Where's the line between public service and poor attempts at humor?

A Hillsboro businessman contacted me this week regarding a speech given by the mayor of Hillsboro at the annual Clinton County Chamber of Commerce luncheon a few days ago.

To put it mildly, the businessman was out of sorts.

He asked if I had attended the Clinton County event or viewed the video online.

I informed him I had done neither, and was heretofore happily ignorant of the existence of either the speech or video.

But then, curiosity got the best of me. I found the video.

After viewing this speech, I understood the businessman's dismay.

The mayor let it be known that he was not a fan of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), law enforcement in general, and one Hillsboro public official in particular.

(In fact, the mayor told his Clinton County audience that he had thoughts of crushing the larynx of the particular public official.)

Well, I happen to know that public official. It might not be an easy task.

It is important to note that the mayor was, in fact, introduced as the mayor of Hillsboro. He also may have been introduced as a farmer, a comedian, and an entrepreneur. As of yesterday, a Wilmington newspaper had the video online, so you can decide for yourself.

But let's focus on his position as mayor.

Sometime in the ensuing four years, the citizens and taxpayers of Hillsboro must decide if it is acceptable for their mayor to represent the city in such a fashion. At some point, Hillsboro must decide whether to condone and applaud the outrageous comments, or voice a reasonable objection to them.

The Highland County Republican Party and its old-school establishment have a similar decision to make. (They held the parties and fundraisers, after all.)

Likewise, the members and guests of the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce must decide if it is acceptable for their guest speaker to conduct himself in such fashion.

• Is it acceptable for the chamber's guest speaker to make light of handicapped citizens? (Did he really say "With a boost, she can make it in there.... With a running start, I think the guy can do it. Can't the disabled meet us halfway?")

Yes, he did say those things in a prepared speech, no less.

Common, human decency suggests that all of us ought to be more understanding than to say something like that. 

• Is it acceptable for the speaker to say he wanted to crush another public official's larynx?

• Is it acceptable for the speaker to suggest that disposing of toxic chemicals related to the manufacturing of illegal drugs be conducted without due regard for the generally accepted standards set forth by the EPA? Are law enforcement officials in Clinton and Highland counties on board with this? If so, speak up.

• Has the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce booked the mayor for its 2013 luncheon? Book now and avoid next year's rush.

Maybe it's a fine line between government service and poor attempts at comedy. (Lord knows, Al Franken has failed at both.)

But it is probably a very convenient – if not built-in – excuse for any public official walking around as a professional comedian.

If, for example, you're criticized for making a disparaging remark about people with disabilities, it's real convenient to say it was just a joke. Of course, that didn't work so well for President Obama and his Special Olympics comment, did it?

The mayor also revised his hackneyed story which appears to be an admitted violation of the Fourth Amendment.

The mayor told his Clinton County listeners about how he personally ordered the occupants of an alleged drug house in Hillsboro to take their trade to "Ironton or Chillicothe."

The first time I heard the story, he said Ironton or Huntington.

One might imagine if he speaks to the Ross County Chamber of Commerce, the story will be modified yet again to say Wilmington or Washington Court House. Who knows?

Regardless, without a proper warrant, he really has no legal standing to enter a private residence and demand a damned thing. And no amount of $180 badges can change that.

If the newspaper in Wilmington has the guts to keep the video on its website, you really should watch it. (If not, call me.)

I hope the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce and its guests remember who introduced this year's guest speaker.

I know I won't forget.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press.