Denver Paper Catches 'Off-Color' Obama Joke -- Apology Offered

By: E&P Staff A businessman from Greeley, Colo, has apologized Wednesday after a joke about Sen. Barack Obama caused gasps during the National Western Stock Show's annual banquet.

In an article today, Denver's Rocky Mountain News recounts it as follows. The full article is at www.rockymountainnews.com
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William R. Farr was pretending to read telegrams congratulating this year's award recipient, University of Colorado President Hank Brown, when he pulled out a piece of paper and said, "I have a telegram from the White House."

Then he added, "They're going to have to change the name of that building if Obama's elected."

Witnesses said they could hear people gasp in the ballroom of the Adam's Mark Hotel. "I gasped," said Gov. Bill Ritter, who was sitting at the table with Farr.

Mayor John Hickenlooper said, "I don't think he (Farr) intended any mischief or malice, but it was inappropriate."

Afterward, Farr said he regretted making the remark and apologized to anyone offended. "I apologize for that," Farr told a reporter as soon as the banquet ended. "I mistook it to be humorous, but it was something I shouldn't have said."
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