William Batchelder, Ohio House Speaker, Called To Apologize Over Joking That Obama Should Be Jailed

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A Democratic state lawmaker is asking the Ohio House speaker to apologize for a joke suggesting President Barack Obama should be jailed – but Republican William Batchelder says he won't take back what he viewed as a light-hearted quip.

Rep. Vernon Sykes blasted the remark as "absolutely deplorable."

Batchelder was introducing presidential candidate Rick Santorum to a crowd of about 1,200 at a Lincoln Day dinner Saturday. Batchelder said in suggesting Obama shouldn't be re-elected: "The liberals are asking us to give Obama more time. And I think 25-to-life would be a good start."

Sykes called it disrespectful to Obama and his office.

Batchelder said Wednesday he borrowed the joke from comedian Jay Leno and meant no disrespect.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[lared]

01:19 PM on 02/25/2012

25 to life--- as President of The United States of America. That will work. I know it is just as silly as jail time for THIS President. Perhaps the last President should get 25

[heartlandlib]

08:29 AM on 02/25/2012

George Bush started a war when there was no threat to the American people. That war killed 4000 and wounded for life tens of thousands more and stole from the SS system to help pay for it and wasted the surplus. He and all the rest of them lied to the American public and knew they were lying and they think there is anything that President Obama is doing that is illegal? It's George Bush and company that should be in jail.

[rt1027]

02:19 AM on 02/25/2012

oh big deal

[sukahpunch7]

09:12 PM on 02/24/2012

Another Jackass speaking from the wronng hole!

[pfp291]

07:29 AM on 02/25/2012

Yes, you are.

[Southernthinker]

11:11 AM on 02/24/2012

Exposure to this level of malice and meanness is much like a national jail sentence. This belittles most of what we claim this nation stands for, fights for, and occupies other lands in protest of, but what’s 25 to life or wrongful imprisonment as long as it’s not on oil laden soil? Oh, I apologize we have jailed and vilified Americans and other noncoms for their political views or associations.

[rt1027]

02:22 AM on 02/25/2012

freedom of speech

[Locksley]

10:39 PM on 02/23/2012

Remember Lou, fanatics can never make fun of themselves or understand it when others make fun of them.

Leftists continually show their fanaticism.

[Christian Howell]

01:09 PM on 02/24/2012

No. The POTUS MUST be afforded a certain level of respect. It wouldn't have been a joke about Bush as MANY consider him guilty of war crimes. But at any rate, disrespect of the POTUS is very dangerous. I don't have to be PC or accept an apology.

[factsworkbest]

06:10 PM on 02/23/2012

Politicians need to learn that they are NOT comedians and have a higher responsibility to watch what they say.

[Locksley]

10:40 PM on 02/23/2012

Leftists have to learn to take a joke. But fanatics never can.

[Christian Howell]

01:10 PM on 02/24/2012

I'm not a leftist. But I'd like to give a couple and some rightists too. You toilet floater.

[factsworkbest]

01:27 PM on 02/24/2012

You miss the point. Leaders need to be more careful about how they use language than other people. They have power, and with it comes responsibility.
P.S. "Leftists" isn't your A-game, is it?

[Bonnie Larkin]

03:56 PM on 02/23/2012

obama's really thin skinned -
wonder how he'll react when he gets evicted from 1600 Penn Ave

[Faye Tucker]

06:58 PM on 02/23/2012

I"m sorry but considering all of the horrible names, and manners people have shown towards this man and his family I would say he has very tough skin. You however are a deployable individual and one of the main reasons why other countries find the United States of America to be a bad joke.

[Bonnie Larkin]

05:42 AM on 02/24/2012

I was not aware that other countries are watching me - thanks for the heads up.
As for insulting obama - the freedom of speech part of the Constitution says I can do that.

[Lou Smith]

07:41 PM on 02/23/2012

There will be rioting in the streets of D.C. and Detroit.

[Locksley]

10:41 PM on 02/23/2012

Amen, Lou.

[Bonnie Larkin]

05:44 AM on 02/24/2012

I have to agree with you on that - if I lived in those cities that will riot and destroy themselves - I would be making plans to protect myself/family/property.

[DocJoseph]

03:49 PM on 02/23/2012

I sense a pattern here...

[7dr361]

03:43 PM on 02/23/2012

My president is black....I'm white...my president is very smart....I'm a old man with white hair....Get over it people President Obama will be re-elected.........

[Locksley]

10:42 PM on 02/23/2012

I understand why you worship the Secular Savior.

[tpk]

03:51 AM on 02/24/2012

and I understand that none of your comments make sense

[sukahpunch7]

09:16 PM on 02/24/2012

My Hero!

[RattInnaCage]

03:40 PM on 02/23/2012

HuffPost - Your headline talks about an appology as if one was given. No such thing happened.

[factsworkbest]

06:13 PM on 02/23/2012

No, it suggests that people have called on the speaker to apologize. You have to misread it to expect that he did apologize.

[Mary Karius]

03:24 PM on 02/23/2012

keep it comin GOP! yer doin GREAT! lol

[Jawbey]

03:13 PM on 02/23/2012

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM A REPUB/?BAGGER???????????????????????

[Locksley]

10:43 PM on 02/23/2012

Obvously a better sense of humor than from a fanatic like you.

[tpk]

03:56 AM on 02/24/2012

So everybody who doesn't share your point view of is a fanatic? What a simpleton you are!

[Jake Dogg]

03:05 PM on 02/23/2012

I swear, the repubs just don't know how to be funny.

[Locksley]

10:44 PM on 02/23/2012

What a racist thing to say. So we ain't got thematic rhythm, eh?

[Jake Dogg]

08:44 AM on 02/24/2012

Actually, it's more of a bigoted thing to say. :) And no, You 'ain't' got any thematic rhythm.

[Christian Howell]

01:12 PM on 02/24/2012

It's disrespectful. You should hear what i'd say to you if I saw you. it would be rather poignant though abusive.

[henrypapillon]

02:59 PM on 02/23/2012

Johnny Carson was careful to never endorse or go against one party or the other but preferred to just make fun of the antics of both parties. Jay is a hack.

[dannie0107]

03:29 PM on 02/23/2012

Jay is a comedian and politics is fair game, and he's made his fair share of Obama jokes. Just like Letterman, O'Brien, Stewart, Colbert going all the way back to Mort Sahl and Lenny Bruce all made a living from "jokes" including political jokes.

IMHO, the Honoroable Ohio Speaker, William Batchelder, is the "hack".

[Locksley]

10:46 PM on 02/23/2012

Johnny Carson skewered both Dems and Reps ... Ever since the Secular Savior entered the White House only Reps are fair game so far as you Leftists are concerned.

Leftist babies are cultural fanatics who can dish it out but you can't take it.

[henrypapillon]

01:40 AM on 02/24/2012

What are you talking about? I said I liked to see both sides get the brunt of the jokes, one as much as teh other. But you have to admit that Obama isn't near as funny a s George W. Bush's goofy sayings, Mission Accomplished when it wasn't, going over the nadle bars ofa bike aboutr every 3 months, choking on a pretzel, trying to go throughh loccked doors, and dodging shoes.

[Christian Howell]

01:14 PM on 02/24/2012

Watermelon emails are not the norm. I'd like to smash your face in at this point. And yes I defended Bush when people got out of line.