When President Obama released his birth certificate on Wednesday morning, he may have thought he was closing the door on controversy. Instead, he ended up starting controversy anew -- with America's carnival barkers.

When discussing the lingering "birther" controversy, Obama remarked: "We're not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers."

Many in the carnival community were not amused by the mention of their industry.

"I am extremely upset by the reference," said Frank Zaitshik, who runs Wade Shows, a carnival business with over 100 amusement rides and attractions that entertains over 15 million people each year.

Zaitshik, a second generation carnival worker -- a term he prefers to the word "carny," which is used as a pejorative -- has spent much of his life battling negative stereotypes about his industry.

"I think what Obama said is the same type of stereotype that has been placed on African Americans." Zaitshik said. "You wouldn't expect those comments from someone who is a minority and has faced prejudice."

Ron Weber, editor of Carnival Warehouse.com, a website dealing with the industry, thought the president should be more sensitive about singling out groups when making disparaging comments.

"A person who has fought for equal rights may not realize he's hurting a group of people," Weber said. "Maybe carnival people are the last safe stereotype to attack."

Although Obama's comments bring to mind visions of crooked hustlers, rigged games and a "Step right up!" style of showmanship, carnival insiders say the so-called mobile entertainment industry has cleaned up its act in recent decades. Weber's boss, Matt Cook, says Obama's comments aren't reflective of the current industry.

"The reference to 'carnival barkers' and 'sideshows' is really a thing of the past," Cook said. "It's not like the olden days. The carnival industry has modernized and is more high-tech. In fact, there are very few barkers or sideshows these days."

One that does exist is the Coney Island Sideshow, which has been keeping alive the tradition for 31 years in Brooklyn, New York.

And while industry types like Zaitshik think Obama's comments were unfair, the sideshow's artistic director Dick Zigun sees the positive side.

"I'm glad the White House is giving me publicity," Zigun said. "We're delighted to be in the vernacular. We're the best living example of what the White House thinks of Donald Trump."

However, Zigun -- who says he voted for Obama in 2008 and will probably support him again in 2012 -- does believe the President misspoke when he used the term "carnival barker."

"There's no such thing as a barker unless it's a dog," he said.

In fact, the correct term is "talker," according to Scott Baker, who has been doing this sort of work for 16 years, currently with the Coney Island Sideshow.

"Anyone who uses the term 'barker' is betraying their ignorance," Baker said. "You have 'inside talkers' and 'outside talkers,' and sometimes the term 'lecturer' is used. But the term 'barker' has never been used."

Baker said he has a bone to pick with people who use the term "carnival barker" and admitted to being shocked when the President singled out his industry.

"Our jaws did drop," Baker said. "This silliness has gone on for years, but, the fact is, we work very hard to create a great show. We pride ourselves in Class A entertainment."

If Obama wants to make it up to Baker, he said he's got just the solution.

"I think the President should come see our show," he said. "We'll let him in for the kid's price. Maybe we can use his birth certificate as the 'blow-off,' which is the extra entertainment that's not officially part of the show."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/28/carnival-barkers-slam-obama_n_854702.html

The word IS in the dictionary, after all. And Obama's useage was correct. I find it pretty obvious that the people who are crying 'political correctness' are doing so with crocodile tears. Talk about desperation to get some negative spin!

On the other hand, I can see why someone might get offended at being compared to a Birther.

-Kerry O.

obama can't get nothing right... oh well, only another year and a half of his sillyness

Considering that carnival shows are almost all tricks, illusion and innuendo, the terminology fits.

I guess carnivals better stop being tricks of the eye and hand, freakishness that is meant to deceive those who come there and games that are meant to take your money by being deceptive.

LOL

so it is ok to slam the carnies, huh? don't slam obama, but he can slam who he wants? more lib logic for ya...

Since nobody slammed the carnies there isn't a reason to get upset.

Carnivals shows are there to deceive and amaze with their deception, everyone knows that. Barkers are those who yell in short sharp bursts, carnival people do that to bring people to their deception.

Silly to be offended by what you are but then again maybe they are insulted at being compared to a birther, that would be completely understood.

Perfect example of Mr Oboreme and his gang of Czars.

Are we pushing our luck?

I don't like my posts altered especially by those who change what people say.

Nice try to spin it. They are insulted to be compared to a birther. I think not. Did you even read the post?

"I think what Obama said is the same type of stereotype that has been placed on African Americans." Zaitshik said. "You wouldn't expect those comments from someone who is a minority and has faced prejudice."

"A person who has fought for equal rights may not realize he's hurting a group of people," Weber said. "Maybe carnival people are the last safe stereotype to attack."

It boggles my mind the way some think Obama is perfect and can do no wrong mo matter what.

Next we're going to be setting up a political party just to defend used car salesmen and Nigerian "pilanthropists"

Is that a threat?

I was pointing out the similarities to the Circus Carnival and Mr Oboreme's DC Circus.

They got their main Clown in the Oval Office and freaks like Bawney.

They switch and bait, pick yer pocket while showing making fancy teleprompter speeches and even have a stretchy-face side-show.



The Carnies are gettin' ripped off cuz, Mr Oboreme entertains us fo' almost free. It's not really. He just likes ya' to think it is.

the whole thing, libs can't take what they dish out... say one wrong thing about a lib, and out comes getting called racist and other idiotic remarks... but the moment their Messiah does it, all is fine, nothing wrong with talking bad about a group of people... libs just make me sick

not one lib has got on here and said "that was wrong, he shouldn't have said it that way".

funny that your the one to say that, when you scream racist more than anyone else... so now it is ok for you to see a group of people get insulted?

Okay okay, I guess being compared to birthers is an insult.

Shame on Obama for comparing the poor carnies to birthers. I will write him immediately and let him know.

Where was someone being compared to a birther? Stay on the topic please.

That can be the only insult made,

Carnies are the masters of illusion and deception that is their job and they do bark to bring people to the shows. Barking is short shouts.

So there is no insult when you are called what you are.

Obama was comparing the bothers to carnival barkers, not the other way around. It's called reading comprehension.

Again what part of

"I think what Obama said is the same type of stereotype that has been placed on African Americans." Zaitshik said. "You wouldn't expect those comments from someone who is a minority and has faced prejudice."

"A person who has fought for equal rights may not realize he's hurting a group of people," Weber said. "Maybe carnival people are the last safe stereotype to attack."

Did you not understand.

no, she won't understand, that would mean that obama is not the messiah she thought he was...

I have no messiah and I will not accuse someone of insulting people who are what was described. Their job is what what was described. They get paid to be deceptive entertainers of the people. Now birthers are more sinister so they are really worse than the carnies.