Watch Live: Second House Hearing on IRS Scandal

Live Blazecast Now: The Viral Videos from the IRS Hearing plus your comments

‘Absolutely in Jest’: Mass. Sheriff Defends Obama Assassination Joke

Mar. 21, 2013 4:17pm Madeleine Morgenstern

Massachusetts Plymouth County Sheriff Defends Obama Assassination Joke

Massachusetts Sheriff Joseph McDonald defended a joke he made about President Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln as “political satire.” (Image source: WCVB-TV)

A Massachusetts county sheriff is standing by a joke he made that President Barack Obama should “go to the theater” a la Abraham Lincoln.

Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald Jr., a Republican, made the crack at a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast on Sunday. He said Lincoln visited Obama and gave him advice on how to fix the country: “Go to the theater,” Lincoln told Obama. Lincoln, of course, was assassinated in the theater in 1865.

“It was absolutely in jest,” McDonald told the Patriot Ledger this week. “It was a joke. It wasn’t a new joke by any means.”

WBZ-TV reported McDonald’s remark generated outraged comments on the sheriff’s Facebook page. As of Thursday afternoon, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page appeared to have been deleted.

John Birtwell, director of public information for the sheriff’s department, did not immediately return requests for comment from TheBlaze about the page’s disappearance.

McDonald told WCVB-TV on Wednesday that he and his family have received more than 100 threatening emails and voice messages because of the joke.

“Things have taken a very sinister turn,” he told the station. “I’ve received all kinds of hate emails, phone messages and voice mails, many of them physically threatening me, my family.”

McDonald has said repeatedly the joke was “political satire,” pointing out that similar jokes were made about then-President George W. Bush going hunting with Vice President Dick Cheney.

“It’s political satire. It was meant in jest,” McDonald told WCVB. “It was stated in jest, and it’s unfortunate individuals would seek to capitalize on that.”

John Walsh, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, told the station that McDonald made “an old, stupid, inappropriate joke” but that he should have known better.

“You know when you’re the chief law enforcement officer of Plymouth County and you have a whole bunch of people who work for you and run around with guns [you] should be a little more sensitive about it,” Walsh said.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (49)

wilbstal
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:17pm
we dont have this kind of Luck America is stuck and screwed

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
wilbstal
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:15pm
This funny to bad Obama could afford a theater ticket anyway

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
woodyee
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 9:30pm
It was a joke.

I’ll begin to wonder whether jokes like this should be taken seriously, when the guys that wrote and produced the movie about assassinating Bush are fully investigated, and when the DOZENS of media and print type that wished someone would kill him and his family are in jail.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Proverbs17-12NLT
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 8:49pm
I wouldn’t shed a tear but I would lock and load, you know those system milking lawless democrats will be on the prowl. America will never be the same.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 6:29pm
We should never joke about anything of the sort happening to our Liar-in-Chief; however, we have a wonderful system of federal courts where Obama should be tried for treason after his arrest by US Marshals. Pick a reason: Fast and Furious, Benghazi. You make the call.

If he and the rest of his supporting cast are found guilty as charged, the federal judge may decide to inflict the maximum penalty which would be to be hung by the neck until dead. Now, folks, that how justice is carried forth in a constitutional republic.

Did I mention that I’ll buy the rope?

“Remember Benghazi and ALL the Traitors!”

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
cassandra
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 6:15pm
It’s a joke and a old one I heard it years ago ( Get over it ) I have heard just the same from liberal so called comedians about Palin and other conservatives Look what comes out of the mouth of bill mayhr and it’s called COMEDY

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- kenboo1
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 8:00pm
  i believe him… He is the highest ranking law enforcement officer in the county… http://www.repeal17.net
  
  Why would he lie ??? sounds like sound advice… Couldn’t hurt!!! ok maybe for a little while… Well, I don’t know… Never been to the theater…
  
  Report this comment
blackfeather
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 6:05pm
I’m sure he’s not the only one that…..

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
762x51
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 6:00pm
Have you heard this one? Obama, Pelosi and Reid walk in to an airplane propeller . . . .

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- subic
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 6:43pm
  762X51, you forgot to add Dianne Swinestien & Valerie Jarrett to that.
  
  Report this comment
- thegreatcarnac
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 8:23pm
  I cannot read your comment again….I get to giddy and happy.
  
  Report this comment
RestoreCapitalism
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:51pm
Obama takes the ‘TU’ out of POTUS.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- barber2
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 6:40pm
  Very clever observation.
  
  Report this comment
welovetheUSA
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:51pm
Say things like that to your friends and family…….like minded folks who understand what you mean…the people who send you threats…arrest them, threats are threats and you need to go get them, lock them up in the Obama cell.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
AboveMyPayGrade
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:44pm
So Sheriff McDonald said, “I’ve received all kinds of hate emails, phone messages and voice mails, many of them physically threatening me, my family.”, huh?

Personally, I’d love to see one of these bravehearts who threatened Sheriff McDonald and his family via the anonymity of e-mail and voice mail show up at McDonald’s house to try to actually CARRY OUT their threat IN PERSON – preferably, unbeknownst to them, while McDonald is home.

Because then I’ll enjoy reading about yet ANOTHER Darwin Award winner permanently removed from the gene pool.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
annie-oakley
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:39pm
Nightmare! I am not laughing. It’s a nightmare.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
annie-oakley
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:37pm
Exactly, thank you!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Copper Catfish
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:23pm
This sheriff’s remark was in extremely bad taste.
You don’t yell, “Fire!” and you don’t joke about killing someone.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Paladin45ACP
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 6:12pm
  Here’s one for ya. Willing to die for fascistic national socialism? Ask me how I can help.
  Jeez, some of you need to lighten up.
Sargeking
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:13pm
I might just be spiff balling here but I have a feeling this sheriff is a Liberal. That’s how they really think and it’s not funny sheriff, unless you think cancer of the brain is a joke. You might consider getting a CAT Scan, sheriff. I hope your voters are taking notes. There again they just elected Cherokee Warren with the high cheekbones and Harvard degree, so anything is possible.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Paladin45ACP
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 6:10pm
  Hey Sarge, the Sheriff was making a joke. I think you’re the one that needs some counseling.
  
  Report this comment
Sargeking
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:57pm
The good sheriff needs a visit from the from the Secret Service but likely he won’t get one. An ordinary person would have. You NEVER insinuate harming the President. NEVER. The sheriff is way out of line. In fact it sort of scares me to know that he’s armed. So much for the police only having the professionalism to handle guns. Do you think this sheriff might be a little bit senile or just plain stupid?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- oldironsides
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:15pm
  he did not insinuate an intention to harm – you are an idiot
  
  Report this comment
- Sargeking
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:23pm
  OLDSIDEOFBEEF: Even when you Libs make a terrible joke you have to spin it by calling people names. How sick is that?
  
  Report this comment
- Cav_Scout
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 6:51pm
  He’s talking about Abe Lincoln making a phone call to Obama, and you think he’s serious? What kind of cell service do you think Lincoln has?
  
  Report this comment
silverdutchman
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:56pm
The only time these pathetic liberal/progressive/socialists have any humor is if the joke is directed at a conservative. Someone sad that these liberal/progressives are just sad, infantile, humorless dipwads and I agree.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RaydocX
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:54pm
Walsh is a tool or DB… or both.
it’s BECAUSE the sheriff is sitting around with others with guns that he made the joke…
it’s why hospital humor is ‘dark’ and offends those who don’t work in hospitals…
it’s why lawyer jokes are dark and amuse all but lawyers…
what is around you, what you are used to, you can make jokes about. In the case of LEOs or soldiers, that includes guns… and to be honest, in the case of millions of Americans, facing the ongoing attack on the 2nd Amendment, this likely elicited lots of chuckles– all knowing it was in jest.

If the Left cannot take what they dish out, maybe they should stop trying to be funny. last i checked, attacking conservatives was all Mahr is doing to keep his audience laughing, and Letterman and Stewart aren’t far behind…

remember when you could tell a pollack joke without a longer pre-amble explaining that you knew it was a joke, playing on stereotypes? It’s ridiculous…. STOP with the warning labels, and when some fool gets offended, remind them it was a joke, and tell them you are sorry they are so unable to control themselves that they believe the rest of the country should do it for them.

and then tell another pollack joke!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
shorelineliz
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:53pm
All the time. they “joked” about it all the time. No one said squat.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Michelle_Baboonbutt
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:49pm
Don’t say nothin’ bad about my baby, oh no, don’t say nothin’ bad about my baby

Little Eva and the Cookies, 1963

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- chips1
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:14pm
  If their Girl Scout Cookies, you could get fired.
  
  Report this comment
- Dirtdigger67
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 9:56pm
  @michelle baboonbutt I just have to say I love your name that’s the best!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
garbagecanlogic
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:44pm
Funny how old “Abe” usually knew what he was talking about wasn’t it?

Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8

The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
shorelineliz
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:37pm
And in other Jester News:

The First Family was crushed this morning when a fake snowman, a .50 calibur rifle, and a Samurai Sword fell from a drone that accidentally targeted the White House instead of some innocent American citizens having a low fat skinny low foam fat free Starbucks latte and fat free muffin near Pennsylvania Avenue. Due to the fact that the White House kitchen is now demolished as well the American Communist Society and the American Atheist Society have agreed to cater the funeral potluck with low fat fat free mini muffins and low fat skinny low foam fat free Starbucks lattes that they will purchase from Starbucks from the rest of their Obama Administration subsidies. Spokesmen for the two societies say it is the least they can do for the family since the First Lady was such a fitness buff. Meanwhile: the real Moochelle Obama had to be fitted for a 666XL casket because she had eaten so much pie during her tenure as First Lady the fit person everyone always saw was her twin sister alien Scientology Thetan of a stunt double.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Penn
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:01pm
  Shorelineliz. Ha!Ha! HA! Gotta give credit where its due! Thanks for the lift.
  
  Report this comment
- Kisses6350
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:39pm
  Seek Jesus! And btw, when the “suits” knock on your door, don’t be surprised! Smirks!
  
  Report this comment
00100111
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:33pm
John Walsh would be saying a very different thing if this joke had been made about GW Bush, and he knows it. This joke HAS been made about Bush and I don’t remember ANY dems screaming foul, then. Oh, but when you insult their messiah, well that’s just not appropriate. Yes, Dems, you’re all cry babies. Sad, miserable little creatures with sad existences and only free because you are made free by better men than you.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
vaman
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:26pm
How can someone be that morbidly obese and a sheriff. Who is he running after? He should keep his mouth shut and get on an elliptical. Fat slob and a disgrace.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- xjjames
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:35pm
  I thought it was funny.
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:38pm
  “what difference does it make?”.
  
  Report this comment
- 13th Imam
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:26pm
  Good thing he doesn’t work for CVS.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:42pm
  Hi shorelineliz,
  
  I’m 5′ 11″, 170 pounds, muscular. : )
  
  Report this comment
Southernsoul
Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:25pm
The issue seems to be liberals don’t have a sense of humor. Everything was peachy-keen when they wrote books on how to assassinate Bush.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.