement (and fire and EMT and public works) please allow me the privilege of seconding your sentiment.
Mass law enforcement at it's best.
These ridiculous St Patrick's Day breakfasts encourage the most boorish behavior but this is over the top. Can you all just get over your horror that the President is black?
The racism and hatred aren't coming from the left because we're not afraid of each other. People who make these comments should be investigated by Secret Service and they should not be in public office.
It never ends! They still haven't gotten over another smashed stereotype. A black man as president! They can't seem to get over it (even though Obama is mixed race - white/black)! I think therapy is in order, don't you?
Happily the gentleman will be running for re-election in the future.
How early did Sheriff start celebrating St Pats day?