Watch CBS News

Plymouth County Sheriff Defends Obama Assassination Joke

PLYMOUTH (CBS) – The Plymouth County Sheriff is defending an assassination joke about President Obama that he told over the weekend.

Sheriff Joe McDonald Jr. was at a St. Patrick's Day breakfast Sunday in Scituate when he joked that the ghost of President Abraham Lincoln visited Obama in his dreams and gave him advice on how to improve the country. "Go to the theater," Lincoln told Obama.

Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. in April 1865.

McDonald is a Republican.

Some Democratic bloggers took offense, calling it "disgusting."

"Some individuals seem to be unable to separate satire from reality," McDonald told WBZ-TV. "If I have offended them, then I am sorry for that, I am sincerely sorry for it."

Several people also posted their objections on the Sheriff's Facebook page.

According to Blue Mass Group, some of the comments were deleted.

"It's political satire," said McDonald. "It was stated in jest, I think it's unfortunate that individuals would seek to capitalize on it."

Threatening emails and phone calls have come into the sheriff's office from all over the world. "Things have taken a very sinister turn," he says.

McDonald claimed his wisecrack was no different than Democrats joking about President George W. Bush going hunting with his Vice President Dick Cheney.

Cheney accidentally shot a hunting partner in 2006.

WBZ-TV's Bill Shields contributed to this report.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.