Tea Party official jokes on Facebook about killing Obamas

Credit: Facebook

Shery Smith (Source: Facebook)

By: Logan Smith (WIS)
Published: August 12, 2011 ? ?Comments | Post a Comment SUMTER, SC --

The chairwoman of the Sumter Tea Party is taking some heat after posting a joke on Facebook about killing the president and first lady.

Shery Lanford Smith posted the joke on her public profile Thursday afternoon, according to a screen-capture taken by the Sumter Item's Nick McCormac. Smith removed the post after being asked about it.

In the joke, the Obamas' helicopter pilot says to his co-pilot, "I could throw both of them out of the window and make 256 million people very happy!" Smith also posted, "If you're one of [the] 256 million, pass it on," implying she herself would be happy to see the Obamas killed.

The joke has been circulating for years in various forms which have included the names of multiple political figures. "It's just a joke," Smith told the Item when contacted about her post. "I had no idea it would be an issue."

Smith was elected chairwoman of the Sumter Tea Party in February 2011, according to the organization's now-defunct website.

While Smith's joke was clearly posted in jest, this isn't the first time a South Carolina political figure has come under fire for inflammatory Facebook posts. In 2009, longtime SCGOP activist Rusty DePass drew national attention after posting that an escaped gorilla was probably "just one of Michelle [Obama]'s ancestors."

In July, the co-chairman of the Kershaw County Republican Party was asked to resign after 'liking' a post which outlines when one should "shoot a cop." That article was posted by the Kershaw County Patriots, another tea party-affiliated group.

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Leeds Rhinos fine Ryan Bailey after Facebook jokes about Japanese disasters

By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 1:22 PM on 22nd March 2011

Leeds have fined and warned prop forward Ryan Bailey for jokes he made on Facebook about the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

The 27-year-old former Great Britain international, who was the subject of an internal review by the club, has issued an apology.

Caught out: Bailey didn't realise his comments had gone public

The Rhinos say Bailey took full responsibility for the comments in a meeting with chief executive Gary Hetherington and has expressed his deep remorse at the offence caused by his comments.

In a statement, the player said: 'First of all, I would like to say sorry to all those who I have offended by my comments.

'Having reflected on the remarks that appeared on my Facebook page, I can see that they would be deeply offensive to those affected in the tragic scenes we have seen in Japan.

'It was not my intention to offend or upset anyone but clearly I have done that and I am deeply sorry for that.'

On top of his fine, Bailey has agreed to make a donation to the tsunami relief fund.

Bailey has yet to play this season because of a groin injury but could make his return against Wakefield on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Leeds' teenage winger Zak Hardaker, who made a tryscoring Super League debut against St Helens on Saturday, has been ruled out for six to eight weeks with a broken finger.

The 19-year-old, who was recalled from his loan spell with Featherstone after the Rhinos lost Ben Jones-Bishop with a dislocated shoulder, will need to undergo surgery after breaking his finger in an accident at home.

'We are disappointed for Zak as he was impressive last week,' said Rhinos head coach Brian McDermott.

'Unfortunately, as in all walks of life, sometimes these things happen but the timing of it is sad for Zak as he had a chance to stake a claim in the team.'

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