Obama Likeness Used As Darts Target At Carnival

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The head of an eastern Pennsylvania amusement company has yanked a carnival game in which players shot foam darts at an image resembling President Barack Obama.

Irvin Good Jr. pulled the target-shooting game after receiving a complaint from a Massachusetts woman attending a fair in Roseto, about 65 miles north of Philadelphia. Good said Wednesday his company, Hellertown-based Goodtime Amusements, won't offer the game again.

"It was just a big, big mistake in judgment, and I feel sorry about it," he told The Associated Press. "I can't take it back, but I can try to make it better."

The game, dubbed "Alien Attack," featured a large painted image of a black man wearing a belt buckle with the presidential seal and holding a scroll labeled "Health Bill." Players could win prizes such as stuffed animals by hitting targets on the image's head and heart.

The game was featured in late July at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Big Time Celebration, an annual fair that raises money for the Roman Catholic parish in Roseto.

Kathryn Chapman, 55, of Medford, Mass., who spent part of her childhood in Roseto and was in town for a family reunion, spotted the game and complained to Good.

"What is the message you are sending kids, that if your views don't agree with somebody else's, shoot them? I just found it incredibly disrespectful and violent," Chapman said Wednesday. "And this was the president, the highest office in the country. It was absolutely appalling."

Good said that he voted for Obama and that the game wasn't meant to encourage violence against the president. He said the image was conceived and painted by a staffer.

"He just drew it up, and that's the way it came out," Good said. "We didn't talk about it being political."

Good said he has not been contacted by anyone in law enforcement regarding the game.

Goodtime Amusements has been in business for 26 years, operating carnival-themed fundraisers throughout the Allentown region. The Obama-themed game had been running since April. Good said he had received one other complaint about it before Chapman's.

The controversy over the game was first reported by The Express-Times of Easton.

Comments

[Matthew Breslin]

05:48 PM on 08/09/2010

As someone born in Allentown, I have never been more ashamed of my home town.

[RRK70]

04:54 PM on 08/09/2010

What could be more appropriate than having an "Alien Leader" for an "Alienation" (which of course is what baggers are feeling after being confronted with reality)

[wkillpatri]

01:38 PM on 08/06/2010

To understand this, the story needs context. Having lived in Roseto....

In Roseto and the surrounding area, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel IS the political power structure. Southern evangelical churches don't hold a monopoly on Pulpit Politics.

The "Slate Belt" once had a vibrant economy based on slate mining and garment factories. Today, 9.6% unemployment would be a huge improvement. Roseto is the poster child of Reagonomics, denial and people working against their own self interest. Democrats are shot on sight.

The most visible individual ever to hail from the area (actually, from Pen Argyl, next town over) was Jayne Mansfield who, while not known for her overwhelming intellect, did produce a very talented, intelligent child.

Had the carnival company offered a dart game with Bush as the target, the howls of protest would have been deafening. Had they used Rick Santorum as a target, total silence would have ensued as residents don't recognize political figures other than POTUS and the local sheriff.

Perhaps the most brilliantly conceived business ever operated also borders Roseto -- the "Five Points Bar & Gun Shop." A regional right of passage is one's first visit to this establishment to get good-n-lickered-up before buying a gun. “Honey, I’m hoooome.”

Now re-read the article and see if it doesn’t take on new meaning. Then, check out the photos: www.mhimages.net/080726rosetothebigtime/index.htm

Salt of the earth or Children of the Corn? You decide.

[999999]

06:59 PM on 08/05/2010

poor guy..

[Patriot Games]

06:27 PM on 08/05/2010

I feel sorry that Bush was singled out for protest of this sort. It was just as true during his presidency as it with Pres. Obama. Having said that, Bushes choice of AG Roberto Gonzales was as ineffectual as his boss. Let's hope Mr. Holder can put an end to this practice. As symbols go I view POTUS as a symbol of democracy far above some flag, freedom fries, or lapel pins.

[soulbrotha]

10:34 PM on 08/05/2010

In what regards, charlie?

[Canuck Nuck Nuck]

04:56 PM on 08/05/2010

why don't we let the dixie chicks weigh in on this.

[Rick H]

04:47 PM on 08/05/2010

When I was a kid I bought a dartboard with a photo of then Pres. candidate Gov. George Wallace on it.
They also had a Richard Nixon dartboard.
You can Google George W. Bush for some dartboard images also.
This is nothing new.

[WYHKTai-Tai]

09:07 PM on 08/05/2010

Rick, I think what's getting people upset is the that the name of the game "ALIEN Attack, the healthcare bill, & Prez. beltbuckle"; all with the Pastor claiming "It's not even meant to be political" play into the 'wink, wink. nudge, nudge' "Racist? who, Meeee?"of the baggerz.

It's really not possible to miss it when it's all together. We would have been facing the same during the Bush reign if there were such a thing as "Smartists".

[quantpro]

01:51 PM on 08/06/2010

Truth at last. Political opponents and supporters have been repeating this for 200 years. When will they stop the race card? It does more harm then good.

[4real]

04:14 PM on 08/05/2010

Yeah because when people think of Aliens they think about b.lack men holding healthcare bills.

[AmericanCitizenNow]

07:41 PM on 08/05/2010

Not ET?

[RRK70]

04:59 PM on 08/09/2010

ET was actually an allegory for illegal immigration. He received free health care and was on the run from government officials. ;)

[999999]

03:38 PM on 08/05/2010

It's wrong when it was with George W. it was also wrong..the office of the President deserves respect even if we disagree with him it's very ugly to demonstrate our dissatisfaction in this way this is our leader not the right way in voicing dissent!

[GlassMask]

02:37 PM on 08/05/2010

My improv troop plays a game called "Eulogy," which begins by asking the audience for a living person whom they wouldn't mind so much being dead. Top two answers: Obama & Palin, about equally.

I left the improv troop this week, so I won't have to play Eulogy anymore... Yay!

[RicoShay]

02:35 PM on 08/05/2010

Here is the actual "game"

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/slate-belt/index.ssf/2010/08/alien_obama_targeted_in_big_ti.html

"Yes, a woman talked to me about it,” Good said today. “She said she was offended by it. I said if you are, you might want to be. But you’re interpreting it as being Obama. We’re not interpreting it as Obama. The name of the game is ‘Alien Leader.’ If you’re offended, that’s fine, we duly note that.”"

Noooo they're not interpreting it as Obama.... It just has a black man there with "The Prez" on his beltbuckle holding the health bill

What a bunch of boneheads

[Bike Commuter]

05:25 PM on 08/05/2010

I don't see it as a big deal since throwing darts at a President's picture is really kind of a cliche.

However, the name of the game is a bit much. Seems like an obvious nod to the birther crowd.

[audadvnc]

02:33 PM on 08/05/2010

Hey, it's a joke, at a carnival. We are allowed to skewer our politicians for fun, even Mr. Hope&Change. It's OK.

[jcko]

02:57 PM on 08/05/2010

Yes. Excellent Logic,

As long as for fun & jokes, it's okay to h ate & be dis respectful.

[AmericanCitizenNow]

07:22 PM on 08/05/2010

Ok is irrelevant. It is political speech and is protected under the Constitution. Your opinion of it matters not and never will.

[kasinca]

02:28 PM on 08/05/2010

The racism is in the apologetic wingnuts and baggers trying to justify the caraciture, not the caraciture,. Get it? You wingnuts listen to too many hateful talking heads to be able to use your brain.

[RicoShay]

02:26 PM on 08/05/2010

so was this a form of pin the tail on the donkey (democrat)? hehe

*cue laugh track*

[WFC]

02:22 PM on 08/05/2010

Are throwing shoes at Bush as bad as darts? http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=george+bush+shoe+attack+game&revid=452919140&sa=X&ei=_wBbTLquGoKWsgPZk62yDw&ved=0CEYQ1QIoAA

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro]

02:29 PM on 08/05/2010

tell me, what church profited from that action?

[WFC]

02:55 PM on 08/05/2010

Thought everyone was angry at the darts being thrown at Obama, but I guess you are just mad at the church.

[2question]

03:12 PM on 08/05/2010

1) That happened in Iraq during a press conferense

2) The reporter that threw the shoe at GWB was beaten until he was hospitalized.

Happy? Any other questions?

[AmericanCitizenNow]

04:10 PM on 08/05/2010

Yes.

[WFC]

01:01 PM on 08/06/2010

Hey genius, its a game here in the US throwing shoes at a US president similar to the dartboard with a US president on it. Pay attention please.