Yesterday wingnut Idaho gubenatorial candidate Rex Rammell made unfortunate news with his version of sarcasm, joining in a joke about buying "Obama tags." Tags in this instance meaning the special permit hunters need to buy to take specific types of game.
Hahaha. What great "sarcasm." In a follow up by the AP Rammell keeps up the "joke" line:
Rammell told The Associated Press Thursday he was just being sarcastic and sees no reason to apologize.
One person sent him an e-mail indicating he would ask the FBI for investigation, Rammell said.
Threatening the president can be a felony punishable by five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Rammell says, "I'm probably safe. I'm not the one that started the whole thing. What I would say to all my Democrat Idahoans, 'Take a deep breath and relax. We're not going to go out and hunt Obama.'"
And because of the ongoing attention this story has received, Rammell decided to dig himself in just a little bit deeper by releasing what is supposed to be an official statement, which he also tweeted:
"Due to the large amount of press concerning his statement Dr. Rammell would like to clarify his comment: ‘Anyone who understands the law, knows I was just joking, because Idaho has no jurisdiction to issue hunting tags in Washington D.C.’"
See, all a joke! Because he couldn't use those hunting tags unless President Obama came to Idaho! All harmless fun.
The FBI is, as of yet, not commenting. Nor are Idaho Republicans, or any Republicans, that I've seen so far.
Update: The Idaho Republicans' silence is, thankfully, broken:
Top Idaho Republicans — Gov. Butch Otter, U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson and former Idaho Gov. Phil Batt — all condemned fellow Republican Rex Rammell on Friday after he amplified his "joke" about wanting to buy a license to hunt President Barack Obama.
On behalf of all Idahoans, current and former, their condemnation of Rammell is most appreciated.