So, by now, gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell's Obama tags story has been across the wires and around the nation. For those who didn't read it, here are the facts:

After an audience member shouted a question about "Obama tags" during a discussion on wolves, Rammell responded, "The Obama tags? We'd buy some of those."

Rammell, a veterinarian and former elk rancher from Idaho Falls, said 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 said. "I would never support him being assassinated.

"She kind of caught me off guard, to be honest with you."

That last statement has been as close as Rammell has gotten to an apology. I listened to him on Nate Shellman's show on 670 KBOI while I was driving out to Caldwell. And Rammell would rather die than apologize. In fact, everyone who had a problem with Rammell's statement was a far left liberal according to him.

Many people called in to defend both Rammell and the person who raised the Obama tags. Some callers assured that it was blowing off steam and pleaded that this was a case of political correctness gone amuck.

To be fair, this administration, which ran as post-racial, has played the race card like a harp. However, this isn't a case of political correctness gone mad, this is a case of joking about hunting down and killing the President of the United States. I was clear when 43^rd State Blues was posting jokes about President Bush being assassinated, you do not joke about assassinating the President of the United States. You also don't write assassination porn as many the left did, but I digress.

Beyond the pure boorishness of joking about killing your political opponents, it diminishes and distracts from the legitimate criticism of the President. Speaking for myself, it is my hope that President Obama lives a long and healthy life as a former one term President of the United States ala Jimmy Carter.

As for Rex Rammell, I don't believe there was actual maliciousness in his statement. However, the aftermath of the story has illustrated much of the reason for why Rammell is not qualified to serve as Governor. I think Rammell is a principled patriot who cares about this state. Unfortunately, having the right political principles is not enough.

While principles are vital, the character of the Governor, his executive temperament, and the ability of the Governor to make wise decisions is critical. Rammell, in declaring that he would rather die than apologize for making a statement that was "sarcastic" and what he described on the Nate Shellman show as an attempt to not kill the audience member's joke shows incredible lack of wisdom. I can understand stumbling into a stupid statement off the cuff, what I find troubling is Rammell's decision to pretend this is a big issue of principle.

It shows Rammell to be a man who believes every issue is a hill to die on, who can't seem to separate the trivial from the issue of great principle. It shows Rammell to be a man who can't see his own mistakes, but builds every issue up to a point of absolute principle like it's the constitution itself at stake. Listening to Rammell on 670 KBOI was disturbing, as I heard how he talked to his prospective employers, dismissing any criticism of his statement as liberals. I'm certain I shall receive an e-mail from him labeling me as a liberal as well, but there is nothing Conservative about not wanting to kill a joke about killing the President.

Far from being the wise leader our state need, Rammell has shown a pattern of conduct in making poor judgments, poor decisions, and lacking a basic grasp of how to relate to his fellow human beings. He seems to lack the good taste, the wisdom, and the discretion to serve as Governor without embarrassing our state.

While some may find it refreshing for a politician to not apologize for idiotic statements, it does not bespeak the wisdom needed for a Governor. The Proverbs speak of the value of a word "fitly spoken," and I don't think Rammell has the ability to do that. While I don't want a dishonest person who'll say anything to get elected, I also don't want someone as Governor who'll run off at the mouth and never have the ability to admit an error in judgment.

On an unrelated note, Kevin Richert of the Idaho Statesman finally manned up and admitted he made an error in his coverage of Bill Sali's flap with the FEC last year, about six weeks after Vickie Holbrooke admitted the error in her covarge. I guess there's no better way to admit an error than to wait until the story you're talking about is no longer in the news and then to issue a somewhat half hearted apology on a blog.

Richert, while admitting he jumped the gun adds that fundraising stories are "important issue for reporters to cover." Give me a break. That's why Richert and the rest of the media completely ignored out of state dollars flowing into the 1^st District Congressional race from PACs and Unions.

Fundraising is covered by the media when it serves a narrative purpose. Covering the big money coming into the state from the Club for Growth for Bill Sali in 2006 was part of m media narrative, and therefore it was covered. The media has no narrative of Walt Minnick as a man bagging hundreds of thousands of out of state dollars, to they ignored what had been a big deal in 2006. The reason they covered Bill Sali's software problems was because it was part of the media's narrative that Bill Sali was an incompetent boob. While Richert claims that the Sali campaign's debt is a legitimate story, several national Democratic Committees are carrying debt into this cycle and no one in the media is covering it.

Richert didn't buy Sali's explanation because it didn't fit the narrative, so it was dismissed. Richert, even with plain proof that he was wrong is only willing to issue an apology with weasel words which says a lot about Richert and the state of media coverage in our state.