Rammell says 'Obama tags' remark was joke
BOISE -- Rex Rammell, Republican candidate for Idaho governor, says his comments about "Obama tags" are not a big deal, but he apologizes if people think he wants the president assassinated.
The Twin Falls Times News reports that during during a discussion on wolves Tuesday night at a local Republican party event, an audience member shouted a question about "Obama tags."
According to the newspaper, Rammell responded: "The Obama tags? We'd buy some of those."
Rammell, a veterinarian and former elk rancher from Rexburg, told Times News reporter Jared Hopkins his comment was a joke and he would never seriously talk about President Obama that way, although he doesn't support anything Obama's done as president.
"I was just being sarcastic. That was just a joke," Rammell told the paper. "I would never support him being assassinated. "She kind of caught me off guard, to be honest with you."
But when CBS 2 talked with Rammell, he said the paper got his words wrong.
"The comment didn't come from me," Rammell said. "A woman asked about Obama tags and I just joked back..." that you'd buy some, we asked? -- "Yes. No, that we could sell some. They misquoted me."
The Times News, however, sticks by its Rammell quote.
Nobody we talked to found kidding about hunting tags for the president of The United States very humorous, and Rammell told CBS 2: "If people read into my comments I would want him assassinated then I apologize for that. That was not the intent of my comment."
On Friday morning, Rammell issued another statement about the remark:
"Anyone who understands the law, knows I was just joking, because Idaho has no jurisdiction to issue hunting tags in Washington D.C."
Gov. Butch Otter also decided to voice his opinion on the matter.
“Reckless and inflammatory statements like these gravely damage confidence in the political process and the good citizens who serve the public," Otter said. "As Governor, as an Idaho Republican and as a citizen of our state, I reject and condemn this kind of rhetoric. There is no place for it in Idaho.”
The Twin Falls Times News reports that during during a discussion on wolves Tuesday night at a local Republican party event, an audience member shouted a question about "Obama tags."
According to the newspaper, Rammell responded: "The Obama tags? We'd buy some of those."
Rammell, a veterinarian and former elk rancher from Rexburg, told Times News reporter Jared Hopkins his comment was a joke and he would never seriously talk about President Obama that way, although he doesn't support anything Obama's done as president.
"I was just being sarcastic. That was just a joke," Rammell told the paper. "I would never support him being assassinated. "She kind of caught me off guard, to be honest with you."
But when CBS 2 talked with Rammell, he said the paper got his words wrong.
"The comment didn't come from me," Rammell said. "A woman asked about Obama tags and I just joked back..." that you'd buy some, we asked? -- "Yes. No, that we could sell some. They misquoted me."
The Times News, however, sticks by its Rammell quote.
Nobody we talked to found kidding about hunting tags for the president of The United States very humorous, and Rammell told CBS 2: "If people read into my comments I would want him assassinated then I apologize for that. That was not the intent of my comment."
On Friday morning, Rammell issued another statement about the remark:
"Anyone who understands the law, knows I was just joking, because Idaho has no jurisdiction to issue hunting tags in Washington D.C."
Gov. Butch Otter also decided to voice his opinion on the matter.
“Reckless and inflammatory statements like these gravely damage confidence in the political process and the good citizens who serve the public," Otter said. "As Governor, as an Idaho Republican and as a citizen of our state, I reject and condemn this kind of rhetoric. There is no place for it in Idaho.”
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