The rodeo clown who donned a mask of President Barack Obama last weekend at the Missouri State Fair was a disappointing episode for the Show-Me State, a White House spokesman said Wednesday.
Deputy press secretary Josh Earnest said that he had no reaction to the clown from Obama. But Earnest, a native Missourian, indicated that he was disappointed with the attention the clown has brought to his state.
“I can tell you as a native Missourian, it’s certainly not one of the finer moments for our state and not the way that I like to see our state mentioned in the news,” Earnest said.
The clown has drawn widespread criticism for his depiction of Obama. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) condemned the clown, who subsequently received a lifetime ban from the Missouri State Fair. But some have defended the mask man. Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) extended an invitation on Wednesday to the clown to perform in Texas.
Watch Earnest’s response, via CBS News:
